December 11, 2005

WHO ASKED FOR YOUR TWO CENTS?

There's just something that irked me about this paragraph in this totally finger-pointing article Lieberman's pro-war views concern Dems. I absolutely hate when "journalists" throw stuff like this in (italics mine):

Lieberman, who seems to relish his role as a maverick, is veering far from the Democratic script. His vocal support for the war, a stark and frequent reminder of the deep divisions among Democrats on how to end the war, makes him something of a marked man.

As if Lieberman is purposely trying to tick off Democrats. Ever consider that maybe he really does disagree with his party? Ever consider that he's standing up for what he believes in? Nope, he's just relishing the beat of a different drum. That's not reporting, that's editorializing. I hate the media.

Posted by Sarah at December 11, 2005 10:30 AM | TrackBack
Comments

"I hate the media."

And if their behavior is any indication, they hate you and me, as well.

Lieberman threatens the Democrats' coalition. He's an accretion nucleus around whom pro-war Democrats and moderates can coalesce. The interesting thing will be whether he pulls opinion from the Right as well as from the Left. That could position him to found a centrist political movement that could do to the majority parties what Ross Perot did to the GOP and Bush the Elder in 1992.

Of course, neither the media nor the Democrats will sit still and just let this happen, so a campaign of innuendo and defamation must begin at once. And it has.

Posted by: Francis W. Porretto at December 11, 2005 12:16 PM

Meanwhile, republican critics of the administration (Scowcroft, Hagel, Chaffee, Lugar, even McCain) should just shut the Hell up.

Posted by: wornout at December 11, 2005 06:31 PM

It is typical media hypocrisy, they are so thrilled to label McCain a "Maverick" in their fondest fashion, but I've yet to see anything like that on the major news shows here. I think they wouldn't even have mentioned it if they could have managed to avoid the topic altogether. And I watch news of one sort or the other, all day long, most days.

Posted by: Ruth H at December 11, 2005 07:29 PM

I think the article is more critical of the Dems than it is of Lieberman.

Posted by: Eric at December 11, 2005 07:46 PM

From The Washington Post: "Senator Lieberman is past the point of being taken seriously in the caucus because everything he does is seen as advancing his own self-interest, instead of the Democratic interest." I guess the idea that a Senator might do things that he believes advance the national interest, or the interest of the entire world, is beyond the understanding of today's Democratic leaders.

Posted by: David Foster at December 12, 2005 12:16 AM

Correction to the above: This wasn't the Post statig its own opinion; it was a quote from an un-named "Senior Democratic Aide", which is exactly what makes it so bad.

Posted by: David Foster at December 12, 2005 12:37 AM

David,

How does pursuing one's self interest somehow magically transform into pursuing the best interests of the country? It sounds like an interesting deal: I can use that to justify stealing office supplies for the greater good of our nation. But seriously, the idea is in line with the tripe Ayn Rand spouted - the sort of ideas that are readily crushed in a Philosophy 101 class.

FWIW, Lieberman (like all politicians) is a total hypocrite.

Lieberman in 2005:

"It’s time for Democrats who distrust President Bush to acknowledge that he will be the commander in chief for three more critical years and that in matters of war we undermine presidential credibility at our nation’s peril."

Lieberman in 2003:

"There has been one value repeatedly missing from this presidency, and that value is integrity, by deception and disarray, this White House has betrayed the just cause of fighting terrorism and tyranny around the world."

And in 2000:

"In our democracy, a president does not rule, he governs. He remains always answerable to us, the people. And right now, the president’s conduct of our foreign policy is giving the country too many reasons to question his leadership. It’s not just about 16 words in a speech, it is about distorting intelligence and diminishing credibility."

Posted by: Mr Silly at December 12, 2005 03:00 AM

Mr Silly, I think you missed the point. I didn't say that Lieberman is pursuing his own interests and that "magically transforms into pursuing the best interests of the country"...seems to me he is pursuing his genuine beliefs regardless of threat to his own interests. What on earth does this have to do with office supplies or Ayn Rand?

Posted by: David Foster at December 12, 2005 06:03 PM

I've been a Republican since 1968. But I would be interested in a Zell Miller/Joe Lieberman ticket in 08.

Posted by: Don at December 12, 2005 11:22 PM