Should Lieberman run as an independent? Will he be a man without a party, and a traitor to his party as well?

Question

How did his party betray him? The voters had a choice and they chose someone else. Bill Clinton and other democrats supported him. I like the guy, but if you lose you should accept the results, and not jump the party. He will only siphon votes away from Lamont, giving the election to a republican. The people have spoken. He should listen.

Answer 1

The Dems did not betray Lieberman. If they choose to turn farther to the left, that's their prerogative - it could enhance their support. But I see nothing wrong with Lieberman running as an independent. Let's face it, the man just spoke his mind and voted his convictions; even if we disagree with him, that's no reason to shun him. Don't we all say that we want people of conviction in politics? Lieberman has a lot in common with Barry Goldwater (in his later years, when he turned away from being a fire-breathing Repub; may he RIP). I respect both, even though I disagree(d) with both.
Personally, I'm sick and tired of having no viable choice other than Republicrat or Demopublican.
Fortunately for us in the US, Madisonian democracy was designed to work slowly and deliberately; political systems that work quickly are a possible path to tyranny.
Lieberman lost by a narrow margin. If he can keep those who voted for him and start working on local issues, the election will be a real horse ('s azz; they are, after all, politicians) race.

Answer 2

I don't think he should run as an independent. Historically Independents never really do well. He should run as a liberal republican. He would definitely retain a majority of his democratic base and gain a good number of republican votes. He didn't betray the party - the democrats betrayed him by catering to the hate bush crowd and the far left special interest groups. Did Lamont run on anything other than Hate Bush and Cut & Run? Did he even offer a solutions to pressing Conn issues? I don't recall hearing any, but I don't live in Conn.

Answer 3

This is obviously a ploy by the democrats to have a 'well known' person run in the 3rd party nomination slot so that he can back out at the last minute to minimize the real democrat canidate losing votes to the 3rd party canidate. If the donkeys would just worry about building a case for why their ideals are better instead of going with the 'we're not as bad as the republicans' maybe they would make some progress in the swing vote population.

Answer 4

I don't think he really has a chance if he runs as an Independent, it seems that his party has left him in the dust backing the man that beat him the moment it happened. I don't know if he was really a traitor to his party, one thing whether you agree with his position or not is that he did what he felt was his beliefs, not just because his party said so. Which more senators and congressmen and women should do, however he should have been paying attention to his district that is what matters, he is there to represent there opinions and feelings and because he didn't do that he will probably lose the general.

Answer 5

Leiberman has already announced he will run as an independent. The very ideal of running as an Idependent will mean an absence of party. Leiberman did not betray the Democrats. He stood up for what he believed, and was betrayed by his fellows. I for one find it amusing. The extreme left wing of the Democratic Party cannot help but show their stripes. Don't agree with us we will do our best to destroy you, even if you are a card carrying member of the club. Yeah, these are the people I trust to be fair and balanced, and listen to the will of the American people.

What I find most amusing though is Democrats consider themselves such critical thinkers, they claim to encourage diversity in thought and action. They state that Republicans are blind followers. Yet they are unwilling to allow their own to have opinions contrary to theirs. Their hypocrisy is now out in the open for everyone to see. It will hurt them in November, and in more places than just CT.

Answer 6

Yes, would hope all politicians vote and do what is best for our country. Bush lied to get us in Iraq, but we can't leave now and may never be able to leave. The party should not control what a politician thinks and does. This is a government of the people, not the party. All politicians should be independent. How could anyone disagree with this.

Answer 7

No he shouldn't. I would tell him, as I have by email as you should too, to follow Prez Carter's example and find a life after elected office. But the political bug bites hard, and it will take a LOT of persuasion from Party leaders to make him stop the stupidity. Write to Harry Reid and tell him to take away Lieb's Democratic committee assignments if he doesn't want to be a Democrat.

Answer 8

Lieberman should be man enough to accept defeat. The electorate voted against his wrong minded support of the Republican war. His egotism now will simply cost the Democrats their seat. I hope he has the wisdom and courage to reverse his decision.

Answer 9

I feel that if you start in one party and you lose the primary then you should not be allowed to switch parties and still run...you should have to wait until the next election....otherwise why do we even have primaries...or parties....I wouldn't call him a traitor....he has the right to change parties just like the rest of us....but he should have to wait until the next election to try and run again,. It's not that I don't like him or think he will be a bad canidate but it is the principle that gets me.....

Answer 10

I don't think he will be a traitor to his party because he will still stand for the same things. I hope he will run as an independent, we will see tonight if he gets the all the votes he needs. I think if he runs as an independent he will will...Well I hope.