skippy the bush kangaroo: betting your hedges, hedging your bets

Monday, July 03, 2006

betting your hedges, hedging your bets

joe "repubbblican-lite" lieberman has officially announced that he's a wanker who really doesn't like the democratic party at all...only not in those words. bosglobe:

facing a stronger-than-expected democratic primary challenge and sagging poll numbers because of his support of the iraq war, u.s. sen. joe lieberman said monday he'll collect signatures for an independent campaign if he loses next month's primary.

while i believe that i will win the aug. 8 primary, i know there are no guarantees in elections," lieberman told reporters on the steps of connecticut's statehouse monday. "no one really knows how many democrats will come out to vote on what may be a hot day in august."

lieberman said he will remain a democrat even if loses his party's primary. he said he plans to remain a part of the senate's democratic caucus if re-elected.

"i will stay a democrat, whether i am the democratic party's nominee or a petitioning democratic candidate on the november ballot," he said.

so he's going to stay a democrat and run as an independent, while supporting the repubbblicans. schizo, much?

paul bass at the new haven independent is less kind than we, saying lieberman launches "cut & run" campaign:

lieberman reiterated that he's running as hard as he can to win the democratic primary, the first time an incumbent democratic senator has faced such a challenge in connecticut in 36 years.

but as of monday, his campaign will canvass voters to sign petitions to get him a place on the november ballot as an independent.

in anticipation of today's announcement, lieberman's online blog critics have already dubbed his quest the "cut and run 2006" campaign. if he loses the primary to lamont, that move will ensure a wild three-way race beyond the ability of pundits and consultants to call, with lamont running as a democrat, alan schlesinger as a republican and lieberman as an independent.

or as "an independent democrat," as he chose to portray his candidacy. lieberman hesitated to announce this move until he decided he needed to, because it risks losing him votes in the aug. 8 primary from democrats angered over his willingness to bolt the party for his own political future.

a wiser man than us once said, you have to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything.

addendum: my left nutmeg points out that according to connecticut law, joe-nertia can't register as an "independent democrat" (or any kind of democrat, unless he's the nominee of the democratic party).

posted by skippy at 12:00 PM |