TPMDC

Lieberman: 'Unlikely' That I'll Run With GOP In 2012, 'But I Wouldn't Foreclose Any Possibility'

Spread the word. Share this article on Facebook!

Share

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Read More

Joe Lieberman

Share

Twitter Fark Reddit Send to a Friend

Send to a friend!

To email:    Your Name:    Your email:

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) isn't ruling out the possibility that he would run for re-election in 2012 as a Republican -- which would certainly be an odd situation for the 2000 Democratic nominee for vice president.

"I don't know what I'll run as," Lieberman told CNN. "I like being an independent, so that's definitely a possibility. I'd say that all options are open."

"It's unlikely that I would run as a Republican," he added, "but I wouldn't foreclose any possibility."

Comments (31) | Join the Conversation!

Recommend Recommend (0)

December 15, 2009 6:26 PM   

Not that he's going to win reelection anyway, but it's pretty obvious that for the rest of his years as a Senator he will be caucusing with whatever party is in the majority.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

bvd

user-pic

December 15, 2009 6:44 PM    in reply to Jim H

Yeah, but he'd choose to create far less trouble for the Republicans if they were the majority.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 7:28 PM    in reply to Jim H

He is not going to run again. He's ruining the health care legislation now as a favor to whatever insurance company he's applying to RIGHT NOW for his post-Senate career.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

slb

user-pic

December 16, 2009 3:09 AM    in reply to LindaR

You're probably right, but I really, really want him to run and to have his sorry ass handed to him on a platter.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 6:41 PM   

Unlikely anybody in Connecticut would elect him dog catcher.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 7:06 PM    in reply to hychka

Oh come on, open up your imagination a bit!

His wife will vote for him as will he himself. Some (but not all) insurance executives will. A few Likud-supporters and some conservative Jews/Hassidics. He must have some Senate staff that vote in Connecticut; they'll pull the lever to keep their jobs, sure. So that's Joe's base.

So he needs to build on that and run a base-plus campaign!

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 6:45 PM   

Exactly, he'd lose a Dem primary and get Teabagged in a GOP primary. All his moves/votes from now on are personal and have nothing to do with representing the Nutmeg state. Great job, Connecticut, get used to hearing how you've screwed the progressive agenda for the next 3 years.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

CN

user-pic

December 15, 2009 6:46 PM   

"I have to wait and see what course will screw the Democrats and President Obama the most," Lieberman went on to explain.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 6:46 PM   

C'mon Joe, register in both major party primaries and run as an independent too. You owe it to the voters.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 6:47 PM   

Run. Run as anything. Hopefully the good people of CT will have the good sense to finally say goodbye to him and make him the true loser that he is.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 7:18 PM   

So he thinks it is at least a possibility. Ha. He's a de facto Rethug for us, but he is way too left for the Rethug base. Good luck with getting teabagged, traitor. In case you don't know, nobody, left or right, trusts you.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 7:19 PM   

Lieberman: "I wouldn't foreclose any possibility."

Well, at least suicide is still on the table.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 16, 2009 6:59 AM    in reply to Peter Principle

win

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 7:21 PM   

Joe Lieberman (CT - Douchebag)

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 7:22 PM   

Some TruckNutzĀ® would look good on his Fleetwood JC.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 7:25 PM   

Lieberman running again would incentivize the voters in CT to come out against him the way Bush did the US voter to come out against Republicans

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 7:32 PM   

and how fortunate for the senator from israel that he weakens the president by sabotaging his -- and the democrats -- historical piece of legislation. this should soften the mean things obama has been saying about bibi and make him much more amenable to giving a nod and wink to the attack on iran.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 7:54 PM   

I would have the guy out if it was my vote. Terrible, terrible politican.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 8:08 PM   

To call Joe Lieberman an oily little snake would be a grave insult to snakes of small stature that are covered in oil.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

G3

user-pic

December 15, 2009 8:43 PM   

Endgame revealed. Joe wants to remain in the Senate.

The Republicans won't run anyone of any clout, or worse, run John Rowland...on purpose. That leaves Joe's right flank solid.

He'll take his chances with the indies.

A repeat of 2006.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 8:52 PM   

Lieb will get his arse kicked WHATEVER party he runs as.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 9:04 PM   

I think he definitely is running again. He's carving out the niche in the middle right now and will hope to grab the middle 40%, leaving the Dem and Republican to each grab 30% from their respective outer wings of their parties.

He wanted to screw over progressives so he can run on that with moderate Republicans, but will eventually sign the bill so he can run on that with moderate Democrats.

If folks want to be rid of him here, Lieberscum is going to have to lose 80% of the Dem vote in Ct to the Dem challenger and then hope the Republicans don't vote strategically again - which they probably will.

Basically Dems are going to have to vote for the Republican to ensure he is roundly defeated.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 9:37 PM   

I'm not so sure the GOP would want to take a chance on a slimy, back-stabbing shit. But, they're welcome to him.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 16, 2009 2:40 AM    in reply to chimpale

I thought those were the some of the requirements.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 10:19 PM   

Who gives a flying fuck about about the sorry excuse for a man?

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 10:59 PM   

Connecticut legislature should change the law NOW: No running as an independent in the general if you lose a primary. I don't believe this is allowed in other states.

GOP will support him. The Dems all need to unify -- labor, womens groups, liberal activists, etc -- and punish this mofo in 2012.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 15, 2009 11:00 PM    in reply to AnswerFrog

I wouldn't mind if that Berlusconi guy came over and said hi to this POS either....

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 16, 2009 12:13 AM   

The people of CT should hang their heads in shame at electing this scumbag.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 16, 2009 4:46 AM   

First hurdle: "stability of character" as enunciated in Federalist paper number 62.

Second hurdle: Republicans mete swift justice to errant members. Just ask Joseph Cao.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 16, 2009 12:10 PM   

He won't run if he doesn't have a good chance of winning. His ego is huge, but he obviously understands politics (the lowdown, scummy end of it especially). If he doesn't run he'll get a cushy sinecure at one of the health insurance behemoths and make $$$ giving speeches to AIPC approved groups. My wish for him is that he never again have a comfortable night's sleep, that the ghosts of the thousands who have died and who continue to die because of lack of insurance will haunt him past the grave. And I mean that as a curse.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

December 17, 2009 2:55 AM   

I'm sure his good friend Barack Hussein Obama will be out there campaigning for him, as payback for all the help he's been on the HCR bill. Also too, Reid/Schumer/Boxer/DiFi/Landrieu/Bill Clinton/Hillary Clinton/Al Gore/Akaka/Rockefeller/Klobuchar/Salazar/Rahmbo/Bennett will all be there to give a boost to their good friend Holy Fuck Joe.

Reply | Flag Abuse

Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?

Leave a comment

Your response:

Follow us!

Most Popular

TPM Stories Now Surging on