Lieberman Loses Debate with Challenger Ned Lamont

I wanted to change the subject from Joe Lieberman, but judging from the liberal blogsphere, there IS nothing else today.

I was unable to watch the MSNBC-televised debate last night between incumbent Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and his liberal challenger, Ned Lamont. From the innumerable recaps, though, it sounds like Joe went on the offensive and, depending on your viewpoint, was either savvy and strong or (pick all that apply) dismissive, condescending, contempuous, haughty and ridiculously aggressive.

Per an ongoing survey today at MSNBC's Hardball site, 68% say Lamont won the debate, 24% say Lieberman prevailed, and 8% dub it a draw.

The dumbest utterance by Lieberman apparently was, "I know George Bush, I've worked against George Bush, I've even run against George Bush, but, Ned, I'm not George Bush." Damned close, though, Joe. At least on the Iraq War.

One negative sign for Lieberman's prospects in the August 8 Democratic run-off election for the 2006 Senate race is this: "... an internal Democratic poll of Connecticut Jews sees Lamont leading by 50 percent to 41 percent." Per Combined Jewish Philanthropies, "... the results were a dramatic departure from the 90-plus approval rating Lieberman scored among Jews after Al Gore named him as his running mate in 2000."

Liberal Blogosphere Comment on the Debate

Here's a sampling of top bloggers' views on last night's Lieberman-Lamont dust-up:

From Bill Scher at Liberal Oasis: "In the debate, Lieberman tried to raise the canard that it is Lamont who wouldn't level with Connecticut voters about his position on Iraq. But it is Lieberman who does not have the guts to look voters in the eye, during a hotly contested election, and say he supports permanent military bases."

From Denis Hogan of Courant.com: "It’s easy to see the Bush fleas Joe Lieberman came up with after lying down for so long with the snarling dogs of the administration he admires and is admired so by. Debating for his life, Lieberman showed exactly how much he’s learned by being so palsy-walsy with Bush & Co., joining All the President’s Men so effectively.

Attack. Dance around and accuse accuse accuse the opponent of doing exactly what you have been doing... For a guy who’s been around as long as he has, the debate showed us a lot, taught us a lot. He’s shown the true colors: He’s OK with thousands of dead people if it means keeping a job."

From Stirling Newberry at TPM Cafe: "... that scraping noise you hear in the background is the claws on power of Joe Lieberman scraping as he falls ever farther down the well. He insulted his opponent, and spilled out excuses for a record in power, and acted in that kind of arrogant and domineering way that someone too mixed up in power for too long does when forced to show itself. Perhaps Lamont was not as polished as he could have been, but he has held up a mirror to the face of power."

And from Matt Stoller at MyDD: "Lieberman kept interrupting and rebutting, but really didn't make any effective points. He started off angry, and ended angry... The most significant lies were his assertions that he stood strong against Social Security from the first day Bush proposed privatization, and that he doesn't support an open-ended commitment in Iraq (he does in fact supports permanent military bases)."

Democratic Party Leaders Take Stance

Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean and Senators Russ Feingold, Hillary Rodham Cinton and John Kerry have all stated that they'll support the winner of Connecticut's August 8 Democratic run-off election. In fact, Feingold and Kerry have pointedly not endorsed Lieberman to win the August 8 election.

If Joe Lieberman loses the August 8 contest, these Democratic leaders will NOT support his bid as an Independent candidate for reelection to the Senate seat he's held for 18 years.

Related Reading
Senator Joe Lieberman Should Be Voted Out of Office
The Joe Lieberman Archives: Unleashed & Unplugged
An American Palace in Iraq and Four Permanent US Bases