Message to Joe Lieberman: “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn”
By Mary MacElveen
January 29, 2007
In his appearance on Fox News, Joe Lieberman stated, “I'm going to do what most Independents and a lot of Democrats and Republicans in America do, which is to take a look at all the candidates and then in the end, regardless of party, decide who I think will be best for the future of our country.” When asked who he would vote for in the 2008 presidential elections.
Time after time, Joe Lieberman has sided with the Republicans and has even adopted the Bush Doctrine concerning both Iraq and Katrina. He would rather spend billions more in fighting a war in Iraq instead of using that money here at home to rebuild the storm ravaged region hit hard by Katrina. So, what he has said in essence is that he will vote Republican. I just wish that he had the courage to say so.
I liken him to former Mayor Ed Koch of New York City who in the past has endorsed Republican candidates over those within his own party. As far as Lieberman calling himself an Independent-Democrat, for honesty sake, it is up to him to call himself an Independent-Neo-Conservative since most of his positions are based on the Neo-conservative way of thinking.
Ed Koch’s endorsement of President Bush had little effect here in New York State in which the 2004 presidential race went in favor of Senator John Kerry. Long Island which was the bastion of Republican dominance for years is slowly turning blue, since we have seen all too clearly how Republican leadership has turned its back on its citizens. Trust me on this since I know. But, through strong Democratic leadership, it has changed course.
Personally, I do think that the media, namely Fox News gave his opinion far too much relevance of who he would vote for. There are millions of Americans who will see the irrelevancy of Joe Lieberman. And I would submit those in New Orleans, Mississippi and parts of Alabama who were hit by Katrina would turn their backs on his opinion as he has turned his back on them.
When Chris Wallace asked him his opinion of the Democratic front-runners who are Senator Clinton, Senator Obama and former Senator Edwards, Lieberman responded, “Well, you make a decision based on a whole range of issues. But obviously, the positions that some candidates have taken in Iraq troubles me. Obviously, I will be looking at what positions they take in the larger war against Islamist terrorism.”
In essence, Lieberman is using a litmus test to see who will get his endorsement and vote in 2008. Note to Clinton, Obama and Edwards, just shrug your shoulders at Lieberman and go full speed ahead with your respective campaigns. Let the people decide. Lieberman’s opinion should not over power those who will vote in the Democratic primaries. At least they stayed Democrat, unlike Lieberman who acted like a spoiled child when he was defeated by Ned Lamont in the Connecticut Democratic primary. He acted like a child, took his toys and went home.
What an adult would have done was to realize the people spoke and supported their will at the ballot box.
Joe in using his litmus test of Islamist terrorism should be looking for an answer that is found in Senator John Kerry's speech when he stated he would not seek another run at the White House in 2008. Please pay close attention to when he stated, “Where is the diplomacy? Many of us can remember, under a Republican President, Henry Kissinger shuttling back and forth day and night working to bring an end to the Vietnam War. Many of us can remember Jim Baker, at the beginning of the decade in the nineties, when he took 15 trips to Syria alone, and on the final trip got President Asad to actually agree to support what we were doing. That is diplomacy.”
He then went onto add, “We don't have that kind of diplomacy. We lack even a special envoy there day to day, hour to hour, leveraging the Arab League, leveraging the United Nations, working with the U.N. Perm Five, working with the neighboring countries, doing the kinds of significant, heavy diplomatic lifting our sons and daughters who are dying deserve.” We just went through two bloody weekends in which over thirty of our military personnel died over in Iraq and this could have been avoided had there been this heavy lifting of diplomacy that Senator Kerry spoke of. In failing to do this heavy diplomatic lifting over 3,000 U.S. soldiers are now dead. That is Joe Lieberman’s legacy.
In comparing the Islamist terrorists to the “communists we faced in the last century” what Lieberman forgets and Senator Kerry rightfully brings up is that in the past the “heavy diplomatic lifting” was done by prior administrations than this one. Over time through this heavy diplomatic lifting the wall came down that separated East and West Germany with the assistance by the late Pope John Paul II. The late Pope knew more than anyone the ravages of communism since he grew up in Poland. He used his power in order to help bring about peace.
The late Pope even stated as President Bush was to launch the ‘Shock and Awe’ campaign, “You go without God."
In his speech, Senator Kerry taught us all the history that has led to the violence between the Sunnis and the Shiites. This is beneficial to the American people and in her best interests to understand. America’s national interest is to actually learn from history how this region became what it is today. What is in our best interests is to help both groups of people come to some form of consensus similar to what Senator Jim Webb in his rebuttal speech to President Bush’s SOTU address which was, “we will be showing him the way.” Not in an adversarial way, but a diplomatic way. We must be able to help these people fully understand that peace is in their best interests and do so as we roll up our sleeves and do the heavy lifting.
Senator Lieberman stated, “Well, I was really disappointed with the reaction of Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid to the president's offer or invitation to have essentially a bipartisan war council, and it's a war on terror council.” This president along with the Republican Party has shut out what any Democrat has had to say in the last six years. Bi-partisanship to them meant doing things their way and if not done, labeling those who did not go along with the program as being un-patriotic.
The Iraq Study Group which was a bi-partisan group of people even tried to advise President Bush and he threw their recommendations back in their face by ignoring the study. In backing President Bush’s plan for troop increases, this is what Senator Kerry had to say as he cited the Iraq Study Group, “the Iraq Study Group report effectively sets a goal of withdrawing U.S. combat forces from Iraq by the first quarter of 2008, or within approximately 1 year.”
Those like Lieberman will take what this group had to say and put their recommendations in the shredder and what will transpire are more deaths on both sides. Their deaths are relevant instead of who Joe Lieberman will support and vote for in the 2008 presidential races.
As I was listening to Joe Lieberman’s interview with Chris Wallace a line from “Gone with the Wind” came to mind in which Rhett Butler states to Scarlett O'Hara, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” And neither should those who will be voting in the Democratic primaries, the Republican primaries and the American people who will be voting in the 2008 presidential election.
Authors note: To all reading this, please take time to read the numerous articles posted here at http://www.marymacelveen.com
Thanks,
Mary MacElveen!
The Nazis, Fascists and Communists were political parties before they became enemies of liberty and mass murderers.
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