I think that Lieberman's appeal to Jews has been overrated. I'm jewish and I recall my now deceased Grandmother saying: "He's just too Jewish for me."
Anyway he does have a personality that is rather likeable and funny (this was focused on in the P2000 campaign more so than his views). He starts of with an advantage (esp in black communities where he is well liked despite some of his conservative viewpoints). Lieberman has to play the defensive and I think he has a chance, but by no means is he the juggernaut he has been painted as.
I think that his primary appeal, his personality, will be overshadowed by Dean's even more likeable personality.
I would tend to agree with you. I'm jewish as well and I feel that the voting Jews in this country tend to be liberal. Additionally, I don't think this country is ready for a Jewish leader, and I shudder to think how the Middle East would respond to us having a Jewish leader.
I think that the only thing he has going for himself at the moment is name recognition. Then again, that's probably dean's biggest weakness.
Ok the whole Jewish thing. He is orthodox. Orthodox jews are a minority in america. He is very spiritual person, and I think that is a shock for most democrats to have such a religous person as their candidate. I support him fully, and if I didn't support him, I would support Dean. I think we as democrats need more people like Lieberman to show us that not all democrats are scandal ridden. He is a very nice person as well, having met him personally. I also looked at a poll saying that id there was a contest between Cheney and Lieberman in 2000, Lieberman would have won bigtime.
-Jon
Lieberman doesn't have a chance in hell of booting Bush out of the Whitehouse (whether Jews believe in hell or not). There's no chance of *any* minority doing it this election regardless of whether they're black, Jewish, female, gay or whatever. Unfortunately, that's the current mindset of this country.
Lieberman's politics are very conservative. He is a Republican in a Democrat's suit.
He is a also censor, a hypocrit (changed his politics to match Gore's during the last presidential election) and as much of a religious nut as the current president.
I sincerely hope Lieberman crawls back under whichever rock he came from.
Jon, why would it be a shock for someone to be spiritual? Just about every candidate in recent memory has emphasised their faith.
No, that is not a probolem for me. What is a problem is his extremely conservative record. He might as well just switch parties. I mean really, how does his record reflect a liberal conscious? Yea, that's right. It -doesn't-.
Jon, I'd take Lieberman over Cheney. But, that choice is based on the "lesser of two evils".
ug, and the "lesser of two evils" really isn't a choice now, is it?
that's probably the biggest reason i am behind howard dean: he embodies the best of the dems (social consciousness) and the best of the reps (fiscal conservative).
I think if Graham enters the race, he and Lieberman will be fighting for the same small group of voters, and probably won't be making any inroads with any of the other Dem constituencies (labor, environmental, minority, etc.). They'll both try to out-hawk each other. Contrary to what a lot of journalists think, Dean isn't the "peace" candidate, and he won't have to play one on TV when the debates happen. He just has to argue for prudence and multilateralism (which he's already doing) and focus more on the domestic issues which are his strength.
You can't win the Democratic primary based on foriegn policy stances (unless the year is 196
, and you certainly can't win it as a social conservative (which is much more repugnant to many Dem primary voters than fiscal conservatism).
If Dean's smart, he won't hit Lieberman too hard, though; that guy's money is going to go to someone after he drops out, and if he's Kerry and Edwards draw blood, Lieberman might end up backing the good Doctor. Stranger things have happened.
That was supposed to be 1968 above. Not a smiley guy with shades.
joey, you raise some real good points. i wonder whether lieberman would throw his support to dean based on the issue of israel. after all, they've both been very hawkish regarding that issue. that alone might influence joe to give his support to dean when the time comes.
ARG poll, NH Democratic primary:
Kerry 27%, Dean 15%, Lieberman 6%, Gephardt 5%, Edwards 4%, Biden 2%, Clark 1%, Dodd 1%, Graham 1%, Sharpton 0%, Undecided 38%.
http://americanresearchgroup.com...ll/
nhp41a.shtml
Hey thanks for the link CPJ - it's posted above. Sorry, I saw the email with the link first, otherwise I would have given you credit. Please don't hold it against me. =)
anna, I don't mind not getting recognition, as long as Dean does! (especially here in CA)
CPJ - can you let us know how things look for dean out in cali? do people even realise he's running, or are they leaning towards another candidate? do you think he'd play well in california? please apply the clue-bat... =)