Lieberman endorses McCain

**Ironduke** · 12-17-2007, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Lieberman: McCain can reunite our country

(CNN) -- Sen. Joe Lieberman is crossing party lines and endorsing Republican Sen. John McCain for president.

"Being a Republican is important. Being a Democrat is important. But you know what's more important than that? The interest and well-being of the United States of America," the Democrat-turned Independent said in announcing his decision Monday morning in New Hampshire.

"Let's put the United States first again, and John McCain is the man as president who will help us do that," he said.

Lieberman, the Democrats' vice presidential nominee in 2000, said the next president needs to "break through the reflexive partisanship that is poisoning our politics today and stopping us from getting anything done in Washington."

In accepting Lieberman's backing, McCain said, "It is one of the great honors of my political career to have known him, to have worked with him and to have received his endorsement."

The Connecticut senator decided to endorse McCain because he considers him "the most capable to be commander in chief on day one of his administration, and the most capable of uniting the country so that we can prevail against Islamic extremism," a Lieberman aide said earlier.

The Lieberman aide insists the senator does not see this as a "commentary on or an endorsement of the Republican party, only the person."

The endorsement could help emphasize McCain's experience on national security issues, demonstrate his ability to work across party lines and perhaps help persuade Independent voters in New Hampshire to support his 2008 presidential bid, as many of them did during his first campaign in 2000.

McCain also picked up key endorsements this weekend from two of the most influential papers for voters in Iowa and New Hampshire, The Des Moines Register and The Boston Globe.

Lieberman, who broke with the Democratic Party over Iraq, won re-election as an Independent after losing the party's Senate nomination to an anti-war challenger in 2006.

He still caucuses with the Democrats, giving them their razor-thin majority in the chamber. Lieberman chairs the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, and he still attends weekly Democratic strategy meetings. But his adviser said the endorsement appears to be a "hangover" from the 2006 race, when top Democrats backed the Democratic nominee, Ned Lamont, rather than support Lieberman's Independent candidacy.

"I have the greatest respect for Joe, but I simply have to disagree with his decision to endorse Senator McCain," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, told CNN in a written statement.

Lieberman's office called Reid's office Sunday to inform the Democratic leader of his decision to endorse a Republican, a Reid spokesman said.

Lieberman and McCain co-sponsored the 2002 resolution that authorized the U.S. invasion of Iraq the following March, and Lieberman has remained a supporter of the nearly 5-year-old war in Iraq at a time when Democratic leaders are trying to bring the conflict to an end.

He had not planned to endorse anyone until after the primary season, but McCain asked for his endorsement a few days after the two men returned from a Thanksgiving trip to Iraq together, the aide said.

Lieberman: McCain can reunite our country - CNN.com

ExNavyAmerican · 12-19-2007, 08:11 AM

Even the democrats can't stand the democrats...

texacali · 12-21-2007, 01:25 AM

McCain is the only candidate who understands and personifies honor.

dalem · 12-21-2007, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texacali

McCain is the only candidate who understands and personifies honor.

So, by that statement are you implying that the rest of the candidates are NOT honorable?

-dale

ExNavyAmerican · 12-21-2007, 02:39 AM

The only way to "unite" the country is by providing a common front.

Can anyone think of such a front?

If McCain, in Lieberman's opinion, main quality is being able to unite the country, then I would like to hear how he plans to do that because Conservatives and Liberals disagree on everything from which store to go to, to foreign policy.

nizawa · 12-27-2007, 00:24 AM

Any one supports McCain is Okay with me.

FibrillatorD · 12-27-2007, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExNavyAmerican

The only way to "unite" the country is by providing a common front.

Can anyone think of such a front?

If McCain, in Lieberman's opinion, main quality is being able to unite the country, then I would like to hear how he plans to do that because Conservatives and Liberals disagree on everything from which store to go to, to foreign policy.

Yes, Iraq. A democratic president focused on winning could unite the country. Obama or Richardson could do it.

Joe Lieberman is only a nominal Democrat; he carries no no credibility in the Democratic base as near as I can tell. His endorsement of McCain is barely notable.

gunnut · 12-27-2007, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FibrillatorD

Yes, Iraq. A democratic president focused on winning could unite the country. Obama or Richardson could do it.

Joe Lieberman is only a nominal Democrat; he carries no no credibility in the Democratic base as near as I can tell. His endorsement of McCain is barely notable.

What exactly does Obama want to do with Iraq?

FibrillatorD · 12-28-2007, 23:40 PM

Obama's plan accounts for the big conclusions laid out by guys like General McCaffrey (McCaffrey's AAR of Iraq) which say "the Iraqis are the key variable" and that the "center of gravity" is now in training and equipping the Iraqi security forces. It uses incentives to protect the interests of the disaffected Sunnis, but otherwise it lets the Iraqis choose their own path.

Under a UN mandate a new constitutional convention convenese. At the same time, phased withdrawal commences at a pace of 1-2 combat brigades/month over 16 months. If the Iraqis make key reconciliations during these months (there are 13 benchmarks), then the drawdown would be temporarily paused.

A small permanent US force remains to protect our embassy, make surgical attacks on AQ, and train ISF. Otherwise, Afghanistan becomes the focus of military operations.

Almost every assessment made in the AAR is accounted for in some way by Obama's plan. And it swallows this very tough pill:

Quote:

The US must achieve our real political objectives to withdraw most US combat forces in the coming 36 months leaving in place:
1st: A stable Iraqi government.
2nd: A strong and responsive Iraqi security force.
3rd: A functioning economy.
4th: Some form of accountable, law-based government.
5th: A government with active diplomatic and security ties to its six neighboring states.

If you do the math, Obama's 16 month timeline falls into this 36 month picture with about a year to spare in case the Iraqis want our security services for that amount of time

12-19-2007, 08:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
ExNavyAmerican *Military Professional* Join Date: 03-02-07 Location: Ningbo, China Posts: 827 Country:	Even the democrats can't stand the democrats... __________________ "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." - Thomas Jefferson

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12-21-2007, 01:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
texacali Regular Join Date: 06-19-07 Location: breckenridge, texas Posts: 117 Country:	McCain is the only candidate who understands and personifies honor.

12-21-2007, 02:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
ExNavyAmerican *Military Professional* Join Date: 03-02-07 Location: Ningbo, China Posts: 827 Country:	The only way to "unite" the country is by providing a common front. Can anyone think of such a front? If McCain, in Lieberman's opinion, main quality is being able to unite the country, then I would like to hear how he plans to do that because Conservatives and Liberals disagree on everything from which store to go to, to foreign policy.

12-27-2007, 00:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
nizawa Regular Join Date: 12-23-06 Posts: 37	Any one supports McCain is Okay with me.

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