Kiss Of Death

I certainly do hope Lieberman’s career ends today. I appreciate the fact that this primary race symbolizes larger trends, and that’s sort of what worries me. As reported yesterday on Democracy Now:

Lamont has campaigned as an anti-war candidate but he has openly joined Lieberman in supporting Israel’s attacks on Lebanon. Lamont said “when Israel’s security is threatened, the United States must unambiguously stand with our ally to be sure that it is safe and secure.”

If Ned Lamont were in Lieberman’s shoes this summer, he certainly would have joined his 99 colleagues in the Senate in approving the Bush Administration’s stance of doing nothing while Hezbollah and Israel lob rockets at people. I’ve not been following this race closely, but it seems to me that for all the goodness that will come of firing Joe Lieberman, it’s far too little, far too late. Seems to be a trademark of the Democratic Party.

To give a view from a small town in Connecticut, I can confirm that the majority of my left leaning friends are voting for Lamont (myself included). Our vote is primarily driven by our anti-war sentiments and our deep seated anger at anything or anyone connected to George Bush. We have been enraged that our Democratic senator has been helping to carry out the war in Iraq, the biggest disaster for American interests in over a century. Lieberman’s continued support for the Iraq war and his lack of contrition for all the lies and mistakes that have made in the name of our country is the real poison pill for his campaign. Most Lamont voters don’t know very much about him, they only want to have the chance to throw Joe Leiberman out and put someone who will vigorously oppose the war in his place. Centrist Democrats feel the same way, but are waffling because they are afraid that replacing a well placed senior senator with a freshman will hurt our local interests.
Well, time to hop on my bike and pedal down to the local elementary school to fire a shot against tyranny!

Frankly, I’m surprised that the homophobic right haven’t squealed like a pig at the implication of this button.
I have always wondered if the pic is photshopped [seems to be alot of that going on these days ] because how stupid is it for a male politician to kiss another male politician ON THE LIPS in front of cameras?? Especially if they are *both* Republicans??
I was watching the late show with Craig Ferguson last night and he and Steve Carrell kissed on the lips as a huge joke. It was funny and entirely appropriate. The Bush/Lieberman kiss looks just awkward as hell. Bush seems to be leaning as if he is going to whisper a few words and Lieberman’s expression seems to say, “Is he trying to kiss me? Oh, well, okay.”
Suppose Bush was drunk?

Kier > “Seems to be a trademark of the Democratic Party.”
As a foreign observer I’ve had difficult separating the two parties on major issues, with respect to my immediate cousins and friends in the U.S.A., politics appears to be a game of musical chairs or of being polite, as in who gets in the remaining life boats from the Titanic. “A Kiss of Death”, if one is to believe opinion polls, is the way much of the world presently views the US, very sad indeed.

Joe and George seems to live in a similar type of bubble – they have something in common – denial (for self-interest, of course.) That’s why that “kiss” is so damned offensive – that a Democrat would be so Republican-like.

…it would be an elegant strategy simply to remove Lieberman’s face, and stick the local Republican congressional candidate’s mug there instead.
Perhaps a bit of justice too. The Gay Marriage Golem that stayed the tide in 2004 is now outside the tent pissin’ in (to morph metaphors). How do the Loyal 30% respond to the homosex bits of The Kiss? Is the Decider marking territory, making Joe-Nertia his bitch?
Frankly, I’m surprised that the homophobic right haven’t squealed like a pig at the implication of this button.
Cue Dueling Banjos.

Most of you have probably seen the float that was debuted in a CT 4th parade.
It’s now following Joe around while he campaigns. Chuckle, chuckle.
In case you missed it here are some good photos …
http://ctbob.blogspot.com/2006/07/joe-vs-kiss-float.html
After Joe, let’s replace the other 99 as well!
They have all failed us. On so many levels.

I have always wondered if the pic is photshopped [seems to be alot of that going on these days ] because how stupid is it for a male politician to kiss another male politician ON THE LIPS in front of cameras??
1) it was on the cheek, not the lips
2) definitely not photoshopped, as this was live on national TV (after the State of the Union perhaps? can’t remember for sure) — very much emblematic of how Bush sees Joe as his pet Democrat, who will sell out his own party (over and over) to curry favor.
but I don’t think it would work for other candidates — the morphing of one face into another might, but this kiss was a real televised moment, and was symbolic not just of closeness to the president but specifically in a Judas-like way of Lieberman’s betrayal of his own party for personal gain. it’s all about Joe, and would thus ring false if used for anybody else.
throw him into the volcano, Ned!

mahstuh’sbait’n'breath

Well, BAG, I hope you’re correct that the Democratic leadership is catching the drift, but that remains to be seen. Mainline chatter still has it all about the war in Iraq, when it’s truely about the end of our republic. I’m waiting for mainline chatter to be about the Constitution, frankly.
The fact that even Lamont can’t announce that Israel is America’s “mean fist” in the middle east is the result of 60 years of the one-sided view that we were doing good by supporting the creation of that state for the lives and safety of European Jewery. Our uncritical support of Israel has sown what we are now reaping will take at least a few months of reality to undo before this can become an open topic. Even bombing the WTC didn’t make a dent. Maybe a few Maronite Christians dying in Lebanon will make a difference to evangelicals.

The first thing that came to my mind was a ‘Judas Kiss’. Thing is neither one is playing the part of a “Christ”. Both are traitors to their parties and country.
Second thought was along the lines of mobsters greeting one another.

Video of the kiss

It official, Lamont won and guess what, Lieberman is running as an “independent” (or as a pseudo-republican). As a Puerto Rican, I am produ to see that American politics have reached the depths of our colonial politics. It all about the power baby, pure and simple! Now give me a kiss!

It official, Lamont won and guess what, Lieberman is running as an “independent” (or as a pseudo-republican). As a Puerto Rican, I am proud to see that American politics have reached the depths of our colonial politics. (P.R. politics are notoriously dirty, but then they have to be in an colonial atmosphere) Its all about the power baby, pure and simple! Now give me a kiss!

itwasntme: “Maybe a few Maronite Christians dying in Lebanon will make a difference to evangelicals.”
I doubt it. The evangelicals couldn’t care less about the Palestinian Christians. Or the Iraqi Christians, half of whom have fled… many to Syria, where there is also a significant number of Christians. Many of them speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus, and consider themselves the descendants of the original Christians, and they don’t understand why the evangelicals ignore them.
I don’t know much about Lamont outside of what I’ve read here, although I do know more about Lieberman. I think that button is very effective, but only in this particular race. But I was amazed that Lieberman declared a while ago – long before any votes were cast – that if he lost, he’d run as an Independent. I guess running as an Independent is not that unusual in Connecticut, but that seemed pretty childish to me.

“metamorph-in-fixes” arf!arf!

Ummabdulla:
Its called been a sore (self centered, greedy)looser, in any state of the Union.

Yeah, I saw the “soreLoserman” name given to him.