Cory Booker's weekend in Connecticut

I was pretty disappointed about Booker, too. (0.00 / 0)

He should be focusing on Newark. (Also because I'm a big fan of Ned.) That said, I have no problem with people who choose to support either side. The problem I have is when poeple don't promise to support the primary winner. Isn't that the whole freaking idea of a primary? Lieberman should have either run as an independent or run as a Democrat, not both. (Kind of like VP or Senator, huh?)

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by: Sidd Finch @ Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 13:14:07 PM UTC

Lamont seems so far out on this one (0.00 / 0)

that some of these supporters are showing some 'loyalty' but won't effect the outcome.  Chief among them is Bill Clinton.  He'll support Lieberman but when Lamont wins, watch him be the first Democrat to tell Joe to get out of the race.

myhistorycanbeatupyourpolitics.blogspot.com

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by: underdogdemocrat @ Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 15:05:38 PM UTC

it's his prerogative.... (0.00 / 0)

...to stump for whomever he wants.  but he should be ready to take take whatever PR hit comes with it.

I totally understand Elanor Holmes going up to stump for Joe, afterall she is a "shadow" rep for Washington DC with no vote in the House....so she's worthless.  Booker on the other hand has plently on his plate at the moment that he could have made a different political calculation (and stayed home) and not left so many of the people who busted their butts to get him elected scratching their heads.


activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 15:39:41 PM UTC

No "e" in Cory (0.00 / 0)

Intrepid Blue Jersey person reporting in, and I can report two facts from the ground:

Fact #1: Nobody up here knows who Cory Booker is yet. This is much bigger news in NJ than it is in CT, even though he was with Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Fact #2: None of the papers up here know it's not spelled "Corey."

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 15:54:10 PM UTC

Sad State of NJ Politics (0.00 / 0)

It's a reflection of the poverty of NJ Democratic achievements that Cory Booker is sent to Connecticut, even though his only achievement (so far) is to defeat an extremely corrupt mayor.  I fully expect and hope that in a few years, Cory will be a big success story for NJ Dems, but currently, why should anyone in CT be influenced by Cory as to who will best serve Connecticut?

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by: princetonblue @ Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 16:04:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It reminds me of that line... (0.00 / 0)

...from Polyseter when Cuddles says to Francine, "Goddam these  common Baltimore* public schools!  God I wish I lived in Connecticut!

*or in this case Newark

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 16:17:09 PM UTC

Independent run (0.00 / 0)

I disagree with Booker and I think the case for Lamont is clear, but it is just the primary and we should allow for differences of opinion.  If Lamont wins tomorrow, though, I think (and hope) that Lieberman will face some big-time pressure from all of his Dem supporters not to run as an independent.  Because after the primary, a clear choice will exist between supporting what's best for the Democratic party and supporting what's best for Joe Lieberman.  Some pundits will no doubt rationalize that a Lieberman independent win would be "best for the party," but the facts are indisputable that a race between Lamont and the weak Republican Schlesinger would be far preferable to a three-way race that pits liberals against each other for three more months and sucks up money and media attention.  People supporting Lieberman if he loses tomorrow will have a lot of explaining to do.

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by: AmadeusNJ @ Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 17:36:49 PM UTC

Lieberman Could Run As A Republican (0.00 / 0)

While the independent route is clearly the more likely one for Joe Lieberman after he loses to Ned Lamont in tomorrow's primary, I think that with Alan Schlesinger running a distant third behind both Lamont and Lieberman in every poll, there is at least a 40% chance that CT GOP's Central Committee and possibly the RSCC will try to figure out how to get him out of the way and give the Republican nomination to Lieberman.

Knowing that most of both Lamont and Lieberman voters will be voting for Democrats up and down the ballot, they know that Lieberman will be much better for their overall chances this November than Schlesinger, who is currently embroiled in a scandal over gambling debts, not a good quality in a state that prides itself on its legal gambling.

If/when that offer is made, I am willing to bet Alan Schlesinger or anybody else, that Lieberman accepts it, changing the November dynamic completely.

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by: taxandspendliberal @ Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 18:08:43 PM UTC

nah (0.00 / 0)

I think you're far too mired in anti-Lieberman mode if you actually believe he'll join the Republican party.  It just wouldn't happen-- he is ideologically a Democrat (if you look at his votes) and he knows that the Senate is at stake here.  Running as a Republican is a FAR bigger betrayal than running as an independent and saying you'll vote with Dems if elected-- even Zell Miller and Jim Jeffords didn't actually switch parties, because switching parties is a really big deal.

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by: AmadeusNJ @ Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 19:30:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

does anyone in Conn even know who Cory is?? (0.00 / 0)

doesn't matter, but nice try Joe.  Say, where is Al Sharpton & Jesse on this race? understand they are with Lamont.

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by: FlamingModerate @ Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 19:56:15 PM UTC

How much do _we_ know about Cory Booker in NJ? (0.00 / 0)

How do we know Cory Booker isn't a DLC-type Democrat?

Also, someone upthread said Booker's main claim to fame is he defeated a corrupt incumbent. That's not entirely accurate. Sharpe James dropped out of the race, remember?

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by: pyounghouse @ Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 20:00:42 PM UTC

Star-Ledger's in the tank for Lieberman too (0.00 / 0)

When, in a front page story, they say:

“For prospective Democratic candidates, a Lieberman defeat will signal that sharp anti-war sentiment, similar to that of the Vietnam era, could dominate the nominating process in 2006 and push the party dangerously far to the left.” (Emphasis Added)

For more on John Farmer's Lamont-itis, see City Belt's Media Massage.

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by: City Belt @ Mon Aug 07, 2006 at 20:23:45 PM UTC

Courting the black vote? (0.00 / 0)

Wow this is really a low blow if you ask me. Fist off, this ought to be a sign that Booker is one of two things. A DLC type Democrat, or a DLC type Democrat.

It also means that he is willing to be a political tool for courting the black vote for any "centrist" willing to dig this deep.

I don't know how many white people know who Cory Booker is but I am pretty sure lots of african-american's in Connecticut do know who he is.

Either way anyone who watched him and didn't think "I can't believe this guy came all the way from Newark to pump up this old white dude?" probably deserves another Lieberman term.

Lamont all the way kids. I am sure whatever "Booker effect" will be negligible.

PS. I tried to find a money link but couldn't so we know he wasn't bought. Which says something decent about Booker. At least he isn't for sale (yet). Who knows, maybe Lieberman promised him some money.

Media In Trouble

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by: Media In Trouble @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 04:15:37 AM UTC

I wouldn't conclude too quickly that Booker is not for sale (0.00 / 0)

At least according to The Black Commentator, who says Booker is a tool of the super-rich, evidenced by his long support of school vouchers schemes:
http://www.blackcomm...

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by: pyounghouse @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 12:36:47 PM UTC

Booker (0.00 / 0)

That Black Commentator piece on Booker has been around for awhile--seems that if there was really an issue, something new would have come out by now...JMHO, though...

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by: RedDesert @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 14:29:43 PM UTC

Booker is good for Newark... (3.00 / 1)

...or at the very least, he and is peers that are running the city at the moment, are far better than the crooks who were running it a few months ago.

Cory has developed very strong relationships with Jewish leaders throughout the country and they have been extremely supportive of him from the very beginning.  I think that his decision to help Lieberman has more to do with returning a favor than an actual preference for Lieberman over Lamont and should not be read as him personally supporting the War in Iraq.  Even Ned Lamont would argue that the race between Lamont and Lieberman is about more than just the war.

If at some point in the future, Cory decides to run for the State Senate or Governor, I think that he should be judged by his record in Newark, not his decision to campaign for Joe Lieberman.  That said, I think the families in Newark who have young men and women fighting and dying in Iraq would be more than justified if they were upset by Cory's decision to campaign for the war's top Democratic supporter.

White suburbanite progressives, whose only stake in the race is ideological should probably look at the bigger picture and cut Cory some slack.  As much as I cannot stand Lieberman, I still think Cory is a good guy and he is going to have to do a lot more wrong than campaign for Lieberman before he loses my support.

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by: taxandspendliberal @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 14:47:42 PM UTC

campaigning for lieberman... (0.00 / 0)

....isn't gonna be what Cory Booker is remembered for.

But his actions did raise some eyebrows and it's fair to question the motives of his choice.

Jay

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 15:55:34 PM UTC

It's time for him to go! (0.00 / 0)

From The New York Times story, August 8, 2006:

“More than in recent days, the senator came across as both contrite and self-satisfied yesterday."

Contrite and smug at the same time.  Nice job, Joe.

"He lamented that he had not "clarified" his criticism of the war and the White House earlier, but he also argued that Republicans were "salivating" over the possibility that Democrats would pick an antiwar liberal instead of Mr. Lieberman....'They are anxious to say the left wing is taking over, the antisecurity wing,’ Mr. Lieberman said of Republicans.”

How dare he call us “anti-security”!! 

And then he is quoted in The Nation as saying, “I not only respect your right to disagree or question the President, I value it.”

Sure.  Thanks, Joe.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."  (Teddy Roosevelt)

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by: DottieG @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 17:32:11 PM UTC

Forget Farmer-see Mulshine (0.00 / 0)

I just finished reading Paul Mulshine's op-ed in today's Star-Ledger--he's a libertarian/conservative.  Enjoy!

http://www.nj.com/co...

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."  (Teddy Roosevelt)

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by: DottieG @ Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 18:59:44 PM UTC