You strike me as a smart and noble man. For the good of the party, please drop out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination now.
Your loss in New Hampshire, which you spin as a "statistical dead heat for third place" but which was in reality a fifth-place finish, counts you out of the running. You skipped Iowa to put your eggs in the New Hampshire basket, even going so far as to move your personal residence to the latter state. It didn't work. The support base is too weak. It's time to withdraw.
What do you hope to achieve by hanging in there? Preventing the party from drifting too far to the left? More disheartening losses on your part could actually cause a shift to the left, as the media portrays your centrist views as out of touch with the Democratic mainstream.
In fact, by overstaying in the race, you do the party appreciable harm. If you continue to draw 8 to 10 percent of the votes and never come near the nomination, you deprive your supporters of a chance to vote for their second choices, who may very well be among the three or four real candidates left in the race. I doubt that many of your backers would vote for Dean, and so your continued presence on the ballot does nothing more than obscure the party's overall enthusiasm for Sens. Kerry or Edwards (or perhaps Gen. Clark).
I look forward to seeing you celebrate the eventual nominee at the convention. I know we will stand with you in working for the Democratic candidate in the general election. But right now, we need you to do what Congressman Gephardt did: Bow out gracefully. Allow all the voters, even those who would vote for you in an ideal world, to show their preference among the more viable contenders in the field.
Thank you.
Comments (4)
I watched the Nightline version of the NH debate last week and I was so annoyed with Lieberman and his comments on Iraq. He is providing major cover for Bush, who is very vulnerable on the issue. I don't think I could vote for him if he somehow got the nomination, and I'm certain I'm not alone in feeling that way. The sooner he gets out of the race, the better for the eventual nominee.
it's all about beating herr bush this time, about getting a democrat in the white house. sometimes that justifies a candidate staying in the race, like sharpton, who admits to being in the race to get some people excited about the race that otherwise would not be. but with lieberman, like gephardt, sometimes it's better for the party for the candidate to bow out. joe's gotta go.
» Flotsam from My Whim Is Law
(I'm zooming on a combination of great french press coffee and 12-hour Aleve Cold & Sinus - you've been warned!) A few random thoughts, observations and/or teasers for upcoming entries: - Jack Bog's on the money about Lieberman. Now if... [Read More]
Charamba, Douro 2008
Horse Heaven Hills, Cabernet 2010
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills Pinot Grigio 2011
Avignonesi, Montepulciano 2004
Lorelle, Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2011
Villa Antinori, Toscana 2007
Mercedes Eguren, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Lorelle, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2011
Purple Moon, Merlot 2011
Purple Moon, Chardonnnay 2011
Abacela, Vintner's Blend No. 12
Opula Red Blend 2010
Liberte, Pinot Noir 2010
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Indian Wells Red Blend 2010
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2011
King Estate, Pinot Noir 2011
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages 2010
Columbia Crest, Les Chevaux Red 2010
14 Hands, Hot to Trot White Blend
Familia Bianchi, Malbec 2009
Terrapin Cellars, Pinot Gris 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2009
Campo Viejo, Rioja, Termpranillo 2010
Ravenswood, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2010
Waterbrook, Reserve Merlot 2009
Lorelle, Horse Heaven Hills, Pinot Grigio 2011
Tarantas, Rose
Chateau Lajarre, Bordeaux 2009
La Vielle Ferme, Rose 2011
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio 2011
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir 2009
Lello, Douro Tinto 2009
Quinson Fils, Cotes de Provence Rose 2011
Anindor, Pinot Gris 2010
Buenas Ondas, Syrah Rose 2010
Les Fiefs d'Anglars, Malbec 2009
14 Hands, Pinot Gris 2011
Conundrum 2012
Condes de Albarei, Albariño 2011
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2007
Penelope Sanchez, Garnacha Syrah 2010
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2007
Atalaya do Mar, Godello 2010
Vega Montan, Mencia
Benvolio, Pinot Grigio
Nobilo Icon, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 2009
Portuga, Rose 2011
Revelation, Chardonnay, Pays d'Oc 2010
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 2005
Monte Alto, Tinto Reserva 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2009
Espiral, Vinho Rose
Vin-Koru, Pinot Gris 2011
14 Hands, Hot to Trot Red 2009
Rodney Strong, Cabernet, Sonoma 2009
Abacela, Vintner's Blend #11
Portuga, White 2010
La Bourgeoisie, Red 2009
Januik, Red 2009
Three Rivers, River's Red 2008
Kirkland, Alexander Valley Merlot 2008
Muga, Rioja Rose 2010
Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
The Occasional Book
Hope Larson - A Wrinkle in Time, the Graphic Novel
Rudyard Kipling - Kim
Peter Ames Carlin - Bruce
Fran Cannon Slayton - When the Whistle Blows
Neil Young - Waging Heavy Peace
Mark Bego - Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul (2012 ed.)
Jenny Lawson - Let's Pretend This Never Happened
J.D. Salinger - Franny and Zooey
Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol
Timothy Egan - The Big Burn
Deborah Eisenberg - Transactions in a Foreign Currency
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. - Slaughterhouse Five
Kathryn Lance - Pandora's Genes
Cheryl Strayed - Wild
Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The Brothers Karamazov
Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt
Road Work
Miles run year to date: 29
At this date last year: 66
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In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269
Comments (4)
I watched the Nightline version of the NH debate last week and I was so annoyed with Lieberman and his comments on Iraq. He is providing major cover for Bush, who is very vulnerable on the issue. I don't think I could vote for him if he somehow got the nomination, and I'm certain I'm not alone in feeling that way. The sooner he gets out of the race, the better for the eventual nominee.
Posted by TimC | January 29, 2004 1:44 PM
C'mon Jack, stop killing the "Joe-mentum".
Posted by Alpal | January 29, 2004 10:59 PM
Lieberman's still my favorite, but that's probably because I'm not very far to the left. He should drop out.
He'd make a great vice-presidential candidate though (again)...
Posted by Gordo | January 30, 2004 5:09 PM
it's all about beating herr bush this time, about getting a democrat in the white house. sometimes that justifies a candidate staying in the race, like sharpton, who admits to being in the race to get some people excited about the race that otherwise would not be. but with lieberman, like gephardt, sometimes it's better for the party for the candidate to bow out. joe's gotta go.
Posted by forpollaw | January 30, 2004 8:53 PM