Hundreds attend vigil outside Joe Lieberman's home over health care
By scarce Tuesday Nov 17, 2009 3:00pmThis has to send a potent message to Lieberman. The symbolism is simply stunning. Rabbis protesting outside Joe Lieberman's home in Stamford? This from a man who nine years ago had huge approval ratings in his home state and was within a hair of becoming the first Jewish vice-president.
From the Danbury News Times.
STAMFORD -- Quietly holding candles, hundreds of clergymen, congregants and reform advocates lined the sidewalks outside Independent U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman's Stamford home Sunday night in a show of support for universal health care.
"When we heard not only would he vote against it, but he'd use his power, his position as a swing vote ... to block it from coming to a vote, we had to send a message so he knows people who vote overwhelmingly favor the public option," said Rabbi Stephen Fuchs, of Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford.
...
The vigil began at Stamford High School, Lieberman's alma mater, and ended at the senator's home, the Hayes House, across the street."In some sense, it's poetic," said Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, who attended the vigil. "The place where Sen. Joseph Lieberman received his high school education, the place he visited upon his announcement to seek the vice presidency, a place where his run for the presidency began -- and it just so happens, a place across the street from where he lives."
--Sen Joseph Lieberman, Nov 8, on Fox News Sunday.
Rabbi Fish of Beth El, in Norwalk, calls on Lieberman's conscience to do the right thing. His invocation of the Torah commandment (Lo taamod al dam reakha, "Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbors") was especially poignant.
"The moral imperative for our time is clear. Anyone whose guide in public policy is conscience, anyone who argues that faith and religious traditions should direct our actions, such a person must stand for universal health care in America," Fish concluded. "It happens we are all also citizens of Connecticut. That fact leads us to ask you Senator Lieberman, what is it that you stand for?"
An estimated crowd of 475 files out of Stamford High School to hold a candle light vigil outside of Sen. Joseph Lieberman's Strawberry Hill Ave. apartment building in Stamford, Conn. on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009 urging to withdraw his opposition to the public option in the health care reform bill. The event was held by the Interfaith Fellowship for Universal Health Care.
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Though such a beautiful and well-attended vigil may be doomed to failure if only because Lieberman is a bit lacking in the sympathy and heart department.
And I doubt there's a Wizard in Oz or anywhere else that can do a thing about it.
Lieberman is a sociopath and a narcissist, and he's got a predatory streak, too. He will never do the right thing as a result of the promptings of conscience - he's suppressed and beat his conscience into such submission that it's the same as if he were born without the capacity. The only way he, or people like him, ever do the right thing is when it becomes unavoidable in order to maintain a public pretense of being socially well adjusted...and that only in order to facilitate the continuance of sociopathic, self-serving and predatory behavior. He can only be effective as a successful sociopath or a successful predator when he can maintain an illusion of trustworthiness in the eyes of the people he uses, manipulates or preys upon; when his victims see him for what he really is, his behaviors largely fail. The only hope, then, is that he will realize that his chosen life's path is at risk, and that the public pretense that is his vain, narcissistic self-image has been pierced, to such point that he acts to try and salvage the situation. But, if he does so, it will only be so that he can continue to succeed at being the loathsome, self-serving, pathological opportunist we all know and hold in well-deserved contempt.
The man has so degraded himself over the years that I no longer believe he is capable of experiencing that sublime human capacity to know and be guided by a sense of shame. If anything good is going to come from him, it going to have to come out his his finely honed sense of self-service.
What about the blood of patriots signs? I just don't get it!
I suspect that that's because those individuals believe that Joe "Frak you, you and your sick, tired and poor huddled masses" Lieberman will listen to reason and act as if he actually represented them, as opposed to insurance companies.
Then there's that those of us on the Left (or those individuals with progressive tendencies) come off just a bit saner than the gun-wielding fools that one tends to read about doing such things.
Gee, this whole thing about being peaceful and quiet and heartfelt just doesn't seem MURRIKIN somehow.
of manure on his doorstep. It is peaceful, and it brings the point home.
The left in this country is beyond pathetic at this stage...
Lieberman is a schmuck.
But I think that the only way to get through to a republican rep is to scare the shit out of him! Why? Because they have done away with morality, honesty, honor, and integrity in place they have taken on greed. They no longer have any qualities of a human being!
republicanism/conservatism is a mental illness that is killing America!
Yep, they scare real easy too! If only we could explain to them how dangerous the Bushies are - they would freak right out.
Project,
I know you love using Right-wing tactics for effect, but by constantly dehumanizing Republicans and conservatives you become more like them. Just as torture isn't tolerable because the other side does it, dehumanizing and hate-mongering isn't OK just because they do it too.
We all have made jokes and even vented in anger at times, but with nearly every post you are a liberal Michael Savage with your "republicanism is a mental illness" tirade. None of us like the conservative movement or the Republican party, but I personally don't want liberal sites to become more and more like FreeRepublic or other conservative sites swamped with entire threads full of hate and insults. We came close in the initial hours of the Fort Hood shootings when many jumped to blaming conservatives for the shootings. I'd hate to see the trend continue.
Hear, hear. I got "the message" about 786 posts ago, now the finger reaches right for the "PgDn" key - which is a shame because s/he often has some useful insights.
You make a valid point, Stupid, but you assume that Project is dehumanizing when he says that Republicanism is a mental illness. I wouldn't go so far as to say that any American is "killing America" simply with political speech, but there may be some validity to the illness angle. After discussing many things with my father and brother, I've become convinced that their allegiance to the modern Republican party is in no small part due to their mental illness. Their illness is also manifest in their authoritarianism, tortured reverence for their fathers, religiosity, and overall frustration. It doesn't lead me to dehumanize them. On the contrary, I have more compassion for them given their diminished capacities. Ironically, of course, they refuse to demonstrate compassion, and they both have no insurance that covers mental health.
I don't project this to every Republican, but I wonder if it isn't a significant proportion.
Edit: on second reading, project is indeed dehumanizing. I still wonder how many of their base are mentally ill. I guess all political activists are somewhat narcissistic and irrational - hell, I was active in the Nader campaign, the ones that weren't high were loony! (just kidding)
THere is definitely a disconnect bordering on personality disorder in many cases. More often than not it comes from a lack of experience. My own mother was anti-immigration (mainly hispanic immigration) until she met an immigrant Mexican family while she was volunteering to help struggling young families. After getting to know them and hearing about the real issues they face becoming legal citizens she has changed her tune.
The trouble is getting people out of their bubbles and away from the TV news.
But I come to this conclusion after almost 50 years of talking and observation. It is not something that makes me feel good, but I have come up with no other way to explain the disconnect republicans have between perception and reality. Can you come up with another answer? What has caused all these people to abandon the values they had, and follow the sudo values put forth, by from what I can see every member of the republican leadership!
Why are people so willing to follow the insane ravings of bush/chenny over the brink and still not realize it?
If not insanity what?
republicanism/conservatism is a mental illness, and it is killing America!
morality, honesty, honor, and integrity . . . and it is up to Americans to choose the side with which they want to be associated. Most everything else is wasted effort. It is pre-teen drama vs. parental guidance, and I'm optimistic enough to believe our side will win.
And the problem is that any negative remark, no matter how valid and correct will be shown 24/7 along with the "why is the left so mean" schtick.
WTF? A candle-light demonstration or Nazi-wielding idiots. Peaceful demonstration or idiot demonstrations. I don't know maybe I'm wrong but peaceful works for me!......PEACE
It does not matter how peaceful it is. The media will either ignore it or point to any push, no matter how weak, as "proof" that Democrats/the left/non-Republicans are an unruly mob. Even if they have to make something up.
Look at "omg, the evil libs bit the guy's finger off" or the Kenneth Gladney frauds. Or any protest against invading Iraq.
who is a world-renowned Gestalt psychotherapist, we(all human beings) are "projecting" 80-90% of the time. That is, ascribing our own thoughts/feelings/fears/attitudes to others. Which basically means, that the fault we find in others is our own, just subconscious.
"If thou wouldst remove the speck from thy neighbor's eye, first remove the beam from thine own."
He was a smart guy.
Does Joe realize his soul is on the line?
He sold his soul a long time ago.
ahh crap - poor Joe - well they have to keep trying anyway, even though you're probably right - he has already shown his colors in other ways.
Does he claim to be religious?
Will he continue to pretend he is religious?
Will people allow him to keep pretending he is religious?
They're trying to redeem their own souls after voting for ol' Joe.
incapable of having empathy or feelings for anyone but himself and his own desire for power.
I spent a lot of time in those two cities. Now I know why I didn't like them.
These Rabbis better be careful, or I'm going to start respecting organized religion again. But of course Joe the Cowardly Lion will sanctimoniously pout that he knows what's better for his constituents than his constituents do, and that what ultimately matters is the money he and his wife get from the insurance industry.
"These Rabbis better be careful, or I'm going to start respecting organized religion again."
It is a respectful protest, isn't it? The absolute antithesis of the TeaBagger events.
I'm proud of them as fellow human beings. Haven't felt that in a while.
Good on the rabbis and the other protesters.
I mean come on why let a good opportunity go to waste!
Interfaith Fellowship for Universal Health Care i salute thee
This is so great to see. Fight back, people!
More, please!
Wtf is wrong with Lieberman? He must have developed cancervativeness at some point unfortunately. Even his own people remarkably are calling for him to do the moral thing, which is usually on the left.
Incapable of having empathy or feelings for anyone but himself and his own desire for power. Classic Sociopath.
ya a Republican
Wtf is wrong with Lieberman?
He's an asshole.
Because it occurs to me that, as beautiful a thing as this protest was, if he wasn't there to see it he probably will just shrug it off like the weaselly little turncoat he is.
However, it would be awesome if this sparked a wave and crowds of Jewish people started confronting him wherever he went.
declaring the Fort Hood attack is likely Islamist terrorism.
it either is, or it isn't, and it looks like it isn't. Joe is hoping to take political advantage if it is, but look how well his Republicans didn't handle the last terrorist attack and his argument goes flat. There will never be a good reason to elect incompetence.
Either way now that things are pretty complicated it is time to stop using the words "terrorist" and "terrorism" if you want to be understood.
There will never again be a good reason to elect a Republican.
Bush does not care
Cheney does not remember
BOMB IRAN!!!!!
That looks like quite the Mansion Joe lives in, and i bet he has more than one.
Nah. I estimate it at 50,000. Or maybe a million.
Using, of course, the counting methods of Holy Joe's preferred side of the aisle.
Did you see how big that street was? How long the walk is between the high school and his house? If they had aerial cameras trained on it (which they wouldn't, THANKS MAINSTREAM MEDIA) they would have seen it was the largest spontaneous gathering in recent history.
Too bad the gesture is wasted on Lieberman. The hundreds in attendance would have to slip slimy Joe at least 1k dollars a piece for him to consider changing his position.
if joe's insistence on doing everything in his power to kill the public option isn't disgusting enough, consider this debate from 2004:
Q: How would your health plan improve insurance coverage for the new generation?
LIEBERMAN: There is a morally scandalous fact-that that 43 million Americans don't have health insurance, 2 million more than when George Bush became president. I'm proposing to create a national health insurance pool like the one that members of Congress get our insurance from. If you don't have insurance now, you'll be able to get it, probably free, if you're among the low-income working poor. If you're a child, you will be covered by insurance at birth. If you are fired from your work or lose your job, you will not lose your health insurance. MediKids is part of my program. Every child born in America will become a member of MediKids, and it will cover them from birth through 25. Why 25? Because young adults have a hard time affording health insurance, and a lot of them think they're not going to get sick, but they do, and we need to cover them.
Source: Democratic 2004 Primary Debate at St. Anselm College Jan 22, 2004
But HIS votes go the healthcare companies that donate the most to him. I hope the voters of Connecticut remember next year.
BTW, this is one of the most impressive and dignified demonstrations I have ever seen. I doubt that the quiet emotions expressed will move Joe's heart, however, as it has turned to stone.
I think initiating the "Lieberman Option" is a better option--send all your unpaid medical bills to the good Senator.
Joe should just be aware of the price of blocking health-care reform: retirement from the Senate to an overpaid insurance lobbyist job.
No I think that Joe will be off to Israel for his retirement..
or conscience. He works for the health insurance companies. The people of CT (for some unexplained reason) voted him in, but he doesn't take orders from them.
I'll never complain about this type of crusade. :)
I remember back in the early 90's, while running the streets of NY and listening to "Stern". He said one time, that "shame" was a vehicle often used to display a fellowships position on an issue. It will be interesting to see if this has any effect.
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Among the larger companies with headquarters in Stamford are Thomson Corporation, World Wrestling Entertainment, Time Warner Cable, Tasty Bite and Pitney Bowes. UBS also has its North American headquarters here and its trading floor holds the Guinness World Record as the largest column-less trading floor in the world. Royal Bank of Scotland moved its North American operations into Stamford in 2009, including its RBS Greenwich Capital subsidiary.
i would have preferred a good old fashioned abbie hoffman exorcism by trying to levitate the leiberman out of washington
You are confusing Abbie Hoffman with Allen Ginsberg. Peace.
"This was only a small minority of people when you compare it to the Teabaggers. They were also very quiet and peaceful, which suggests healthcare is not that important to them. The Teabaggers are passionate.
Sorry folks. Joe's not home. He's out planting a tree in Israel.
And now he's going to torpedo the public option.
Don't you get it yet? Holy Joe was never a Democrat. Hell, I don't think he's even an American. Joe Lieberman has always been a not-too secret agent for Israel's Likud party. This schmuck has been getting his marching orders from right-wing Israeli neocons since he first ran for office.
Where's my evidence? Check the lipstick stains on Dick Cheney's cheek. Same brand you'll find on Benny Netanyahu's ring.
The abortion restrictions aren't going away. There is no sign of a stronger public option coming into play, as the current one is all but an illusion of a public option. The mandate is still in play and that's a no go without a for all public option. The corporate welfare in this bill is insane. The cost controls are few and far in between.
This bill is a steaming pile of horse#$#@ and we are worring about votes.
We just need to figure out how to get Israel to tell Joe to support a public option.
I think they did, didn't they....
I meant a public option here, not there.
I think that Joe the LIEbeman is toast.
Ya, on the inside.
I'm am not going to argue for even a second that Lieberman is not a miserable, sniveling, self-serving bag of shit who should be dropped naked into a Al Qaeda training camp.
I will argue until out of breath that his blocking this disastrous legislation is, ironically, the best possible thing he could do. If it fails it will protect citizens and taxpayers from the disaster that is sure to follow. There is nothing in this legislation (either the house or the senate versions - both written by insurance lobbyists) to make it worth voting for or signing into law.
Obama will sign whatever lands on his desk as long as REFORM is written on the cover. We don't need 2,000 pages of lobbyist-written corporate welfare to reform health care - we need 27 pages: HR 676.
the Republicans sure want to destroy the intent of the reform and their amendments should be stripped.
If this POS fails, it gives us another chance to go for HR-676 or Bernie Sanders' Senate equivalent...after some of these corrupt so-called "representatives" have been booted out of office in 2010. What these crooked asshats are calling reform is an obscenity and an insult to the American People. It may qualify as one of the biggest betrayals Congress has ever attempted to foist on the country. It needs to fail and we deserve to have another shot at it after a bit of house cleaning.
these people were just confused.
Those poor people, don't they know that Lieberman knows best?
...for insurance companies.
Send money to his opponent next election.
Send note to the DNC to find Dem opponent.
Send check to the DNC to fund opponent.
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