no matter what I say, I mean it in a nice way
Ned Lamont will debate Alan Schlesinger tonight in Hamden at Quinnipiac University. Joe Lieberman has been invited, and even though he agreed to another debate, he’s declined to participate tonight.
Cluck Cluck Cluck
Is Joe Lieberman too chicken to debate?
Ned Lamont and Alan Schlesinger have agreed to a fourth debate on Nov. 2nd at Quinnipiac University in Hamden. Joe Lieberman, who on the stage at the Oct. 23rd debate said that he wished there were more debates, has declined.
Lamont and Republican Alan Schlesinger, meanwhile, have accepted an invitation to a fourth debate Thursday, but Lieberman declined. His press secretary, Tammy Sun, said the campaign was sticking to the agreement to hold three debates.
It was unclear whether the debate at Quinnipiac University, which would be televised live by WTIC-TV, Channel 61, would go forward without Lieberman.
Being a minor party candidate, his decision to not participate won’t preclude the debate from going forward. Despite what the Courant article cited above says, as noted on the official Ned Lamont blog:
Let me be clear, this debate will proceed whether or not Joe Lieberman accepts the invitation. We do, however, expect Joe to attend since he gave every indication he was willing to continue debating when Alan Schlesinger raised the question infront of a live television audience at the third debate last week.
I think that MikeCT’s video speaks for itself. Here is the contact info provided in his diary at MLN:
WFSB TV
News Department:866-289-0333
newsdesk3@wfsb.comWTIC AM
News Department: 860-677-6700
wticnews@cbs.com
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Or just click here to download. Please mirror or share if you can.
Hat tip to JET_powered in the comments of the previous debate post (at My Left Nutmeg) for pointing out the official Ned Lamont blog’s statement (emphasis added):
Two quick points before I head down to the post-debate conference.
1.) Joe dug his heels in on Iraq. Remember during the June debate when Joe said things were getting better in Iraq? Well… different story tonight.
2.) Charles, a campaign staffer and LamontBlogger, is actually the guy who helped physically remove the heckler from the hall. Our staffer.
Update: I just heard from someone who is THERE that the hecklers were hanging around outside after the debate with a LaRouche PAC banner.
The hecklers were not Lamont supporters, and were in fact removed with help from a Lamont staffer, Charles, of the official blog.
Update II: Hat tip to MikeCT for pointing me to Genghis at CLP, confirming that the hecklers were LaRouche (NOT Lamont) supporters:
[A] group of LaRouche supporters started singing an insulting and loud song about Lieberman when the senator was speaking. The first happened during a routine answer to the question: the second during Lieberman’s closing statement. All the candidates asked the hecklers to stop, and audience members started shouting for them to shut up.
Update III: The first MSM report, from The Day:
The senator raised a finger to his lips to quiet the crowd, when a small clutch of people – who later said they were supporters of LaRouche – stood and began to sing to the senator, over the increasingly angry complaints of the rest of the crowd.
To keep things simple for myself, I’m just going to update this post while I “live” blog the debate. Newest stuff on top, which is to say immediately below this.
8:49
“We should be bringing our troops home to the heroes welcome that they deserve. [Senator Lieberman's WSJ Op-ed] was wrong then and it’s wrong now.” – Ned Lamont
“I am not for stay the course” – Joe Lieberman, distorting his own record.
Seventh Question: Alan Schlesinger, how do you feel about gays in the military?
Alan Schlesinger: There should be no discrimination whatsoever
Joe Lieberman: I opposed it. I voted against it. It should be reconsidered.
Ned Lamont: I would revisit the policy as well.
Closing Statements
Joe Lieberman: Interrupted again by singing and etc. (I look forward to reading reports about that shit.) Bipartisanship. Sub Base. You know the drill.
Alan Schlesinger: All about Joe Lieberman. Discouraging Republicans from voting for Lieberman based on Social Security.
Ned Lamont: Call for change. Best hope for the future. Nov. 7
8:45
“Senator, it’s not negative, we’re just using your video, your words” – Ned Lamont to Joe Lieberman
Alan challenges Ned and Lieberman to one more debate. Nice.
Sixth Question: Ned Lamont, regarding Lieberman’s Nov. 2005 WSJ op-ed, do you think that progress has disappeared in Iraq?
Perfect question for Ned, because as he says it’s one of the things that inspired him to get into the race.
8:38
Fifth Question: Ned Lamont, what percent of the information in the TV ads is true?
More anti-Ned bullshit from Mark Davis.
Ned brings it back to the issues, and suggests that viewers might check out the candidates’ websites to determine what kind of campaign each is running. Ned, of course, is proud of his campaign. Ned eventually answers the question that he stands by the ads 100%.
Alan zings Joe with a bipartisan line, and brings up a good point about how much money is being spent on a campaign. Talking a little sense, Alan is speaking about electoral reform and a level playing field.
Joe steps up to answer the question, and attacks Ned. “If I were still Atty. General I would have sued you for unfair trade practices.” – Joe Lieberman
People are singing and chanting. I can’t tell what it is, but Joe’s rattled now!
8:31
Fourth Question: Senator Lieberman, how do you react to the assessment that the U.S. is disregarding the rule of law re: torture, wiretaps?
“I want our government to be listening in on phone conversations that suspected terrorists are having.” – Senator Lieberman
“[Senator Lieberman] talks about bipartisanship, but we also need checks and balances.” – Ned Lamont
“First we have to protect ourselves, then we have to make sure that individual rights are not abused.” – Alan Schlesinger
8:27
“Every day that we’re there, every day that George Bush and Joe Lieberman say ’stay the course’, the world is more dangerous” – Ned Lamont
8:19
Lieberman addresses the healthcare question first by attacking Ned, then by going back to the 90s. Now Joe wants to make it personal. He met one couple in Hamden who had to drop insurance to pay for college.
Oh. Did Joe make it 2 full minutes without talking about partisan polarization? Shit, I need to chug this beer.
Third Question: Alan Schlesinger, how do you view the “good versus evil” language of the adminstration when it comes to terrorism?
Well, says Alan, it’s about illegal immigration. G. Steph. calls out Alan on the off-topic answer and then Schlesinger goes on with his “give ‘em the boot” stance on immigration. Alan Schlesinger is officially a reprehensible Republican.
And now that Joe is answering the question, I’m betting that he’ll turn “good versus evil” into “partisan versus non-partisan”.
8:12
Second Question: Ned Lamont, is Senator Dodd a bad guy for not doing anything about healthcare for the past 25 years?
Wow, there’s nothing like showing yer true colors as a Lieber-shill is there Mark Davis?
Lamont addresses healthcare, and where Lieberman/Schlesinger differ from him. Check out Ned Lamont’s healthcare plan.
Another zinger from Schlesinger. I wonder if playing the “funny guy” is going to actually win him any votes?
8:08
The crowd sounds pretty anti-Joe. Couple that with the kiss float, and it may get to Holy Joe.
“I don’t think it’s bi-partisan to rubberstamp…” – Ned Lamont
Wow…Ned is on FIRE. I can’t sum it up.
Alan Schlesinger calls Iraq a political problem, not a military problem.
8:00
What the– “Citizens for Lieberman” party?
Another cumulative time debate, like the one last week in Stamford. Hopefully Lieberman won’t suck up all the time in the beginning.
First Question: Senator Lieberman, how would failure in Iraq affect our national interests around the world?
And he’s not answering the question. He’s talking about the problems in Washington–you guessed it–PARTISANSHIP! Joe is saying anything and everything except answering the damn question. OH, it was an opening statement!
“No one wants to end the war…more than I do. That is a fact” – Senator Lieberman
If it’s a fact, I urge part o’ the problem Joe to demonstrate it.
Here’s the new and improved kiss float:
