I really think they need to stop putting a "D" next to Lieberman's name

He is against both Democratic plans for troop withdrawal:

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, D-Conn., plans to vote against both Democratic amendments calling for a troop withdrawal from Iraq.

Lieberman, who expects to announce his position later today, would be the first Democratic senator to oppose both measures now before the Senate.

Votes are expected Thursday. One resolution would call on the White House to begin phased redeployment of troops from Iraq this year, and to submit a plan to Congress by the end of the year for "continued phased redeployment."

The other measure, which is expected to gain little support even among Democrats, would have President Bush pull all troops out of Iraq by July 1, 2007.

Lieberman is expected to say he believes the U. S. cannot stay indefinitely in Iraq, and cannot write a blank check for its support. But, he plans to say, withdrawal of troops must be based on conditions on the ground, not fixed dates.

His colleague, Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., said today he would back the phased redeployment plan.

Ned Lamont supports phased redeployment (Levin-Reed Amendment). From Lamont's site:

Currently, our troops are stuck in a bloody civil war in Iraq, with no exit strategy. The violence continues unabated and the continued presence of our forces with no sign of a reduction fuels the insurgency and further destabilizes the region. President Bush and his allies believe American troops should stay in Iraq indefinitely – he said that it would be an issue for “future Presidents and future governments of Iraq.”

“I support the Levin-Reed Amendment on U.S. Policy in Iraq, and I urge Senator Lieberman to do the same.

“It represents the minimum needed, but will build a Democratic coalition to establish and stick to a plan to end the war.

“The three main provisions of the Amendment – expediting the transition of U.S. forces to a limited mission, a phased redeployment of U.S. forces, and requiring the administration to submit to Congress its plan for continued redeployment beyond 2006 – are all critical to ensuring that the we move forward from our current failed strategy.

“This is an issue that needs to be dealt with by the current President and the current government of Iraq. ‘Stay the course’ is not a strategy for any real victory, and it is time that the President and Congress recognize that fact and take the steps needed to ensure true safety and security for the region and for America.”

Give Ned some love.

Comments

[Tex]

Isn't Lieberman himself removing the D from beside his name pretty soon? I read somewhere (or you told me) that Lamont is almost tied with him in the polls and that he would have to start getting signatures to run as an independent pretty soon.

[spazeboy]

Video of Lieberman's love-fest with the Republicans yesterday (in which he opposes both amendments and is praised by Santorum) is at my site.

[amy]

Thanks for the link, spazeboy. Jeez, praised by Santorum, that says it all. Joe has got to go.