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Wednesday, September 28, 2005

CT-Sen: A Challenge from the Independent Weicker?

Posted by DavidNYC

Oh man, this sure as hell sounds interesting:

The statewide rumor mill is buzzing with reports that Lowell Weicker is considering an independent run for his old U.S. Senate seat next year against Democratic incumbent Joe Lieberman of New Haven (for now). Lieberman deposed former Weicker in 1988 with the help of his famous sleeping bear commercial--a commercial Weicker could now turn back on his old nemesis.

The rumors have been building since last week, when Weicker appeared at a public forum with radio talk-show host and Courant columnist Colin McEnroe. Weicker, a former liberal Republican who turned independent in 1990 when he left the Senate to run successfully for governor, dropped notice at the Sept. 20 forum that he'd consider another political run.

Weicker claimed he's "99 percent" uninterested in running. But then he went on, and on, about how wouldn't sit by if "somebody pisses me off enough." And he went on and on about how pissed off he is about the direction of the country.

His candidacy sounded like more than a 1 percent consideration in his mind.

When I was a kid in the 80s - and first developing my political sensibilities - I remember my mom saying that Lowell Weicker was the "one decent Republican" out there. And that's saying a lot coming from my yellow-dog-as-can-be mother. Following her lead, I took a liking to him, and I admired him during his tenure as Governor of neighboring Connecticut - something he made much easier to do when he ditched the GOP in favor of becoming an independent. Ever since then, I've always had a soft spot for him.

But a run here is certainly more than a longshot - not least because of Weicker's age (he's 74). But he's almost certainly to Lieberman's left in most respects, and would take him to task big-time on the Iraq war. At a minimum, Weicker might give Lieberman enough of a scare such that Joementum at least stops having the time to bash his fellow Democrats on Fox News.

(Via DailyKos.)

Posted at 11:35 PM in Connecticut | Technorati

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Comments

Interesting development. And a bit surprising.

The bigger surprise is Weicker is only 74.

Posted by: pinhickdrew at September 29, 2005 01:22 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

LOL!

Posted by: DavidNYC at September 29, 2005 01:27 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

pardon my ignorance
Wont this cause the Liberal vote to be split and help the Republican candidate?
I know Liberman is practally a Republican but it's still a "D" in our Senate column.

Posted by: dougyg at September 29, 2005 10:24 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment