Alec Baldwin Not Running Against Lieberman

Alec Baldwin has flirted with the idea of running for public office for a long time. And the election of Sen. Al Franken in Minnesota has only fueled speculation that the 30 Rock star would use the upcoming elections to dip his toe in the political waters.

Recently, Baldwin floated the idea of taking on Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) who is a thorn in the side of progressives like himself. Baldwin even discussed with Playboy the idea of moving to Connecticut to launch a campaign.

"I'd love to run against Joe Lieberman," he said. "I have no use for him."

Alas, as Baldwin went on to note, the idea of being a senator from Connecticut is, at this juncture, merely a fantasy. And in a blog for the Huffington Post, the politically active movie star seemed to remove any speculation about a possible campaign in the Nutmeg State, though he left the door noticeably open about a future in politics.

"Lastly, no I am not moving to Connecticut to run against Joe Lieberman," Baldwin wrote. "As much as I think Lieberman is an enormous letdown to the party that gave him their nomination for vice president, I am sure that Democratic Party leaders in that state will take care of themselves."

"Running for public office involves among the most sacred trusts that one can enter into and I would like to give that a lot of serious thought before I decide if that is right for me and the voters I would potentially serve," he adds.

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Comments

[QuietLightTraveler]

10:35 AM on 07/10/2009

Alec,

Go for it if that is your aspiration. I'm sure you would make a good senator. But don't forget, politics is a dirty business.

[Bobonze]

12:04 AM on 07/08/2009

This might seem like a simplistic idea, but I think anyone considering running for Senate in any state, should be resident for at least 10 years. Personally, I think Alec would make a decent senator, (I for the most part, share his views), but I take issue with anyone moving to a state (that includes Senator Hilary Clinton) just for political gain. Prove that you do truly represent the state by living in that state and really familiarizing yourself with the citizens of that state.

I could dream can't I?

[sandiegoconservative]

11:45 PM on 07/07/2009

"Alec Baldwin not running against Lieberman . . . . . because he would get his b*tt kicked thoroughly, by an old fogey"

[traveler501]

01:50 AM on 07/09/2009

I doubt that

[jmundstuk]

10:15 PM on 07/07/2009

Well, of course not. Headline writers have another field day misleading readers.

[citizen of the universe]

08:47 PM on 07/07/2009

Baldwin's "role" as Senator would be much better than the reality that is Lieberman.

[lbrty 2112]

07:44 AM on 07/08/2009

Baldwin's role as senator would be about as good as his roles as parent and husband: Dismal failures.

[WorkingClass]

08:29 PM on 07/07/2009

We never thought you were Alec.

[LMPE]

08:19 PM on 07/07/2009

Why didn't the people of Connecticut vote out Joe Lieberman back in 2006?! They'd already elected Ned Lamont the Dem candidate, so why'd they turn around and reelect Lieberman?

[Labsaregreat]

08:50 PM on 07/07/2009

similar reason that arlen (D from Pa) changed parties.

[DinkSinger]

10:54 PM on 07/07/2009

Lieberman was reelected in 2006 because according to exit polls, he got 70% of the Republican vote, while the Republican candidate got 21%. This was because Joe's Republican friends poured money into the state to help elect him and the national Republican party provided absolutely no support for their party's candidate. It didn't help that CNN referred to Ned Lamont as "the Al-Qaeda candidate". It also did not help that five Democratic senators, Carper, Landreau, Ben Nelson, Prior and Salazar all endorsed Lieberman along with five former Democratic senators. Many of them were his colleagues in the New Democratic Coalition, the right-wing organization founded by Lieberman as the congressional arm of the Clinton faction.

What astounds me is that the New Haven Democrats have not thrown Joe out of our party, as they are permitted to under state law.

[Pero]

07:57 PM on 07/07/2009

Boring.... Could you PLEASE spare us from Alec Baldwin's midlife crisis.
He should consider obtaining some professional help if he still needs attention.

[stevepasek]

07:49 PM on 07/07/2009

I think there is already a statewide officeholder in the Democratic Party who is considering running. I'd be surprised if Lieberman doesn't get a challenge after campaigning for the Republican in 08. He might want a strong 3-way race, it might be the only way he could get elected. He's not technically a Democrat any more, you know, so he doesn't have to run in the Democratic primary...

[DinkSinger]

11:37 PM on 07/07/2009

Lieberman is still a registered Democrat here in Connecticut so he is eligible to run in the Democratic primary if he choses too. Lieberman is not up for reelection until 2012.

Meanwhile, we need to worry about holding our other senate seat, since Chris Dodd has dropped to 38% approval in the polls. Dodd who has left over campaign money from his presidential run, has already begun running TV commercials featuring Ted Kennedy. My guess is that Republican Governor Jodi Rell, whose approval rating is at 73%, will run against Dodd. Democratic Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has announced he will not run for governor in 2010 but will instead seek reelection as AG. Many see this as an indication that he intends to oppose Lieberman. Democratic Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz is one of several candidates for governor. It has been reported that she fears of the effect of Dodd's reelection campaign on the governor's race.

[Tulka2]

07:43 PM on 07/07/2009

I know Connecticut is the place rich New Yorkers must have a second home. I also know Connecticut gets the most money from the military industrial complex per capita of any other state. Please correct me if i am wrong about that last. Read between the lines and i think you will see why Connecticut will never, never elect Alec Baldwin to the Senate.

You know which state would welcome Alec Baldwin with open, uncynical arms....? Iowa. Senator Chuck Grassley is ripe for the picking. N. E. Iowa is a summer idyll... a gorgeous, unspoilt land of rolling hills and woodland too steep to plow fence row to fence row into corn. I know of two acres of farmland with a trout stream running through it, Mr. Baldwin. 150.000 dollars. Tucked into a little valley. The very bliss. Tell Arianna it's okay for you to get my info. I will tell you several locals who will be glad to help you obtain it. -Tulka2

[DinkSinger]

03:30 PM on 07/09/2009

The latest data I could find, from 2004, indicates that Connecticut ranked second among the states in defense contract dollars per capita after Virginia. The District of Columbia ranked far ahead of any of the states receiving more that twice twice as much as Virginia.

[ekoorb]

07:13 PM on 07/07/2009

Will Lieberman be able to simply run in the Democratic primary when he's up again, as though his sore loser saga never happened?

[Coinyer101]

07:05 PM on 07/07/2009

Well, I'm from Arkeysaws and I smoke a lot o' weed, but, I'll be happy ta run against him, if y'all want me to.....,

[Agentlady007]

10:15 PM on 07/07/2009

You're too paranoid man. No. Just stay cool.

[GrumpyinAZ]

06:49 PM on 07/07/2009

Too bad, it would be nice to have an American rather than an Right Wing Israeli.
Dopey the Dwarf needs to go

[lbrty 2112]

06:21 PM on 07/07/2009

Rumor has it he's going to run against Sarkozy

[bichn]

06:12 PM on 07/07/2009

That's a shame, Alec. Lieberman needs to go.