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Ralph Nader on Lamont's Antiwar Win in Connecticut Primary
and Lieberman's Vow to Run as an Independent
Time Warner's NY1 Bars New York Senate Candidate From TV
Debate
Fmr. Israeli Air Force Captain Reports Israeli Pilots Deliberately
Missing Targets Over Concerns of Civilian Casualties
Nagasaki Marks 61st Anniversary of U.S. Atomic Bombing
Ralph Nader on Lamont's Antiwar Win in Connecticut
Primary and Lieberman's Vow to Run as an Independent
Three-term Sen. Joe Lieberman lost Connecticut's Democratic
primary last night in one of the most closely-watched races
in the country. He was defeated by Ned Lamont, a wealthy a
telecommunications executive who has run largely on an antiwar
platform. Lieberman has vowed to run as an independent candidate.
We speak with former independent presidential candidate Ralph
Nader. [includes rush
transcript]
Three-term Senator Joe Lieberman lost Connecticut's Democratic
primary last night in one of the most closely-watched races
in the country. He was defeated by Ned Lamont, a wealthy a
telecommunications executive who has run largely on an anti-Iraq
war platform.
Lamont won with 52 percent of the vote to Lieberman's 48%.
Voter turnout was close to 40 percent, nearly twice the norm
for a primary. The race drew national attention as a measure
of public sentiment over the Iraq war.
Lieberman is only the fourth incumbent senator to lose his
party's nomination since 1980. His loss comes just six years
after he was the Democratic party's vice presidential candidate
in 2000. He has been harshly criticized for his vocal support
of the Iraq war and his continued opposition to an immediate
U.S. troop withdrawal. He has also been taken to task for
his perceived closeness to President Bush and other Republicans.
Lieberman publicly conceded the Democratic primary Tuesday
night shortly after 11pm. He promised his supporters to run
for a fourth term as an independent candidate.
- Sen. Joe Lieberman, speaking to supporters, August 8,
2006.
To run as an independent, Lieberman must file petitions with
7,500 valid signatures by the end of the day on Wednesday.
Ned Lamont will face Republican Alan Schlesinger in November,
a former state legislator seen as little threat. In his victory
speech, Lamont said he would push for a withdrawal of US forces
from Iraq.
- Ned Lamont, Democratic challenger, speaking to supporters,
August 8, 2006.
We speak with Ralph Nader, he ran for president twice as
a third party candidate - in 2000 and 2004.
- Ralph Nader, two-time independent presidential candidate.
He is also the most prominent consumer advocate in the country.
Time Warner's NY1 Bars New York Senate Candidate
From TV Debate
Time Warner news station NY1 has refused to set up a debate
between Senator Hillary Clinton and Democratic challenger
Jonathan Tasini because Tasini hasn't spent enough money on
the race. The channel requires that candidates poll at least
5% and have spent or raised $500,000. Tasini is polling at
13% but his campaign has only raised $150,000. [includes rush
transcript]
In New York, a controversy is emerging in the race between
Senator Hillary Clinton and Democratic challenger Jonathan
Tasini. The local news station NY1 has refused to set up a
debate between the two candidates because Tasini hasn't spent
enough money on the race. The channel, which is owned by Time
Warner, requires that candidates poll at least 5 percent and
have spent or raised $500,000. Tasini is polling at 13 percent
but his campaign has only raised $150,000.
We invited NY1 to joins us on the program to respond but
they declined. The station's, public relations manager, Edward
Pachetti sent us this statement outlining their position:
"NY1 News is producing the most ambitious series of political
debates and town hall meetings this election season. As part
of the staging of these events, NY1 established criteria to
identify which candidates would be invited to participate
in these events. The criteria are that a candidate must poll
at least five percent (including margin of error) in a recognized
independent poll and would need to have spent and/or raised
$500,000. All candidates who have met these criteria have
been invited to participate."
- Jonathan Tasini, New York Democratic challenger. He is
a union leader and organizer and the former president of
the National Writers Union.
Fmr. Israeli Air Force Captain Reports Israeli Pilots
Deliberately Missing Targets Over Concerns of Civilian Casualties
Former Israeli Air Force Captain Yonatan Shapira reports
at least two Israeli fighter pilots have reportedly deliberately
missed bombing targets in Lebanon because they were concerned
they were being ordered to bomb civilians. Yonatan's brother
refused to serve in Lebanon earlier this week, and was sent
to jail. [includes rush
transcript]
Israel is considering a further expansion of its attack on
Lebanon amidst a rising death toll and humanitarian crisis
and opponents of the war in Israel have become increasingly
vocal.
More than 100 demonstrations have taken place across the
country since the fighting began last month. Over 5,000 protesters
marched In Tel Aviv last Saturday in one of the largest demonstrations
in Israel since the attacks began. Protestors called on Israel
to negotiate with Hezbollah and encouraged Israeli soldiers
to disobey orders in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, The Observer newspaper recently reported that
at least two Israeli fighter pilots have deliberately missed
bombing targets in Lebanon because they were concerned they
were being ordered to bomb civilians. The Observer also reported
that a senior commander who has been involved in air attacks
in Lebanon has raised concerns that the air force's actions
might be considered "war crimes."
Yonatan Shapira joins us on the line from Israel -- he is
a former Captain in the Israeli Air Force reserves. In 2003,
Yonatan initiated the group of Israeli Air Force pilots who
refused to fly attack missions that might risk civilian population
in the Palestinian territories. He is also the co-founder
of the organization Combatants for Peace. Yonatan's brother
refused to serve in Lebanon earlier this week, and was sent
to jail.
We also speak with Dan Tamir, an intelligence Officer with
the IDF's Reserves and an activist with Yesh Gvul - an Israeli
peace group that supports soldiers who refuse military assignments.
- Yonatan Shapira, a former Captain in the Israeli Air
Force reserves. In 2003 Yonatan initiated the group of Israeli
Air Force pilots who refused to fly attack missions on Palestinian
territories. He is also the co-founder of the organization
Combatants
for Peace.
- Dan Tamir, activist with Yesh
Gvul - an Israeli peace group that supports soldiers
who refuse military assignments. He is an intelligence Officer
with the Israeli Defense Force Reserves.
Nagasaki Marks 61st Anniversary of U.S. Atomic Bombing
In Japan, the city of Nagasaki is marking the 61st anniversary
of the U.S. atomic bombing. Over 200,000 people died in the
1945 atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We play an
excerpt of a speech by a survivor of the Nagasaki bombing.
[includes rush
transcript]
In Japan, the city of Nagasaki is marking the 61st anniversary
of the U.S. atomic bombing. Earlier today, dignitaries gathered
for a service at Nagasaki's peace park. A moment of silence
was held at 11:02 am, the moment the bomb was dropped. Over
200,000 people died in the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki.
We turn now to a survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
At the time of the explosion, Sakue Shimohira was in an air
raid shelter one kilometer away from the epicenter. She was
ten years old. She spoke at a rally in New York's Central
Park in May of last year.
- Sakue Shimohira, a survivor of the U.S. atomic bombing
of Nagasaki speaking in New York, May 2005.
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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