Why do Lieberman, Cuomo and Romney arouse so much hatred?

[Redalgo]

I don't know if I could vote for any of them.

Incidentally, all three of them are perceived traitors in one respect or another.

[Redalgo]

It may be a generalization to make on my part, Clarence, but the impression I have at this time is that a traitor for the Right tends to be someone who is felt to betray the sacred bond betwixt their self and a legitimate source of authority in civic life, while on the Left a traitor is more along the lines of someone who is perceived to have betrayed certain sacred ideals.

In the States, many conservatives get away with calling for a smaller, less intrusive government because it is what trusted authority figures have suggested is best for society. Liberals can more easily get away with being messy and utilitarian in their formulation of stances, even if it breaks their own moral rules for a perceived "greater good," just so long as the compromises made are not considered counter-intuitive to their like-minded colleagues' deepest convictions.

Perhaps this is woefully mistaken. Still, from this perspective it makes a lot of sense to me why all three of the men mentioned in the OP are strongly disliked by a lot of folk on both sides of the aisle.

[Redalgo]

I stand corrected! Though I guess it shouldn't surprise me that I'm out of touch with the public. 8D