Monday, July 31, 2006
A Big Conn Job
I haven't discussed (with anyone) the major political story of the summer: Joe Lieberman's primary race against Ned Lamont. Perhaps it's just because I have such a problem with getting enthusiastic about anyone named Ned. Perhaps because it seemed like something of a sideshow compared to actual pick-up opportunities in the House and Senate. It's not because I don't have a rooting interest -- I've been mad at Lieberman ever since his "what the hell?!?" debate with Dick Cheney in 2000, and certainly his words and actions with regard to the war, Schiavo, bankruptcy, the judiciary and far, far more qualify him for ouster at the hands of a still-breathing Democratic grassroots.
But now I'm pissed. This article did me in:
First of all, Peter Hart is a lunatic and clearly does not care about this country or the Democratic party. He cares about maintaining his inner-circle Democratic connections, and thus his paycheck, and apparently figures that spouting gibberish will help that cause. It's notable that among his clients are Chuck Schumer and the DSCC.
[Seems like I'm not the only one who found that Hart quote to be inscrutable.]
Second of all, what really got my dander up, and will make me root with all my might next Tuesday for a Lieberman loss, is that his shills are everywhere planting bullcrap stories like this one, which completely minimize the authenticity of popular opposition to Lieberman. Fact -- this election is far more than single-issue. It's about how Democrats should and should not act in the face of the current GOP onslaught and during the reign of the worst president of our lifetimes. It's not hard to understand, and it's disingenuous to pretend not to.
(And for what it's worth, Lieberman is anti-gay marriage; Lamont, meanwhile, is "hopeful that [Connecticut] will be one of the first [states] to enact full marriage equality. Unlike Senator Lieberman, I would have opposed the Federal ‘Defense of Marriage Act’.")
And then there's this:
In other words, Joe is a big-ass liar. A pretender. Civility, smarts, building bridges ... they're all just code for "just another lying-ass politician". The fawning "respect" laded on him by elite insider Dems and media bigwigs is only part of the game.
Mark me down as someone who hates the game ... AND the playas.
But now I'm pissed. This article did me in:
Letter From Washington: Democrats fear backlash as Lieberman stumbles
Albert R. Hunt Bloomberg News
Published: July 30, 2006
WASHINGTON Many of the top U.S. Democrats, including Senators Hillary Clinton and Harry Reid and Representative Rahm Emanuel, are fixated on the number 51. That's the percentage of the vote they hope Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut gets in his Aug. 8 Democratic primary election.
Lieberman, the party's vice presidential candidate just six years ago, is struggling for one reason: the Iraq war, which he strongly supports and most Connecticut Democrats just as strongly oppose.
Although Democrats will likely hold the Senate seat whether he wins or not, party figures worry about the political fallout.
"A Lieberman loss is very bad for Democrats; it says we are one dimension on Iraq," says Peter Hart, a top Democratic polltaker. "Politically, Iraq should be a debate about the Bush administration. A Lieberman defeat detracts from that."
More than a few Democrats think Hart is right. This contest is intense, irrationally so, with Lieberman's opponent, a heretofore obscure wealthy aristocrat named Ned Lamont.
Joe Lieberman is a thoroughly decent, intelligent, compassionate public figure with a solid three-term record of supporting mostly liberal positions on the environment, civil rights and social issues such as abortion and gay marriage.
...
Lieberman, who has always enjoyed support among Republicans and independents, would be favored in a three- way race against Lamont and the current, scandal-tarred Republican standard-bearer, Alan Schlesinger, whom party leaders would like to dump.
First of all, Peter Hart is a lunatic and clearly does not care about this country or the Democratic party. He cares about maintaining his inner-circle Democratic connections, and thus his paycheck, and apparently figures that spouting gibberish will help that cause. It's notable that among his clients are Chuck Schumer and the DSCC.
[Seems like I'm not the only one who found that Hart quote to be inscrutable.]
Second of all, what really got my dander up, and will make me root with all my might next Tuesday for a Lieberman loss, is that his shills are everywhere planting bullcrap stories like this one, which completely minimize the authenticity of popular opposition to Lieberman. Fact -- this election is far more than single-issue. It's about how Democrats should and should not act in the face of the current GOP onslaught and during the reign of the worst president of our lifetimes. It's not hard to understand, and it's disingenuous to pretend not to.
(And for what it's worth, Lieberman is anti-gay marriage; Lamont, meanwhile, is "hopeful that [Connecticut] will be one of the first [states] to enact full marriage equality. Unlike Senator Lieberman, I would have opposed the Federal ‘Defense of Marriage Act’.")
And then there's this:
In 1998, after the president acknowledged an affair with an intern, Lieberman expressed shock at his "immoral" behavior.
Lieberman was probably the only person to know Clinton for three decades and still be shocked by these revelations. Yet, as Clinton understood, the senator did the president a favor by distracting focus from the Republican plan to impeach him.
In other words, Joe is a big-ass liar. A pretender. Civility, smarts, building bridges ... they're all just code for "just another lying-ass politician". The fawning "respect" laded on him by elite insider Dems and media bigwigs is only part of the game.
Mark me down as someone who hates the game ... AND the playas.
