Reflections on Lieberman — Lamont
I regret that I did not get that post “You Know What You need to do” up earlier than I did. I was unable to marshall the forces of Connecticut Democratic voters that are hidden within the half a dozen readers of this blog that would have brought Lamont to that magical ten point victory that, according to reports, would have had Lieberman bow out. For that I apologize to the entire Blog-o-Fascist community. On the other hand, my idea to hack into and pull down Joseph Lieberman’s $15 web-site, covered in the “you know what you need to do”, was shared by someone else, and that was good.
Now I ponder. This is supposedly the triumph of the Blogosphere. To a more particular degree, which the media at large is eluded to, it’s actually the dawning of the video-blog sharing at Youtube in political campaign uprisings, a wide pastiche of home-constructed pro-Lamont but mostly anti-Lieberman campaign ads and a large selection of videos hounding Lieberman on the campaign trail. Does that continue? If you go to youtube through the duration from here until whenever Lieberman bows out — will we see clips of hecklers waving the newly renovated with a different meaning “Sore Loserman” signs at him?
There was this moment in the 2004 election cycle where some blogger or other wanted Raph Nader bug out, and suggested that he run a quixotic primary campaign against Joseph Lieberman in 2006, because Lieberman represents all that he is against in the Democratic Party and he would raise his points and get a whiff of media attention in his crusade. This struck me as stupid for the simple reason that Nader was not about to defeat Lieberman, and I would have much rather preferred someone beat the man. Beyond which, Nader is not a Democrat, both for his dignity and the dignity of the Democratic Party. (He’s not even a Green, because, you know, he’s cooler than thou.)
So I watched from my perch a strange secession of would-be challengers, earnest though they may be tedious and lacking in the serious challenger category. Paul Newman floated his name should no one throw their hat into the ring. A college professor whose name escapes me because I never bothered to learn his name.
And then came along Lowell Weicker, the Republican who lost to Lieberman the first time out in 1988. At this point I shrug, but I do sense that we were getting closer. And then, stepped out of the void, Ned Lamont. Apparently he stepped in after reading Lieberman’s Wall Street Journal editorial, and the comment that “Democrats undermine the president at their own peril” jars. It was provocative words, and if one is to throw punches like this one cannot feign outrage at the indignity of someone punching back. His default position — you must respect my principle, my principle, my principle I say — falls down on fallow ground when he himself is not able to respect my principle, my principle, my principle I say.
At some point or other someone is just going to have to write the definitive book on this campaign. I think I can piece together a good chronology of events. I remember noting Bill Hillsman coming in to work with Lamont, and remembered it as a portence that this just might work out. At this point in time we may as well call Bill Hillsman a political genius — that’s Paul Wellstone, Jesse Ventura, and now Ned Lamont. I don’t know if he’s moving on now or not (on to Kinky Friedman’s gubernatorial campaign in Texas?), (does he roll across the nation, make quick stops, work his magic, and then leave in the dead of the night to work on his next project?), or what now.
The campaign continues. Unfortunately. The campaign should be over now, with the Republican having selected their weak candidate (who stands at 9 percent in the poll) and the Democrats having selected theirs. But Lieberman moves on. It’s a curious campaign. My hunch is that Lieberman will eventually quietly recede into the sunlight, but it’s just a hunch. Meanwhile the Republican Party believes that they can use Ned Lamont as some sort of bogey-man to prop themselves up with, that the Democrats are getting shrill and dropping such principled men as Lieberman. Chris Shays, Connecticut Republican Representative in a tough campaign — the last bastions of Moderate Republicanism, lines himself behind Lieberman, and therein lies the double-edge: it’s another Democratic Primary as a general election. Republicans are obliged to sit this out, vote for their mediocre candidate, or vote for Lieberman… who, I shall point out, Sean Hannity — before a big Lieberman backer and that tells you all you need to know, has now opted out of support for Lieberman.
I should move on now. I’m getting murkier and murkier here.