Just got back from the Crashing the Gate book-signing in New Haven - it was great to see such a huge and enthusiastic turnout. The event really got me thinking about the big picture surrounding this race. Here are two takes on this from this weekend:

David Sirota writes a wide-ranging piece which touches on Lamont in the context of a national progressive movement that is rapidly gaining steam in 2006:

The same thing is happening on Iraq. In Connecticut, first-time statewide candidate Ned Lamont (D) exceeded steep expectations and dramatically vaulted onto the primary ballot to challenge Sen. Joe Lieberman - the guy who has spent the last three years making headlines as the chief Senate advocate for the Iraq War, and chief attacker of those who have opposed it. Lieberman and his corporate-funded sponsors at the Democratic Leadership Council in Washington are now in an apoplectic frenzy, frothing like rabid dogs to national reporters, complaining about their plight, fearing that the ordinary citizens they so despise have broken down the palace gates. They should be afraid - we have broken in, and come primary day in August, we're headed for the throne room to depose Lieberman.

And Stirling Newberry looks at Lieberman's pathetic showing at the convention and McCain's embarrassing one at the New School's commencement and sees them representing a fundamental shift:

Yesterday, the war died. Not because of the acceptance of an incomplete cabinet for a weak government in Iraq, even as the fatalities mount. But because two of its most arrogant and outspoken proponets suffered humiliations - and they bounced back by proving that the war was all about the people who ordered it, and not about the realities of the situation.