Disclosure: I worked for the Lamont campaign doing web design and production and some writing for the official blog (from 9/5/06 to 11/07/06).
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Thursday News Round-Up
- In a National Journal column about the race, Chuck Todd hits the nail on the head a few times, and hits his thumbs with the hammer a couple of times too. The hits:
First and foremost, Lieberman's problems aren't all about Iraq.
His unwavering support for President Bush on Iraq was simply the tipping point. If this was just about Iraq, then many of the rank-and-file Democratic activists who are supporting Lamont would be biting their tongues on Iraq and sticking with Lieberman. The "Iraq" in this equation has been oversimplified....
Lieberman's decision to prepare a backup plan may undermine his own cause in the primary....
Lieberman appears to be making strategic decisions out of anger. He's clearly irked that he's become the liberal wing's whipping boy. Considering some of the venom that's being spewed at him, he can get sympathy on a personal level. But Lieberman has prided himself on not being an angry pol, and that he is somehow different from "regular" politicians.
Well, sour-grape independent candidacies are run by angry pols. And frankly, if you are a Lieberman supporter, don't get too confident that your man can win a three-way race as an independent.
The misses include a claim that any outcome of this race will hurt the Democratic party nationally. Ned Lamont on the ballot in November with a unified Democratic party behind him would help both local and national Democratic candidates, who wouldn't have to run with (and answer for) Leiberman. Unfortunately, and unlike his opponent, Lieberman is selfishly refusing to unify the party after August 8th. If the party is hurt after the primary, it will be Lieberman's doing.
Oh, and Todd speculates that all three endangered Republican House incumbents would endorse Lieberman in November to appear more moderate (Shays already has). Yet another reason Lamont on the ballot and a unified Democratic party would help Dems. - Speaking of selfishness, the anger of Lieberman's colleagues at the position he is putting them in is getting more and more obvious, according to Roll Call (subscription req.):
One group that has been surprisingly quiet about its support for Lieberman is the DSCC.
The organization, which focuses first and foremost on retaining incumbents, is backing Lieberman for now.
DSCC Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) has avoided saying what his committee would do should Lieberman lose the primary.
Still, the committee has yet to launch an independent campaign on his behalf and otherwise seems to be flying under the radar in its efforts to re-elect him. - Joe's selfishness is apparently making Chris Dodd's life miserable too, as evidenced by his recent appearance on Imus. Joe was on Imus today too, spouting more of the same GOP talking points on Iraq.
posted by tparty at 11:56 AM 
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Latest Ann Coulter endorsement of Lieberman:
http://www.newshounds.us/2006/07/12/joe_lieberman_gets_another_hug_from_ann_coulter.php
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