Primary in Connecticut
May 19, 2006 5:41 PM Subscribe
Have the netroots finally hit solid ground? There's been a lot of debate about how effective left-wing blogs have been in the political process, but tonight a huge factor has just been added to that debate. Fueled by net support from big-name blogs, Ned Lamont has secured the vote of nearly twice the necessary 15% of delegates in Connecticut's state Democratic convention to force a Senate primary against Joe Lieberman.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- Brandon Blatcher
Never, ever cast a vote for anyone named "Ned".
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:56 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:56 PM on May 19, 2006
First of all getting on the balot isn't the same thing as winning.
Second of all, stop calling Kos "the netroots". Kos is one guy, and while dailykos has a lot of members it's tightly controlled -- like many conservative community sites.
posted by delmoi at 6:02 PM on May 19, 2006
Second of all, stop calling Kos "the netroots". Kos is one guy, and while dailykos has a lot of members it's tightly controlled -- like many conservative community sites.
posted by delmoi at 6:02 PM on May 19, 2006
Wow. Never expected a mefi link to my blog!
Folks, this is one-third of the party insiders saying to an 18-year incumbent senator: get out. This is a huge deal. Lieberman tried everything he could to stop Lamont here and now. He even tried playing the "expectations game" setting an unrealistic bar of 30% for Ned Lamont to clear. Well, he cleared it. And more people would have voted for him at the convention if they were allowed to vote their conscience.
posted by thirdparty at 6:03 PM on May 19, 2006
Folks, this is one-third of the party insiders saying to an 18-year incumbent senator: get out. This is a huge deal. Lieberman tried everything he could to stop Lamont here and now. He even tried playing the "expectations game" setting an unrealistic bar of 30% for Ned Lamont to clear. Well, he cleared it. And more people would have voted for him at the convention if they were allowed to vote their conscience.
posted by thirdparty at 6:03 PM on May 19, 2006
delmoi - I think you must be high if you don't think kos is netroots.
It is a political site that has helped fund Lamont with cash flow, and volunteering. His campaign has some of its roots on the internet... please tell me what I'm missing.
Also kos has a TON of posters, he is one of the least frequent posters these days.
posted by sourbrew at 6:04 PM on May 19, 2006
It is a political site that has helped fund Lamont with cash flow, and volunteering. His campaign has some of its roots on the internet... please tell me what I'm missing.
Also kos has a TON of posters, he is one of the least frequent posters these days.
posted by sourbrew at 6:04 PM on May 19, 2006
thirdparty, you are on kos as well at the moment... enjoy the traffic.
posted by sourbrew at 6:06 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by sourbrew at 6:06 PM on May 19, 2006
Fuck the nasal Lieberman
posted by growabrain at 6:08 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by growabrain at 6:08 PM on May 19, 2006
sourbrew- kos has linked to me before. But the blue is the big-time. :)
posted by thirdparty at 6:21 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by thirdparty at 6:21 PM on May 19, 2006
Fantastic. I hope he doesn't choke on his "joementum" or the bush administration's metaphorical cock, on the way out the door.
posted by stenseng at 6:36 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by stenseng at 6:36 PM on May 19, 2006
Conservative bloggers are going "Yes, oh YES! Please, please, please, Kos, do some more of this!!!"
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 6:37 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 6:37 PM on May 19, 2006
now if we could only get rid of that witch Feinstein.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 6:39 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 6:39 PM on May 19, 2006
delmoi
how do you figure dKos to be tightly controlled -- like many conservative community sites?
and besides RedState, is there really such a thing as a conservative community* site?
* by community, I assume you mean commenting allowed.
posted by pruner at 6:52 PM on May 19, 2006
how do you figure dKos to be tightly controlled -- like many conservative community sites?
and besides RedState, is there really such a thing as a conservative community* site?
* by community, I assume you mean commenting allowed.
posted by pruner at 6:52 PM on May 19, 2006
I'm stunned. That's a gut-shot to Joementum -- he played the expectations game, and just got hammered.
I have no doubt that Joe Lieberman will be on the ballot for the November Election. The real question is will there be an (I) or an (R) after than name.
posted by eriko at 6:52 PM on May 19, 2006
I have no doubt that Joe Lieberman will be on the ballot for the November Election. The real question is will there be an (I) or an (R) after than name.
posted by eriko at 6:52 PM on May 19, 2006
delmoi - I think you must be high if you don't think kos is netroots.
When you say "Kos is the netroots" do you mean "Kos ∈ netroots" or "Kos = netroots"? I'm not saying kos isn't a member of the netroots, or even not a high profile member, but generally when people speak of the 'loss record' of the netroots they're talking about people endorsed by dailykos, not people generally liked by the netroots.
Kos has said over and over again that he targets long-shot races, and this creates a distorted view of his 'success' (Or the lack thereof). Obviously plenty of candidates that people on the Internet like have won elections (and lets not forget all the republicans on the internet)
Kos has been instrumental in terms of "branding" the netroots, but it does a disservice to them to claim that they have a "loosing streak" due to dailykos targeting long shots.
posted by delmoi at 6:54 PM on May 19, 2006
When you say "Kos is the netroots" do you mean "Kos ∈ netroots" or "Kos = netroots"? I'm not saying kos isn't a member of the netroots, or even not a high profile member, but generally when people speak of the 'loss record' of the netroots they're talking about people endorsed by dailykos, not people generally liked by the netroots.
Kos has said over and over again that he targets long-shot races, and this creates a distorted view of his 'success' (Or the lack thereof). Obviously plenty of candidates that people on the Internet like have won elections (and lets not forget all the republicans on the internet)
Kos has been instrumental in terms of "branding" the netroots, but it does a disservice to them to claim that they have a "loosing streak" due to dailykos targeting long shots.
posted by delmoi at 6:54 PM on May 19, 2006
how do you figure dKos to be tightly controlled -- like many conservative community sites?
I mean they ban people who deviate from the party line, like free republic, unlike metafilter.
posted by delmoi at 6:54 PM on May 19, 2006
I mean they ban people who deviate from the party line, like free republic, unlike metafilter.
posted by delmoi at 6:54 PM on May 19, 2006
Lieberman could always join the Republican party. He actually might be better served there. I don't know a lot about Connecticut politics, so I don't know if a democrat tag is what's needed to get in power there, but certainly politically he would feel more at home. Hard to believe he actually was the democratic Vice Presidential candidate.
posted by Eekacat at 6:57 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by Eekacat at 6:57 PM on May 19, 2006
Also nice to see Lieberman needing to actually prove his chops as a democrat. I think it's likely that Ned Lamont would have been able to get the signatures he needed, though.
posted by delmoi at 6:57 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by delmoi at 6:57 PM on May 19, 2006
More than twice the votes he needed: he got 33.4% of the votes, needed only 15%. (There may be some late changes, but Ned got much more than Lieberman's group anticipated--and they were trying to highball their estimates so that when he fell short, they could say that his showing was "disappointing." They were saying he might get 20-25% of the votes. So 33.4% is a BIG win.) Now to bring it home.
posted by LeisureGuy at 6:58 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by LeisureGuy at 6:58 PM on May 19, 2006
When did "netroots" become a word that didn't need definition before use?
posted by smackfu at 6:58 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by smackfu at 6:58 PM on May 19, 2006
Sorry to be negative, but how is this of interest to people outside of Connecticut? How do we know that out of 1502 votes, the 33% going for Ned Lamont are a due to the influence of political blogs? Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of online communities having substantial influence over the political process (just seems more democratic, like in a town-hall kinda way), but how do we know that that's what happened here?
posted by Nquire at 6:59 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by Nquire at 6:59 PM on May 19, 2006
I guess Joe's monthly appearances on Hannity hasn't helped Joe keep his democratic base.
posted by birdherder at 7:00 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by birdherder at 7:00 PM on May 19, 2006
I mean they ban people who deviate from the party line, like free republic, unlike metafilter.
that's bullshit.
there's a wide variety of opinions expressed in the diaries, and in the front page postings as well.
banning trolls and agitators is a far different thing than banning dissenters.
posted by pruner at 7:00 PM on May 19, 2006
that's bullshit.
there's a wide variety of opinions expressed in the diaries, and in the front page postings as well.
banning trolls and agitators is a far different thing than banning dissenters.
posted by pruner at 7:00 PM on May 19, 2006
Something to think about -- the vengance factor. If Lieberman wins reeleection, he's well positioned to fuck over anyone who voted against him.
Despite that, a third of the core Democratic Party members in CT just voted against their own incumbent.
Huge.
posted by eriko at 7:01 PM on May 19, 2006
Despite that, a third of the core Democratic Party members in CT just voted against their own incumbent.
Huge.
posted by eriko at 7:01 PM on May 19, 2006
Eekacat
Lieberman won't switch parties for the same reason Zell Miller didn't.
By remaining a Democrat who bashes other Democrats, he's a precious commodity on the talk show circuit.
posted by pruner at 7:04 PM on May 19, 2006
Lieberman won't switch parties for the same reason Zell Miller didn't.
By remaining a Democrat who bashes other Democrats, he's a precious commodity on the talk show circuit.
posted by pruner at 7:04 PM on May 19, 2006
If Lieberman wins reeleection, he's well positioned to fuck over anyone who voted against him.
He may even start talking and voting like a Republican!
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:05 PM on May 19, 2006
He may even start talking and voting like a Republican!
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:05 PM on May 19, 2006
Kos is looking at the long term, and one of his complaints is that Dems don't do that, and Repubs do, and that this largely explains why a party whose policies are so out of step with reality has acquired such power.
Let the conservatives cackle over this. If neither Lieberman nor Lamont wins the general election, we haven't lost anything; we'll have replaced a stealth republican with a nominally honest one (who at least sports an "R") and can go at him on the issues next time.
posted by localroger at 7:06 PM on May 19, 2006
Let the conservatives cackle over this. If neither Lieberman nor Lamont wins the general election, we haven't lost anything; we'll have replaced a stealth republican with a nominally honest one (who at least sports an "R") and can go at him on the issues next time.
posted by localroger at 7:06 PM on May 19, 2006
Good for Ned, and good for America. I hope that this not only paves the way for a Lieberman defeat, but serves as a symbol for what I hope will happen in the near-future - an end to sell-out war-hawk DLC Democrats.
Viva democracy.
posted by Afroblanco at 7:06 PM on May 19, 2006
Viva democracy.
posted by Afroblanco at 7:06 PM on May 19, 2006
banning trolls and agitators is a far different thing than banning dissenters.
Well, I was banned, even though I didn't troll or "agitate" as far as I know.
posted by delmoi at 7:10 PM on May 19, 2006
Well, I was banned, even though I didn't troll or "agitate" as far as I know.
posted by delmoi at 7:10 PM on May 19, 2006
Let the conservatives cackle over this. If neither Lieberman nor Lamont wins the general election, we haven't lost anything; we'll have replaced a stealth republican with a nominally honest one (who at least sports an "R") and can go at him on the issues next time.
Well, that's not really true. Despite what he says his votes are with the democrats, almost all the time. Any "party line" vote will see him on our side, and if the senate gets closely divided it would be a huge loss for the democrats.
The ironic thing is that Kos actually wrote an essay defending Lieberman's democrat chops during the run-up to the presidential primary.
posted by delmoi at 7:15 PM on May 19, 2006
Well, that's not really true. Despite what he says his votes are with the democrats, almost all the time. Any "party line" vote will see him on our side, and if the senate gets closely divided it would be a huge loss for the democrats.
The ironic thing is that Kos actually wrote an essay defending Lieberman's democrat chops during the run-up to the presidential primary.
posted by delmoi at 7:15 PM on May 19, 2006
Just in case anyone needs more convincing that Lieberman has got to go: enjoy!
posted by bdk3clash at 7:20 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by bdk3clash at 7:20 PM on May 19, 2006
Well, I was banned, even though I didn't troll or "agitate" as far as I know.
What for? How did it happen? (Just curious).
posted by washburn at 7:23 PM on May 19, 2006
What for? How did it happen? (Just curious).
posted by washburn at 7:23 PM on May 19, 2006
pruner, I was just sayin' if he lost the democratic primary, he could always come back as a republican, and run as an independant as well.
posted by Eekacat at 7:23 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by Eekacat at 7:23 PM on May 19, 2006
From mydd
This speech [by Sen Dodd] is taking forever. Dodd is bragging that Lieberman offered the idea of the Homeland Security Department one year before Bush did.
This is another thing that bugs me about Lieberman. He's captain of the Titanic Deck Chair Shuffle team. He wanted Homeland security and after Katrina he wanted to get rid of FEMA. It's idiotic. Homeland Security and all the shuffling around that happened is probably a big reason why the response to Katrina was so bad. No one knew who was supposed to be in charge. Michael Brown expected Chertoff to run things, and Chertoff probably expected the same thing of brown. Result: Clusterfuck.
The proper course of action would to keep the current structure of FEMA and replace all the incompetent people inside it. But obviously that's just impossible for the bush administration, which values political fealty above competence.
Lieberman views the solution to every government failure to rearrange everything, and then when that fails, just rearrange everything again. That way you can look "decisive" without ever accomplishing anything.
posted by delmoi at 7:24 PM on May 19, 2006
This speech [by Sen Dodd] is taking forever. Dodd is bragging that Lieberman offered the idea of the Homeland Security Department one year before Bush did.
This is another thing that bugs me about Lieberman. He's captain of the Titanic Deck Chair Shuffle team. He wanted Homeland security and after Katrina he wanted to get rid of FEMA. It's idiotic. Homeland Security and all the shuffling around that happened is probably a big reason why the response to Katrina was so bad. No one knew who was supposed to be in charge. Michael Brown expected Chertoff to run things, and Chertoff probably expected the same thing of brown. Result: Clusterfuck.
The proper course of action would to keep the current structure of FEMA and replace all the incompetent people inside it. But obviously that's just impossible for the bush administration, which values political fealty above competence.
Lieberman views the solution to every government failure to rearrange everything, and then when that fails, just rearrange everything again. That way you can look "decisive" without ever accomplishing anything.
posted by delmoi at 7:24 PM on May 19, 2006
When did "netroots" become a word that didn't need definition before use?
posted by smackfu at 6:58 PM PST on May 19
Again, please.
posted by pkingdesign at 7:30 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by smackfu at 6:58 PM PST on May 19
Again, please.
posted by pkingdesign at 7:30 PM on May 19, 2006
What for? How did it happen? (Just curious).
I don't know, I just couldn't post comments one day. I was never a big contributor, mainly because the threads there get so huge it's impossible to keep track of what's said. It used to be that you could read my profile, and get to my old comments, then the comments disappeared from the profile, and now the profile itself is gone. But here is an old diary of mine.
If you search the site using google for "by chad okere" you'll get 98 hits, but all my comments have gone down the memory hole... In some cases google's cache may show the comments, in other times, it won't.
Hmm, maybe it was this call for people to take magic mushrooms that got me banned. But I do remember making some comments disagreeing with the poster.
posted by delmoi at 7:34 PM on May 19, 2006
I don't know, I just couldn't post comments one day. I was never a big contributor, mainly because the threads there get so huge it's impossible to keep track of what's said. It used to be that you could read my profile, and get to my old comments, then the comments disappeared from the profile, and now the profile itself is gone. But here is an old diary of mine.
If you search the site using google for "by chad okere" you'll get 98 hits, but all my comments have gone down the memory hole... In some cases google's cache may show the comments, in other times, it won't.
Hmm, maybe it was this call for people to take magic mushrooms that got me banned. But I do remember making some comments disagreeing with the poster.
posted by delmoi at 7:34 PM on May 19, 2006
Holy shit! Way to go Lamont. Way to go Atrios and Kos. Feel the Joementum turning!
I hate that smug Lieberman prick.
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:35 PM on May 19, 2006
I hate that smug Lieberman prick.
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:35 PM on May 19, 2006
netroots is such a dumb word.
Joe has lost the immunity idol. The virtual hair weave of the netroots has spoken.
posted by y2karl at 7:35 PM on May 19, 2006
Joe has lost the immunity idol. The virtual hair weave of the netroots has spoken.
posted by y2karl at 7:35 PM on May 19, 2006
It's a warning shot against Bush-supporting Dems, and it's a few years late. However, as others have said, losing Lieberman is no loss, especially in a state as blue as CT. Now if this type of thing could be done to an ardent pro-occupation candidate like Hillary, and give guys like Feingold who didn't vote for a fake war and phony security via PATRIOT some national attention, well, that would get me more excited. So this is just symbolism.
But symbolism does matter, especially for the party faithful. This is a huge middle finger to Lieberman and, frankly, the remnants of the Clintonite "third way," i.e., "appease the right so they don't call us elitist at the expense of our values!" (most of whom have jobs either with Hillary's campaign, the DNC (Dean being the important exception), or cashing checks from CNN.
You can just picture the guy cursing those "little people" who've, rightfully, turned on him.
Go Ned. Screw Joementum.
posted by bardic at 7:37 PM on May 19, 2006
But symbolism does matter, especially for the party faithful. This is a huge middle finger to Lieberman and, frankly, the remnants of the Clintonite "third way," i.e., "appease the right so they don't call us elitist at the expense of our values!" (most of whom have jobs either with Hillary's campaign, the DNC (Dean being the important exception), or cashing checks from CNN.
You can just picture the guy cursing those "little people" who've, rightfully, turned on him.
Go Ned. Screw Joementum.
posted by bardic at 7:37 PM on May 19, 2006
maybe it was the comment on this page that got me banned, where I complain about kos saying CO2 makes the air 'less clean'.
Hardly anything super-controversial.
posted by delmoi at 7:38 PM on May 19, 2006
Hardly anything super-controversial.
posted by delmoi at 7:38 PM on May 19, 2006
I hate that smug Lieberman prick.
Heh, I dunno. I found him kind of endearing during the primary in '04. I'd never vote for him, of course, and the fact that he's drunk off the neo-con kool-aide means he really needs to go.
Still, personally I kinda like him.
posted by delmoi at 7:43 PM on May 19, 2006
Heh, I dunno. I found him kind of endearing during the primary in '04. I'd never vote for him, of course, and the fact that he's drunk off the neo-con kool-aide means he really needs to go.
Still, personally I kinda like him.
posted by delmoi at 7:43 PM on May 19, 2006
endearing, like dogshit on your shoe.
posted by fourcheesemac at 8:24 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by fourcheesemac at 8:24 PM on May 19, 2006
delmoi-
Hmm. Are you even sure you were banned? Maybe your password got lost in a server accident, etc.
You'd think you'd at least need to be upsetting people to get yourself banned.
My tireless advocacy of Dick Gephardt made me few friends over there, but I never got close (as far as I know) to being banned.
posted by washburn at 8:25 PM on May 19, 2006
Hmm. Are you even sure you were banned? Maybe your password got lost in a server accident, etc.
You'd think you'd at least need to be upsetting people to get yourself banned.
My tireless advocacy of Dick Gephardt made me few friends over there, but I never got close (as far as I know) to being banned.
posted by washburn at 8:25 PM on May 19, 2006
Agreed. Joe's a hateful sack of shit, but it's Hillary that's going to cost us the '08 election.
posted by Ryvar at 8:29 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by Ryvar at 8:29 PM on May 19, 2006
More from mydd
Lieberman is dropping a ton of cash on this event. There are nice Lieberman signs on every other seat in the hall (with thousands of seats), and hundreds of 'thunderstick' balloons. The Lieberman tent is twice the size of anyone else's; he even paid for a poll of the delegates. Lieberman is clearly trying the inevitability line of attack. There are delegates/volunteers/staffers with buttons that say 'I'm sticking with Joe', all over the place, and they look like Texans mad that they grew up in Connecticut wearing sweater vests their whole lives. Every staffer has a personalized T-shirt with their name on it. The whole affair reeks of 'bow down before Joe Lieberman's awesome tent.'
What on earth does that mean?
---
Hmm. Are you even sure you were banned? Maybe your password got lost in a server accident, etc.
I could log on, but I could not post. All my posts were still there, but I couldn't post, or even vote in the polls (if I logged out, I could vote in the polls). Then later the comments disappeared.
Anyway, no big loss because I rarely posted there.
posted by delmoi at 8:42 PM on May 19, 2006
Lieberman is dropping a ton of cash on this event. There are nice Lieberman signs on every other seat in the hall (with thousands of seats), and hundreds of 'thunderstick' balloons. The Lieberman tent is twice the size of anyone else's; he even paid for a poll of the delegates. Lieberman is clearly trying the inevitability line of attack. There are delegates/volunteers/staffers with buttons that say 'I'm sticking with Joe', all over the place, and they look like Texans mad that they grew up in Connecticut wearing sweater vests their whole lives. Every staffer has a personalized T-shirt with their name on it. The whole affair reeks of 'bow down before Joe Lieberman's awesome tent.'
What on earth does that mean?
---
Hmm. Are you even sure you were banned? Maybe your password got lost in a server accident, etc.
I could log on, but I could not post. All my posts were still there, but I couldn't post, or even vote in the polls (if I logged out, I could vote in the polls). Then later the comments disappeared.
Anyway, no big loss because I rarely posted there.
posted by delmoi at 8:42 PM on May 19, 2006
Delmoi, yes, Lieberman sides with the Dems on the 90% of things that aren't very important. Unfortunately, when the chips are down and it is important, he almost always sides with the Administration. He's a bush flunkie wolf in Dem sheep's clothing, and we're better off with a real Republican if that's what the voters up there want.
posted by localroger at 8:43 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by localroger at 8:43 PM on May 19, 2006
Delmoi - Probably the approach you took to inter-personal communication, I really liked your posts there, upfront but practically never particularly personal.
Kos, I enjoy your site but you really need to think more carefully about what you say, lest you seem exeedly shrill. Carbon Dioxide is not any more 'dirty' then Nitrogen, which makes up 80% of the air we breath. CO2 is not harmful to anything. Asside from the temprature, it dosn't hurt the environment and isn't 'polution'
posted by econous at 8:53 PM on May 19, 2006
Kos, I enjoy your site but you really need to think more carefully about what you say, lest you seem exeedly shrill. Carbon Dioxide is not any more 'dirty' then Nitrogen, which makes up 80% of the air we breath. CO2 is not harmful to anything. Asside from the temprature, it dosn't hurt the environment and isn't 'polution'
posted by econous at 8:53 PM on May 19, 2006
*slow clap* Still looks like Lamont got his ass kicked to me. Shouldn't the democrats spend their time and energy going after Republicans instead of eating their own? I can think of a couple tough races or lean Republican senate seats that with a little of the money and time that was spent on Lamont could help sway an R into a D.
posted by my sock puppet account at 9:01 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by my sock puppet account at 9:01 PM on May 19, 2006
Wow. Very cool. This makes me feel less guilty for flaking out on helping with the petition drive.
I have had a Ned Lamont sticker on my car ever since I picked one up at his announcement in March. After I pulled my car out of downtown Hartford that day I never saw another one for almost two months. But now I see bumper stickers and lawn signs almost every day, especially in the Hartford area. Bush is dragging Joementum down with him, a signal that "mainstream" voters (i.e. those that don't hang out at dailykos) recognize and appreciate that he has stood behind Rumsfeld and all the rest of the moonbats from the very beginning on the moral tragedy we are perpetrating in Iraq.
It seems that the limousine liberal base in Fairfield County and the Hartford metro is squarely on board. I am living in the eastern part of the state, and it's a tougher battle since the procurement of federal dollars for the Groton military complex causes voters to reward incumbents. But I think Ned has a great shot because primaries bring out the activist base. And who but those with something to gain politically will fight tooth and nail for Joe Lieberman this year?
posted by Saucy Intruder at 9:03 PM on May 19, 2006
I have had a Ned Lamont sticker on my car ever since I picked one up at his announcement in March. After I pulled my car out of downtown Hartford that day I never saw another one for almost two months. But now I see bumper stickers and lawn signs almost every day, especially in the Hartford area. Bush is dragging Joementum down with him, a signal that "mainstream" voters (i.e. those that don't hang out at dailykos) recognize and appreciate that he has stood behind Rumsfeld and all the rest of the moonbats from the very beginning on the moral tragedy we are perpetrating in Iraq.
It seems that the limousine liberal base in Fairfield County and the Hartford metro is squarely on board. I am living in the eastern part of the state, and it's a tougher battle since the procurement of federal dollars for the Groton military complex causes voters to reward incumbents. But I think Ned has a great shot because primaries bring out the activist base. And who but those with something to gain politically will fight tooth and nail for Joe Lieberman this year?
posted by Saucy Intruder at 9:03 PM on May 19, 2006
sock puppet - I appreciate your point of view, but you are wrong. The Democrats have become a party of moral equivocacy and center-right pandering. Sort of like a couple hundred Bill Clintons, without the intellect or the leadership skills. A vote for a so-called "moderate" Democrat is a vote for a party that seems content to lose presidential elections by putting up finger-in-the-wind candidates who campaign as slightly less evil, slightly less charismatic versions of their Republican opponents.
Screw that shit. Either the party leaves the wishy-washy center or I leave the party. When we select candidates who advocate aggressive, preemptive war and then back the megalomaniacs who continue to prosecute it, we are all cheapened. We had one person in the Senate who opposed the Patriot Act in 2001. One. In my book there's 99 conservative Republicans in that austere body.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 9:18 PM on May 19, 2006
Screw that shit. Either the party leaves the wishy-washy center or I leave the party. When we select candidates who advocate aggressive, preemptive war and then back the megalomaniacs who continue to prosecute it, we are all cheapened. We had one person in the Senate who opposed the Patriot Act in 2001. One. In my book there's 99 conservative Republicans in that austere body.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 9:18 PM on May 19, 2006
*slow clap* Still looks like Lamont got his ass kicked to me. Shouldn't the democrats spend their time and energy going after Republicans instead of eating their own? I can think of a couple tough races or lean Republican senate seats that with a little of the money and time that was spent on Lamont could help sway an R into a D.
It's still primary season, this is why we have them. All that energy will have a chance to go towards other people in the general.
As far as ass-kicking, this was a poll of party insiders, ones who have to deal with the fallout of their (very public) votes. Actual primary votes are anonymous and of anyone registered as a democrat.
posted by delmoi at 9:22 PM on May 19, 2006
It's still primary season, this is why we have them. All that energy will have a chance to go towards other people in the general.
As far as ass-kicking, this was a poll of party insiders, ones who have to deal with the fallout of their (very public) votes. Actual primary votes are anonymous and of anyone registered as a democrat.
posted by delmoi at 9:22 PM on May 19, 2006
Meanwhile back at the ranch... McCain who seemed like such a powerhouse as a moderate republican and got smeared out of the nomination is sucking neoconservative/religious right dick so hard it's embarrassing. People that I had some respect for like Colin Powell and John McCain have turned out to be disgusting. What a world we live in...
posted by Eekacat at 9:29 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by Eekacat at 9:29 PM on May 19, 2006
When we select candidates who advocate aggressive, preemptive war and then back the megalomaniacs who continue to prosecute it, we are all cheapened. We had one person in the Senate who opposed the Patriot Act in 2001. One. In my book there's 99 conservative Republicans in that austere body.
Don't forget, that one was Russ Feingold, who is expected (announced?) to run in the democratic primary for prez. He also voted against the Iraq war.
posted by delmoi at 9:29 PM on May 19, 2006
Don't forget, that one was Russ Feingold, who is expected (announced?) to run in the democratic primary for prez. He also voted against the Iraq war.
posted by delmoi at 9:29 PM on May 19, 2006
Dec. 1, 2007: Tony Snow makes some offhand remark about Russ Feingold wanting the terrorists to win.
Dec. 2, 2007: Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi start wringing their hands and worrying that Russ isn't "mainstream enough."
Dec. 3, 2007: Newsweek reports that Joe Biden will win the Democratic nomination.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 9:38 PM on May 19, 2006
Dec. 2, 2007: Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi start wringing their hands and worrying that Russ isn't "mainstream enough."
Dec. 3, 2007: Newsweek reports that Joe Biden will win the Democratic nomination.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 9:38 PM on May 19, 2006
I live in Connecticut and have for some time now and I read the Hartford Courant regularly. Before 9/11 the senator was largely concerned with racy TV content.
posted by longsleeves at 9:57 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by longsleeves at 9:57 PM on May 19, 2006
Who needs Joementum when you've got Lamontomentum? (Nedmentum is right out)
posted by wanderingmind at 11:02 PM on May 19, 2006
posted by wanderingmind at 11:02 PM on May 19, 2006
Joe Lieberman folded on those attempts to introduce illegal ballots in FL in 2000 just because they were supposedly military. Fuck him, and the DLC horse he used to get here.
The Democratic Party should lose fighting for what it stands for, instead of losing compomising.
And with a Republican House, Senate, Executive, and Supreme Court, I don't think the existing party machinery ought to be able to get away with threatening the party faithful with the threat of losing. We're already under the damn boot heel, you fucking idiots.
Do they seriously think we won't have noticed them losing for the last 6 years?
If you can't explain how your opponent is lying, get the hell out of politics. And if you have no defense to your opponent calling you a liar, get the hell out of politics. And if you can't run for office without appearing to be a machine that runs for office, please, look at the oath you will take, and get the hell out of politics.
Can't anyone play this game?
posted by dglynn at 11:03 PM on May 19, 2006
The Democratic Party should lose fighting for what it stands for, instead of losing compomising.
And with a Republican House, Senate, Executive, and Supreme Court, I don't think the existing party machinery ought to be able to get away with threatening the party faithful with the threat of losing. We're already under the damn boot heel, you fucking idiots.
Do they seriously think we won't have noticed them losing for the last 6 years?
If you can't explain how your opponent is lying, get the hell out of politics. And if you have no defense to your opponent calling you a liar, get the hell out of politics. And if you can't run for office without appearing to be a machine that runs for office, please, look at the oath you will take, and get the hell out of politics.
Can't anyone play this game?
posted by dglynn at 11:03 PM on May 19, 2006
From a thread on myleftnutmeg:
Who needs Joementum when you've got Lamontomentum? (Nedmentum is right out)
They're going with nedrenaline, I think, although lamontomentum is great just for it's sheer sillyness, which is what made 'jomentum' so catchy in the first place.
posted by delmoi at 11:11 PM on May 19, 2006
Who needs Joementum when you've got Lamontomentum? (Nedmentum is right out)
They're going with nedrenaline, I think, although lamontomentum is great just for it's sheer sillyness, which is what made 'jomentum' so catchy in the first place.
posted by delmoi at 11:11 PM on May 19, 2006
Thanks for the good news. Taking out incumbent Dems that have failed at their jobs, so miserably, is a very important priority.
Senator Feingold rocks, but, damn it, he's MY senator, and he doesn't answer emails in even form-letter way (even when specifically requested). Kohl did respond. I have a problem giving $$ to someone that can't send a damn email.
posted by Goofyy at 12:28 AM on May 20, 2006
Senator Feingold rocks, but, damn it, he's MY senator, and he doesn't answer emails in even form-letter way (even when specifically requested). Kohl did respond. I have a problem giving $$ to someone that can't send a damn email.
posted by Goofyy at 12:28 AM on May 20, 2006
What dglynn said. This crap has been going on since Reagan. That crop of Dems let him define all the terms, and they haven't figured out that that's a losing strategy yet, so they keep doing it.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:30 AM on May 20, 2006
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:30 AM on May 20, 2006
None of it matters. I'm confident that whomever holds that office will give their constituents a harsh dicking at the benefit of corporate interest.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 5:56 AM on May 20, 2006
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 5:56 AM on May 20, 2006
I could log on, but I could not post. All my posts were still there, but I couldn't post, or even vote in the polls (if I logged out, I could vote in the polls). Then later the comments disappeared.
i registered on Kos and was banned after one "comment". i posted a small image of bush blinking his eyes. pfft! that was the end of that.
posted by quonsar at 8:46 AM on May 20, 2006
i registered on Kos and was banned after one "comment". i posted a small image of bush blinking his eyes. pfft! that was the end of that.
posted by quonsar at 8:46 AM on May 20, 2006
Don't roots stop growing when they hit solid ground?
posted by cillit bang at 12:32 PM on May 20, 2006
posted by cillit bang at 12:32 PM on May 20, 2006
Joe Lieberman folded on those attempts to introduce illegal ballots in FL in 2000 just because they were supposedly military. Fuck him, and the DLC horse he used to get here. [...] Can't anyone play this game?
posted by dglynn at 11:03 PM PST on May 19 [+fave] [!]
Well said. The sooner we get rid of the old party line (Liberman, Hillary et al - what Afroblanko righfully called "the sell-out war-hawk DLC Democrats") the sooner we'll have an actual Democratic party. The more new blood we can get in there the better - it's about damned time.
posted by rmm at 1:25 PM on May 20, 2006
Nquire wrote "Sorry to be negative, but how is this of interest to people outside of Connecticut?"
I'll do some searching for the donation breakdowns -- if nothing else, the netroots components of these campaigns should be bringing a lot of non-constituent, individual donations to these candidates. Joseph Hoeffel was the recipient of similar enthusiasm in PA against Arlen Spector in 2004.
It's a sign to Democrat leaders around the country that they either take a stand for their constituents or they will not only have to fight the republicans for power, but also fight within their own party to maintain their long-standing positions.
As someone who teetered between Independent and Democrat in 2000, the past six years has proved to me that reforming the party is a far more important investment than the long-term building of an new party, given all the damage that has been done.
And, to delmoi's comment about the Kos community, I was recently quite disappointed when I posted my first detailed diary about spamming by the Chris Gabrieli campaign in MA and was immediately attacked personally by a poster and accused of smearing Gabrieli on behalf of some opposition candidate. The tone was far poorer than anything I ever see in political discussions in MeFi -- I deleted the diary in frustration and won't be contributing again in the future.
posted by VulcanMike at 1:35 PM on May 20, 2006
I'll do some searching for the donation breakdowns -- if nothing else, the netroots components of these campaigns should be bringing a lot of non-constituent, individual donations to these candidates. Joseph Hoeffel was the recipient of similar enthusiasm in PA against Arlen Spector in 2004.
It's a sign to Democrat leaders around the country that they either take a stand for their constituents or they will not only have to fight the republicans for power, but also fight within their own party to maintain their long-standing positions.
As someone who teetered between Independent and Democrat in 2000, the past six years has proved to me that reforming the party is a far more important investment than the long-term building of an new party, given all the damage that has been done.
And, to delmoi's comment about the Kos community, I was recently quite disappointed when I posted my first detailed diary about spamming by the Chris Gabrieli campaign in MA and was immediately attacked personally by a poster and accused of smearing Gabrieli on behalf of some opposition candidate. The tone was far poorer than anything I ever see in political discussions in MeFi -- I deleted the diary in frustration and won't be contributing again in the future.
posted by VulcanMike at 1:35 PM on May 20, 2006
VulcanMike wrote "far more important investment than the long-term building of an new party" right now, I meant to say.
posted by VulcanMike at 1:37 PM on May 20, 2006
posted by VulcanMike at 1:37 PM on May 20, 2006
What a world we live in...
It must be a really confusing place to you if you were once naive enough to think that McCain was anything but an authoritarian.
posted by Kwantsar at 1:59 PM on May 20, 2006
It must be a really confusing place to you if you were once naive enough to think that McCain was anything but an authoritarian.
posted by Kwantsar at 1:59 PM on May 20, 2006
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This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Kos was predicting that he might have trouble.
Good to see that he did better than expected.
posted by sourbrew at 5:53 PM on May 19, 2006