Today's Washington Post has an article about Joe Lieberman and the Connecticut primary. It's quite interesting to read.
"I think we did the right thing in overthrowing Saddam, and I think we are safer as a result," he continued. "Second, while I have been very critical of the Bush foreign policy before the war and the Rumsfeld-Bush policies in Iraq after Saddam was overthrown, I also made a judgment I would not invoke partisan politics on this war."
That was the point of a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece Lieberman wrote last November endorsing the president's announced strategy to defeat the insurgency and establish a democratic government in Iraq. That article infuriated Lamont and launched his candidacy. "It was decisive," Lamont told me in an interview. "Lieberman suggested that the critics were undermining the credibility of the president. I thought he was wrong."
"My opponent says it broke Democratic unity," Lieberman said. "Well, dammit, I wasn't thinking about Democratic unity. It was a moment to put the national interest above partisan interest."
Sources in Connecticut tell me that momentum in the campaign is mostly with Lamont. Lieberman insists he can win the primary. But he has another option. Connecticut law says that he could run as an independent, but he would have to file 7,500 signatures the day after the primary.
He says he knows of no effort to gather signatures now. But he also says, "I want to put my whole record before the whole voting population of Connecticut" — clearly implying an independent run if he loses to Lamont in August.
I've stated all along that this primary was a bad idea for the Democrats. I know that's a position the netroots won't agree with – vehemently. Still, trying to to take a popular Senator out of what should be a safe seat because he doesn't agree with one position is ultimately going to cost the Democrats. By not being able to help other candidates while fighting for his own political life, the other candidates have it that much harder.
In the long run it comes down to Lieberman's last quote:
"I know I'm taking a position that is not popular within the party," Lieberman said, "but that is a challenge for the party — whether it will accept diversity of opinion or is on a kind of crusade or jihad of its own to have everybody toe the line. No successful political party has ever done that."
That says it all, I think.
UPDATE: Captain's Quarters Take is much the same as mine.
Wow, you’re right. That statement sure does say it all. A three term U.S. Senator widely known for his knowledge about terrorism comparing primaries, a crucial part of American democracy to terrorism is enough to make any thinking person wonder if the Senator is still fit to serve.
Wow, Sen L. is right. I hope for the Dem party’s sake, he kicks Lamont’s hinder…hard. The Dem party is in a serious identity crisis, and they don’t want to admit that moderate Dems and Reps agree on most issues. The big difference is that the Rep party actively sought out the middle ground, while the Dems floundered. Now the Dems are busy trying to define themselves by contrast (i.e. ‘this is what we are not, everything they stand for is bad’).
It will be the end of the Dem party as a significant national party if they allow their shrill ‘anti everything Republican’ fringe to define what their party is for.
And that would be bad for American politics.
Yep, this is a bad situation for the Dems, but Aldon can’t see past his beliefs.
Lieberman’s metaphor is correct, a “holy war” against a pretty reliable Dem just because he’s not anti-war is short-sighted for the good of the party.
Once Dems forfeited their public integrity to defend Bill Clinton, the gates to their own political hell were thrust wide open. Zell Miller, and others, tried to warn them, but they refused to listen.
Now, Joe Lieberman is again trying to sound the alarm, but again Dems stubbornly refuse to hear a voice of reason. There is simply no place in today’s Democrat Party for either a differing opinion, or a moderate voice.
Consequently, Dems have completely marginalized themselves, demonstrated they are unfit to lead the nation, and proved they are not only incapable of rational thought, but also even of modest attempts at self-preservation.
They are truly a national party no more. Dems have sown the wind and will reap only the whirlwind. Mid-term election results will again shatter their ambitions, but won’t alter their illusions one little bit. That’s exactly how crazy they have actually become.