Excellent article on the impact of the Lamont win

[kaygore]

Triumph Of The New Moral Center

Robert L. Borosage
August 09, 2006

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/08/09/triumph_of_the_new_moral_center.php

Ned Lamont’s stunning upset of incumbent Sen. Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut Democratic primary race on Tuesday sends shock waves through the dead sea of American politics.

<snip>

Lamont’s victory was propelled by a rising tide of progressive energy—activists who are tired of losing elections to the right and disgusted with cautious politicians who duck and cover rather than stand and fight. Until a few weeks ago, Lieberman exemplified those Democrats who establish their “independence” by pushing off the causes of their own party and embracing the right’s agenda. His voters didn’t abandon him; he abandoned them long ago. After his defeat, incumbents in both parties may begin to listen more closely to their voters and less avidly to their donors.

<snip>

Lieberman’s sore loser campaign will be well financed by the corporate lobbies he has served. Since he has no new ideas to offer, he’ll run a nasty negative campaign of personal vilification against Lamont, trying to smear him before voters have a chance hear what Lamont has to say. And that race will be a test for every Democratic leader. Will they come to support Lamont and the new energy, the new ideas, the new moral center that he represents? Or will they offer nominal support but stay away, refusing to challenge Lieberman’s low-road campaign? Their reactions will be a true measure of who is ready to fight for a new direction for this country and who is not.

[One_Life_To_Give]

1. But will it inspire conservatives to dump the shrub n/t

[Little Star]

3. I think that side is taking note. Moderates of all

stripes have had it with this endless non-winnable war. With any luck Karl's ear has gone tin deaf on this.

That article by Tom Paine is very good.

[patrice]

2. Yep. Authoritarian control must end.

Telling people, in one way or another, that they don't matter (because they don't live in the right state for the Dems or don't go to the right church for the Reps) is profoundly damaging to the process.

For the time being the change must be financed by people like Lamont who has money to combat Corporate $$$$$$, but if the people can wrest candidate selection away from the powers that be, we stand a chance of addressing publicly financed campaigns and equal time in broadcast mediums.

[StClone]

6. You said it

For those who haven't found time to read Dean's "Conservatives Without Conscience" don't delay. The empirical data based on nearly 50 years of research is a must read to make sense out of the current political landscape.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0670037745/002-4254874-4516064?v=glance&n=283155

A quick check of Wiki on the Authoritarian personalities: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarianism

Don't delay! The true Conservatives better start getting their collective heads out of the sand and take back their party.

[AX10]

4. You betcha' that corporate lobbies will be financing Joe!

[caligirl]

5. 1968 can happen all over again for the DNC,.Risk the party for Looserman?

[longship]

7. Good read from Borosage

Recommended.
:kick:ed