Party Establishment abandons Lamont and party primary voters

[Quixote1818]

Senate Democrats and Bill Clinton Stab Us In The Front

by Matt Stoller, Sun Oct 29, 2006 at 07:15:06 PM EST

In the Lieberman-Lamont fight, there has been a fair amount of hand wringing over why Lamont isn't blowing Joe out of the water. Why, if Joe lost to Lamont, isn't he losing in the general? Why did Lamont let Joe get away? Well there are a number of reasons, but among the most prominent is the total abandonment of Lamont by the party establishment. And let's be very clear - this is not Lamont that they are abandoning, it's the party primary voters that they are abandoning.

Whether it was a standing ovation at a caucus meeting when Joe got back to the Senate after his primary loss, or Obama refusing to come to Connecticut or criticize Joe in any way, or Bill Clinton praising Lieberman on Larry King, or Harry Reid promising Lieberman seniority, or Chuck Schumer refusing to get involved and practically being forced to not back Lieberman after the primary, or insiders telling Lamont's campaign that they would talk Joe out of the race if Lamont didn't go on the attack, it's very clear that the Democratic Party leadership is rotten to the core. With the exception of John Kerry, Chris Dodd, Ted Kennedy, and Wes Clark, no high profile Democrats have been there for Lamont. (John Edwards is a bit more complicated, but the jury's still out.)

Here's the latest on Lieberman bragging about the seniority he'll have if he wins reelection. Make no mistake, these DC Democrats are only our temporary allies. They have total contempt for the rules of the party, and they cheered Joe after he faced us in the primary. It is no longer reasonable for them to call for party unity, because they no longer have any legitimate claim to call themselves leaders of the party. They may be leaders for the next few decades simply due to inertia, but it's very clear that Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are liars who think nothing of insulting Democratic primary voters who play by the rules.

Continued: http://matt_stoller.mydd.com/story/2006/10/29/19156/989

[Phredicles]

1. I am SICK of the "bend over and take it" wing of our party.

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. "The primary is over!"

Sorry, but a very common response to "I just can't support the lying jackass who is my incumbent Democrat" has been "You should have made your decision during the primary, when it would have made a difference."

Well, the people of Connecticut DID make a decision in the primary, and look what it got them? Proof that no matter who you vote for, you will get screwed by the same old incumbent.

[rinsd]

3. More scorched earth bullshit

"it's very clear that Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are liars who think nothing of insulting Democratic primary voters who play by the rules."

Well fuck you Matt. Sorry your guy isn't the most important race in the world. There's a little thing called taking back Congress. And the math says Joe vs Lamont does not matter in that equation.

That is why Joe was promised seniority, because the Dem leadership wanted this seat to be win-win.

[flyarm]

4. well i called hillary's office yesterday and gave them hell..why are others not

calling and holding her feet to the fire..just think if every Du'er called..thats 80,000 calls at least!

get on the phone and demand they support our democratic candidate..or tell them you will take them down as well..get hopping!!

please...

i really gave Hillary's phone answerer a piece of my mind and demanded he tell her what i had to say..i was pissed..big time..i said if she does not support a dem candidate..i will put my money against her and all the people i can gather to vote against her..she will never get the dem vote..

but no one else is calling..the guy told me i was only one of few that have raised this "concern"

get calling DU'ers...and do not be nice!

fly

[Quixote1818]

5. It's nice to see Wes Clark has been their for Lamont

Wasn't John Edwards campaigning for Lamont as well?

[mmonk]

6. Not very democratic, eh?

Party bosses always miss the message if they don't agree with it. The message voters sent can be sent again.

[madfloridian]

7. Here are the powerhouse Dems who support Lieberman...

http://www.joe2006.com/free_details.asp?id=97#natchapter

Just a few:

Don Baer, Director Of Communications - Clinton Administration

Mark Brzezinski, Former Director of National Security Council – Clinton Administration

Ash Carter, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense - Clinton Administration

Bill Danvers, Senior Director for the National Security Council - Clinton Administration

Lanny Davis, Special Counsel to the President - Clinton Administration

Stuart Eizenstat, Former Deputy Treasury Secretary – Clinton Administration

Steve Elmendorf, Former Chief of Staff to House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt

Al From, Founder of the Democratic Leadership Council

Bill Galston, Deputy Assistant for Domestic Policy - Clinton Administration

Jamie Gorelick, Deputy Attorney General - Clinton Administration

Martin Indyk, Assistant Secretary Of State, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel - Clinton Administration

Max Kampelman, Ambassador to the CSCE - Carter Administration

Jim Kennedy, Former Spokesman for Former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore

Simon Lazarus, Associate Director of the White House Domestic Policy Staff – Carter Administration

Michael Levy, Asst. Sec. of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Dept. of Treasury – Clinton Administration

Abbe Lowell, Chief Minority Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives

Will Marshall, President and Founder, Progressive Policy Institute

Dana Marshall, Senior Advisor, U.S. Department of Commerce – Clinton Administration

Mack McLarty, Former White House Chief of Staff - Clinton Adminstration


John Nakahata, Chief of Staff to Chairman of the FCC – Clinton Administration

Tom Nides, Special Counsel for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs - Clinton Administration

Leon Panetta, Former White House Chief of Staff – Clinton Administration

Tony Podesta, Clinton Transition Team, Former Counsel to Sen. Ted Kennedy

Bruce Reed, Domestic Policy Advisor - Clinton Administration

Dennis Ross, Special Middle East Coordinator- Clinton Administration

David Rothkopf, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade - Clinton Administration

Richard Swett, Former Ambassador to Denmark - Clinton Administration

Ben Wattenberg, Aide and Speech Writer to President Lyndon B. Johnson

Jim Woolsey, Former Director of the CIA - Clinton Administration

[madfloridian]

8. Dean, Kerry, and Clark have been there for Lamont.

Dean was there for all CT Democrats.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/460