congratulations Ned Lamont: a pre-mortem

[welshTerrier2]

let's get past all this Lamont-Lieberman stuff ... i'm not here to bash Lieberman ... but it's pretty clear he's toast ... the primary ended the day Lieberman said he would run as an Indie if he lost the primary ... it's over ... i have no crystal ball but i really doubt Lieberman will be foolish enough to run as an Indie ...

the big question: what are the main lessons to be learned from Lamont's victory about where the Democratic Party is at?

all the "common wisdom" is focused like a laser on the war ... most Lamont supporters have said they're voting for Lamont because they don't like Lieberman's position on Iraq ... will the Democratic Party make changes in its war position based on this race? you tell me ... i have no idea ...

and what about all this "netroots" business? it's pretty clear there was widespread dislike of Lieberman throughout the "blogosphere" (i really hate that word) ... but can all us keyboard warriors really sink a heavily favored, former VP candidate in a Senate race against a new guy? and again, if this were the case, how will the Democratic Party respond to the blogs?

on one hand, maybe they'll spend more time really listening to what we have to say ... on the other, there's always the possibility that they will seek to do a better job infiltrating the online community ... one thing's for sure, some people see most of us as bomb throwing lunatics ... perhaps instead of spending so much effort painting us as extremists, they should spend a little more time incorporating our views into the party's message ...

listen to what this macaroon had to say:

source: http://www.politicalwire.com/

Lamont’s victory, however, would not be without its downside for Democrats, since it would only embolden the crazies in the party, a consideration not lost on other Democratic elected officials and strategists.

Lieberman’s defeat is likely to add to the partisanship and bitterness that divides the country and Capitol Hill, and to generate more media attention to grassroots bomb-throwers who, down the road, are likely to make the party less appealing to swing voters and moderates.

so, in keeping with the spirit of the Lamont-Lieberman pre-mortem, what impact, if any, will Lamont's primary victory have on the Democratic Party?

[babylonsister]

1. Never say never; we all learned that the hard way in 2004. nt

[eleny]

4. they don't use the infamous voting machines in connecticut

they use the old fashioned levers like they used to in nyc.

[babylonsister]

7. While I know that, my suspicions kick(ed) in.

I'll be in NY for this, visiting Dad. I can't wait to check out the local coverage. Downside, no computer.
:hi:

[eleny]

8. Hi!

I hope you have a great visit! The local flavor will be fantastic.

When we were back in NYC, we used the computer at the local library. Not that you'll want to do that. But we needed to get online and found that we could sign up for a half hour session each. It was really nice since it made us see how easy it is to stay connected if you have to.

:hi:

[Theres-a]

5. Amen sister nt

[snowbear]

2. "embolden the crazies in the party"?

What does he mean by that?

[welshTerrier2]

6. don't take it personally ...

he means all of us ...

[sendero]

15. They better get used to us crazies..

... because the failure of their idiotic selves is what has made us crazy.

And also, in reference to the OP, the "infiltration" is well on its way but it's not going to work. People know bullshit talking points when they hear them and their influence is only so great.

I suspect that Hillary's sudden switch to take on Rummy is a belated response to a change in the weather that occurred over a year ago. Expect others to follow, but I feel like it's too little too late for many of them.

[snowbear]

3. duplicate (delete)

[babylonsister]

9. We, keyboard warriors, didn't do it. Lieberman did it to himself

by cozying up to dumbya and supporting the war. Bottom line imo, his actions fed our reactions.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. "... i have no crystal ball but.... "

Wudja do? Send it out to be washed? Sometimes you act like a clown!

By the way, I am reading **this** thread after posting this one: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2756769

Who's following whom? :)

[welshTerrier2]

11. about that LOL thing ...

do people just type that when they're amused? ... i actually did LOL ... now you've gone and outed me ... i am a clown indeed ... i just never saved up for the costumes ...

see you ===============================> over there ...

[Old and In the Way]

12. Lieberman has no one to blame but himself.

He made a decision a long time ago to go it alone. He seems to have traded in an organization in CT for the weekly name recognition that the corporate media provides. He thought he was insulated from being held accountable for his votes and his ongoing support for a disasterous foreign policy. Corporate media gave him his low cost, high visibility media platform...in turn for his loyal support of the Bush administration's illegal and immoral war. Joe lost touch and never saw his train wreck coming.

Every Democrat who has thumbed their noses at their base ought to be very nervous. Joe might be the first big name Democrat to go down in flames, but he won't be he last.

And the writer of this piece for Political Wire is an idiot. He better take a clue pill and realize that active, concerned Americans are using the power of the internet to make our voices heard. The days of having a few Washington beltway talking heads telling us what we think are over.

[ulysses]

13. if it changes the party at all

(and I'm not at all sure that it will), the impact will be gradual and undramatic. Maybe HRC makes a speech in a few months that's a little more critical of Bush's handling of Iraq (but not of the war itself), maybe a moderate or two makes a little more effort next year to consider suggesting a timeline for withdrawal. But for the nonce, expect the only response from Bullmoose, From and others to be even more vitriol.

[primative1]

14. Net Impact?

Well for starters, if this is an example of how the party could be moved in its general ideology, then I am all for it. This would provide America with a choice between actual differences in viewpoints, something that has been sorely lacking in mainstream politics for some time. We basicly have now a difference in PR packaging of similar sickly products.
As someone who used to be a proud democrat but latly has become a luke warm D supporter this would be a refreshing change. I had come to agree with Nader's statement that there was little differnce between the two parties. It had been fairly obvious before dubyah inept regime has highlighted just how low the real pubies are.
If this signals that the clear ideological difference has returned then I am enthusiastic again. Bring back real Democratic values.