Senator Joe Lieberman lost the Democratic primary election to Ned Lamont today. The Hartford Courant reported today that Lieberman conceded defeat then vowed to continue his campaign as an Independent.
Challenger Ned Lamont appears to have defeated Lieberman by about 10,000 votes, according to unofficial returns. With 98 percent of the precincts reporting, Lamont led Lieberman 51.8 percent to 48.2 percent. The vote tally was 144,005 to 134,026.
But for Lieberman, this is simply a setback.
"Of course I am disappointed by the results, but I am not discouraged," Lieberman said..
"The old politics of partisan polarization won today," Lieberman said. "For the sake of our state, our country and my party, I cannot and will not let that result stand."
There's been quite a bit of talk about the Republicans coming apart over the Iraq war--the neocons vs the paleocons. But as far as I've noticed, the GOP hasn't destroyed any of its own yet.
That can't be said about the Democrats now. They've begun their Purge. If a Democrat is too serious on matters of national security, his or her career is at risk. It doesn't matter that he votes along the party line 90% of the time. Ninety percent isn't enough anymore.
Let Hillary take note.
Meanwhile, the cliff-jumpers are seeing the election results through distorted lenses.
"People are going to look back and say the Bush years started to end in Connecticut," said Avi Green, a Lamont volunteer from Boston. "The Republicans are going to look at tonight and realize there's blood in the water."
Yes, they will. But I believe Avi Green will be surprised just whose blood that is. November promises to be bleak for the party that eats its own.
1 comment:
The Lieberman elimination still amazes me. I loved your choice of the word "purge." Very appropriate.
The Republicans better have a plan and a lot of money if they hope to keep control of the House and Senate.
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