If our strategy relies on everything lining up in our favor, on everything being perfect, else it all goes to the Republicans, well, that’s not a strategy we can rely on for future victories.

…. Regardless, what can someone on the West Coast do to coax Lieberman out of the race? What can I do to support those three vulnerable Dems from all the way out here?

LL @
112

Matt Stoller has an article at mydd http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/8/12/205819/682 that I think helps make sense of what is going on with the dems. Read it and weep.

The following is from that article by Matt Stoller:

Many of you will not like this answer, just as I didn’t like discovering it, but the reality is that right-wing wealthy neoconservatives whose pet project is Israel are the ones who are forcing the Democrats to the right. After 9/11, a special breed of incredibly wealthy coastal elites that I call ‘Bloomberg Democrats’ after their desire to have Michael Bloomberg run on a third party Presidential unity ticket went sharply to the right in their foreign policy thinking. Lieberman is part of this group, always supportive of Israeli hawkishness …

Thus far, the libertarians and the paleoconservatives (e.g., Justin Raimondo and Pat Buchannan) are about the only American groups who have been willing to take on the Israel lobby. Ultimately, American progressives must step up to the plate as well. This article at Counterpunch gives a lot of excellent perspective.

Matt Stoller’s article gives a clear and logical explanation as to the comments, actions and stances of Hillary, Schumer, Emmanuel and a lot of other politicians.

His presentation makes it obvious why Lieberman is continuing.

We need to really understand this if we’re to carry on our fight to regain the political power that, ostensibly, resides in the American electorate. It will not be easy. What we’re up against is not just the Bush administration and the Republithugs. We do not want to look back in a year and realize that Lamont’s victory was a Pyrrhic one.

Please, everyone read Stoller’s article and ponder it.

Who says Rahm isn’t worried? These are public statements, not a private assessment. What if he’s spinning Joe’s independent bid favorably?� That’s what the GOP does and it works with the Press

Good point.
But I think the Dems need a unified message very soon.

Thus far, the libertarians and the paleoconservatives (e.g., Justin Raimondo and Pat Buchannan) are about the only American groups who have been willing to take on the Israel lobby. Ultimately, American progressives must step up to the plate as well. This article at Counterpunch gives a lot of excellent perspective.

Matt Stoller has an article at mydd http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/8/12/205819/682 that I think helps make sense of what is going on with the dems. Read it and weep.

The following is from that article by Matt Stoller:

Many of you will not like this answer, just as I didn’t like discovering it, but the reality is that right-wing wealthy neoconservatives whose pet project is Israel are the ones who are forcing the Democrats to the right. After 9/11, a special breed of incredibly wealthy coastal elites that I call ‘Bloomberg Democrats’ after their desire to have Michael Bloomberg run on a third party Presidential unity ticket went sharply to the right in their foreign policy thinking. Lieberman is part of this group, always supportive of Israeli hawkishness …

Thus far, the libertarians and the paleoconservatives (e.g., Justin Raimondo and Pat Buchannan) are about the only American groups who have been willing to take on the Israel lobby. Ultimately, American progressives must step up to the plate as well. This article at Counterpunch gives a lot of excellent perspective.

My dream of dreams would be for impeachment proceedings to begin. But that obviously can’t happen without a Democratic Congressional takeover this fall. I’m relatively certain Joe Lieberman is acutely aware of this. Could be that this fact, and Rove of course, is the driving force behind the decision by Lieberman to run as an independent. To prevent impeachment.

This article has convinced me that the Democrats should make impeachment a major campaign issue this fall.

Anyone know?

I think Joe is going run regardless of who says what to him. You have to manage these races as if he’s running and not act worried.

Rahm has no choice but to publicly spin Joe as good news for Dems chances in the House. If Joe does drop out, there’s no harm.

Rahm probably thinks Joe’s bad for the House races but he’s got a job to make the press report a different story — Joe is good for the House Dems.

GOP Joe is running on Dem social issues and where he differs from the Dems is his support for the disastrous war and cooperating with Bush. Like Joe, GOP moderates want to talk about their “progressive stance” on social issues. Instead the race will focus on the issues where people are most at odds with El President.

People want a counter force to Bush and the GOP. Joe might force the issue with his plea for “unity” behind a loser policy and leader.