FITZ!

Well, what the hell. Can’t these knuckleheads smell a watershed event furchrissakes!

We have long memories.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

I left a comment on LamontBLog along the lines of Obama first scorned and chastised Democrats for not revealing the convictions of their fatih, then he is silent on the torture bill (a moral issue and hence one of faith) til the last minute, when its’ passage was insured. Now he waits til the last minute to send a half-assed e-mail supporting a candidate that is opposing a moral-less war-monger. Fuck him and his sanctimonious pandering.

Ned will get plenty of support if he shows some progress- he needs to cut the Lieberman lead from 11 to five or so in the next couple of pollings.

Most here seem to think that will happen because of the debates- and maybe it will.

Triangulation will be the end of the Democratic Party, and it’s a shame to see the Clintons’ example being followed by those who know better. Copying from Bill and Hill’s paper will NOT endear these others to the progressive force within their party.

I wonder if part of Karl Rove’s “assistance” to RGJoe includes access to NSA wiretap-obtained information about national Democrats. It’s difficult to understand their silence otherwise.

========
Had Enough?
========

It’s obvious the Democratic Party has problems of its own. Taking our country back means taking our party back. And when we take the party back, there is going to be some pain involved.

I’ve been thinking about what it’s going to be like in the netroots after Nov 7 — quiet? jubilant? But I realize one thing, Nov 7 is all about one big move toward Progressive Power, but only one move.

The next move, no matter what happens Nov 7, will be to continue cleaning out the Democratic Party’s sclerotic arteries.

We can divide Dems into two categories: the Sclerotics and the Effectives. Pach, I nominate these guys for the Sclerotics if they don’t get off their as*es and do the right thing by the elected Democratic candidate for Senator from Connecticut.

What does Feingold (famous for campaign finance reform) have to say about Lieberman’s $387,000 petty cash slush fund or is that fine and dandy with Feingold and he just worries about some pissant stuff but politicians siphoning off campaign money into slush funds is A-OK with Russ Feingold.

I hear Fitz was a math major. Apparently he can teach people a thing or two.

The Lamont Liberman campaign would be the perfect venue for the big name Dems to do a last minute push on social security. Wasn’t Liberman considering privatizing? This issue seems to have been forgotten this year and I don’t know why. If people vote the Repugs and Joe back in- all your grannys and gramps are gonna have to eat cat food.

It all adds up to Wesley Clark, and John Kerry has redeemed himself somewhat.

All the folks you named, pach, have earned negative credits. Which are double plus ungood, of course.

“Audacity of Hype!”

I kinda liked hypotneus, what about changing slightly to hyponews, defined as a tiny bit of news along with a lot of propaganda in an article?

I can count the days until the next presidential election. Are you listening Barack, John, Russ, and Hilary?

I think it is fair to say that those who are “playing it safe” are actualy playing with fire.

This race is symbolic of much more than just Joe Lieberman. Democratic voters spoke out about who they wanted to represent them. Leading Democrats have actively thumbed their noses at that in favor of keeping their friend in the Club and maintaining the Incumbency Protection Program.

The problem, and hence people’s memories, will not disappear after this race is over. People will not only remember where the true loyalties of these “leaders” is placed, they will also know who is sincerely deserving of their respect and support moving forward.

Pach,

Speaking of the mathematically impaired:

Diane Benson goes from 30 points down to 9 points down in 4 weeks! http://bensonforcongress.com/

I was going to post this earlier today, but we had a power outage. Did I mention this is Alaska and our Winter just started?

Diane Benson has struggled from 30 points to nine points behind in four weeks with NO HELP WHATSOEVER from ANY agent or agency of the national Dem machine. What little help her campaign has gotten on the state level pales in comparison to the help she’s gotten HERE from egregious http://www.actblue.com/page/egregious and our dear fdl readers and commenters like YOU!

I’ve a theory that the AK Dems want Diane to soften Don up so a REAL (ie. white) pol can take him out in 2008. In that sense, Diane’s campaign http://bensonforcongress.com/ harkens back to the 60’s – a campaign to enfranchise Alaska natives in a way they’ve never been represented here before, ie – a seat at the Federal level.

Support Diane today, Doggies!

Got effective email addresses for these folks? I say we fill up their in-boxes. And I agree with LindaR #7, wholeheartedly. As Shrub himself put it: “Don’t get fooled again”

Word to TeddySan @ 6, but man for one brief, shinning moment, I thought Russ Feingold had rummaged around in his scrotum and come up with the last remaining set in the Democratic party. I’m loathe to think that we are reduced to depending on Hillary to produce a pair; but she’s a better bet than most.

I’m afraid, though, that there is political gain for her to have Lamont loose just as it was beneficial for her that Kerry loose in 2004. If the Lamont campaign is the dawning of the age of Aquarius that ushers in a whole new realm of liberal thought; we, the people, will have very little time for moderate conservatism of the Clinton variety in ‘08. It is in her best interest that Ned loose.

It is my best interest that Ned win; for I am a believer in that great liberal ideal that all people are created equal and we are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights. Among those rights, the right not to be governed by wimps!

I’m not sure. Everyone is getting all up in arms but when the presidential election comes around we’ll be back supporting the lesser of two evils. And the beat goes on . . .

Jane Hamsher @ 15

I think it is fair to say that those who are “playing it safe” are actualy playing with fire.

This race is symbolic of much more than just Joe Lieberman. Democratic voters spoke out about who they wanted to represent them. Leading Democrats have actively thumbed their noses at that in favor of keeping their friend in the Club and maintaining the Incumbency Protection Program.

The problem, and hence people’s memories, will not disappear after this race is over. People will not only remember where the true loyalties of these “leaders” is placed, they will also know who is sincerely deserving of their respect and support moving forward.

So far, then, it is Edwards ‘08 from that list. At least he was there. Was Clark? For me this is the litmus test.

When Diane Benson gets to Washington, DC, the only special interest group to whom she will owe anything close to a debt will be YOU, wonderful doggies! Get Rabid, lambs , uh, pups – and send her $5.00 at egregious’s ActBlue site:

http://www.actblue.com/page/egregious

Big interview with a “very upset” Lynn Chaney on CNN in a minute.

What happened after Hill and NED’s lovefest on the flowered sofa in the Chappaqua sunroom, anyway? Do we have Howard Wolfson to thank for NED’s flat polling numbers? Surely Swanny’s not listening to the National Democratic Consultacracy.

Has there been a real post-third-debate poll in Connecticut yet?

Agreed! I will hold to that! Who joins with that? Who swears to remember?

Robert Paehlke @ 20

So far, then, it is Edwards ‘08 from that list. At least he was there. Was Clark? For me this is the litmus test.

Robert Paehlke @ 20

So far, then, it is Edwards ‘08 from that list. At least he was there. Was Clark? For me this is the litmus test.

Clark stumps for Lamont, Slams Tortureman on War.

Wes Clark was there twice, AND sent a call to arms out to his mailing list to back Lamont.

Jane, you are on the money; they are playing with fire.

We’re only now in the stages of cleaning up the right-wing side of the aisle; we haven’t started on the left. Yet.

And that day is coming; it’s going to happen both at the top with the likes Pach cited, and it’s going to happen at the roots. I cannot wait for the day I can b*tchslap a local pol who is corrupt and counting on Dems to cover his *ss for him. He is going to the curb with my boot stuck up his backside, starting November 8th.

Obama is on my sh*t list right now because he could have and should have waited with his book release until after the election. He’s been used as a dog whistle and he’s too stupid to know it.

Politicians act like politicians… most of them are self intersted SOBs who step on their own mother for power.

The lesser of two evils applies to the democrats.

If you want real change you need to get rid of most of them too and replace them with honest progressives.

Hey… the two party system is another thing broke in america…

There’s always France.

That’s what I’m talkin bout! “Meet the new boss. . .”

DefJef @ 28

Politicians act like politicians… most of them are self intersted SOBs who step on their own mother for power.

The lesser of two evils applies to the democrats.

If you want real change you need to get rid of most of them too and replace them with honest progressives.

Hey… the two party system is another thing broke in america…

There’s always France.

This race is the litmus test for 2008 in my book. If these potential 2008 candidates encourage this Liebercancer within the Democratic party to grow, then it is as clear an indication as any that they cannot be trusted in the long term to put progressive values and loyalty to the party ahead of their own political goals and desire to protect their fellow incumbents.

The ironic thing is that the candidates who fail to show up for Ned believe that they are actually making the “safe” choice – they think that (1) they can skate by on this issue without Democratic voters knowing or caring (or remembering) that they failed to support Lamont to the best of their ability and (2) if they can just stay on Joe Lieberman’s good side, then they can trust him to do right by them.

They are wrong on both counts.

1. Progressive Democrats care about Lamont and will remember who was there for him and who did not stand up. We will long remember how the 2008 candidates acted with regard to the Connecticut race. For me, at least, it is the single most important issue because it speaks to the values of the 2008 candidates.

2. It is delusional to think that there is anything to be gained by pandering to Lieberman or trying to avoid his ire. If he is reelected, he is going to unleash a shitstorm on and within the Democratic party that will hurt all Democrats, including the ones who are walking on eggshells around him now. Memo to 2008 Democratic hopefuls – if you want to get on Lieberman’s good side, become a freaking Republican – those are the only people he seems to like.

If I were a 2008 hopeful, I would get up to Connecticut to campaign for Lamont immediately. It is the right thing to do morally, and it is a no-brainer politically. If Obama, Hillary, et. al. can’t figure that out, then they deserve to lose both because they have failed to act as loyal progressive Democrats and because, from a political perspective, they are fools.

I just called Senator Russ Feingold’s office. His assistant says he doesn’t recall the Senator ever saying he will show up any time for Russ.

My call seemed to be the first and only one.

karen allen @ 31

I just called Senator Russ Feingold’s office. His assistant says he doesn’t recall the Senator ever saying he will show up any time for Russ.

My call seemed to be the first and only one.

Phone calls seem like a good idea.

JohnSwifty –

Your second paragraph (that there’s political gain for Hillary if Lamont loses) is reason enough right there for me to never support Hillary.

Aren’t you just sick to death of people who stare in the face of an impending totalitarian threat our beloved country and say to themselves, “what’s in it for ME?”

My vote will go to the leader who shows by word AND deed that concern for the whole nation is what motivates him or her, with self-concern being a far distant second.

It’s that paradox, isn’t it — leaders who show that their heart is where the needs of others cry out for help end up being the ones who will be TRULY charismatic, with a host of loyal voters. This is an era in desperate need of selfless heros.

Why don’t the candidates in this list get that? Selflessness in working to save our democracy will shoot you to the top of the list! Help Lamont and show how much you love the democratic process, and you gain the love of the grassroots overnight.

I sincerely believe the GOP civil war that we are witnessing as we speak will be rivaled only by the Democratic civil war that will begin November 8th. We are entering a period of political chaos that will end up with some strange landscape for the 2008 election.

Obama is an smart fella and a big time opportunist. He smells president… the country is ready of a balck president and Colin Powell blew his chance…

Hillary is loaded with negatives no matter how many triangles she shoves up her butt… Obama is not a progressive and he is in it for himself… and he is soooooooo in love with himself… he can’t get enough of himself…

Kucinich is the honest man.

Obama is young. He is learning. Up until now, his teachers have been the existing Democratic controllers. Don’t discount the growing momentum of this forum; and don’t discount our collective voice as a teaching element. If he can hear our cries, learn from us, then he is not lost. We need courage and I’m not convinced that he is completely un-possessed of it; unlike Joementum.

Rayne @ 27

Jane, you are on the money; they are playing with fire.

We’re only now in the stages of cleaning up the right-wing side of the aisle; we haven’t started on the left. Yet.

And that day is coming; it’s going to happen both at the top with the likes Pach cited, and it’s going to happen at the roots. I cannot wait for the day I can b*tchslap a local pol who is corrupt and counting on Dems to cover his *ss for him. He is going to the curb with my boot stuck up his backside, starting November 8th.

Obama is on my sh*t list right now because he could have and should have waited with his book release until after the election. He’s been used as a dog whistle and he’s too stupid to know it.

The beat goes on… these “leaders” of the Democratic Party have shown their colors once again. Why would we expect anything different?
I am of the belief that taking control of either house of Congress would only be a baby step towards better government. Does anyone believe the Democratic Party is significantly less corrupt? I think Nader has it on that count. We get a moderate on the Supreme Court– maybe, plus a slightly more benovelent slant to legislation. But if anyone thinks we are making major strides forward, they will be just as disappointed as the failure of these politicians to support the Democratic nominee for Senator in CT.

raven @ 22

Big interview with a “very upset” Lynn Chaney on CNN in a minute.

Well, of course, she’s upset. She just found out her husband is a sadistic sociopath who gets warm feelings inside whenever he thinks about “alternative interrogation techniques.”

raven @ 22

Big interview with a “very upset” Lynn Chaney on CNN in a minute.

This sounds like a good time for Keith Olbermann to do a Special Comment about Cheney, so we can watch Lynn’s head explode! LOL

CNN: Safavian gets 18 months.

raven –

What does Lynn Cheney have to be upset about this time? And why should anyone care?

One other thing to remember – If Lieberman somehow wins and either gets appointed to a position by Bush and allows Rell to choose his successor in the Senate, or if he caucuses with the Republicans, or if he continues to be a thorn in the sides of the Democratic party, then the candidates for 2008 that didn’t stand up for Lamont are going to suffer because Democratic voters will see Lieberman’s continued involvement on the national stage as a direct consequence of the failures of the 2008 hopefuls who failed to go to bat for Ned.

If reelected, Lieberman himself would serve as a constant and painful reminder to Democratic activists and progressives that Hillary, Obama, et. al. failed to help Ned.

I hope Hillary and Obama are taking this into consideration (and you too, Feingold and Gore).

Pachacutec @ 32

karen allen @ 31

I just called Senator Russ Feingold’s office. His assistant says he doesn’t recall the Senator ever saying he will show up any time for Russ.

My call seemed to be the first and only one.

Phone calls seem like a good idea.

I got on the Google and found this.

Back in June, when he spoke to Russert, Feingold pointedly refused to endorse Lieberman for re-election, splitting with most other Senate Democrats and most of the party’s Washington establishment. While he did not endorse officially endorse the challenger, the Wisconsin senator said, “I think Ned Lamont’s positions on the issues are much closer to mine on the critical issues.”

So that’s nice, but that seems be about it.

What a blessing if both parties melt down big time or agree to dissolve and 4 or 5 new parties rise up.

Those pointy dems sicken me…

Obama is not to young to know that what he is doing is wrong. He doesn;t need to be mentored in good behavior, honesty and ethics. He graduated from Harvard for gawdsakes!

Mrs K, that was special!

More and more, honest and bold speakers like yourself need to find their collective voice!

It is courage we want; courage that we respect. Those who play the game for the sake of the game must be forced from the board. These are the true stakes, and the stakes are high!

Please, keep writing. Your voice is clear and strong!

Thanks Pach.
Of that group, in my opinion, Bill C is the key. If he would appear with Ned, it would not only result in the single biggest payoff, it would also offer the others some cover.

IMO, Feingold offers the least benefit to Ned (he’s already viewed as “far left”) and I suspect not many in CT are familiar with him.

I am afraid in the primaries we’re all going to have to listen to all of the above, talk about how hard they campaigned for Ned. When that happens, this post will have some real Spotlight value.

raven, Mrs. K8 — it’s a ploy; both Lynne “Soft Porn” Cheney and Pickles Bush get far higher ratings than either of their respective spouses. Cripes, Cheney couldn’t get above 18 points, meaning a big chunk of the base hates him, too. After Mr. Pissy’s presser and DeadEye shooting his mouth off about waterboarding as a no-brainer, they had to do damage control.

For the next 11 days, whenever the POTUS and the VP screw up, they’re going to toss Soft Porn and Pickles out in front of the pitchfork-bearing crowd.

It is more likely if Jo gets in or becomes SecDef we won’t be seeing another election in 08.

Why bother having elections when the will of the people is suppressed and consent is manufactured?

Makes sense to me!
What do these people have to gain by a Lamont victory? THAT would legitimize the netroots. The outsiders. The rabblerousers. They would have to start kowtowing to us a bit more than they are. It’s much, much easier to be a politician without all of those annoying bloggers.
So, if they quietly let Lamont die, they can go on with business as usual. You’ll forget about how they slipped a dagger in Lamont’s back just to make a point.
Wes Clark, on the other hand, gets an A . I’ll betcha he’d make a pretty good president.

Where the F is Al Gore?

TeddySanFran @
40

CNN: Safavian gets 18 months.

That’s VERY light. What does this imply? Does anyone know where I might find his PSI report on-line? Looking for Don Young dirt…….

Obama talks good, but he walks the DCCC walk. Unfortunately.

I am not going to forget these names either. An endorsement is worth about 39 cents if the person doing the endorsing isn’t willing to actually show up at least once, send real money, or provide people to help the campaign.

John Casper:

Yes, the Clintons have set the tone for the rest of the pack. Their Clinton for Clinton Party gives license to the others to drive by with a palty press release.

And they think all of us are rubes too dense to notice.

raven @
19

I’m not sure. Everyone is getting all up in arms but when the presidential election comes around we’ll be back supporting the lesser of two evils. And the beat goes on . . .

I agree. I’ve recently condemned “lesser-of-two-evils” logic with respect to Ford/Brown.

Look at the interest groups Rove refers to as “Nutjobs.” Why do they wield so much power over policy in the GOP?

They were willing to withhold support from GOP candidates that didn’t tow the line – even when it sent the seat to the Democrats. This started in the early eighties.

In the short term, this was against their interest. But in the long term, they took total control of the GOP.

Are we willing to suck it up and lose control of congress/presidency to take control of the Democratic party?

Probably not, but that’s what it takes. Anything less is just dreaming that someday the Democratic establishment will do what they want just because they love us.

Ned is a big positive step in showing we are serious. Unfortunately the GOP candidate wasn’t strong enough to put the seat at risk from the establishment perspective. But if it did put the seat at risk, would we be willing to split the vote and give it to the GOP? That’s what it will take next time (not everywhere is CT).

portia.vz @ 49

Makes sense to me!
What do these people have to gain by a Lamont victory? THAT would legitimize the netroots. The outsiders. The rabblerousers. They would have to start kowtowing to us a bit more than they are. It’s much, much easier to be a politician without all of those annoying bloggers.
So, if they quietly let Lamont die, they can go on with business as usual. You’ll forget about how they slipped a dagger in Lamont’s back just to make a point.
Wes Clark, on the other hand, gets an A . I’ll betcha he’d make a pretty good president.

The 2008 hopefuls might as well get on the good sides of the netroots. We are self-legitimatizing, regardless of the results in Connecticut or any other single race.

egregious @ 13

I kinda liked hypotneus, what about changing slightly to hyponews, defined as a tiny bit of news along with a lot of propaganda in an article?

or hypnonews –

hypno-news
hyp-no-news

take yer pick

W. O. W.
21 points in 28 days…
keep going.

Ed*ard Teller @ 16

Pach,

Speaking of the mathematically impaired:

Diane Benson goes from 30 points down to 9 points down in 4 weeks! http://bensonforcongress.com/

I was going to post this earlier today, but we had a power outage. Did I mention this is Alaska and our Winter just started?

Diane Benson has struggled from 30 points to nine points behind in four weeks with NO HELP WHATSOEVER from ANY agent or agency of the national Dem machine. What little help her campaign has gotten on the state level pales in comparison to the help she’s gotten HERE from egregious http://www.actblue.com/page/egregious and our dear fdl readers and commenters like YOU!

I’ve a theory that the AK Dems want Diane to soften Don up so a REAL (ie. white) pol can take him out in 2008. In that sense, Diane’s campaign http://bensonforcongress.com/ harkens back to the 60’s – a campaign to enfranchise Alaska natives in a way they’ve never been represented here before, ie – a seat at the Federal level.

Support Diane today, Doggies!

Can you get the third party candidates to endorse her instead of their own people? Make the story that she CAN win and with this momentum WILL win.

Sorry, I follow what people on both sides say.

Mrs. K8 @ 41

raven –

What does Lynn Cheney have to be upset about this time? And why should anyone care?

Barack Obama was out here in WA yesterday morning. He spoke at a rally for Maria Cantwell (SEN-WA) and Darcy Burner (WA-08, hopefully). Here’s what the PI had to say:

Obama thrills crowd like celebrity

and the Seattle Times:
Obama low-key but “electrifying”

Predictably, the local TV news gave him some coverage as well, more than you’d typically see for a freshman U.S. Senator, or even a senior one. He could help draw that attention in CT, but whether it’s that necessary at this point is debatable.

To avoid seeming like a complete spoil-sport, I’ll just say that this is a lot of publicity.

seems like big-name Dems are all over the place, doing the Super-Spirograph to avoid helping Ned.

OT– Mrs. Snarl complaining about Webb.

She sez she has never written anything explicitly sexual.

She’s worried about her granchirrun.

The fix is in! After Ned surprised everyone in the old boy’s club by winning, they were afraid and offered their “help” by sending consultants that promptly diluted Ned and his message. The old boy’s club sensed Ned my not win the general election and now they want to play it safe in case old boy’s club member Holy Joe returns to the club.

Disgusting.

The audacity of soap on a rope.

She’s pissed off becuase of Webb citing her books in defense of his.

Mrs. Dick: I’ve got nuthin to explain, Jim Webb has a lot to explain.

Cujo359 @ 59

Barack Obama was out here in WA yesterday morning. He spoke at a rally for Maria Cantwell (SEN-WA) and Darcy Burner (WA-08, hopefully). Here’s what the PI had to say:

Obama thrills crowd like celebrity

and the Seattle Times:
Obama low-key but “electrifying”

Predictably, the local TV news gave him some coverage as well, more than you’d typically see for a freshman U.S. Senator, or even a senior one. He could help draw that attention in CT, but whether it’s that necessary at this point is debatable.

To avoid seeming like a complete spoil-sport, I’ll just say that this is a lot of publicity.

The Lamont campaign would welcome Mr. Obama to come to town and campaign, as he promised previously to do.

Jane Hamsher @
15

I think it is fair to say that those who are “playing it safe” are actualy playing with fire.

This race is symbolic of much more than just Joe Lieberman. Democratic voters spoke out about who they wanted to represent them. Leading Democrats have actively thumbed their noses at that in favor of keeping their friend in the Club and maintaining the Incumbency Protection Program.

The problem, and hence people’s memories, will not disappear after this race is over. People will not only remember where the true loyalties of these “leaders” is placed, they will also know who is sincerely deserving of their respect and support moving forward.

All true, Jane. But what will it matter? By then, they will have neutralized the voices of the people demanding the most change. We will become the “fringe” again. They will form their own blogs like HotSoup (don’t laugh) where the former Bush lovers will feel comfortable and they will ride that to popular support. They will create their own reality, just like the Bushies did. That is why a Lamont win is so important. They won’t be able to dismiss us. It makes me wonder why we aren’t going after the insiders harder on this if for no other reason than it shows the voters of Connecticut that Lamont isn’t one of them.

Of course he WAS a Republican when he wrote these books.

angie @ 64

Mrs. Dick: I’ve got nuthin to explain, Jim Webb has a lot to explain.

lynn cheney hahahahaha . . . damn. she denies lesbian novel is a lesbian novel.

hahahahahaha!! but her hair looked nice.

portia.vz @ 66

Jane Hamsher @
15

I think it is fair to say that those who are “playing it safe” are actualy playing with fire.

This race is symbolic of much more than just Joe Lieberman. Democratic voters spoke out about who they wanted to represent them. Leading Democrats have actively thumbed their noses at that in favor of keeping their friend in the Club and maintaining the Incumbency Protection Program.

The problem, and hence people’s memories, will not disappear after this race is over. People will not only remember where the true loyalties of these “leaders” is placed, they will also know who is sincerely deserving of their respect and support moving forward.

All true, Jane. But what will it matter? By then, they will have neutralized the voices of the people demanding the most change. We will become the “fringe” again. They will form their own blogs like HotSoup (don’t laugh) where the former Bush lovers will feel comfortable and they will ride that to popular support. They will create their own reality, just like the Bushies did. That is why a Lamont win is so important. They won’t be able to dismiss us. It makes me wonder why we aren’t going after the insiders harder on this if for no other reason than it shows the voters of Connecticut that Lamont isn’t one of them.

People voiced these same fears in an older version after Kerry lost. We’ve only gotten stronger since. We’ll continue to do that.

Pachacutec @ 65

The Lamont campaign would welcome Mr. Obama to come to town and campaign, as he promised previously to do.

They should, although the benefit is somewhat different. In Lamont’s case, it would be a way of saying that he’s part of the Democratic Party, and his opponents aren’t so much.

Sure. My math:

Number of winners of the CT Democratic primary:

ONE. JUST ONE.

Number of losers of the CT Democratic primary:

Oh there are a lot of ‘em, starting with the turncoats listed in the post.

portia.vz @ 66

Jane Hamsher @
15

I think it is fair to say that those who are “playing it safe” are actualy playing with fire.

This race is symbolic of much more than just Joe Lieberman. Democratic voters spoke out about who they wanted to represent them. Leading Democrats have actively thumbed their noses at that in favor of keeping their friend in the Club and maintaining the Incumbency Protection Program.

The problem, and hence people’s memories, will not disappear after this race is over. People will not only remember where the true loyalties of these “leaders” is placed, they will also know who is sincerely deserving of their respect and support moving forward.

All true, Jane. But what will it matter? By then, they will have neutralized the voices of the people demanding the most change. We will become the “fringe” again. They will form their own blogs like HotSoup (don’t laugh) where the former Bush lovers will feel comfortable and they will ride that to popular support. They will create their own reality, just like the Bushies did. That is why a Lamont win is so important. They won’t be able to dismiss us. It makes me wonder why we aren’t going after the insiders harder on this if for no other reason than it shows the voters of Connecticut that Lamont isn’t one of them.

I disagree, a Lamont win will be an indication of the strength of the netroots – but it will not necessarily have a causal effect of making the netroots stronger. And conversely, a Lamont loss will not make us weaker. The Lamont race is a bellweather, it is not a kingmaker.

Hey, I’d love to see things change for the better and I’ll believe it when I see it.

Pachacutec @ 69

portia.vz @ 66

Jane Hamsher @
15

I think it is fair to say that those who are “playing it safe” are actualy playing with fire.

This race is symbolic of much more than just Joe Lieberman. Democratic voters spoke out about who they wanted to represent them. Leading Democrats have actively thumbed their noses at that in favor of keeping their friend in the Club and maintaining the Incumbency Protection Program.

The problem, and hence people’s memories, will not disappear after this race is over. People will not only remember where the true loyalties of these “leaders” is placed, they will also know who is sincerely deserving of their respect and support moving forward.

All true, Jane. But what will it matter? By then, they will have neutralized the voices of the people demanding the most change. We will become the “fringe” again. They will form their own blogs like HotSoup (don’t laugh) where the former Bush lovers will feel comfortable and they will ride that to popular support. They will create their own reality, just like the Bushies did. That is why a Lamont win is so important. They won’t be able to dismiss us. It makes me wonder why we aren’t going after the insiders harder on this if for no other reason than it shows the voters of Connecticut that Lamont isn’t one of them.

People voiced these same fears in an older version after Kerry lost. We’ve only gotten stronger since. We’ll continue to do that.

I just got this from Jerry McNearny’s (CA-11) office and wanted to pass along the info, in case any Northern California ‘Lakers were interested and available. Sorry for the long post.

Dear Jacqrat,
As you know, this race is extremely close. Richard Pombo is running scared and now the National Republican Congressional Committee is pouring another $700,000 into the district to save Pombo (on top of the $600,000 the NRCC has already spent!).

And, just a few hours ago, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Jerry McNerney to its prestigious “Red to Blue” program, recognizing our campaign for generating grassroots interest and exceeding fundraising expectations.

It’s crunch time.

Let me be clear. We will not win this race without a massive volunteer effort. We need to get your boots on the ground. Now.

The good news is that we have an emergency volunteer plan and a field program in place across the district that can win this election. We want to let you in on our Get-Out-The-Vote strategy from here to Election Day and fill you in on all the juicy details of the campaign.

We’ve scheduled three Emergency Meetings in the next few days. This is urgent and important. I need you to be there.

Please attend one of the following McNerney for Congress Emergency Meetings:

STOCKTON FIELD HQ
TONIGHT: Friday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.
4212 N. Pershing Ave., Suite A5
Stockton, CA 95207
Please RSVP to Erica at “mcnerneyvolunteer@sbcglobal.net”

MORGAN HILL FIELD HQ
Saturday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m.
235 W. Main Ave.
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Please RSVP to Charmaine at “working4change@yahoo.com”

OAKLAND
Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m.
5366 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
Please RSVP to Eden at “eden@jerrymcnerney.org”

Meanwhile, as you can see below, there are several opportunities THIS WEEKEND to help Jerry win on November 7.

Please don’t wait until the weekend before the election to get involved. We need you now more than ever.

Can’t attend a meeting or walk a precinct? You can still help. DONATE TO JERRY’S CAMPAIGN.

email: info@jerrymcnerney.org
phone: 925-833-0643
web: http://www.JerryMcNerney.org

Thank you, JohnSwifty –

I wanted to pop in here today to explain to all my pals and fellow pupsters here at FDL that the reason I’ve not been here in a while is that I’ve had an abrupt downturn in my health battles, a new problem on my plate to cope with and fast — or else the situation worsens. [And to say that I miss y’all and still try to read here when possible.]

But then I saw your remarks and just HAD to jump on the essentially important theme you highlighted IMMEDIATELY. It is the very essence of what’s wrong — and how to fix it — who is selfless enough to put the country FIRST?

Of course, my new health problems are happening at exactly the WRONG time, and it breaks my heart. After volunteering locally and getting to work on a campaign here, I suddenly had to leave everybody in the lurch. And it breaks my heart for the disability to worsen and is embarrassing and humiliating too. These are good folks I just met whom I promised to help, and was looking forward to a great working relationship with them. Oh well, after all, it’s not about ME. So I just have to get over it and offer my fervent prayers and good wishes to the political battle instead of my more concrete efforts right now.

Good to meet you here! I love your ideas and sentiments. I only have time for patriots anymore. Everyone else can take a number. The need is too urgent for politicians (and their followers) to screw around with cuteness and coyness and jockeying for position.

Robert Paehlke @ 20

So far, then, it is Edwards ‘08 from that list. At least he was there. Was Clark? For me this is the litmus test.

My understanding is Wes Clark is doing great work for candidates this cycle. He’s been to several events for Charlie Brown — who is not high on the DCCC list for priority spending.

Kucinich is the honest man.

You can’t vote for someone because they’re fun to watch when you’re stoned, dude.

Mrs. K8 @ 75

Thank you, JohnSwifty –

I wanted to pop in here today to explain to all my pals and fellow pupsters here at FDL that the reason I’ve not been here in a while is that I’ve had an abrupt downturn in my health battles, a new problem on my plate to cope with and fast — or else the situation worsens. [And to say that I miss y’all and still try to read here when possible.]

But then I saw your remarks and just HAD to jump on the essentially important theme you highlighted IMMEDIATELY. It is the very essence of what’s wrong — and how to fix it — who is selfless enough to put the country FIRST?

Of course, my new health problems are happening at exactly the WRONG time, and it breaks my heart. After volunteering locally and getting to work on a campaign here, I suddenly had to leave everybody in the lurch. And it breaks my heart for the disability to worsen and is embarrassing and humiliating too. These are good folks I just met whom I promised to help, and was looking forward to a great working relationship with them. Oh well, after all, it’s not about ME. So I just have to get over it and offer my fervent prayers and good wishes to the political battle instead of my more concrete efforts right now.

Good to meet you here! I love your ideas and sentiments. I only have time for patriots anymore. Everyone else can take a number. The need is too urgent for politicians (and their followers) to screw around with cuteness and coyness and jockeying for position.

Good luck with your battles, Mrs. K8.

I only have time for patriots anymore. Everyone else can take a number.

Perfectly stated.

egregious @
57

W. O. W.
21 points in 28 days…
keep going.

Ed*ard Teller @ 16

Pach,

Speaking of the mathematically impaired:

Diane Benson goes from 30 points down to 9 points down in 4 weeks! http://bensonforcongress.com/

I was going to post this earlier today, but we had a power outage. Did I mention this is Alaska and our Winter just started?

Diane Benson has struggled from 30 points to nine points behind in four weeks with NO HELP WHATSOEVER from ANY agent or agency of the national Dem machine. What little help her campaign has gotten on the state level pales in comparison to the help she’s gotten HERE from egregious http://www.actblue.com/page/egregious and our dear fdl readers and commenters like YOU!

I’ve a theory that the AK Dems want Diane to soften Don up so a REAL (ie. white) pol can take him out in 2008. In that sense, Diane’s campaign http://bensonforcongress.com/ harkens back to the 60’s – a campaign to enfranchise Alaska natives in a way they’ve never been represented here before, ie – a seat at the Federal level.

Support Diane today, Doggies!

Can you get the third party candidates to endorse her instead of their own people? Make the story that she CAN win and with this momentum WILL win.

The Libertarian candidate already has endorsed Benson on live TV, during the statewide public TV/radio debate (Young’s one-hour of campaigning for his seat). The Green candidate and the Impeach Bush Now candidate are real amateurs who won’t draw much, and the DB campaign doesn’t need to be seen being endorsed by them. I have a hunch they’ll go as far on their own as their party by-laws will let them to endorse Diane this coming week.

portia.vz at 1:45 pm

IMO, FDL, Kos, and the other sustainable liberal blogs have influence with the media, especially the WaPo and the NYT’s. If the vichy Dems think we’re going to pack it in after November 7, they are going to get blindsided. Plus journalists love to cover controversy.

Mrs. K8

Sorry to hear about your recent health issues.

You know it as well as anyone, but please let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

We’ll come running.

raven @ 58

Sorry, I follow what people on both sides say.

Mrs. K8 @ 41

raven –

What does Lynn Cheney have to be upset about this time? And why should anyone care?

Well, of course you do. I think most of us do. That was a real question. WHAT is she upset about? And why should we care? We saw her feelings “upset” over her publicly gay daughter (who worked as a publicly gay p.r. rep for Coors to repair their image with gays) being noted AS GAY. She was oh, so upset then in 2004.

I really wanted to know what she’s upset about. That was in no way a slam at you. Pretty much all of us here listen, across the spectrum. to see who is making sense and who isn’t.

Stoned? I gave up pot before you were born…

Denis is an honest person, a progressive and you must be smokin something to think otherwise..

Sorry to hear about the setback Mrs. K8. Prayers and good thoughts your way.

Goggle bombing from liberal websites?
We are posting a list of links that are the same in order to change what people get when they search for candidates on Google.
Google flushes every two weeks to re-index.
I’ve got this posted on mine on the left below my “Mother Jones” ad.
http://911billofrights.blogspot.com/

Here’s the article… http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/10/24/122153/98
Here’s the code… http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/10/24/121757/70

If you do it, don’t forget to ping your site… http://pinger.blogflux.com/

DefJef @
83

Stoned? I gave up pot before you were born…

Denis is an honest person, a progressive and you must be smokin something to think otherwise..

Well said.

Ah hah! We cross-posted. She’s upset her lesbian novel is mentioned in public again? She’s upset someone is pointing to a novel she wrote (although without them quoting the explicit scenes)?

The I guess she knows how Jim Webb feels, eh?

Mrs. K8 – I hope things get better, and hang in there.

Mt

Mrs. K8 @ 82

raven @ 58
My bad, the hazards of electronic communication, sorry. Wolf was supposed to interview her about a childrens book she wrote (I think). He asked her about the Webb situation and her lesbian book. They are going to play the entire interview this hour.

raven –

What does Lynn Cheney have to be upset about this time? And why should anyone care?

Well, of course you do. I think most of us do. That was a real question. WHAT is she upset about? And why should we care? We saw her feelings “upset” over her publicly gay daughter (who worked as a publicly gay p.r. rep for Coors to repair their image with gays) being noted AS GAY. She was oh, so upset then in 2004.

I really wanted to know what she’s upset about. That was in no way a slam at you. Pretty much all of us here listen, across the spectrum. to see who is making sense and who isn’t.

If the rest of the dem senators don’t get the fact the Lieberliar is going to HOLD THEM HOSTAGE if there is a 1 vote margin in the Senate either way, they are delusional.

The only reason for them to avoid Ned is because they don’t want to have a working coalition to control the agenda in the Senate. They would rather hue to the old line DLC crap and keep their new lobbyist friends happy and the $$ coming. A working majority in both houses would mean that things would have to change because we would demand it.

As for Wolfie, what is coming up is Lynn Cheney being brought up short on her own writing because of the mud slinging over the Webb novel, that and the light of her life being into torture.

Dennis Sweatt — thanks for the prod on that Google Bomb. I want to do the same thing for another Dem candidate in this state; do you know if I merely stick in a link if it will work, or if I have to go and get a Google Ad, too?

MrsK8,
Sending healing and peaceful thoughts your way. We all have to take care of ourselves during this high stress time.

I contacted Russ Feingold’s Milwaukee office & told the person I talked to that I would like him to campaign for Ned Lamont in Connecticut. Here is Sen. Feingold’s contact page- http://feingold.senate.gov/contact.html
ralps

Best healing thoughts, Mrs. K8!

Good diary on Webb from Steve Jarding at Kos; looks like he’ll be on Hardball tonite.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/27/154521/12

I heart Kucinich.

Well, it’s just what we expected and knew was happening behind the scenes.

That Q-Poll done by Lieberliar’s friend was the stake through Lamont’s heart – and why the rest backed away.

I’m not surprised by Barak Obama, Bill & Hillary or the DSCC – I’ve written them off.

But I am shocked at Feingold and Edwards. I hope they really don’t think they’re going to run for President – because they don’t have a prayer knowing what we know now.

My mind is blown that this is all public…WOW

I gather Obama was the mystery guest who was supposed to show up last week.

All I can say is the liebertrolls are all over Lamont’s blog cackling about how no Dem will come & campaign with Ned because Lieberman will win – and how they’ve wanted Lieberman to win all along. I think one troll in particular knows what he’s talking about, since I suspect it’s Dangerstein.

Like I said – I will never give another penny to or lift another finger for the Dem party if Ned continues to be treated like this. They’ve lost a long time activist.

Disgust doesn’t begin to cover it.

TRex @
77

Kucinich is the honest man.

You can’t vote for someone because they’re fun to watch when you’re stoned, dude.

Sure you can. Or did Bush get that changed in the Constitution too?

Former President Clinton already showed up in Connecticut. He campaigned for Lieberman. I don’t know why he thought that wouldn’t hurt Lamont but I’m certain it did. There must be credible talk on why none of these swells are staying away from Lamont. I want to hear it.

Where can we find fax numbers for these folks? On their individual web sites.

I’d prefer to FAX than call.

It was great that Edwards came down for Ned, but we here in Connecticut would like some more face time with the famous.

The beauty of the Alaska race is it was viewed as noncompetitive*, and may have escaped attempts to mess with voter lists and otherwise deny people the vote.

*WE knew better.

My 97 correction: strike “none of.” Sorry.

I called Obama, and asked his staffer about it.

You need to do the same – Why won’t Obama campaign with Lamont in Connecticut?

Obama: (202) 224-2854

TRex @
77

Kucinich is the honest man.

You can’t vote for someone because they’re fun to watch when you’re stoned, dude.

First off – warm hugs from the frozen North, Mrs K8!

second off – Pach starts a thread which illustrates very well the craziness which is going to consume the battle between progressives and corporatists in the Democratic Party after the new congress is seated. He aptly uses a mathematical metaphor. I come in with a perfect illustration to back Pach up – the Benson polling info. Then, not only does the discussion go fairly lame, but a) my Benson figures ilicit no curiosity from anyone here not already helping on that race, and b) the esteemed Dinodog disses one of the most COURAGEOUSLY progressive Dems in recent history.

Sometimes it ALMOST seems like some of the primary personalities and posters here are more concerned about who takes over the new school Dem corporatists from the old school shills, than about true progress in the country.

Rant over!

angie @ 94

Best healing thoughts, Mrs. K8!

Good diary on Webb from Steve Jarding at Kos; looks like he’ll be on Hardball tonite.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/27/154521/12

I heart Kucinich.

Waaaaa! Am too far away to watch it… :(
The more people learn about Webb, the more they like him. He is the real thing. It was an honor to meet him (twice). Hope some kind soul out there will watch and write up a summary. Thanks.

ET–people, institutions, and blogs can only do so much. Fdl is not an all-purpose progressive blog [yet!] but has focused on certain races and covered dozens more.

Jane and Christy have been generous is making helpful comments and providing encouragement to me in my frequent comments asking people to support Diane. I sense your frustration but ask you to consider what fdl has already done for her.

In particular, fdl is my mothership blog, and is where I learned about Benson’s candidacy. From there I set up a fundraising page and have come here many times to ask people for help. Most of the contributions have been from fdl people.

When you say “fdl” hasn’t done enough, keep in mind that fdl includes me.

“That Q-Poll done by Lieberliar’s friend was the stake through Lamont’s heart – and why the rest backed away.”

Completely agree dab. Lieberman4Lieberman knew the debates would hurt him, so he got the Q poll to release its tooth-fairy numbers right after and to convince Jen Medina of the NYT’s and Andy Miga of the AP to publish the fucking number, 17, total bullshit. Saying Ned is down was one thing. Quoting a number from an obviously wrong poll and an outlier was a Journalistic felony.

Latest poll shows Ned down 12, that’s a five point surge from the Q Poll and that’s what Ned’s team has to sell the local CT press to confirm his “surge.”

Also, in the latest poll, Lieberman4Lieberman is at 49. Anything below 50 for an incumbent is a serious problem.

Ned’s new, “stay the course,” ad is terrific and it’s TIMELY! It’s a big wakeup call to Lieberman4Lieberman, that Ned Lamont is in this till the end. Per Mark Twain, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

thunder, T-, John Casper, any others I missed –

Thank you my dear pups and fellow patriots!

My problem is a sudden blow-up of lymphedema, which I had been hoping was not REALLY what had — although I feared I had it a year ago.

The very fact that I got more active and actually GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE for a change to go to several meetings and fundraisers in a row, thus breaking the goddamned isolation I’ve been living for years in a city where we know virtually no one (my accident happened after we got here but before we could build any social network) — that activity was the very thing which triggered a huge lymphedema blow-up.

We have to get me to the one and only treatment center in the state where there are medical specialists who really KNOW how to battle this. It’s essentially immuno-compromised my limb (lymphatic swelling is a protein soup very delicious to all manner of bacteria) and I’m still at Stage 1, when the edema is pitting — it’s still possibly reversible. Once you move to Stage 2 when the swelling hardens it can no longer be reversed. Hence the urgency.

I now spend two hours a day in the pool — the water pressure acts like a “full body compression stocking” and brings the swelling down. Now the water’s getting cold, though, so we have to go buy me a wetsuit so I can use the pool all winter. At unpredictable moments I have to suddenly lie down and raise the leg.

We’re doing all manner of research — well mostly I am — Mr. K8 has to work huge amounts of overtime right now, unfortunately, and that can’t be helped. Finding doctors, treatment methods, supplements, reading, reading, reading and learning at self-help forums on the net (thank god for the toobz!) — figuring out insurance coverage, etc. [If anyone suffers from this, listen up: fully credible research on several continents has proven excellent results from an herb called “horse chestnut” — although they don’t know WHY it works, yet.]

Well, ok, that’s all for now. Just wanted to let you know some details so you don’t worry too much. It’s not cancer or something immediately life-threatening. But it does threaten to keep me an invalid. And my post traumatic stress disorder has kicked in big-time. I’m trying to keep the adrenaline level from taking over, as that doesn’t help at all.

Thank you so much for your concern. You all are my way of still feeling connected to the world — besides being inspiring citizens, as you all are. I will be reaching out for virtual hugs, because you guys come through. Love you all.

egregious @ 100

The beauty of the Alaska race is it was viewed as noncompetitive*, and may have escaped attempts to mess with voter lists and otherwise deny people the vote.

*WE knew better.

That’s also true of Dr. Wulsin in OH-2, egregious. Remember when Howie had her on, she had

The other reason to support this campaign is that, right now, it’s a low-money race. As of July 1, I had $25000 Cash on Hand, and Jean Schmidt had only $17,000.

That’s how we make the Democratic party better.

Sally @ 97

Former President Clinton already showed up in Connecticut. He campaigned for Lieberman. I don’t know why he thought that wouldn’t hurt Lamont but I’m certain it did. There must be credible talk on why none of* these swells are staying away from Lamont. I want to hear it.

Because there are two games being played at the same time here.

One game is Democracy. That’s the game we are playing. People electing representatives to represent them in government and make and keep the laws we agree to live by. Several “teams” play this game, like Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Greens.

The second game is called Aristocracy. That’s the game they are playing: People managing the resources of the United States of America for the benefit of different constituencies — including themselves. Only two teams play this game: The Rulers and The Ruled. The Rulers disguise their true nature by giving themselves names from the first game. Their identification with the second game ALWAYS trumps their identitification with the first.

[* strike-through mine.]

This isn’t just any race. This is THE race, and I’m very grateful to Jane and Christy for keeping this a priority. It’s about far more than a progressive agenda or the strength of the netroots. It’s about whether or not the party respects the primary process. The voters spoke in CT in August, and, since then, only Kerry and Kennedy, among the Beltway insiders, have had the courage to show up for Ned. It’s pretty clear that all the rest of them are only interested in a sinecure in D.C. for themselves. The last thing they want is a real primary with real challengers. The incumbency protection racket is what this race is really about. Why even vote in a primary against an incumbent if the party won’t forcefully support the results?

raven –

No sweat! Just didn’t want you to think I’m dissing you. Thank you for the detailed reply!

And I think Lynn is crazy as a loon — or is that crazy as a fox? If any Dem had written a lesbian love story, he or she would be raked over the coals forever, as she damn well knows.

Mrs. K8 -

Just read of the downturn in your health. I so wish you did not have this burden in your life, and I’m sorry to read how great an impact it has for you.

I’m hoping for this burden to be lifted from you, and wishing you energy, healing, and strength.

OT – I’m just now getting back to my computer – has anyone heard about NBC not airing ads for the Dixie Chicks doc? Is this true???

grayslady @ 110

This isn’t just any race. This is THE race, and I’m very grateful to Jane and Christy for keeping this a priority. It’s about far more than a progressive agenda or the strength of the netroots. It’s about whether or not the party respects the primary process. The voters spoke in CT in August, and, since then, only Kerry and Kennedy, among the Beltway insiders, have had the courage to show up for Ned. It’s pretty clear that all the rest of them are only interested in a sinecure in D.C. for themselves. The last thing they want is a real primary with real challengers. The incumbency protection racket is what this race is really about. Why even vote in a primary against an incumbent if the party won’t forcefully support the results?

So true. There is a cancer on the Democratic party and the Lamont primary victory was like taking an X-ray of the party to reveal all of the various cancerous tumors within. By failing to respect the results of this primary, Obama, Clinton, Feingold, et. al. show themselves to be part of the cancer.

Mrs. K8, I am so happy to hear that you are involved in your treatment. That’s the way it should be. I hope you continue to find a wealth of information on the tubez to inform the physicians who treat you.

((((((Mrs. K8))))))

You’ve been a beacon of light, a leader in the Ministry of Encouragement here at fdl.

Blessings on you. It’s ok to rest, and keep praying that evil people will be stopped by being trapped in their own schemes. That’s working great.

karen allen @
31

I just called Senator Russ Feingold’s office. His assistant says he doesn’t recall the Senator ever saying he will show up any time for Russ.

My call seemed to be the first and only one.

i called too…. very nice person said he would pass my request on…

senator obama’s office was voice mail only…. :(

Impeachment Happens @ 113

OT – I’m just now getting back to my computer – has anyone heard about NBC not airing ads for the Dixie Chicks doc? Is this true???

Read it and weep. But not to much weeping, we’ve got elections to win!

Ed*ard Teller, I’m by no means even a third tier commenter but I think you are one of the top personalities here and I salute you, sir.

Sometimes it ALMOST seems like some of the primary personalities and posters here are more concerned about who takes over the new school Dem corporatists from the old school shills, than about true progress in the country.

***************************
Your contribution:

Diane Benson — $100.00
ActBlue — $10.00
Total: $110.00

Contributor Information:
jeff

Mrs. K8,

Repeating because I know you zipped by this the first time: it’s ok to rest. We need you healthy. Just repeating what other people here at the lake have sent to me. *cough*oxygenmask*cough*

You’ve been a part of the team that has brought us so close to victory. Let the rest of us carry on while you work on healing, praying, and resting. You have done enough, good and faithful servant. Please take care of yourself and let us know how we can help with information, advice, or support of any kind.

Love,
———-egregious

Because I have to get in the pool right now, I don’t have time to thank each one of you individually — though I hold each one of you in my heart.

Right now I have happy tears running down my face for the wonderfulness of you all. Can’t thank you enough for your expression of care. I hope to God someday I am well enough to attend events like YKos and suchlike, so that I can meet you all in person — to see for myself what great gifts God/the universe has given the world in creating every single one of you. And to thank you in person for prayers/good thoughts.

Off now to the chilly waters of the concrete “lake” in my backyard! See y’all a.s.a.p.

ifthethunderdontgetya @ 118

Impeachment Happens @ 113

OT – I’m just now getting back to my computer – has anyone heard about NBC not airing ads for the Dixie Chicks doc? Is this true???

Read it and weep. But not to much weeping, we’ve got elections to win!

I was afraid of this. I already boycott ABC cause of PT911 and now I have to boycott NBC? Shit. I guess I’ll just have to watch reruns of L&O. I was really enjoying HEROES and STUDIO 60 too. Oh well…S’cuse me, I have letters to write and irate phone calls to make.

jeffreyw @ 120

Ed*ard Teller, I’m by no means even a third tier commenter but I think you are one of the top personalities here and I salute you, sir.

Sometimes it ALMOST seems like some of the primary personalities and posters here are more concerned about who takes over the new school Dem corporatists from the old school shills, than about true progress in the country.

A few bucks got thrown her way from the peanut gallery, too. Thanks, egregious, for starting your ActBlue page.

Wolf is pissed at Mrs. Dick! (well, pissed as far as wolf can be at a thug!)

Sorry egregious, I will try to summarize at the 7pm show.

cujo, jeffreyw–Thanks for your help! Am happy to jump in the actblue page, it was surprisingly easy to set up. Took about 5 minutes and they give you step by step instructions.

And I must take exception to the idea that we have ‘tiers’ of commenters. Share and share alike, as long as people are respectful of each other.

Keep up the good fight, and let’s not shoot our own troops, ‘k?

Take care Mrs. K8.

Buddhist mystics spend their lives in caves as hermits, meditating all day long for a better world. They are hardly doing nothing, in fact they believe they are doing exactly what they should be doing to change the world, by example.

You continue to be an example to us all. And by being here, we can change our world.

jeffreyw:

Good heavens, there are no tiers in commenters, or whatever. I was a commenter here who Jane asked to help out up front when the blog was just her and Christy and they were overwhelmed. It could just have easily been any number of other regular commenters here.

That was back in March or so, not long ago. I was no different than xyz or any number of other people around here, just I was a regular. TRex, too. Jane got Christy to come over when she was a commenter at dkos. The fact that some people here are commenters and not “big bloggy names” does not mean they have any less talent or insight.

Well, it’s easy to explain the Clintons staying away. There’s no way in HELL they want the Democrats to win back the Senate this year. If that happens, the spotlight will be on Hillary continuously, day-after-day, every minute, not just because she’s the presumed Democratic nominee for 2008, but because she will have to play a leading role in the Senate as a member of the majority party. Winning the Senate is a lose-lose proposition for her Presidential aspirations. She’ll be creamed both by the VRWC AND the Democrats who were responsible for creating that majority: everyone will hate her more than they do now. Keeping Joe in place and thereby pretty much guaranteeing that the Republicans remain the majority force in the Senate serves her purposes exactly the way her lack of support for Kerry in 2004 kept her chances for the Presidency alive until she’s ready in 2008.

angie @
64

Mrs. Dick: I’ve got nuthin to explain, Jim Webb has a lot to explain.

How about she explain where she disappeared to after her husband shot his friend while tooling around in Texas with his supposed mistress.
She hasn’t reared her vile head since then, she should go back to an undisclosed location and spare us.

LindaR (109), thank you for the strike-through and for your answer. These people are more than disgusting. It appears to me Senator Kerry has done far more than anyone, and I’m ready to go to the mat for him and him alone. It’s unlucky for him and for us that he isn’t as charismatic as some of the others but I believe he is the real deal and has the best interests of this country at heart and is not working for his own interests. We need to get our representatives out of D.C. and back to the State or District of the people they have been elected to represent. No more offices in D.C. and no more lobbyists located out of D.C. Etc.

Ned Lamont poses a threat to the establishmen because of his integrity, passion, morality, square dealing. He couldn’t be bought and he doesn’t need K Street’s money. Lieberman is more of what the establishment understands and offers little threat.

jeffreyw @
119

Ed*ard Teller, I’m by no means even a third tier commenter but I think you are one of the top personalities here and I salute you, sir.

Sometimes it ALMOST seems like some of the primary personalities and posters here are more concerned about who takes over the new school Dem corporatists from the old school shills, than about true progress in the country.

***************************
Your contribution:

Diane Benson — $100.00
ActBlue — $10.00
Total: $110.00

Contributor Information:
jeff

awesome!

Look, Diane has TV ads ready to go – if the campaign had enough $ to air them. We’ve closed from 30 behind to 9 behind while Young has gone down from 68% to 42% in 4 weeks. We have to ration radio ads while the media is picking up the scent from places like here and Howie’s blog and other places.

A four-week shoestring campaign in Alaska by guerrilla progressive volunteers, totally unrecognized by the DNRC or whatever, in a market where the amount it takes to run a major market TV ad for one prime time evening (say NYC, Chicago, for instance) would blow Young out of the water.

I’m not dissing the major posters here – I said “almost” seems. Once again, I’m frustrated people don’t realize how easy this campaign could not only throw Young out with some more donations, but that the recognition of this turnaround in the final week will resonate if it becomes a national story.

{{{{{{{egregious}}}}}}

I’m so serious, I’ve changed into my tux for tonight’s concert now, so I’ll have 30 more minutes to make phone calls in Anchorage from DB HQ.

Later, friends – including TRex…….

Ed*ard Teller @ 103

TRex @
77

Kucinich is the honest man.

You can’t vote for someone because they’re fun to watch when you’re stoned, dude.

First off – warm hugs from the frozen North, Mrs K8!

second off – Pach starts a thread which illustrates very well the craziness which is going to consume the battle between progressives and corporatists in the Democratic Party after the new congress is seated. He aptly uses a mathematical metaphor. I come in with a perfect illustration to back Pach up – the Benson polling info. Then, not only does the discussion go fairly lame, but a) my Benson figures ilicit no curiosity from anyone here not already helping on that race, and b) the esteemed Dinodog disses one of the most COURAGEOUSLY progressive Dems in recent history.

Sometimes it ALMOST seems like some of the primary personalities and posters here are more concerned about who takes over the new school Dem corporatists from the old school shills, than about true progress in the country.

Rant over!

double agreement here:

1. more hugs to mrs. k8
2. kucinch has more moral courage than any other pol i am aware of and more in his little finger than most people i know… and i lived in cleveland when he was mayor, so i saw it first hand. he stood up to the bankers and corporate power co. greed – even though he knew it would cost him his job and probably his political career. he did it because it was in the best interest of the people of cleveland and because he had made a campaign promise he thought he had an obligation to honor. it took ten years, but the truth came out and kucinich was able to return to politics. he’s a genuine progressive who deserves our thanks and our respect.

p.s. good luck with the benson race.

So, Mrs. Cheney is upset that people are talking about her smut book.

Seems like a fun topic for Late Night. And it could be spotlighted. I wonder if she would be upset by that??

Ed*ard Teller @ 2:14 pm (#103)

Sometimes it ALMOST seems like some of the primary personalities and posters here are more concerned about who takes over the new school Dem corporatists from the old school shills, than about true progress in the country.

Rant over!

Personally, I’d vote straight Republican right now if I thought it would get us out of the medieval nightmare we’re headed toward. Of course, I know that would have just the opposite effect, and won’t do it unless I catch rabies between now and election day, but you see my point.

Of course, my seat’s in the peanut gallery, but that’s the view from over here.

I also agree that we should look for more opportunities like Benson’s, Vickie Wulsin’s or Steve Porter’s, where a small amount of money can make a big difference. In the long run, that may be a better way of making an impact than retiring Joe Lieberman, although I’d really like to see that as well.

If, God forbid Lieberman would keep his seat, I predict he will at BEST caucus with NEITHER party, but stay an independent. We are hearing a lot about his wanting to be an independent bridge between the parties and also his being ready with some kind of payback for the Dems betraying him by not voting for him at the primary.

That is under the better of two scenarios, which is if he is given seniority. If he is not given seniority, I think he will jump over to the dark side.

All this aside, I intend to keep working my heart out for Lamont, Webb, Kissell, Laesch, and Benson until that last vote is counted.

WE CAN DO THIS if we GET OUT THE VOTE

egregious @ 135

If, God forbid Lieberman would keep his seat, I predict he will at BEST caucus with NEITHER party, but stay an independent. We are hearing a lot about his being ready with some kind of payback for the Dems betraying him by not voting for him at the primary.

That is under the better of two scenarios, which is if he is given seniority. If he is not given seniority, I think he will jump over to the dark side.

All this aside, I intend to keep working my heart out for Lamont, Webb, Kissell, Laesch, and Benson until that last vote is counted.

WE CAN DO THIS if we GET OUT THE VOTE

Just to clarify, by “caucus,” we mean, “for whom will Joe vote as Majority Leader?” By saying he will caucus with dems, he claims he will vote for Harry Reid, no matter what balance of R’s versus D’s will be.

Cujo Of course, I know that would have just the opposite effect, and won’t do it unless I catch rabies between now and election day, but you see my point

Apparently people do not often laugh out loud here in this internet cafe, in the north of the Dominican Republic. loL

Human rabies cases…it would explain so much.

Remember this post. Remember those who did not answer the call; for it is the doom of men that they forget…so, good thing Christy and Jane are on the job!

…and now is the time we EPU!

Just saw this over at the nedlamont.com blog – and thought maybe we could pitch in. Good letter!

A Letter to Senator Barbara Boxer

We’re continuing our campaign to get the word out to Senator Boxer about the importance of making a stand against the “culture of corruption” Lieberman has brought to Connecticut.

PLEASE HELP US – by writing an email or a fax of your own. If you don’t have time for that, please call Boxer’s senate office (number below) and let her know what you think. Today I’ve included a copy of the fax I’m sending to Boxer’s offices. Please feel free to use it as the basis for a fax/email of your own!

Dear Senator Boxer:

We’re very concerned about Joe Lieberman’s unlawful use of a $387,000 “petty cash” slush fund to undermine the democratic process in Connecticut. Lieberman’s slush fund is a glaring example of the kind of DC corruption that Democrats are supposed to be fighting. We have contributed generously to your “PAC For A Change” in the past, and we believe Lieberman’s illegal campaigning is exactly the kind of DC corruption you should fight against. We must not tolerate Lieberman’s slush fund, lest we ourselves become complicit in destroying American democracy.

We are aware that you inexplicably campaigned with and supported Lieberman in the Connecticut democratic primary. Ms. Boxer, we must tell you that in light of this and the revelations about Lieberman’s illegal slush fund, it looks absolutely terrible for you to be sitting on the fence in the general election now. You need to make a statement – you need to show Americans that you’re against the “culture of corruption” by campaigning with Lamont in Connecticut. Lamont is running a strong campaign, and that race is winnable. This is a huge opportunity and all Americans – especially you – stand to gain from the defeat of one of Washington’s most corrupt and dishonest entrenched incumbments.

Go to Connecticut and campaign with Lamont. Support him in any way you can. If you do, you can count on our continued support and eternal gratitude.

Yours Sincerely,
name withheld

Senator Barbara Boxer:
email: http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/policy.cfm
voice: (202) 224-3553
fax: (202) 228-0426
(916) 448-2563
(415) 956-6701
(213) 894-5042
(559) 497-5111
(619) 239-5719
(909) 888-8613

egregious @ 136

If, God forbid Lieberman would keep his seat, I predict he will at BEST caucus with NEITHER party, but stay an independent. We are hearing a lot about his being ready with some kind of payback for the Dems betraying him by not voting for him at the primary.

That is under the better of two scenarios, which is if he is given seniority. If he is not given seniority, I think he will jump over to the dark side.

All this aside, I intend to keep working my heart out for Lamont, Webb, Kissell, Laesch, and Benson until that last vote is counted.

WE CAN DO THIS if we GET OUT THE VOTE

And the worst-case scenario, where the Senate is 50-49-1 may come to pass, where Lieberman can name his price to return to the Democratic caucus. Why folks at DSCC and DLC HQ don’t understand this is beyond me. In all likelihood, Lamont would be a better choice even from a cold-hearted DLC perspective. He’s a businessman, so he’s certainly not going to go all socialist on us, and other than his stance on health care he could probably fit right in.

Like I said here for different reasons, Washington DC just seems to have gone stark-raving mad.

Pachacutec @ 136

egregious @ 135

If, God forbid Lieberman would keep his seat, I predict he will at BEST caucus with NEITHER party, but stay an independent. We are hearing a lot about his being ready with some kind of payback for the Dems betraying him by not voting for him at the primary.

That is under the better of two scenarios, which is if he is given seniority. If he is not given seniority, I think he will jump over to the dark side.

All this aside, I intend to keep working my heart out for Lamont, Webb, Kissell, Laesch, and Benson until that last vote is counted.

WE CAN DO THIS if we GET OUT THE VOTE

Just to clarify, by “caucus,” we mean, “for whom will Joe vote as Majority Leader?” By saying he will caucus with dems, he claims he will vote for Harry Reid, no matter what balance of R’s versus D’s will be.

I believe he has no intention of caucusing with the Dems. He will stay nonaligned or go over to the Repubs. He is not on our side. Endorsed by Cheney, Sembler, and other light-hearted people.

Maybe everyone should take a deep breath, send a hug to the commenter above/below you and just get ready for the next week or so. We’ve a lot to do before the polls close Tuesday nite, the 7th. There are only friends, and no enemies here.

We’ll have plenty of time to kill each other on the 8th or so. Till then, hang together.

jello5929 @ 54

raven @
19

I’m not sure. Everyone is getting all up in arms but when the presidential election comes around we’ll be back supporting the lesser of two evils. And the beat goes on . . .

I agree. I’ve recently condemned “lesser-of-two-evils” logic with respect to Ford/Brown.

Look at the interest groups Rove refers to as “Nutjobs.” Why do they wield so much power over policy in the GOP?

They were willing to withhold support from GOP candidates that didn’t tow the line – even when it sent the seat to the Democrats. This started in the early eighties.

In the short term, this was against their interest. But in the long term, they took total control of the GOP.

Are we willing to suck it up and lose control of congress/presidency to take control of the Democratic party?

Probably not, but that’s what it takes. Anything less is just dreaming that someday the Democratic establishment will do what they want just because they love us.

Ned is a big positive step in showing we are serious. Unfortunately the GOP candidate wasn’t strong enough to put the seat at risk from the establishment perspective. But if it did put the seat at risk, would we be willing to split the vote and give it to the GOP? That’s what it will take next time (not everywhere is CT).

I see absolutely nothing at stake for me in the Harold Ford/Bob Corker race.

Ford was such a poor choice for that race; his problems were obvious all along.

If the Lamont/Lieberman race is THE race, and it may well be, then I have to ask whether Lamont has run the race as if it were THE race?

I am about as far from Connecticut as I can be and still be in the lower 48, but it seems that a number of people more familiar with the campaign (Arianna Huffington, for instance) think Lamont dropped the ball right after the big Democratic primary victory, and that his campaign has been lackluster.

You folks who are closer to the action, is this true? Seems like Lamont did drop out of sight for awhile, right when he had the momentum. But, again, I’m far away. Maybe things were still at fever pitch there in Connecticut…

Oh, and Dennis Kucinich is a great progressive. One of the few times I was disappointed in Jon Stewart was when Stewart shit on Kucinich not once but twice when Kucinich was on TDS. Shitting on Kucinich really says more about the shitter than it does about Kucinich.

scarecrow at 142 Maybe everyone should take a deep breath, send a hug to the commenter above/below

Ok. (((cujo))) (((scarecrow)))

To be honest, I think Joe will vote whichever way gives Joe the best position. I voting for Harry Reid means he keeps his leadership positions, he’ll do it. If the Repugs offer him something better, he’ll take it.
Joe is only out for Joe.

Jumping in late on this, and have only read about 2/3 of the way through the thread, but find myself with a few questions.

One: Has there ever been a study or anything that quantifies how much it helps a candidate to have Dems from other states, or who are retired from office, campaign?

Two: Is anyone hearing from Connecticut voters as they doorbell and phone bank, that “well, if Russ Feingold would come here, I would vote for Ned?”

Three: Suppose that one of these disappointing Dems IS the candidate in 2008; are you staying home, working for the other guy, or what?

Four: What is it that Ned is not getting across to Connecticut voters that is keeping him down in the polls? And what would Russ or Bill or Hillary or John Edwards be able to do that Ned has not been able to do?

Hard questions, I think, that require some level of realism and honesty about what is taking place in Connecticut. Is it really fair to blame these party luminaries (as they like to think of themselves) for Ned not being able to connect sufficiently with Connecticut voters, across party lines, to be leading in the polls?

Those of you who are working the campaign in Connecticut and are fully invested in the outcome because you live there, do you really think that last-minute campaign visits are the key to Ned winning? Is that enough to lift him to victory?

You may not know the answer to that, but what I think most voters see, is that at the end of the day, after all the famous faces have gone home, they have to be able to like and support the candidate all by himself, enough to go out and vote for him, and I’m not sure it’s fair to hold the famous faces accountable for what happens on election day.

This is funny

Fearing voters won’t be able to find him, the three-term senator is launching an advertising effort in the coming days to educate voters about his place on the ballot. In addition to leaflets, the campaign plans to air a radio jingle and a TV ad featuring Lieberman to avoid any voter confusion. Campaign leaflets will feature the “Good Man is Hard to Find” line.

Ford was such a poor choice for that race; his problems were obvious all along.

Please, name all the problems you have with him.

Joan at 143 I see absolutely nothing at stake for me in the Harold Ford/Bob Corker race.

The Senate Judiciary Committee. The Supreme Court. Investigations. Hearings.

Enough of a reason? Please? If we wait until we are pure it will be too late for the nation. Life is full of imperfect choices, but let’s go as far as we can this election.

egregious @ 2:57 pm (#146)

scarecrow at 142 Maybe everyone should take a deep breath, send a hug to the commenter above/below

Ok. (((cujo))) (((scarecrow)))

Awww. Thanks. Back at ya’ll.

For the record, I don’t feel like I’m arguing here, just discussing. Sorry if someone got that impression.

lisa:

Ned lost momentum just after the primary for a few reasons:

1) He trusted Democratic insiders who said they could talk Joe out of running if Ned gave them some room.

2) His campaign needed to go out and raise money for the general election.

3) His campaign needed to get larger and staff up for a bigger race, leading to some operational delay in getting rolling.

Ned has not run a perfect campaign, but he has also had to run a campaign in the face of much tacit support of some members of his own party for his opponent, who curiously lined up to support the same candidate endorsed by the Republican establishment. Who else has ever had to run a campaign in circumstances like that?

Ned has run a very good an innovative campaign, and that he has come this far has been a miracle. When we supprted him in the spring when he had virtually no other support outside of CT grassroots, we thought he might send a message in a primary to Lieberman while losing it in the end. He has far exceeded our initial imaginings and brought about, already, a fundamental change in the conventional wisdom in theis country regarding Iraq. Not bad.

If Ned loses, and it’s not at all clear to me he won’t win, the primary fault will lie in his own party, but not his campaign, in my view.

scarecrow @ 142

Maybe everyone should take a deep breath, send a hug to the commenter above/below you and just get ready for the next week or so. We’ve a lot to do before the polls close Tuesday nite, the 7th. There are only friends, and no enemies here.

We’ll have plenty of time to kill each other on the 8th or so. Till then, hang together.

ok, just so long as i don’t have to hug obama or either of the clintons!

p.s. no killing on the 8th either, i’d rather we be doing dancing the happy dance together or crying on eachother’s shoulders…. maybe even a bit of both.

Can’t we hold these famous faces accountable for something?

They talk at me from my TV everyday, say they represent me, but then seem to disappear in a flash of electrons and I am supposed to be satisfied that their silence is serving some backroom equation of which I have neither access to, nor influence?

They are testing my faith.

I see absolutely nothing at stake for me in the Harold Ford/Bob Corker race.

During WWI, Churchill and FDR made an unequivocal decision to assist the Russians, to give them plenty of guns, tanks and ammunition to keept the Germans tied down on the Eastern Front, so that we had a shot at Normandy and through France and Italy. It helped win the war and defeat Nazism.

I figure we can handle a bible-thumping Christian in Tennessee who votes for Harry Reid instead of a Bill Frist replacement.

{{{Scarecrow & Mrs. K8 & ET & Egregious}}}

{{{And all the rest of you excellent Firedogs}}}

New Thread from Jane.

cujo I don’t think you’re arguing either. Scarecrow is trying to help keep the troops in line so we don’t shoot each other.

scarecrow @ 156

I see absolutely nothing at stake for me in the Harold Ford/Bob Corker race.

During WWI, Churchill and FDR made an unequivocal decision to assist the Russians, to give them plenty of guns, tanks and ammunition to keept the Germans tied down on the Eastern Front, so that we had a shot at Normandy and through France and Italy. It helped win the war and defeat Nazism.

I figure we can handle a bible-thumping Christian in Tennessee who votes for Harry Reid instead of a Bill Frist replacement.

big ditto!

Renee in Ohio @ 147

This is funny

Fearing voters won’t be able to find him, the three-term senator is launching an advertising effort in the coming days to educate voters about his place on the ballot. In addition to leaflets, the campaign plans to air a radio jingle and a TV ad featuring Lieberman to avoid any voter confusion. Campaign leaflets will feature the “Good Man is Hard to Find” line.

It is funny. But the article itself is unfortunately a slanted piece of shit.

TeddySanFran @
6

Triangulation will be the end of the Democratic Party, and it’s a shame to see the Clintons’ example being followed by those who know better. Copying from Bill and Hill’s paper will NOT endear these others to the progressive force within their party.

I wonder if part of Karl Rove’s “assistance” to RGJoe includes access to NSA wiretap-obtained information about national Democrats. It’s difficult to understand their silence otherwise.

========
Had Enough?
========

Ooooooh Teddy – have I ever had ENOUGH with the Clintons, Obama, etc., et al but especially Bill and Hill for such lousy party leadership. Ned Lamont deserves so much better and so does the country.

kristinejoy @ 154

Can’t we hold these famous faces accountable for something?

They talk at me from my TV everyday, say they represent me, but then seem to disappear in a flash of electrons and I am supposed to be satisfied that their silence is serving some backroom equation of which I have neither access to, nor influence?

They are testing my faith.

You hold them accountable in the state where you live, and if they are on a presidential primary ballot in 2008, you vote for someone else.

You start working to find progressive candidates to seed your local and state legislatures. You work to get a progressive to run for governor. You make your state as blue as you can. You make noise. You pester and bother your representatives until they hear your voice in their sleep.

Snap out of it!

One: Has there ever been a study or anything that quantifies how much it helps a candidate to have Dems from other states, or who are retired from office, campaign?

It varies by race. They don’t do those kinds of studies in the sense of a controlled experiment, because every situation is its own unique petry dish.

Two: Is anyone hearing from Connecticut voters as they doorbell and phone bank, that “well, if Russ Feingold would come here, I would vote for Ned?”

Feingold may not be as influential as some others, but I’ll defer the remainder of this answer to what follows below.

Three: Suppose that one of these disappointing Dems IS the candidate in 2008; are you staying home, working for the other guy, or what?

Future determinations will be made in the future. I can conceive of a future where I would work for primary candidates and congressional candidates of my choice, but not actively work for a presidential candidate, depending on the nominee. I speak now only for myself.

Four: What is it that Ned is not getting across to Connecticut voters that is keeping him down in the polls? And what would Russ or Bill or Hillary or John Edwards be able to do that Ned has not been able to do?

This is almost a blame the victim question, inadvertently. Ned needs to get through to the less politically engaged voters of the Democratic base, the slice that polls suggest Lieberman still retains.

These folks are highly influenced by late publicity and starpower, since they don’t follow the news daily. The last time they got a big star event was when Bill Clinton stumped for Lieberman in the primary. Since the Clintons won’t now do the same for the party nominee in the general election, those low information voters are harder to reach. Many may not yet realize, when asked by a pollster, the Lieberman is not a Democrat. They could come to that relaization if well known Democrats came to the state to tell them. But they’re not, at least, not yet. When they get to the ballot, they may go find Joe’s name, but many I’ll wager will still vote for the Democrat: Ned Lamont. This is another reason not to trust the polls in this race.

What is it that Ned is not getting across to Connecticut voters that is keeping him down in the polls?

Enabled by inadequate media coverage, a substantial number of CT Dems and independents buy Lieberman4Lieberman’s posturing/rhetoric that he is not a neocon. They ignore his vote on cloture for the Alito debate, which was the real vote on his nomination. They ignore his position on contraception for rape victims. They ignore Lieberman4Lieberman’s enabling of massive GOP corruption, Halliburton, Medicare Part D, Abramoff…. They ignore that Lieberman4Lieberman has divided the Democratic Party in CT, especially wrt the three House seats. They buy that Lieberman4Lieberman now wants to end a war that he championed and supported via his “stay the course” comments. They buy all his “bi-partisan” bullshit.

John Casper @ 107

“That Q-Poll done by Lieberliar’s friend was the stake through Lamont’s heart – and why the rest backed away.”

Completely agree dab. Lieberman4Lieberman knew the debates would hurt him, so he got the Q poll to release its tooth-fairy numbers right after and to convince Jen Medina of the NYT’s and Andy Miga of the AP to publish the fucking number, 17, total bullshit. Saying Ned is down was one thing. Quoting a number from an obviously wrong poll and an outlier was a Journalistic felony.

Latest poll shows Ned down 12, that’s a five point surge from the Q Poll and that’s what Ned’s team has to sell the local CT press to confirm his “surge.”

Also, in the latest poll, Lieberman4Lieberman is at 49. Anything below 50 for an incumbent is a serious problem.

Ned’s new, “stay the course,” ad is terrific and it’s TIMELY! It’s a big wakeup call to Lieberman4Lieberman, that Ned Lamont is in this till the end. Per Mark Twain, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

Slight correction. Both the ARG and Q polls were taken at the same time. Both were telephone polls, so the collection methodology shouldn’t have that much to do with it. It’s pretty much down to how they choose their samples and massage the raw data. I tend to believe the ARG poll, because it fits into the graph at pollster.com. The Q poll really doesn’t.

http://www.pollster.com/polls/…..enate_race
[Flashmedia required. Blast Adobe and the primitive 32-bit software!]

Even the ARG poll is troubling, a point I’ve belabored already. There are very few undecided voters, and Lieberman has a higher approval rating than Lamont.

http://americanresearchgroup.com/
[sorry, couldn’t find a permalink. It’s near the top of the main page]

There have been no polls from this week, according to TPM’s CT-SEN poll page.

egregious @ 158

cujo I don’t think you’re arguing either. Scarecrow is trying to help keep the troops in line so we don’t shoot each other.

Always tried to heed Patton’s advice on that score.

Anne @ 161

kristinejoy @ 154

Can’t we hold these famous faces accountable for something?

They talk at me from my TV everyday, say they represent me, but then seem to disappear in a flash of electrons and I am supposed to be satisfied that their silence is serving some backroom equation of which I have neither access to, nor influence?

They are testing my faith.

You hold them accountable in the state where you live, and if they are on a presidential primary ballot in 2008, you vote for someone else.

You start working to find progressive candidates to seed your local and state legislatures. You work to get a progressive to run for governor. You make your state as blue as you can. You make noise. You pester and bother your representatives until they hear your voice in their sleep.

Snap out of it!

I’m here. Just like everyone else, trying to get my voice heard and make a better place for my children. When you hear the stories about the sacrifices regular people are making, grassroots, you can’t help but think what more could be done if this was your vocation, if you had influence and celebrity. But I am not waiting for anybody to save me or this cause. What, “it,” then, do I have to snap out of?

Joe Lieberman petty cash update. There’s now a Petty Cash Hive Mind project at MyLeftNutmeg.

I emailed my info to them, though have problems posting there and some questions about thoroughness of their analysis…but it’s a good start and at least efforts are coordinated.

John Casper @ 163

What is it that Ned is not getting across to Connecticut voters that is keeping him down in the polls?

Enabled by inadequate media coverage, a substantial number of CT Dems and independents buy Lieberman4Lieberman’s posturing/rhetoric that he is not a neocon. They ignore his vote on cloture for the Alito debate, which was the real vote on his nomination. They ignore his position on contraception for rape victims. They ignore Lieberman4Lieberman’s enabling of massive GOP corruption, Halliburton, Medicare Part D, Abramoff…. They ignore that Lieberman4Lieberman has divided the Democratic Party in CT, especially wrt the three House seats. They buy that Lieberman4Lieberman now wants to end a war that he championed and supported via his “stay the course” comments. They buy all his “bi-partisan” bullshit.

They, they, they: so it’s the voters’ fault? Seems to me that it’s the candidate’s job to be a louder voice, as large a presence as possible, and the message he’s delivering has to be one people (a) want to hear and (2) believe he can follow through on.

Not saying the voters should be buying what Joe is selling, but they’ve been buying it for 18 years, and apparently, they like it. And if they don’t they have to not like it enough to vote for the other guy.

I would like to find out on election night that the polls in CT were just smoke and mirrors and that it’s Ned on the podium accepting Joe’s concession. Will cross my fingers and anything else, hoping that’s the case.

If we can’t trust the CT polls that show Ned behind, we ought not to get too excited about the polls in the rest of the country that have so many Dems leading.

Good heavens, there are no tiers in commenters, or whatever.

I’m not sure we speaking to exactly the same issue, here. I will stipulate that the worth of an individual commenter as a valuable human being in his/her own right is not dependent on the frequency of comments, or any other posting related metric. There are millions of super duper folks who don’t even know what a blog is, for goodness sake.

Their value as a commenter to this blog, however, can be measured and assessed. The absolute number of comments is one of these metrics, the quality of their comments, another. I’m not saying that there are, or should be, people sorting through threads with a check list in one hand and a stopwatch in the other, checking boxes on some chart. I am certainly not of that ilk.

That said, there are, IMHO, numbers of posters who stand out. Who are genuine personalities that become part of the soul of a community, and to all of you I am grateful.

Me, I’m the guy waving to Mom during a break in the action.

According to bobgeiger.com Feingold has sent an endorsement that will be published on the Lamont website today-

8

What does Feingold (famous for campaign finance reform) have to say about Lieberman’s $387,000 petty cash slush fund or is that fine and dandy with Feingold and he just worries about some pissant stuff but politicians siphoning off campaign money into slush funds is A-OK with Russ Feingold.

Sparcatus @ 167

Joe Lieberman petty cash update. There’s now a Petty Cash Hive Mind project at MyLeftNutmeg.

I emailed my info to them, though have problems posting there and some questions about thoroughness of their analysis…but it’s a good start and at least efforts are coordinated.

Thouroghness of analysis comment sounds snarky on re-read. Sorry about that, wasn’t at all my intent.

kristinejoy – the “losing faith” part. Ya gotta have the faith – it’s what keeps us moving forward. Without faith that we can make it better, isn’t that the “I give up” point that apparently a lot of people have already reached?

(And I think that’s one of the best lines in the movie “Moonstruck,” when Cher says, “Snap out of it!!”)

Anne @ 147

Those of you who are working the campaign in Connecticut and are fully invested in the outcome because you live there, do you really think that last-minute campaign visits are the key to Ned winning? Is that enough to lift him to victory?

Anne, the problem for me with these so-called luminaries was never “last-minute” visits. It was always their lack of support. It’s become very clear over the last months just who holds the interests of our nation and its people uppermost in their dealings and who does not, and I won’t forget, and I WILL actively campaign against those who are in politics exclusively for personal gain. Full disclosure: I don’t live in Connecticut, but I have an interest in this race because (1) I believe Ned Lamont will make a good Senator and represent the interests of his constituents and (2) Joe Lieberman, with his committee positions and his seniority is in a position to continue hurting our nation.

LindyH @ 173

Anne @ 147

Those of you who are working the campaign in Connecticut and are fully invested in the outcome because you live there, do you really think that last-minute campaign visits are the key to Ned winning? Is that enough to lift him to victory?

Anne, the problem for me with these so-called luminaries was never “last-minute” visits. It was always their lack of support. It’s become very clear over the last months just who holds the interests of our nation and its people uppermost in their dealings and who does not, and I won’t forget, and I WILL actively campaign against those who are in politics exclusively for personal gain. Full disclosure: I don’t live in Connecticut, but I have an interest in this race because (1) I believe Ned Lamont will make a good Senator and represent the interests of his constituents and (2) Joe Lieberman, with his committee positions and his seniority is in a position to continue hurting our nation.

I wholeheartedly agree. I live in NY. But so often when I hear about something truly egregious that the Rs have done, I them covering their ass with but Joe is with us. Schiavo, Torture, undermining the President at our peril, decision to invade Iraq, Saddam having WMD, the Donut Hole.

The guy has got to go.

Joe’s “bipartisanship” has dragged the debate far far to the right.

LindaR @
56

egregious @ 13

I kinda liked hypotneus, what about changing slightly to hyponews, defined as a tiny bit of news along with a lot of propaganda in an article?

or hypnonews –

hypno-news
hyp-no-news

take yer pick

Or, hype-ta-noos

Anne,

They, they, they: so it’s the voters’ fault? Seems to me that it’s the candidate’s job to be a louder voice, as large a presence as possible, and the message he’s delivering has to be one people (a) want to hear and (2) believe he can follow through on.

Not saying the voters should be buying what Joe is selling, but they’ve been buying it for 18 years, and apparently, they like it. And if they don’t they have to not like it enough to vote for the other guy.

I couldn’t agree more. This whole concept of blame anybody but Lamont for Lamont being down in the polls has me scratching my head. It’s Ned’s ball and it’s Ned that needs to carry it over the finish line

The incumbent Dems are probably scared shitless that what is happening to Lieberman could happen to them. They are reluctant to support Lamont because for them that is the equivalent of participating in the insurgency, the progressive netroots drive to reform the party from the bottom up. They are very, very afraid….

Anne, Coz, with all due respect, it was the National Dems responsibility when Ned won the primary. I don’t think its realistic to expect CT Dems to take on a three term U.S. Senator, who also happened to be the Party’s choice for Veep. Once they didn’t do that, it left the door open for Rove to rescue Joe. If we want to blame Ned for CT, we ought to at least give him credit for PA or OH. Rove would have had a lot more to give them, had he not pushed GOP money to Joe (right after August 8).

Once Joe splits the party, Ned’s hands are tied. Ned’s losing Dem support, because they think Ned will be worse than Joe at bringing home the earmarks. That prevents Ned from hammering on K Street corruption. That’s an incalcuable loss to Ned. The only issue Ned had left was Iraq. He has zero standing in the party and wisely imo chose to run with the party on Iraq. Unfortunately, that blurred the distinction between Joe and him in the voters minds. The Choice people deserted Ned. These are all structural issues over which Ned had no control. He was the best candidate CT could find, but he was far from perfect, he has zero legislative experience. I’d be interested to know what percentage of his personal wealth he has spent. Hard to criticize someone who put his (his wife’s) money on the line.

We, progressives, aren’t just running against the GOP, we’re running against an access driven TM. That’s not Ned’s fault.

But haven’t Wes Clark and John Kerry stepped up to the plate. And even Chris Dodd?

lisa @ 144

If the Lamont/Lieberman race is THE race, and it may well be, then I have to ask whether Lamont has run the race as if it were THE race?

I am about as far from Connecticut as I can be and still be in the lower 48, but it seems that a number of people more familiar with the campaign (Arianna Huffington, for instance) think Lamont dropped the ball right after the big Democratic primary victory, and that his campaign has been lackluster.

Maybe things were still at fever pitch there in Connecticut…

Yes – Arianna knows nothing about the race in CT. The best description of the race that I’ve read about is by Matt Stoller.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/10/18/213734/16

Connecticut is not New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire or Iowa. It’s not used to being ground zero and the people of CT are freaked out and sick of the election.

If Ned isn’t totally devoted I don’t know what totally devoted is. He’s put $10 million of his own money in the race. He has been going flat out since the middle of August.

You’re right – people who aren’t in state really have no idea.

jello5929 @ 54

raven @
19

I’m not sure. Everyone is getting all up in arms but when the presidential election comes around we’ll be back supporting the lesser of two evils. And the beat goes on . . .

They were willing to withhold support from GOP candidates that didn’t tow the line – even when it sent the seat to the Democrats.

In the short term, this was against their interest. But in the long term, they took total control of the GOP.

Are we willing to suck it up and lose control of congress/presidency to take control of the Democratic party?

Yes – I have reached the point where I will sit on my hands and allow a Republican to win any seat they want.

I will no longer support the Democratic party.

I will not supply money or labor. And I’ve been a liberal/moderate in the party. They have no idea who they have alienated – across the country – by the way they have handled this race.

They have all pissed on the democratic process.

Lamont has this race in the bag. Being a regular fdg reader (from KS) I have enjoyed so much the Kiss Float, the high road that Ned Lamont has taken. Lie berman has shown his real colors. This Congress, the MSM, and the pollsters don’t understand that the American public is on to what is going on on the Hill. We are tired of it, we see all the waste they have for their campaigns, money that could help the world, the USA, the people struggling. It is a slap in the face, having to watch these commercials over and over and over, knowing how much they cost, and being a legal secretarly wanting to give more than I have to candidates that I believe in, worrying if my nest egg (which isn’t a legal slush fund like, I don’t know, Delay has at his beck and calling for any problem that comes his way. Oh, and by the way Jane, you are an attorney, does it take so long to bring these theives to justice. I know it’s white collar, but still… just saying! Also, thanks for covering the Kiss Mobile, fun, pure fun. Loving it!

dab from CT @
181

Yes – I have reached the point where I will sit on my hands and allow a Republican to win any seat they want.

Yeah, that worked great in 2000. Voting Nader sure taught those DC Dems a lesson, didn’t it? Oh, and the best part was, no one got hurt in the process!

global yokel @
177

The incumbent Dems are probably scared shitless that what is happening to Lieberman could happen to them.

They’re scared shitless that they’re going to win their next elections by double digit margins?

Let’s give credit where it’s due. Kerry has shown up to campaign with Lamont (and many other Democrats) and has ponied up a million bucks to support Democratic candidates during the final push.

Cozumel @
176

I couldn’t agree more. This whole concept of blame anybody but Lamont for Lamont being down in the polls has me scratching my head. It’s Ned’s ball and it’s Ned that needs to carry it over the finish line

People believe what they want to believe. And people here want to believe that they lost the CT Senate race because those evil DC Dems stabbed them in the back, not because the candidate they chose to be the netroots standard bearer fucked up the campaign. You see this kind of thing all the time on the right. According to a lot of righties, conservatism can’t fail, it can only be failed. This is the same type of thing here.

Too bad the conservatives aren’t being conservative. Had enough?

What I’ve learned from a rapid scan of this comment thread is that the low-information Democrats who’ll determine the outcome of this race are freaked out from having too much attention, so they need Bill Clinton to tell them whom to vote for. And he did. He told them to vote for the wrong guy.

So it’s really all Bill Clinton’s fault.

See how easy this open-source problem-solving is?

Feingold should get his butt in gear and get to Ct ASAP. He is nothing to me if he don’t.

B Berger @ 170

According to bobgeiger.com Feingold has sent an endorsement that will be published on the Lamont website today-

8

What does Feingold (famous for campaign finance reform) have to say about Lieberman’s $387,000 petty cash slush fund or is that fine and dandy with Feingold and he just worries about some pissant stuff but politicians siphoning off campaign money into slush funds is A-OK with Russ Feingold.

know that a lot of the voters are ill-informed, however, they also must know what they have had to wade into. This is not a Bill Clinton issue. Tonight, listening to the news zomibies, it is clear that the republicans are desparate, just hope they don’t steal votes once again. But remember, we are voting on diebold machines. They tell us to vote early and maybe our votes will count. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THAT BEFORE?

What a bunch of f–ktards. I kind of expect this crap from Barack, but I hoped for more from Edwards and Feingold. We still have a lot of work ahead of us.

global yokel @
177

The incumbent Dems are probably scared shitless that what is happening to Lieberman could happen to them. They are reluctant to support Lamont because for them that is the equivalent of participating in the insurgency, the progressive netroots drive to reform the party from the bottom up. They are very, very afraid….

Yep.

Oh yeah, I believe there has been 5 years (at most) for the contaversial voter snafu to be cleared up. Also, I do remember that there was a lot of $$$$ going for that pork project. People are pissed. We are not used to hearing about so much pork. F education, veterans, wounded soldiers, dead soldiers, gays (I am not gay, but I have never met a gay person that I didn’t like), people seeking abortions ( by the way, how does that effect you, reading this now), seniors, and our children (hence, child predetors)….

DefJef @
50

Where the F is Al Gore?

I’d like to see Bill Clinton give a great speech (covered by C-SPAN naturally) in Arkansas, followed up by an Al Gore speech in Tennessee with senate candidate Ford by his side.

Reinforcing the message that Democrats can be Southerners should help those folks feel more comfortable voting for Ford, McCaskill and other southern congressional candidates.

Call his office back and tell him to get his butt over to CT.

Pachacutec @ 32

karen allen @ 31

I just called Senator Russ Feingold’s office. His assistant says he doesn’t recall the Senator ever saying he will show up any time for Russ.

My call seemed to be the first and only one.

Phone calls seem like a good idea.

We will remember all the democrats who did not stand with a fellow democrat in need. Democrats in Florida will remember.

Balrog @ 3

We have long memories.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

I am having very serious doubts about Hillary. I thought she had loyalty to a fellow democrat who needs help. Lamont won the democratic primary. Lamont not Lieberman. Hillary and all the rest better get their butts in gear and get to CT ASAP and support Lamont. 2008 is coming sooner than later.

al-Scooter @ 188

What I’ve learned from a rapid scan of this comment thread is that the low-information Democrats who’ll determine the outcome of this race are freaked out from having too much attention, so they need Bill Clinton to tell them whom to vote for. And he did. He told them to vote for the wrong guy.

So it’s really all Bill Clinton’s fault.

See how easy this open-source problem-solving is?

I think it’s important to note that Lieberman is very popular in his home state and black-listing him will not undo that. It’s not that I’m crazy about him, but you have to consider his endurance is truly a sign that the people of Connecticut want to re-elect him even as an independent. He must have been doing something right for them to weather this maelstrom of opposition.
John Casper @
46

Thanks Pach.
Of that group, in my opinion, Bill C is the key. If he would appear with Ned, it would not only result in the single biggest payoff, it would also offer the others some cover.

IMO, Feingold offers the least benefit to Ned (he’s already viewed as “far left”) and I suspect not many in CT are familiar with him.

I am afraid in the primaries we’re all going to have to listen to all of the above, talk about how hard they campaigned for Ned. When that happens, this post will have some real Spotlight value.

evenas an independent.

You can see video of the event John Kerry did with Lamont earlier this week. He’s also sent Lamont some $$.

http://video.johnkerry.com/vid…..amont.html

From the New York Times:

Bloomberg Sends Troops to Help Lieberman
By DIANE CARDWELL

In his battle for re-election to the United States Senate without the backing of the Democratic Party, Joseph I. Lieberman is deploying a secret weapon in the race’s closing days: a sophisticated operation to identify and turn out voters, courtesy of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

The Bloomberg group includes several top-level operatives who played key roles in the mayor’s decisive re-election last year or who are in the administration, and have taken leaves from their jobs to work on Mr. Lieberman’s campaign.

Since Mr. Lieberman lost the Democratic primary to Ned Lamont, they have helped open campaign offices, devised a strategy to reach voters and are corralling enough volunteers to cover 2,800 shifts at more than 700 polling sites on Election Day, Nov. 7.

Given that Mr. Lieberman does not have a party apparatus to help build his field operation, the efforts of the Bloomberg team could prove critical in one of the most closely watched races in the nation.

“There is no independent network,” said Stu Loeser, Mr. Bloomberg’s chief spokesman, who played the same role in the re-election effort. “To a certain extent, we were the last independent campaign.”

The workers on loan are the most vivid example yet of how Mr. Bloomberg, a Republican who often breaks with his party on issues, could build a permanent political apparatus to support like-minded independent candidates across the country — if not a national bid for himself.

With his 2005 re-election campaign behind him, Mr. Bloomberg has been relishing his role as kingmaker, endorsing Gov. Rod Blagojevich in Illinois and Gov. M. Jodi Rell in Connecticut, raising money for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in California and appearing in a television commercial for Representative Christopher Shays in Connecticut. (Mr. Blagojevich is a Democrat, and the others are Republicans.)

But his work for Mr. Lieberman, which includes substantial fund-raising and Mr. Bloomberg’s first out-of-state stumping in addition to the gift of manpower, marks his most intense and direct engagement in someone else’s political bid. It may not only broaden his image of nonpartisan, influence-free pragmatism, but it could also test how well his political machine can function in an independent campaign with national repercussions.

Just after losing the Democratic primary, Mr. Lieberman’s campaign enlisted Josh Isay, who had worked on Mr. Bloomberg’s re-election campaign, as the new media consultant. From his administration, the mayor dispatched Korinne Kubena, the chief of staff to Kevin Sheekey, a deputy mayor who oversaw Mr. Bloomberg’s two mayoral campaigns, to direct the get-out-the-vote effort for Mr. Lieberman. Brian Honan, who was the deputy field director in the mayoral campaign and now works in the Bloomberg administration’s state lobbying operation, is serving as Ms. Kubena’s deputy.

Ariel Dvorkin, an administration aide, is helping compile a voter database for Mr. Lieberman; Josh Gold, who was on Mr. Bloomberg’s campaign field staff, is now the deputy director of Mr. Lieberman’s Stamford campaign office; and Neil Giacobbi, who became chief of staff to City Councilman David Yassky after running the volunteer effort for Mr. Bloomberg, is the director of the Lieberman office in Stamford.

“The mayor has obviously decided to try to make a difference in a few races in which he believes in the candidate,” Mr. Sheekey said. “In some places you can help them by doing a fund-raiser in New York, others where you can help by showing up for a day, and others where you can help by putting folks on the ground.”

Lieberman aides say that Mr. Bloomberg brings a certain gloss and legitimacy to Connecticut, where he appears to have a strong appeal.

“He is an icon of independence and straight talk and putting the public interest over party consideration,” said Dan Gerstein, Mr. Lieberman’s communication director. “He’s a great practitioner and advocate for the kind of politics Joe Lieberman practices.”

Aides to both men say they have known each other since before Mr. Bloomberg became mayor and admire each other’s accomplishments and independent streaks. Described as having a casual, friendly relationship, they have run into each other at events in Washington over the years and have worked together on various issues involving the city, including domestic security.

Capitalizing on all this, the Lieberman campaign plans for Mr. Bloomberg to greet commuters with the senator on Monday morning in Stamford, and then to attend a fund-raiser there. Mr. Bloomberg already headlined one fund-raiser in Chicago this week, which raised close to $230,000, according to the campaign. He plans to hold a third fund-raiser at his Upper East Side town house on Wednesday.

Lieberman aides say the money the mayor is raising is crucial, but it is the staff additions that represent an unusual degree of engagement for Mr. Bloomberg and show how he has developed his own potent political team that he can deploy as he wishes.

That team brings with it an approach that has been under development for some time and is similar to the one that President Bush used in his re-election bid in 2004. For Mr. Bloomberg’s first bid in 2001, Mr. Sheekey said, the campaign engaged in a targeting operation that merged voter information with consumer data to identify potential supporters and tailor specific messages to them. That method allows campaigns to identify voters by tastes and habits whether or not they live in an area where support for a particular party is strong.

In that 2001 campaign, outreach was primarily through mail and telephone, since the campaign could not recruit a strong contingent of workers on behalf of a political unknown, Mr. Sheekey said.

By 2005, though, the Bloomberg team was able to bolster its voter identification effort with an aggressive operation involving 50,000 workers fanning out through the city to knock on doors and reinforce the mayor’s message, Mr. Sheekey said.

With a version of that machine in Connecticut, Mr. Bloomberg’s aides are coy about where it might go next, particularly whether to support other like-minded candidates or even the mayor himself.

“There are a lot of things the mayor had done in his campaign which the Lieberman campaign needed,” Mr. Sheekey said. “You get involved in races where you want to make a difference and where you can make a difference, in that order.”

It’s over. Lamont tried, to his credit but IMHO blew it after the primary.

Everyone knows it. Lieberman will win and everyone is now hoping he did not lie when he said he would caucus with the Democrats. His other choice is to declare he is really a Republican and sit with them.

Keep your eyes on the big picture and look to the long term. This one is over.

I hate this part…

It damn well is not over. Ned Lamont is going to bring this one home. And when he does, he will have free rein in the Senate to repudiate craven efforts by now-absent members of the “Club” to get him to shut up – and stay quiet and passive – for the sake of the “caucus” and its “unity” (the sort of unity shown by Ms. Mary Landrieu as she campaigned this week in CT for the candidate opposing the Democratic nominee). Our Constitution will finally have at least one defender in the Senate, when Ned Lamont is sworn in.

ROCK that boat, Connecticut.

For ye of little faith, here’s what Steve Gilliard has to say about Mikey’s ability to help Loserman:

“Oh,this is bullshit. Bloomberg bought his second term outright. Freddy Ferrer fucked up badly and didn’t have the skills to recover.

All Bloomberg did was toss money around and go on TV every two minutes. He would have lost to Mark Green if spite wasn’t a factor. The man spent $100m to become mayor again.

Obviously, fucking Al From put a bug in his ear and this is his test run for his presidential bid, Mr. Charismaless. Hillary Clinton is a rockstar compared to him.

First of all, there’s 10 days to go in the campaign. This should have been done months ago. Second, sure, they can get volunteers, but can you trust them? Who vets them? Is Bloomberg going to wave his money at some New Yorkers to wander around Connecticut?

Is he getting access to the voter rolls and other info the parties have?

Before flipping out, remember, Bloomberg had a massive GOTV campaign before and lost, and that was with party support. This is without party support and they’re starting from scratch when Lamont’s people have been on the ground for weeks.

Bloomberg is doing this for himself, make no mistake. Of course, his bloodless, arrogant style of leadership only appeals to Democrats who hate passion.”

http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com/

Parachutec,
As I posted earlier to Christy, I am a resident of Darien, CT who got a long robo-call from Bill Clinton yesterday. I waited until the very end, did not hang up, because I naturally assumed he would be urging me to vote for Ned Lamont (I am a registered Democrat, and a committed Lamont volunteer.) Nope! He was only asking me to vote, “on behalf of the AFL-CIO.”
I was flabbergasted. Why isn’t Clinton making calls for Lamont?! What goes on here? Is anybody going to ask him?

Funny thing:

When the extreme right wing was pissed at the Republican leadership back in the 1970s, did they bolt the party? No, they took it over.

But when the extreme left wing was pissed at the Democratic leadership, it either dropped out of politics forever or joined the Greens/Naderites.

This is why the left in this country doesn’t control diddly.

Yes – I have reached the point where I will sit on my hands and allow a Republican to win any seat they want.

See above.

Sitting on your hands is EXACTLY what the people you hate want you to do. They WANT you to give up, so they finish their destruction of America unimpeded.

You’re falling for their scam.

SO going to call these clowns.
gah, this is despicable.

There’s a war on straw in this thread.

No one here said “all blame to the voters who are not suporting Ned Lamont, who is all perfect.”

There’s blame and imperfection to go around, including Ned’s campaign, but just because it’s shared, doesn’t mean it’s shared equally.

Name another Democratic Senate candidate running without the full backing of the national party, where a substantial proportion of the party won’t take an unequivoval stand against the Republican supported opponent.

Ned has not run a perfect campaign. There are no perfect campaigns. And he may win this yet. But we’re calling on the party of Democrats to back the Democrat, in harmony with the will of the state’s Democratic voters.

Pachacutec @ 32

karen allen @ 31

I just called Senator Russ Feingold’s office. His assistant says he doesn’t recall the Senator ever saying he will show up any time for Russ.

My call seemed to be the first and only one.

Phone calls seem like a good idea.

Which implies that the Lamont campaign hasn’t been asking for his help.

Maybe it’s time we let them ALL know that this IS NOT a “safe” choice. Unified. ONE LOUD VOICE…

Hey Senator Boxer- didn’t you say that you were going to support the Democratic nominee (whomever that would be) in CT? We know who he is, Barbara. His name is Ned Lamont.

Geesh…

Isn’t it ironic that your whining titty ass baby talk is what used to happen to progressive’s in the south. Mr. “Audacity of Hope” will be in Little Rock today spreading the love. For years when southern progressives ask for help most Yankee’s turned there collective noses and said red states wasn’t worth the trouble. Welcome to the club home bitch. Get over it. Lamont the cable boy is a fucking loser and will never be elected. He’s not worth Southern progressive’s time or money. Paybacks a bitch

Incumbent Democrats have, in the face of the Bush putsch, shown an amazing timidity and an inability to have a principled voice. Most are fraidy cats who know Lieberman to be the same kind of vindictive prick as the guy he conoodles with. So they are careful about endorsements. It’s nauseating but understandable.

Ned would have plenty of Dems coming into the state for him if: 1. He was close in the polls. 2. He ran a good campaign.

His campaign since the primary has absolutely sucked. The TV ads have been real minor league stuff. They’ve attacked Lieberman’s attendance (he was on the road with Gore and everybody here in Connecticut can figure that one out) and have bragged about how Ned volunteered to teach in Bridgeport. Lame.

The right thing to do here is so easy, even I can figure it out.

Holy Joe=Bush Holy Joe=Iraq Holy Joe=Big Business. Over and Over and Over

Just saw a new Ned ad this morning that kind of packaged all my points above into one 30 second spot. But again, it was not up to the standards of some of the outstanding DCCC stuff running here for our 3 competitive congressional districts. Too little to late for Ned.

Too bad that in this season of a probable Dem victories everywhere, Ned’s gonna blow it big here in Connecticut.

Capybara @
208

Pachacutec @ 32

karen allen @ 31

I just called Senator Russ Feingold’s office. His assistant says he doesn’t recall the Senator ever saying he will show up any time for Russ.

My call seemed to be the first and only one.

Phone calls seem like a good idea.

Which implies that the Lamont campaign hasn’t been asking for his help.

No that’s an inference you make, not an implication of my comment. But your larger point is fair: I don’t have solid information on just when Russ has been asked by whom to appear. I got an email after my post suggesting he may not have been asked until a bit later now in the cycle. If I get more info I will in fairness make that public.

Pachacutec @ 213

Capybara @
208

Pachacutec @ 32

karen allen @ 31

I just called Senator Russ Feingold’s office. His assistant says he doesn’t recall the Senator ever saying he will show up any time for Russ.

My call seemed to be the first and only one.

Phone calls seem like a good idea.

Which implies that the Lamont campaign hasn’t been asking for his help.

No that’s an inference you make, not an implication of my comment. But your larger point is fair: I don’t have solid information on just when Russ has been asked by whom to appear. I got an email after my post suggesting he may not have been asked until a bit later now in the cycle. If I get more info I will in fairness make that public.

Will you also post when you get more specifics on when the Lamont campaign requested Edwards’ presence for a second appearance? So far it appears to be nothing but an unsubstantiated rumor, and Edwards is being unfairly criticized for it.

Never mind that he’s been helping out other Democratic candidates this election cycle (MN, NV, CO, AZ, MO, NC, SC, VA, WI, IL, IA, etc etc), never mind his appearances for minimum wage inititatives, never mind the work he’s been doing to strengthen unions, never mind his recent travels to Uganda and China, never mind the fact that he has school-aged childern and a wife he might want to spend time with on occasion…He hasn’t had time in his very busy schedule to come back to CT for Lamont a second time? Let’s crucify him!!

Gimme a break.