I want to preempt Ned Lamont critics

To all the Ned Lamont critics I say. Don't forget Ned was a very, very Long shot from the begining. He won inspite of the odds. He was our nominee yet he was promptly stabbed in the front by Clinton and in the back by almost everyone else of prominence in our party.

 Then you can add to their treachery the entire Repuglican party encluding Lieberman's money man Mayor Bloomburg who sent his entire regiment of political brown shirts to his aid. But in spite of all this he stood tall and fought the good fight!
As an American and Democrat I am truly proud I supported him. I think  we, especially in the Blogesphere should never let anyone forget that it was Ned's primary Victory that opened the floodgates of anti-Iraq Democrats. His courage going up against a three term Senator and winning gave them cover and the balls to ignore the Clintonians and rest of the wobbly kneeed Dems in our party. He made their victories possible. I like to think  Ned was the guy who made the first Waves that carried us to victory. We own him our thanks and praise. I also think it is important to remind ourselves how everyone turned on Howard Dean after he lost his primary bid let's not do the same to Ned Lamont.

•  Ned Lamont got the Howard Dean

  role this time around.  He grabbed the Iraq bull by the horns and showed candidates not to be afraid to confront that obvious error, but the DC beltway types gave him very little support.  Sure, Kerry and Edwards and Clark stomped for him, but where was Hill or Harry or Schumer?  They were in DC avoiding any appearance of supporting the democratic primary winner from Connecticut.  I won't forget that.  Ever.

  by gmb on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 04:44:45 AM PDT

  •  Hillary is a WAR-Monger

    So naturally she didn't work too hard against her crony Lieber-loser, they are both part of the ultra-rich crowd who look out only for themselves.

    The next battle is inside the Democratic party, War mongers vs. peace activists.

    by MD patriot on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 04:48:36 AM PDT

    •  the dems had no voice on Iraq

      before Ned won the primary.

      hillary the opportunist undressed rumsfeld AFTER Lamont won.

      Lamont's win allowed dems to have a voice.

      by EdwardsRaysOfSunshine on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 04:56:52 AM PDT

    •  Are you surprised? Note: her power base is NYC

      With the fanatical, wealthy, and influential pro-Israel lobby in NYC and suburbs (where Hillary lives), it is impossible for a politician to take a moderate line on the Middle East. Hillary wants to win, and to do so she must be more Israeli than the Israeli.

      by Condi Lice on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:03:05 AM PDT

      •  I'm not a Hillary fan,

        but this carping on the pro-Israel lobby owning her and allegedly every other Senator who voted for the war is getting ridiculous and more than a bit suspicious.  Isn't it possible that she voted for and supported the war because she wants "moderate" street cred for her White House bid in 2008?  The Democrats who wanted to appear "Strong on Security" (in other words, terrified of Republican accusations of treachery) voted for the war, many of the 2004 primary candidates included.  Were John Edwards and John Kerry also in the pocket of the "influential pro-Israel lobby"?

        Just for the record, I can't stand Hillary and didn't vote for her (I live in NY), but this whole "pro-Israel lobby" boogeyman is taking on sinister proportions.

        by Arturo52 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:41:33 AM PDT

  •  My memory is very good and long

    considering how old I am.

    Of course I can't guarantee how it will be a week from now....

    So I've written myself a reminder note:

    FUCK HILL AND BILL AND CHUCK AND HARRY AND BARACK AND HAROLD AND ALL - I MEAN ALL - OF THE DC DEMS.

    by mombadanes on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 04:54:01 AM PDT

    •  I didn't vote for Hill this time

      (nor Cuomo....just can't stand him), but voted for the other democrats running in NY.  Neither Hillary nor Schumer will ever get a vote from me again.  Not ever.  And we will need a new Senate (Majority?) Leader.  Harry Reid is not acceptable.  So, who should it be?  Feingold is running for the presidential primary in 2008, so, sadly, he's out.  Personally I think Kennedy would be good just because it will make wingnut heads explode around the country.  Any thoughts?

      by gmb on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 04:58:18 AM PDT

      •  General Wes Clark (D) for President 2008

        He supported Lamont!

        by erikw on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:12:24 AM PDT

        •  Big Ditto to that,.

          But unless he bends over and kisses Hill and Bill and Chuck and Barack and Harry's asses, he will fall away likes the likes of Ned and Paul Hackett.

          by mombadanes on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:15:43 AM PDT

      •  I love that vision...

        Anything to make Repug heads explode!

        by mombadanes on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:14:32 AM PDT

  •  Don't forget

    Kennedy and Dodd, right?

    by isbister on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:30:36 AM PDT

  •  Lamont deserves our respect

    the eternal triangulators (Hillary, Obama...) who were afraid of campaigning for him deserve to be "remembered" when it comes to 2008

    by Lepanto on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:31:32 AM PDT

  •  Lamont did get the HoDe

    It burned me up everytime the media said "millionaire Ned Lamont".  Then last night watching the election returns the news anchor said, "m-businessman Ned Lamont".

    by Thom K in LA on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:50:50 AM PDT

•  Preempt, Lieberman won with Repub votes

  70% of the CT REpubs voted for Lieberman, they know that he is Senator Slime, always looking out for the ultra-rich and of course his buddy Bush.  Plenty of rich greedy types in CT, they know that Lieberman is one of their cronies.

  by MD patriot on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 04:46:37 AM PDT

  •  it was closer to 80

    closer to 80% of GoPers went for joementia

    by EdwardsRaysOfSunshine on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 04:57:32 AM PDT

•  Thank you Ned for showing leadership like Dean nt

  by yoduuuh do or do not on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 04:47:53 AM PDT

•  Agree 100%

  Nothing else to add that has not been said 100 times already.

  by Ken in Tex on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 04:50:28 AM PDT

•  Well said!

  "As an American and Democrat I am truly proud I supported him. I think  we, especially in the Blogesphere should never let anyone forget that it was Ned's primary Victory that opened the floodgates of anti-Iraq Democrats. His courage going up against a three term Senator and winning gave them cover and the balls to ignore the Clintonians and rest of the wobbly kneeed Dems in our party. He made their victories possible. I like to think  Ned was the guy who made the first Waves that carried us to victory. We own him our thanks and praise."

  DITTO (and I don't mean Rush Limbaugh!!!)

  by mombadanes on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 04:51:39 AM PDT

•  Everyone didnt turn on Dean,,media did not me or

  millions of others..
  Lamont blew it by not being stronger/harder lieb...thats afact ion my opinion..how many times did he call him  a liar..like he should have. How many times did lamont tell voters lieb laughed when bush made fun of wmd's..zero

  by mainehiker on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 04:52:00 AM PDT

  •  blah blah

    by NeuvoLiberal on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:09:39 AM PDT

•  I live

  in GA, and this race turned out to be the one I was emotionally invested in of all races for several reasons. First it was just about getting rid of Joe, but truly at the end it was because Ned would make a wonderful senator, and quite frankly he is someone I truly would like if I met him on the street. I do feel the lack of support from leadership is what hurt here, but at the moment that isn't what concerns me. I am worried that Ned won't run again for  office and that would be a loss for us all, because he is the kind of person we need representing us.

  by smokem2271 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 04:56:12 AM PDT

  •  Yes, I'm hoping he will stay in the fight

    Hopefully Ned Lamont will not wait too long before saying that he's going to be working more with DFA or forming a Connecticut Dem Party Progressive Caucus to start dismantling the party machine and returning the party to the people.

    Maybe Howard Dean can bring him in for something at the DNC?  Wouldn't that be great:-))))))

    by Thom K in LA on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:59:03 AM PDT

•  Ned Lamont, hero

  Ned won the primary and was the only Democrat left standing in the race.

  If it wasn't for GOP shenanigans undercutting Schleisenger Lamont would have won the general as well. Lieberman got 32% of the Democratic vote, had 80% GOP funding, and voided millions in DCCC money in the Shays race all for his own self-interest.

  For comparison Sen. Olympia Snowe got 56% of the Democratic vote running as an out-and-out Republican. Joe Lieberman won with his 'low information' voter strategy. Now the White House is going to call in their markers with Lieberman.

  It's already happening on the morning news. The only GOP victory they can run for balance is Lieberman in CT. Expect Bush to say the elections were not about the  War in Iraq because Joe Lieberman won re-election. Ned Lamont did a great job. He was undercut at every turn by his own parties Senate leaders and the White House.

  It's better to die on your feet than live on your knees. First Howard Dean and then Ned Lamont taught Democrats to stand up.

  by joejoejoe on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:01:45 AM PDT

  •  On to the FEC investigation!

    Last night, the pundits were saying Lieberman would be a little King in the Senate but between now and January 1, the NY Times will likely do something on the $387,000 petty cash Lieberman took out of the primary and who knows how much in the general.  Then it becomes a national story.

    Is he really going to chair a committee called "Government Reform and Oversight?"  It would be something if Lieberman ends up resigning and Rell gets to appoint a Republican.  That would really make one want to strangle some of those Washington Dems who insisted on keeping Lieberman.

    by Lois on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:30:20 AM PDT

    •  Lieberman

      I think Dems will be OK even if Lieberman flips. That works both ways and there is more than one Republican Senator who might be tired of covering for the White House. Republicans can flip too. The next two Senate classes look bad for the GOP so the time to flip is now.

      Lieberman isn't in a strong a position as the pundits think. The moment Dems get 52 votes Joe Lieberman becomes very weak. I can see Lugar, Sununu, Snowe, Collins, or Hagel switching to Independent. It's not likely for any of them but combined it's more than a 50/50 chance to get one switch. That removes all of Lieberman's bargaining power - a very good thing.

      by joejoejoe on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:50:51 AM PDT

      •  Yup

        I think Chaffee is regretting not flipping today. Now is the time to look at Maine.

        by bronxdem on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:20:17 AM PDT

        •  Exactly

          Snowe just won by a huge margin with a majority of Democrats supporting her. Flipping to Independent would cost her nothing and gain her a lot. It's not like Maine cares if she is GOP or Independent.

          by joejoejoe on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:28:12 AM PDT

•  Disturbing scenes of inertia at HQ

  I witnessed disturbing scenes of inertia at the Bridgeport Lamont regional HQ. Six people milling about doing nothing but fixing their gaze upon a pile of ten pizza boxes. I asked them on election day afternoon what I could do to help. They said, poll standing and canvassing. Sorry, but all phone calls were going out from the Meriden central HQ. OK, their idea of get out the vote was standing in front of a polling station with a Lamont sign. And knocking on doors, in the afternoon when people were at work. For 100,000 voters. With a few dozen volunteers.

  Folks, this is why the GOP wins. Organization. Bloomberg, Lieberman, and his union devotees got out the vote, and Dems didn't.

  by Condi Lice on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:12:32 AM PDT

  •  Excuse me but did you just beam down?

    Dems just won a historic victory! I and thousands and thousands spent millions of man hours getting out the vote! And guess what we did and the repigs didn't. The Lamont race was the only unique loss but it had nothing to do with "NOT" getting out the vote!

    by eddieb061345 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:22:43 AM PDT

  •  Campaign offices should be relatively quiet . . .

    On election day if everyone is out doing their job.  The Bridgeport office had flocks of volunteers out on the streets pulling votes via canvass.  The team did an amazing job in Bridgeport and deserves praise, not condemnation.  Both staff and volunteers there worked their butts off, staying overnight, tirelessly walking the streets, and working with the DTC, which supported Ned. We did not lose this one because of poor efforts on the part of staff and volunteers.  We lost because of entrenched politicians who value cronyism above party and ideals, and voters who are still unaware of that fact.  In a larger sense, we all won nationally, which likely would not have happened if Ned hadn't stood up and showed such courage.

    by KimHynes on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 05:21:17 AM PDT

•  I still support Ned. It was everyones failure

  Joe managed to convince some people that he was still a Democrat, despite losing the primary.  Lamont alone couldn't have convinced voters otherwise; it would have taken the party big wigs to do so.  Lieberman, with the help of a wink from Bush, Melman, and Rove, played some of the voters of CT.  They provided ZERO support to "their" guy, and funneled support to SanctaJoenous.  I blame Lieberman above all for not being honorable to quitely fade away when we voted him out in the primary.  In doing so, he made the house races close and cost us at least one of them.  Had it been Ned versus Alan, many Repubs would not have voted in such force.  Joe is selfish, unprincipled, pompous, slimey, etc... I am disappointed in my fellow nutmeggers who fell for is crap, most not realizing the damage he has already done to our American values of Truth and Justice for all.

  by glazeone on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:40:40 AM PDT

•  Has he changed his party affiliation back yet?

  Shouldn't Lieberman be changing his party affiliation back to Democrat today?

  by Thom K in LA on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:56:10 AM PDT

•  Joe didnt win , he lost lots of people

  Ned thinks like I do...We have just begun Ned..Ned wants a sane america and we do too. ..Thank you Ned.. We need more just like you..Dont stop doing what you are doing, its going to be a rough two years..

  by bayside on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:48:32 AM PDT