A voice of reason explains what went down yesterday and why regarding the continuing saga of Joe Lieberman.
A bit of background first for those who don't remember: Ned Lamont is the Greenwich businessman who had the temerity to challenge Lieberman for the U.S. Senate in 2006 as a Democrat and defeated him in the August primary before losing to the then de facto Republican candidate Lieberman in the November General Election. The win in the primary by Lamont is regarded by many as the greatest political upset of recent U.S. political history. Lamont had next to no political experience prior to the race, which consumed much of the political landscape in the summer of 2006, and was the catalyst for a resurgent Democratic party which swept into power in both the House and the Senate.
As one of the group of bloggers Lieberman and his campaign despised -- a distinction we carried proudly -- hearing Lamont give his impressions carries much more weight than any of the chattering class. And he did not disappoint.
The very first line was direct and to the point, that this wasn't about retribution but about approving bad behavior, and that this was "probably the wrong move". Lamont's points about Lieberman being "All war, all the time" nailed him, as did Lieberman's constant attacks on Obama during the presidential campaign, that he was and has been "in the Republican column" for a while now, Lieberman's "recalcitrant behavior", the victimization. Ned rattled off his transgressions with a deftness and an aplomb he really didn't possess in 2006. But for all that he could still see Obama's likely view that Lieberman is a distraction he doesn't need right now with so many other things going on. Lamont didn't sound convinced but could see the logic. In the end, when Alison Stewart asked Ned Lamont if he'll run again he replied "Never say never." A very good sign indeed, considering Lieberman is now only slightly more popular in Connecticut than George Bush.
