Political Tsunami Coming This Week?
Political Tsunami Coming?
by Paschal Baute
Watch Connecticut Tuesday night and Wednesday morning
This Tuesday in Connecticut, August 8, American voters have a chance to speak their mind in the Iraqi war in a way that can profoundly change our political landscape. Joe Lieberman seems failing in his bid for a fourth term in the Senate, despite heavy support from the Washington establishment, unions, and Democratic heavies such as Bill Clinton. His opponent is an unknown, Ned Lamont in his first political race, a 52 year old multi-millionaire financing his own campaign, running against the war, and he seems to be extending his lead in the polls. New Democrats are registering to vote at a rate over new Republicans of 10-1. It appears the many Independent and unregistered voters are signing up to be able to vote for Lamont.
If Lamont wins, and particularly if he wins decisively, this can be a political tsunami. It will encourage Democrats running for Congress this fall to give up their pussy-footing centrist position and run as Anti-War. It will be a declaration that neither politicians or the media have been listening to the American people, and the beginning of a tidal movement to reject the policies of George Bush, the imperialist ambitions of the neo-conservatives, and a call not only to get our troops out of harms way in a bloody civil war, but serve as a referendum on the current White House failed policies and a call to more bi-lateralism. Lots of people are watching what the Democratic votes of Connecticut will do this week.
In 1968, a relatively unknown Senator from Minnesota decided to run against Lyndon Johnson for his second term. New Hampshire was the first primary of the season. "When McCarthy scored 42% to Johnson's 49% on March 12, it was clear that deep division existed among Democrats on the war issue. By this time, Johnson had become inextricably defined by Vietnam, and this demonstration of divided support within his party meant his reelection (only four years after winning the highest percentage of the popular vote in modern history) was unlikely. On March 31, Johnson announced that he would not seek reelection." (From Wikipedia). That anti-war vote, helped by many anti-war activists that went to the state, changed the political scene that year. I will never forget the shock when LBJ announced 19 days after the primary that he would not seek re-election. That changed everything for politics that year.
Is something like that sea-change about to begin this week?
See Articles
LA Times: Lamont went from Zero to Favorite in Seven Months.
Chicago Sun Times: Pro-War Stance Hurts Lieberman
Guardian Unlimited: Democrats who oppose illegal wars and torture want to reclaim the party
Washington Post: Connecticut Democrats lose faith in Lieberman.
Connecticut Post: The kiss that spread democracy
NY Times: Lieberman Explains Iraq War Stance in Speech
by Paschal Baute
Watch Connecticut Tuesday night and Wednesday morning
This Tuesday in Connecticut, August 8, American voters have a chance to speak their mind in the Iraqi war in a way that can profoundly change our political landscape. Joe Lieberman seems failing in his bid for a fourth term in the Senate, despite heavy support from the Washington establishment, unions, and Democratic heavies such as Bill Clinton. His opponent is an unknown, Ned Lamont in his first political race, a 52 year old multi-millionaire financing his own campaign, running against the war, and he seems to be extending his lead in the polls. New Democrats are registering to vote at a rate over new Republicans of 10-1. It appears the many Independent and unregistered voters are signing up to be able to vote for Lamont.
If Lamont wins, and particularly if he wins decisively, this can be a political tsunami. It will encourage Democrats running for Congress this fall to give up their pussy-footing centrist position and run as Anti-War. It will be a declaration that neither politicians or the media have been listening to the American people, and the beginning of a tidal movement to reject the policies of George Bush, the imperialist ambitions of the neo-conservatives, and a call not only to get our troops out of harms way in a bloody civil war, but serve as a referendum on the current White House failed policies and a call to more bi-lateralism. Lots of people are watching what the Democratic votes of Connecticut will do this week.
In 1968, a relatively unknown Senator from Minnesota decided to run against Lyndon Johnson for his second term. New Hampshire was the first primary of the season. "When McCarthy scored 42% to Johnson's 49% on March 12, it was clear that deep division existed among Democrats on the war issue. By this time, Johnson had become inextricably defined by Vietnam, and this demonstration of divided support within his party meant his reelection (only four years after winning the highest percentage of the popular vote in modern history) was unlikely. On March 31, Johnson announced that he would not seek reelection." (From Wikipedia). That anti-war vote, helped by many anti-war activists that went to the state, changed the political scene that year. I will never forget the shock when LBJ announced 19 days after the primary that he would not seek re-election. That changed everything for politics that year.
Is something like that sea-change about to begin this week?
See Articles
LA Times: Lamont went from Zero to Favorite in Seven Months.
Chicago Sun Times: Pro-War Stance Hurts Lieberman
Guardian Unlimited: Democrats who oppose illegal wars and torture want to reclaim the party
Washington Post: Connecticut Democrats lose faith in Lieberman.
Connecticut Post: The kiss that spread democracy
NY Times: Lieberman Explains Iraq War Stance in Speech
posted by Paschal Baute at 8:30 PM
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