Why the CT Senate Race matters in NJ

by: Jeff Gardner

Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 03:59:56 PM EDT

Here's why. As Tom Hughes, DFA's executive director, said in an email to members today:

This race has changed the political landscape. 

It boils down to this: We have a powerful three-term incumbent Senator on the ropes because he won't question the Republican mess in Iraq.  We've shown that Democrats can't be a rubber stamp for President Bush's "stay the course" approach.

The Iraq war is the defining issue of this year's elections. It's that simple.

1- The War, of course (or more accurately, the continuing occupation of Iraq) - it's not just that Lieberman voted for it (lots of our nation's leaders did), it's his continued unquestioning and unrepentant support of it that makes him different from the others, and why he has been singled out as a target;

2- Incumbency - we need to disabuse our electeds of the notion that "their seats" can't be challenged - these are our seats, we decide who sits in them, and we need to hold incumbents accountable far more often than we do;

3- Primaries - I've been an outspoken proponent of primaries, and that only makes sense if challengers actually win once in awhile;

4- Again, the war (now, occupation) - because it should be a bigger issue in other races around the country, and will be if Lamont wins. We can spend $500 billion dollars on far better than this;

5- Crashing the Gates - there is a battle going on w/in the democratic party between the status-quo dems and the progressive grassroots blogosphere (that's us) and this would be another big win for us (on the heels of the less-covered - because there was no incumbent - Senate primary race in Montana earlier this year).

I want a win.