Lautenberg & Menendez support Lamont

Thank you, to my Senators (4.00 / 1)

Any seated Democratic Senator or Congressman who supports Joe Lieberman's "independent" run for that Senate seat weakens the integrity of the Democratic Party, and  insults the Democratic voters of Connecticut.

When Sen. Menendez and Sen. Lautenberg stand with Ned Lamont, they back the will of the Connecticut voters and stand with a candidate who represents Democratic core values well, and is fired-up and ready to oppose this reckless and failed president with them.

Thank you Sen. Lautenberg. Thank you, Sen. Menendez.

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 06:54:17 AM UTC

The Democratic Family (3.00 / 1)

Our Senators have it exactly right.

Democrats can (and should!) sort out their differences in primaries - even heated primaries. But, once the primary voters have spoken, that's when a strong party comes together like family, and embraces the nominee.

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by: Jeff Gardner @ Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 13:30:46 PM UTC

Lieberman and Lamont (4.00 / 1)

This story is playing out with Democrats across the country on the local level, but now the media has noticed because Joe Lieberman lost in a visible way. Democrats all over the country are struggling to regain control of our party - ward by ward, precinct by precinct.  We experienced it here in NJ just last year.  Some old Democratic Party bosses (and you know who you are) believe that democracy happens the way they say it should.  They call it "unity" a.k.a. "you must unite behind my pick or we will lose to the Republicans"  but it really is "my way or the highway".  They do this by completely ignoring the will of the voter and often the result is a county committee convention election that resembles that of Russia - one choice all the way down the ticket. 

REAL democrats have had enough.  The Lamont win has again proven that Primaries are the great leveler.  They just brought down a pro-war Senator.  Unfortunately, Joe is so enamored of the "Unity" idea because he was the Democratic Establishment "my way or the highway candidate", he can't see by becoming an Independent Candidate, he is now becoming the Democratic party's Ralph Nader spoiler.

We now have a situation in Englewood.  The Democratic mayor is trying everything in his power to get rid of his challenger.  But he forgets this is a democracy and only in challenged races does the cream rise to the top.  The Mayor does not remember that last year, HE was the Establishment candidate.  I know because I openly endorsed his opponent and was illegally challenged to vote at his special election.  Fortunately, he still lost the Assembly election.

Let the people vote and the cream will rise to the top.  This year, if you try to go against the will of the voter - you WILL get a wake up call.  Not only in Connecticut but across this country as Democrats are flexing their voting muscles.  They are realizing this is the best way to speak truth to entrenched power.  Especially to their entrenched Congressmen and Senators who rolled over and ceded their responsibilities and powers to the Bush Administration.

Joe Leiberman would call me a "blogger" and dismiss me as a former "Deaniac", but I am over 40, I vote and I am already on my county committee and I am running for town council.  He may think I exist only in cyberspace but I have canvassed the streets of Manchester NH for Howard Dean.  I own a car, a pair of good sturdy walking shoes, a telephone, and no fear of public speaking.  There are quite a few of us out there - I know - I have met them face to face at meetings where folks bring their opinions and some homemade cookies too.  Joe Lieberman completely misses what his Democratic party has turned into.  It is vibrant, energetic and riled up.  I feel bad for Joe, he kind of missed the boat, but for the sake of "Unity", he should just get behind the guy that won the voters over - Ned Lamont. 

When the voters want a new direction, and you "stand in the doorway" and "block up the hall" to paraphrase Bob Dylan, you are not helping.


One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 13:40:15 PM UTC

Time for Dems to Not Only Support Lamont, but also (3.50 / 2)

Criticize Lieberman for leaving the party.  And now with the Karl Rove phone thing. 

Even Lautenberg's comments, while they are good, I think he could get away with a little harsher.

I mean I can understand if they are giving Joe a few days to quit, but it doesn't look like its happening. 

myhistorycanbeatupyourpolitics.blogspot.com

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by: underdogdemocrat @ Fri Aug 11, 2006 at 13:37:37 PM UTC

YES, THEY CAME AROUND NOW, BUT............... (2.00 / 1)

LAUTENBERG WAS CAMPAIGNING WITH LIEBERMAN ONLY LAST WEEK.

HE IS A TRAITOR, WHO DOES THE EXPEDIENT THING, & I AM NOT AS HAPPY WITH  him as the rest of you.  The two of them are among the Democratic Senatorial "WIMPS," who I would love to get rid of.  With the exception of Russ Feingold and maybe one or two others, I say we should "THROW ALL OF THE BUMS OUT!"

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO CHOOSE THE "LESSER OF THE TWO EVILS!"  WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR YEARS, & LOOK AT OUR COUNTRY!  We are "teetering on the edge of annhiliation!"  This is not a game!  This is our life, and our children's lives, & our politicians are not doing us any favors, including our Democratic Senators!  IT'S TIME WE HELD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE!  (AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING THE ELECTION OF REPUBLICANS!)  The problem is that there is not much difference between the two parties anymore.  They both have been bought & paid for by the CORPORATIONS of this country (and others), and the average person is not listened to at all.  We do not matter to them, and so they do not care about our needs.  The only needs they care about are their own, and those of their "CORPORATE CONTRIBUTORS!"  IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT!  AND IT HAS TO BE CHANGED!  Sure our senators came around, AFTER Lieberman was defeated.  They saw the "handwriting on the wall!"  But, they didn't do it out of "principle!"  Think about it for a while.  Think about the last time they did ANYTHING out of REAL PRINCIPLE!  YOU WILL BE THINKING FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, I CAN ASSURE YOU!

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by: krose @ Sat Aug 12, 2006 at 06:26:03 AM UTC

A traitor? (0.00 / 0)

Lautenberg supported the candidate of his choice in a primary, which is what you should do as a member of the Democratic Party.  When his candidate lost he supported the winner of the primary, which is what you should do as a member of the Democratic Party.

I'm not sure what you think Lautenberg is a traitor to, since he acted within the party rules and structure, and even acted within its mores and norms after the loss.

Primaries can be fought hard, but after the fight is over people should come together.  We won this one, and holding a grudge is being a poor loser.

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by: huntsu @ Sat Aug 12, 2006 at 11:58:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Lamont and Lieberman (3.00 / 1)

Yikes, Krose!  Calm down.  Primaries are where we choose from several (hopefully) qualified candidates.  But it wasn't up to you or I - it was up to the Conn. voters.  Usually you support the incumbent if you are in the party, and then the winner of the primary. Simple. That is what Lautenberg did.  I commend him for respecting the voters' choice.

If you don't want to vote for "the lesser of two evils" or "teeter on the edge of annihilation", I advise you to try to get on your County Committee.  They choose the candidates that run under the Democratic or Republican ticket.  I wrote myself in and got elected that way.  If you get involved directly, you won't feel so powerless over the process. I guarantee it.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Sat Aug 12, 2006 at 12:09:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

What's with all the caps? (3.00 / 1)

Seriously, lay off the caps lock, it's rude to yell at people.

But on the topic, I have no problem with Lautenberg supporting Lieberman in the primary.  I disagreed with his choice of candidate, but it makes absolute sense that he would back a guy he's known for the last 18 years rather than some political novice.  And in the end, does anyone in Connecticut care about what Frank Lautenberg thinks.

Just because Lieberman has turned into a whiny titty baby after losing the election doesn't mean that Lautenberg is the same way.  He chose his horse in the race, lost and is now doing was true Democrats do - support the people's choice in a primary.

As for the rest of your Ralph Naderesque rant, I'm just going to say that your line of thinking is old.  The Democratic party is changing.  It is moving away from being Republican-lite.  You are more than welcome to stick around here and keep up this nonsensical whining, but don't expect too much support or agreement to your position (instead, you should expect a lot of scorn).

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by: PocketAces @ Sat Aug 12, 2006 at 12:15:28 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

NONE OF YOU HAVE ADDRESSED THE REST OF MY COMMENTS ABOUT (2.00 / 1)

LAUTENBERG & THE "WIMPY DEMS"

regarding the fact that they fail to listen/respond to the wishes of "We The People," and that they listen/respond more to their "corporate contributors" regarding a whole host of issues.

This is NOT just me speaking.  This is WHY Lieberman lost in the first place!

Millions of Democrats are feeling this way about their senators/congresspeople, all across the country!

The fact that so many people on this board disagree, leads me to believe that this site is inhabited by the N.J. Democratic "hierarchy."  Because of that, I will NOT be staying.  I also will NOT be taking part in further Democratic political activities, unless and until I can find a candidate I know I can trust.  The Democratic Party will not be receiving any donations from me, however.

By the way, I have NEVER voted for Ralph Nader, and I have aggressively worked for, and donated to, the Democratic Party in past years.

If now is not the time to "SCREAM," with all that is at stake, when pray tell, would that time be?

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by: krose @ Sat Aug 12, 2006 at 19:27:40 PM UTC

Okay, well ... (4.00 / 1)

... don't let the door bump you in the arse on your way out ...

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by: denniscmcgrath @ Sat Aug 12, 2006 at 19:59:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not responding (0.00 / 0)

The main reason I did not respond to your "wimpy dems" is that I didn't get that far in your post thanks to the RANDOM USE OF capital letters AND SCREAMING AT US!  Not only is it rude, but for many people it is very hard to read and follow.

Had I gotten that far, however, I would have just said that you should stop living in 2004 and look at what is going on today. 

The Democrats are not perfect, but they are chaning for the better.  For goodness sake, they elected Howard Dean chairman!  Harry Reid has, for all his pro-life stands, been a revelation in his strength and willingness to battle.  We beat them on Social Security, the country is coming around to the right position on Iraq.  Hell, Lamont beat Lieberman!

Things are changing.  You can run around with your head cut off and SCREAM AT PEOPLE WHO YOU AGREE WITH and turn them away from you, or you can join in the fight to change the party.

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by: huntsu @ Sun Aug 13, 2006 at 11:29:16 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh, yeah. One more thing ... (4.00 / 1)

OK, three more things.  The first is that if you can't handle some people disagreeing with you on a comment thread on a blog, you really shouldn't be in politics.  The job of people in politics is to convince others to join you and take your positions, not to scream at them and then run away when they engage your issues.

Secondly, we are not here to do your bidding.  If we don't want to address one or another points you make, then tough.  The great thing about Blue Jersey is that it is what the people here make it -- they decide what to talk about, what to argue about, what to discuss. 

Thirdly, as for your crack about the hierarchy, give me a break.  Have you actually read the blog before you went around making conspiratorial accusations, or did you just decide to lash out when people disagreed with you?  This blog has people who defend, blast, cajole, argue with, agree with, slam, love and hate the Democrats currently running the show.  Anyone can sign up for an account and post here.

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by: huntsu @ Sun Aug 13, 2006 at 11:34:28 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

if you don't like (0.00 / 0)

any of the candidates, why not run yourself?  getting up and leaving serves no one.  if you go, best to you, but i dont see how you can make change if you're not at the party

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by: Jason Springer @ Sat Aug 12, 2006 at 21:39:15 PM UTC