This Won't Work With the Lefty BloggersThe media are now
running the story that a loss by Joe Lieberman will hurt other Democrats. Much as I want Lieberman to win (as a thumb in the eye to the likes of Kos and Hamsher), I don't see it other than the money thing:
Lieberman has traditionally given money to his fellow Connecticut Democrats. State Rep. Robert Godfrey, D-Danbury, a Lieberman supporter, said both Lieberman and U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., have contributed $800,000 to $1 million to the state party in election years. That money is then distributed to candidates running across the state.And this part doesn't make much sense:
Godfrey said he also believes that if Lieberman wins the primary, it will encourage Democrats in the November election who might vote for Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell -- who continues to enjoy high approval ratings -- to return to the Democratic line on the ballot and vote for Lieberman and the other Democrats who follow.
"Those of us further down the ballot like him as the breakwater between Jodi Rell and all the other Democrats," said Godfrey, who is running for re-election.Sounds like they think the voters will stick with the Republicans if Ned Lamont's the Democrats' choice.
Don't get me wrong; I do think a loss for Lieberman will be a loss for the Democrats, precisely because it will encourage the blogs. They make a big deal out of the fact that they are not going after some other Democrats who've angered them, like Diane Feinstein. What are the odds they will practice similar restraint in 2008? This has the potential to turn into a full-scale purge. As Zell Miller remarked, there are elements within the Democratic party that would rather be a majority in in a minority party than a minority in a majority party.
