The Birth of the New Federalists?
Joseph Lieberman, my (and President Bush's) favorite Democrat is in a fight for his life. Dick Morris wrote an excellent editorial in "The Hill" about Lieberman's chances in the upcoming Democratic Primary against Ned Lamont. Ned is (like most left wing Democrats) virally anti-war. Even more so than he is anti-Bush.
Lieberman is beloved in Connecticut and much of the nation, he has a long tenure in the Senate, and is one of the best known Democrats on the national scene. He should have absolutely no trouble beating such an upstart. The problem is (as Dick points out) that Connecticut's Primaries (both Democrat and Republican) are notoriously partisan. While you and I may praise Lieberman as a thoughtful, moderate member of the Senate, the left ring of the Democratic Party see him as a lap dog for the administration, and a thorn in their side. Not to mention that the activist liberals of Connecticut see this as their only meaningful chance to vote against the war in Iraq.
There is no national referendum, Congress didn't have to pass a Constitutional Amendment that we would then get to support or denounce to our state Congressmen and women. But you can vote against Lieberman. Vote against his history of moderate (sometimes even conservative) positions. Vote against his history of bipartisianship. Vote against his support (even cheerleading) for the President and this Iraq War. It's this side of the Primary that leads Dick Morris (and me) to believe that Lieberman doesn't stand a chance.
Unless...he were to strike out on his own. In April, I wrote an article talking about the partisan divide in this country and the (theoretical) birth of a viable third party. The circumstance I imagined this happening under is very much like what is seemingly about to happen to Sen. Lieberman. Running as an Independent, Lieberman would likely slaughter both Mr. Lamont and the Republican challenger (probably) Alan Schlesinger. If he maintains his Party affiliation and loses in the Primary, he would already have allowed Lamont to gain momentum and then even in a three-way race he, and Lamont would likely lose to the Republican.
There is another situation brewing that seems to suggest there are others thinking about the birth of the New Federalist (just the name I picked). Mayor Bloomberg of New York, a man of considerable financial means, has made overtures that he is interested in the 2008 presidential race. He has vast resources available (he claims he could easily spend a half-billion), and a desire to make sure that neither a far-right wing Republican or a far-left Democrat take the office. He and Sen. John McCain are good friends, who would both appeal to a similar set of independent minded voters in both parties. Could he be hinting, not at Presidential aspirations, but at the willingness to spend to ensure that McCain gets a fair chance at running the country?
Let's imagine that in the runnup to and the beginning of the Republican primaries, it becomes clear that McCain is being edged out from the right. The conservative base after briefly toying with the idea of supporting him has decided to punish him again for open-mindedness. McCain and Bloomberg (following the lead of this years Independent campaign of Sen. Lieberman) refuse to their let party and their country be controlled by idealogues. They use their personal fortunes and their numerous connections among media barons to fund the first true third party candidacy in almost a hundred years. (Perot does not count, he wasn't a party, just one billionaire with a pointy nose) It just crazy enough to work.
Of course a lot has to happen between here and there for this fabulous new third party to be birthed. And as we've written before, even if it came to power there is no guarantee that it would have any sort of longevity. But it's fun to dream. Stereotype, in his last post, begged you to think. I believe that is exactly what this scenario would require. The candidates would have to think, "Ideas and openmindedness are more important than the Party line, or my own public image." Voters would have to think, "Do I want more of the same, two voices yelling from either side, getting little or nothing done? Or do I want discussion and compromise? Do I want my moderate voice heard in the Capital?" It's all this required thinking that makes the birth of the New Federalists highly unlikely.
Lieberman is beloved in Connecticut and much of the nation, he has a long tenure in the Senate, and is one of the best known Democrats on the national scene. He should have absolutely no trouble beating such an upstart. The problem is (as Dick points out) that Connecticut's Primaries (both Democrat and Republican) are notoriously partisan. While you and I may praise Lieberman as a thoughtful, moderate member of the Senate, the left ring of the Democratic Party see him as a lap dog for the administration, and a thorn in their side. Not to mention that the activist liberals of Connecticut see this as their only meaningful chance to vote against the war in Iraq.
There is no national referendum, Congress didn't have to pass a Constitutional Amendment that we would then get to support or denounce to our state Congressmen and women. But you can vote against Lieberman. Vote against his history of moderate (sometimes even conservative) positions. Vote against his history of bipartisianship. Vote against his support (even cheerleading) for the President and this Iraq War. It's this side of the Primary that leads Dick Morris (and me) to believe that Lieberman doesn't stand a chance.
Unless...he were to strike out on his own. In April, I wrote an article talking about the partisan divide in this country and the (theoretical) birth of a viable third party. The circumstance I imagined this happening under is very much like what is seemingly about to happen to Sen. Lieberman. Running as an Independent, Lieberman would likely slaughter both Mr. Lamont and the Republican challenger (probably) Alan Schlesinger. If he maintains his Party affiliation and loses in the Primary, he would already have allowed Lamont to gain momentum and then even in a three-way race he, and Lamont would likely lose to the Republican.
There is another situation brewing that seems to suggest there are others thinking about the birth of the New Federalist (just the name I picked). Mayor Bloomberg of New York, a man of considerable financial means, has made overtures that he is interested in the 2008 presidential race. He has vast resources available (he claims he could easily spend a half-billion), and a desire to make sure that neither a far-right wing Republican or a far-left Democrat take the office. He and Sen. John McCain are good friends, who would both appeal to a similar set of independent minded voters in both parties. Could he be hinting, not at Presidential aspirations, but at the willingness to spend to ensure that McCain gets a fair chance at running the country?
Let's imagine that in the runnup to and the beginning of the Republican primaries, it becomes clear that McCain is being edged out from the right. The conservative base after briefly toying with the idea of supporting him has decided to punish him again for open-mindedness. McCain and Bloomberg (following the lead of this years Independent campaign of Sen. Lieberman) refuse to their let party and their country be controlled by idealogues. They use their personal fortunes and their numerous connections among media barons to fund the first true third party candidacy in almost a hundred years. (Perot does not count, he wasn't a party, just one billionaire with a pointy nose) It just crazy enough to work.
Of course a lot has to happen between here and there for this fabulous new third party to be birthed. And as we've written before, even if it came to power there is no guarantee that it would have any sort of longevity. But it's fun to dream. Stereotype, in his last post, begged you to think. I believe that is exactly what this scenario would require. The candidates would have to think, "Ideas and openmindedness are more important than the Party line, or my own public image." Voters would have to think, "Do I want more of the same, two voices yelling from either side, getting little or nothing done? Or do I want discussion and compromise? Do I want my moderate voice heard in the Capital?" It's all this required thinking that makes the birth of the New Federalists highly unlikely.
posted by Daddy Rogue at 10:51 AM
1 Comments:
indeed. it will be the death of us.
Post a Comment
<< Home