"Conn. Senate Campaign Could be 4-Way Race" (Green candidate enters)

[Rowdyboy]

"HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Connecticut U.S. Senate race could become a four-way fight with the Green Party saying it has submitted enough signatures to place a candidate on the ballot in November.

Ned Lamont is the Democratic candidate after beating Sen. Joe Lieberman in the party's primary Tuesday. Lieberman is mounting an independent campaign and Alan Schlesinger is the Republican candidate.

The Green Party of Connecticut submitted 13,000 signatures Wednesday on behalf of Ralph Ferrucci, the party's candidate for the U.S. Senate.

They needed 7,500, but party leaders said in a statement that they wanted "a buffer for any errors in petitions."

http://www.wnbc.com/news/9659116/detail.html

[sutz12]

1. I wouldn't write Lamont off just yet.

[sandnsea]

2. Oh no, this one is GREAT!!!

This is actually just what we need. A clear race that differentiates the real far left from the basic Democrat from the Lieberman-Bush wing of just plain nutsoville. It's actually perfect if you think about it for a minute.

[Rowdyboy]

3. You know, you just may be right.....I hadn't thought in those terms....

[sandnsea]

9. I've been pushing this for two years now

If you push the right further right and let the left in just a bit, but make the differences abundantly clear... then the old-fashioned basic Democrat shines through and swoops up at least 50% of a very broad middle. If we don't do it, the Christy Todd-Whitmans absolutely will. I don't know that we'll have an opportunity like this again.

[w4rma]

34. We'll see if your plan works, right here and right now then.

Since it appears we have no other choice.

I hope you'll abandon that plan if it begins to appear that it doesn't work.

[sandnsea]

37. And support the trashing Democrats plan??

I don't go for the "Sore Loserman" repetition of right wing talking points any more than I think Lieberman should be trashing Lamont or using "cut and run" in his campaign. If the Green starts trashing Democrats too, then it wouldn't be "my plan" at all and I wouldn't support that either.

[w4rma]

38. The thing is. Thats what the Greens do. Every time.

They consider themselves a separate party and to them Democrats are their opponents as well as the Republicans (as well as Libertarians, Reform Party, etc. etc).

[sandnsea]

40. uh, you have "sore loserman 2000"

which seems to me like more of a Green thing to do. That was one of the ugliest things the right did in 2000, I don't know why any Democrat would want to dredge up that piece of crap and plant it in the minds of the public when we need to be seen as smart, strong and ready to govern.

[w4rma]

45. Yes I do. And not at all.

In fact it was the theft of the 2000 election that angered me enough to stay involved in politics as long as I have. I am using the Sore Lieberman theme for two reasons:

• When people see it they remember what happened in 2000, also. (In fact not only does it remind Democrats that the Republican leadership stole the election, but it also reminds Republicans that they shouldn't like LIEberman.)


• It is most effective **against** the DLCers and Repukes who called for Gore and Lieberman to quit fighting the theft. Their mindset is geared towards this type of emotional slogan. And it is they who must be convinced to stay away from LIEberman now. This theme was their rallying cry and it should be ours now.

So, now I'm using it against that traitor LIEberman who stabbed ME (and is is working hard to do it again) in the back after I supported him then and for quite a time after.

Btw, Al Gore is still my first choice to run for president in 2008, just as he was in 2004. But my focus is on the 2006 election, atm.

[sandnsea]

47. It's most effective

to remind people about "whiny Democrats" since that's where most people are at with 2000, but whatever. I know most of DU will never grasp that it doesn't help to repeat right wing smears, I've even heard them use them against Angelides and lord knows we should be doing everything possible to win that one. Before long I imagine I'll be hearing the same kind of crap that people used to justify voting for Bloomberg. Knock yourself out with your Dem trash talk, it's been working stupendously for the last 6 years.

[w4rma]

48. You don't win by retreating. (nt)

[sandnsea]

49. You win by joining the enemy??? n/t

[w4rma]

50. No, by using the enemies' momentum against them. (nt)

[sandnsea]

51. lol, okay, whatever, bye n/t

[LetsGoMurphys]

44. Not a fan of the Sore Loserman thing

the right would have a field day with you

[w4rma]

46. post #45, above. (nt)

[Oak2004]

53. In sharp contrast

the Vermont Progressive who was considering a run for Congress (and, mind you, this is an electable third party) chose not to run against a Dem for fear of splitting the vote.

I guess that must be because he wasn't financed by the Republican Party.

[bananas]

10. and the republican candidate nobody wants

the debates should be great!!!

[sandnsea]

13. lol, forgot all about him

But it would sure make it clear why people rejected Lieberman when he comes in to the right of the Republican candidate!!

[sofa king]

22. Thanks for cheering me up.

I think you're right: maybe a spectrum-spread isn't a terrible thing.

At the same time, though, I can't help thinking of all those Republican dollars that supposedly went to Ralph Nader back in 2000. I also note that since Connecticut is Diebold-free for the moment, the Republicans might not have any other options to do... what they do best.

I'd wondered about this out loud before, but now it's a real question that I think needs to be answered right away: what happens if no candidate for Senator gains a majority?

Does the decision go to the Governor? The Republican Governor? If so, then I think we'd better watch out.

If someone else doesn't know for sure, I'm going to look this up this weekend.

[sandnsea]

28. Whoever gets the most votes, wins

This isn't a Louisiana style race where 50% is required to win. Whoever gets the most votes, even if it's just 1 more vote than the other, wins. The only time a governor appoints a Senator is if one resigns or dies in office.

[sofa king]

54. Thank you, sandnsea.

It looks like our friends on the other side of the aisle have their work cut out for them, then.

[loyalsister]

26. Good analysis

CT becomes a serious referendum on red states that are in play when the voters begin to differentiate between the "radical left" that the Republicans are talking about and Ned Lamont.

Notice that the following question changes......

"Does Claire McCaskill support the wishes of the angry left by endorsing Ned Lamont's candidacy or will she support the man who was chosen by Al Gore as the Democrat's 2000 nominee for Vice President?"

http://ky3.blogspot.com/2006/08/gop-to-force-mccaskill-...

[sandnsea]

29. It's critical to change that question

It has to be 'does Claire McCaskill support the Bush/Lieberman collision course or the common sense Lamont Democrats'. That is the most important job of Democrats and they better start making that distinction in a hurry. Contrasting the CT Green candidate with Ned Lamont would be the best way to do it and if I were the DNC I'd be shining a bright bright media light on the Green guy. We need to use Greens to our advantage and that doesn't mean bashing them, but using them to highlight the policy distinctions that are out there.

[JI7]

39. as long as the Green candidate doesn't lie about Lamont

that's the problem i have always had with Greens, during elections they always lie and bash the Democrat rather than speaking about where they stand.

[sandnsea]

41. But Lamont can kick that garbage right over to Lieberman

He can say "They must be talking about some other kind of Democrat" and when Lieberman starts his crap, Lamont can kick that right over to the Green, "Lieberman has me mixed up with the Green Party". If Lamont plays it right, it really could give Democrats a chance to forge a fresh identity that the Greens and Pubs can't touch. If the Green has a brain in his head, he'll see the benefit in that approach as he can bring more attention to a further left platform too. It could work well all the way around.

[fishwax]

52. perhaps so. interesting point n/t

[Redstone]

4. Could anybody be LESS relevant? No, it's NOT going to be any

"four-way-race."

Somebody's just doing some attention-whoring here. I don't mean to piss on anybody's parade here, but it's just reality.

Redstone

[napi21]

5. If I lived in Ct. I'd be pi**ed that people are making a mockery of

my State politics! I don't know that this Green Party candidate is going to make much difference. So far from what I've seen, Ned is handling all the criticism very well. I still think Joe iwll drop out of the race by mid Oct.

[VegasWolf]

6. Yea, my guess is that Lieberman is just holding out for a cushy payoff. nt

[Tyrone Slothrop]

35. I think Lieberman's going to win the election

And we're going to lose a Senate seat on account of it.

Why do you think he'll drop? He's got plenty of money, and he leads the state in the first post-primary poll.

[Cha]

42. Well, I think Lamont's

going to win because lieberman is going to make too many people sick of him by November and he already outspent Lamont on the first race before he became a stalker.

[bluestateguy]

7. Greens are impossible to please

nt

[drm604]

8. I wonder how much help Ferrucci is getting from the Repubs?

That's what's happening in PA, where the Green party candidate's financial and volunteer support is almost solely from Santorum supporters. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

I think this is their plan. They know they can't win a straightforward election so they'll try to dilute the opposition's votes. Watch for this happening all over the country. If a Green (or any progressive third party) is getting any help from Repubs they have to be outed loudly and repeatedly.

The Greens are allowing themselves to be used as a tool by the Repubs.

[Joe Bacon]

11. GREEN = Getting Republicans Elected Every November!

Here's another case of the Green Slime.

I wonder if LIEberman gave them some of his signatures?

[ribrepin]

12. Good one, Joe Bacon

I hadn't heard that one before, but I'll keep it in mind from now on.

[goforit]

20. Bingo!!! Here's smartest DUr yet!!! Greens/Nader are GOP contracts

to ensure repugs take the prize!

Way to go Cheney!!!

And you notice, the greens always enter late and never announce it
prior to any of the primaries.

Satan's gallery = Greens

[zreosumgame]

14. so that's 3 out of 4 funded by the RNC in the race?

well fuck me, that does it mean they are 3 times as 'democratic' as everyone else?

[goforit]

21. Another brilliant DUr! Yep, 3 against one alright!

[WI_DEM]

15. I don't think the Green candidate will have much of a following this year

in CT--Lamont has the activists on his side and he's against the war and I think most rational people will see him as the only real alternative to Lieberman.

[ShortnFiery]

17. I don't know about this situation in CT, but I've found The Greens

to be quite amenable to compromise. We (Democrats) should attempt to reach out to them way before the election hype gets started.

Yes, there's some seemingly impossible Greens, but I would rather have them on Our Side by addressing their issue than having to fight against them.

[SaveElmer]

18. You mean like in Minnesota in 2002...

When they insisted on putting a candidate up against Paul Wellstone, even while acknowledging they had no serious policy differences with hi,

As you recall, before Wellstone was killed he was in a very tight race against Norm Coleman...

Greens are as big an enemy as the Republicans are!

[ShortnFiery]

23. Well, I see your point, but I'm not ready to generalize to every Green.

Point taken. However, IF we can win them to our side, let's start out trying to work with them for the greater good of The American People. But yes, I see that power can be an draw for any one political segment.

[LynneSin]

32. If they want me to "Win them to our side" then they should registered Dem.

I'm tired of coddling Greens like so fragile baby we need to protect. The fact they insist on running in Pennsylvania with Republican Money and fake signatures shows that the Green Party is USELESS to everyone except Republicans.

You want to fight to change using the system we're forced to use - then registered democrat. You want to whine about the Corruption and pour your money into cause that wins no candidates and has no influence - so be it, it's your money.

We are not going to change the democratic party overnight but by starting with one candidate and building from there. Trust me, elected democrats are starting to shift a bit (Hell Hillary I can see her moving leftward) and starting to see that we can bring them down with determination.

[AtomicKitten]

16. there is talk of putting up a better GOP candidate

which then means the left will be split three-ways

not good

[librechik]

19. somebody please find out where the Green is getting his financial backing

some of them seem to be propped up by Republicans nowadays.

Though I find the concept of ultra-liberal vs standard Dem appealing...

[LynneSin]

31. Here you go! This green is paid for by the Friends of Rick Santorum

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060801/ap_on_el_ge/santoru... ;_ylt=AoSdbZxfNsfMahiklS0IZu6s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

[librechik]

36. LOL--yeah, like that

it makes me sad, tho to see the greens go down so cravenly. I have hopes for them, dunno why...

[Bitter Cup]

24. Anyone seen "The Perfect Candidate"?

it's a documentary about the Ollie North campaign in Virginia. They discuss strategies much like this.

The upside of course is...it didn't help them there and it probably won't save them here.

[CreekDog]

25. Lamont is Liberal, He is Progressive and He's Anti-War

Can we name a significant difference between him and the Green Party positions?

I can only think of one:

Lamont can win and the Green Party candidate cannot.

I think the Greens don't want any progressive to win. They want their candidates to hold progressive positions, but not actually get elected to implement them.

Because otherwise, what are they doing in the race?!

[Bitter Cup]

33. OKaaaay

But have you seen the documentary and did you understand I was talking about the Republicans?

[Ravy]

27. Woot! I predicted this!!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[LynneSin]

30. This is fucking Minnesota 2002 all over again

Which is why I still believe that the Green Party SERVES NO PURPOSE.

What is it about Ned Lamont that isn't liberal enough? Better yet what is it about Paul Wellstone that wasn't liberal enough.


<<<deleted statement of what I really feel but you can fill in the blank>>>

They should be in the democratic party fighting for us to get more people like Lamont on the ticket. Six months ago even I didn't think that we could defeat Lieberman in the primaries and I must admit I was horribly wrong.

So seriously what purpose does a party serve that wins no races, pushes no agenda, has very little influence on the democratic party and accepts Republican money to help get on the ticket.

They serve no purpose. You want to make a change work with the democratic party. Greens are nothing more than people who just gave up trying and walked away.

And for you people who will flame me, and yes you will. I know the electorial system sucks, I know that we are a two-party system and that sucks, I know that there are bad democrats who enable republicans more than actually do something that pleases democrats and that sucks. But you're not going to make a change being in the Green Party because the Greens have absolutely NO VOICE whatsoever in this country. SUre they show up to some protests and write some complaint letters, but when was the last time they fought to replace a democrat known to have a close relationship with BUsh and actually SUCCEED?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

43. Ferrucci, too?

"Beverly Hills"

Beverly Hills, century city
everything's so nice and pretty
all the people look the same
don't they know they're so damn lame

there she goes
three piece suit
spandex pants
cowboy boots

I don't know what i'm gonna do
I don't know what i'm gonna do
maybe i'll have to move from

Beverly Hills, century city
everything's so nice and pretty
All the people look the same
don't they know they're so damn lame

there she goes
three piece suit
spandex pants
fiorucci too
beverly hills, century city!


-Circle Jerks

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

55. Threadkill?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

56. Yep.