Why Lieberman Lost

Several weeks ago I wrote an article that explained why Joe Lieberman just doesn't get it. In it I explained how Joe Lieberman was essentially going against the Democratic party & values:

So why (pray tell), would any Democrat, especially one who was altogether screwed over by the lying, scheming, dirty, sleazy, scummy actions of the Bush crime family, be not only supportive of the unjustified war which we all know Bush rushed into with fabricated intelligence, but also supportive of Bush himself?

Not a one-issue referendum

Some out there would like to make you think that this election was all about the war... er... conflict in Iraq. Clearly that was a major factor as Joe Lieberman had been adamantly supportive of Bush's unpopular (not "war" but) conquest-of-a-sovereign-nation that most Americans believe was unjustified. However, I believe it was much more than just the conflict in Iraq that swung a majority of Democrats in Connecticut against their own incumbent Democratic Senator.

Over the last few years Joe Lieberman had not only supported the Iraq conflict, but he supported George W. Bush and the neo-con agenda. He even sounded like a right-winger on many occasions when his rhetoric resembled Republican talking points. Just this past week, as Joe was fighting for his political life, he appeared on Fox News' Hannity & Colmes show hoping that Sean Hannity would boost his approval rating. And once again, I have to say, Joe - you just don't get it. If the kiss of death from Dubya wasn't bad enough, what made you think that a Sean Hannity endorsement would endear you to Democrats?


Has the Democratic party been hijacked by the radical left wing?

This is the spin that the Republicans will be putting on this particular election race - that the Democratic party has been hijacked by the Michael Moore-loving, liberal, McGovernite radicals who hate America. And unfortunately, some ignorant Rush Limbaugh/Bill O'Reilly listeners might actually believe that and leave it at that.

I wish that were the case. If only the Democratic party could be taken over and lead by progressives who have a more peaceful & cooperative vision of America & the world. If only the Democratic party could be directed by sane & sound judgment instead of trying to appear moderate for the sake of appeasing conservatives. If only the Democratic party could be influenced by realists who will admit that Dubya/Darth/Rummy's experiment in Iraq is a mistake, and bring our troops home.

The truth is that this election is a referendum against the neo-con agenda. I hope the other incumbents in Washington take note. Don't tell me I'm unpatriotic and hate America when I speak out against my government. Don't tell me in a time of war I have to rally behind my president when I believe (along with the vast majority of the country) that he's making the absolute wrong decisions and leading us in the absolute wrong direction. And don't tell me to live in fear and that the neo-cons are keeping me safe, while I can plainly see violence & conflict escalating all over the world.

Neo-cons take note. It's time YOU live in fear!