The Other Primary

My Left Nutmeg is reporting that there will be a debate next week between John DeStefano and Dan Malloy, shown live on Channel 8.

This time, I don’t think it’s going to be simulcast on C-SPAN and MSNBC. The day after won’t see a fury of blog postings and editorials claiming that one candidate or the other emerged victorious. No one will be commenting on the fit of Dan Malloy’s suit, or the tone of John DeStefano’s voice. Very little ink will be dedicated to the ideas the two men put forth.

Why?

First, it’s July. Who really thinks about politics in July? Secondly, even if you are thinking about politics now, chances are you’re much more interested in Lamont-Lieberman than in DeStefano-Malloy.

There’s a reason for that. On most issues, the two men just aren’t far enough apart to form the sort of passionate followings that Lieberman and Lamont have. Both candidates have a pretty progressive record, and espouse progressive causes. The only debatable points seem to be which one is more progressive or electable than the other.

Lastly, the conventional wisdom suggests that, barring a sinkhole swallowing Brookfield, Jodi Rell will crush whoever happens to be luckless enough to win the primary. Which is probably true. People like Jodi Rell, mainly for reasons having little to do with actual policy. Worse, now Rell actually has money. When one of the two Democrats emerges, exhausted and financially depleted, she’ll be waiting with full coffers and an approval rating somewhere in the 70s.

Maybe then we’ll start paying attention. But probably not before.

Which is too bad, in a way. Some of the things they have to say are pretty interesting, and are worth discussing. For example, we probably should have a debate on uncoupling education funding from property taxes. We ought to talk about universal health care, better transportation and smarter job growth.

But we won't. We're not ready yet.