Joe Lieberman’s phoenix-like recovery from the ashes of his astonishingly bad primary effort has left him (rather ironically) freer than ever to pursue his destiny as he sees fit. He has left the door open to caucusing with Senate Republicans; hired as his chief of communications a man who has probably the most eclectic vitae on the national scene; and talked openly about the potential for a viable third major party in this country. He demonstrated that even a candidate from his own party with a silver bullet issue, a fervent base of support, and unlimited funding could not take him out and, as the truism goes, what doesn’t kill you in politics makes you stronger.
Joe Lieberman is now a franchise like no other in US politics, never mind Connecticut politics. This is not Bernie Sanders. This isn’t Lowell Weicker. This isn’t Ross Perot. Lieberman did what he chose to do and he won.
What if Joe decided to act on his public rumination (if that is all it was) and sought to build on his victory for the Senate? Could he set up shop as a true kingmaker in ’10 in Connecticut? One might wonder if the author of The Power Broker is nurturing a desire to take up the role that John Bailey crafted – first in Connecticut and ultimately nationally – updated for the twenty-first century.
What would it take to do that? As things stand right now, Connecticut for Lieberman is technically a minor party, because it got 1% of the vote in the Senate race, and cannot endorse a candidate for Governor or any office other than United States Senate. “Minor Party status is conferred office-by-office, election-by-election,” according to Michael Kozik, Managing Attorney for the Secretary of the State’s office. “The steps for becoming a Minor Party [are]… first you have to petition onto the ballot under that Party name for some office. Then, you run a candidate and your candidate running under your Party gets at least one percent of the vote. That makes you a minor Party. Then the next time that office appears on the ballot, you can simply endorse a candidate by filing a certificate.”
CfL has a line the next time United States Senator appears on the ballot and not for other purposes. “That’s the basic difference between a Major Party and a Minor Party,” Kozik said “Minor Party you only get your status one office at a time.”
Could CfL become a Major Party in Connecticut? There are two paths to that. “Either your candidate for Governor gets at least twenty percent of the vote, or you have enrolled as members of your Party at least twenty percent of the total number of enrolled party members in all Parties, statewide.” In other words that doesn’t include the Unaffiateds. Although a number of people have randomly told me that they are going to change their registration from Democrat “because you guys threw Lieberman out”, that is an awful lot of Party registration changes.
However, Kozik added this bit of history “It was done this way because the year that Weicker won the Governorship there was concern that the Democrats wouldn’t get twenty percent of the vote. Right after that election, they amended the Statute to put in the 20% of registration provision to keep Major Party status.” Democratic nominee Bruce Morrison got 24% in that election. Figure the “yellow dog” vote is probably lower than that today.
We’ve discussed the widespread disaffection that Connecticut Republicans feel with the national GOP. Lieberman got a significant percentage of the Democratic vote statewide, and Unaffiliateds turned out for him, splitting their tickets after voting for Governor and then coming all the way back up the ballot to vote in the Congressional races. The Legislature is dominated by Democratic caucuses that have significant representation from both the “progressive” and the “moderate” wings of the Party. And political threats have already been made by some activists against some Democrats who refuse to bend to their views.
Lieberman is a man who has thought globally and acted locally from the very beginning of his career, has the ambition of a Presidential contender and world leader and, thanks to his decisive and broadly based victory three weeks ago, owes fealty to no party nor group. Connecticut ain’t New York or California. It is a small state with no clear political pole. If you wanted to undertake a Teddy Rooseveltian project, you might just look for a place like Connecticut to get started.
What would you do if you were in his position?
25 comments:
How silly....Connecticut for Lieberman has 0% chance of being a major party. It was just about him.
The sooner Ghengis gets rid of Chris mc and turfy the sooner he can try to get back some sense of relevency to this site.
This is just Pathetic.
I believe that in 2010, I will make every effort to procure the CfL nomination for my tabby cat Ophelia.
You say no to this face.
Get rid of Chris and Turf, why? Because they're fine contributors who you happen to disagree with on some things? Go scratch.
Mr. Lieberman should join forces with the Centrist Party (www.uscentrist.org) and create a much needed, thought of, wished for third major party. The people will follow, guaranteed!
This Centrist thing seems to have some legs. If Lieberman's CFL nameplate joins them, then why not the UnityO8 people too? They all seem to be going in the same direction.
I vote to keep turf and Chris, anyone else?
Unity08 should as well consider joining the Centrist party, time has come to reclaim the power of government and hand it back to the People!
CMC - Here is my problem with your premise:
He demonstrated that even a candidate from his own party with a silver bullet issue, a fervent base of support, and unlimited funding could not take him out and,
This is true, but you left out that the other major party has to roll over and play dead for this to take place.
This is essentially my problem with the Centrist/Unity08 arguments - Absent one of the major parties simply packing it in for an election cycle, that "center" run is doomed to fail (I also would love to see a coherent explanation of just what the political center is - two oft-mentioned centerists, McCain and Lieberman, advocate or are at least open to sending more troops to Iraq. Which two policy solutions is that one between?).
Sorry for the rambling.
GC - I don't understand why you keep pushing your looney-left kitten on the moderate centrist voters of CT!
Oppugnant Ophelia has no experience in anything except licking herself and defecating in a box - this simply isn't consistent with CT family values.
Finally, she is a communist and voted with the Republican cats 80% of the time.
Max was accused of negative campaigning.
Then he was found in bed with a cat of a different breed. The nasty rumors say that licking may have been involved.
Max has decided to return to private live to spend more time with his family. And his food dish.
Exactly. The assertions that Lieberman and McCain are centrist are simply concerted efforts from the right to move the perceived political spectrum further in their direction.
Lincoln Chafee, Jon Tester, and Harold Ford Jr. are better examples of centrists.
Joe Lieberman is a joke as bastion of centrism, and just because a marketing slogan works during the elction doesn't mean we're obliged to continue repeating it afterwards; Lieberman's relevance to the term "centrist" is about as believable as Bush's relevance to the term "compassionate".
Smokin' Joe has a future, in whatever form he wishes. The Lamont backers just can't get over this simple fact. While, it is true that Alan Gold contributed to Joe's victory, even as much as Joe did, Joe now has added stature. His best shot is '08. Otherwise, he is on the sidelines until after Hillary's reign ends in 2016. That's a long time to wait at his age.
Let's lose all the cat stuff. I'm a dog man and I'm interested in CT Local Politics, not CAT Local Politics.
GC - Please remove all signs of levity from the blog, it burns my skin.
"McCain is no moderate or centrist, he is a conservative."
ROTFL! I almosr spit beer all over the monitor.
McCain is no conservative.
Lincoln Chafee? Much more to the left then center.
Who is a centrist?
McCain is absolutely a conservative. A principled, responsible conservative. George W. Bush, on the other hand, is not.
Anyone who thinks Lieberman is truly strong and significant in the US Senate misses several obvious points. First, he was reelected with 49% of the vote from his state. Second, in a 51-49 Senate, every Senator has leverage on every close vote. Joe will not be the only one on either side who will use this leverage. Third, Joe remains strong in one area: his ability to build a consensus - - - to hold a press conference. That's all he's really every done. He is not the author or real co-sponsor of a single piece of major legislation (excepting the Homeland Security Act which is a more political than substantive as we've seen). Standing on his own island putting patriotism above partisanship, Joe will still hold press conferences but pass nothing of substance and deliverying little to his state - as always.
Smokin' Joe has a future, in whatever form he wishes.
True, but first he has to find to touch rings with his twin and proclaim, "Lieberman Twins Activate, Form of Centrist, Shape of Centrist!"
"McCain is absolutely a conservative. A principled, responsible conservative."
I'm sorry is this a comedy channel?
Sorry, he isn't a responsible conservative.
He has no principles at all aside from staying in power.
Keating Five ring a bell?
Conn does not represent the US. It is a minor piece of highway between boston and New York and offers no electoral springboard to any other office. The national parties must look upon us as amusing with our nanny behavior and undisciplined patterns - remember Weicker?? He was a one man party too. Lieberman exists because he has sold himself constantly as a non controversial familiar face. Only blummie spends more time in front of the tv cameras tilting at windmills. What exactly has Lieberman ever accomplished - except for himself ???? What initiatives can he point to?? His total support for isreal? for torture? for connecticut - corrupt connecticut?? The reality he could not get the support of the liberal element of the democratic party -- a major decision element of the national voting public --- he does come off as "good ole Unc Eddy" but would you really think anyone out west would see him as nationally functional ???
Thanks, TrueBlueCT (at least, I think its a compliment). I will talk to GC about starting up a Connecticut Comedy Radio Hour (I have a face for radio).
Hmmm….interesting, thanks Mr. Mooney. Any other takes, thoughts, about who is a centrist? What’s about topics such as foreign policy, globalization, energy dependency, energy alternatives, human rights, government role & size, taxation, homeland security, special interests, ethics, morals, values, education? What is the greatest threat to humanity as a whole now days?
"Lieberman did what he chose to do and he won." Helped by some very snakey CT characters! Sadly, there oughta be laws stopping this egomaniac.
I see Lieberman as a liability for both the state and the Senate. There will be no bi-party fusion. People are avoiding him like the plague!
Lieberman has no moral compass. And CT republicans elected him.
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