With Rep. Sweeney (R-NY) in some trouble. The Republicans brings out the push-pollers.
Yet more on the Martyrdom of Joe.
TPM Readers from St. Louis and Washington, DC sent us word this evening that this ad had appeared in the Jewish weekly in their respective cities. And it’s apparently part of a nationwide ad campaign. As you can see, it’s an ad from the Republican Jewish Coalition.
The appeal to tribalism, I guess, doesn’t require a great deal of explanation. But what put a smile on my face when I saw this thing was what I can only call the ad’s vaguely christological theme. See, even Joe’s sad about his martyrdom. And there’s the lady in the background on the left having what I guess is a beatific vision.
Anyway, the Joe cult aside, I’m more and more getting the sense that Ned Lamont just didn’t get, coming off last Tuesday’s win, that he was still very much the underdog and had maybe a week to thoroughly dispatch Joe from the race. But he didn’t. From what I can tell he went on vacation to Maine right after the primary. And he was scarce for like a week after the primary.
Lieberman, on the hand, went basically beserk right after the vote, which of course he had to do, to make absolutely sure that everyone realized that, as far as he was concerned, his primary loss meant nothing more than a difference in the way he’d be identified on the ballot in November. He was still the senator, still running for reelection. News of his demise had been greatly exaggerated, and so forth.
This morning an insider friend of mine, who’s strongly for Lamont, argued that the 53% to 41% lead Lieberman had in the new Q-poll was deceptive since Joe’s support was soft (due in part to being buoyed by an influx of Republicans) and Lamont’s was solid. I haven’t had a chance to look closely at the internals on that poll. So I can’t address the points specifically yet. But I wouldn’t find that too comforting from the Lamont perspective.
Lieberman’s the incumbent. He’s polling over 50% — at least in this sounding. And the issue terrain has to be better for him going forward (where the battleground is Independents) than it was during the Democratic primary (in which he and Lamont were battling over Democrats).
I’m certainly not saying this is over. I think the tide of the election cycle will further crystallize and galvanize not only opposition to the war but loss of patience with those who’ve been in denial about the scale of the disaster. But I think Lieberman had a pretty decent week.
As we’ve said so many times before, things can always get worse.
From The Guardian …
Turkey and Iran have dispatched tanks, artillery and thousands of troops to their frontiers with Iraq during the past few weeks in what appears to be a coordinated effort to disrupt the activities of Kurdish rebel bases.
Scores of Kurds have fled their homes in the northern frontier region after four days of shelling by the Iranian army. Local officials said Turkey had also fired a number of shells into Iraqi territory.
…
Frustrated by the reluctance of the US and the government in Baghdad to crack down on the PKK bases inside Iraq, Turkish generals have hinted they are considering a large-scale military operation across the border. They are said to be sharing intelligence about Kurdish rebel movements with their Iranian counterparts.
The Israelis have deep ties to the Kurds. And they’d probably like to help them tangle with the Iranians. But Israel also has a key alliance with Turkey. So that might present some problems. David Frum thinks we should withdraw to the Kurdish north and make our stand there too. So Kurdistan should be a lot of fun for everyone.
The FBI threw $100 million at a contractor for a software upgrade that never worked. That and other news of the day in today’s Daily Muck.
It looks like Republicans vying for Tom DeLay’s seat may split the vote.
The latest from the Republican-sponsored Green Senate campaign in Pennsylvania — Republicans are helping the short-handed Green campaign fight the Democrats’ court challenge.
Update: Tensions must be high — there was a scuffle this morning.
TPM Reader BM on Lieberman …
I don’t like Joe Lieberman and hope he isn’t in the Senate. End of story. Let’s all move on and focus on the races where Republicans can be defeated. If Democrats regain the House or the Senate, even if Joe is elected it won’t matter as much. As long as liberal blogs devote 20-30% of their time beating on Joe, they are missing out on beating on all of the vulnerable and possibly vulnerable Republican Congressmen. Conservatives understand — make your point then move on to where you can have an effect. The best use of resources is to defeat as many Republicans as possible. Why win the “Sore Loserman” battle and lose the war?
I do think there’s a certain logic to this point.
Late Update: Gilliard replies.
Sid Blumenthal on why Bush needs Joe Lieberman in the race.
Reed Hundt with some advice for Lamont.