Lamont and the far left

Lamont Supporters, originally uploaded by Lindsay Beyerstein.

I've been looking to join the far left of the Democratic party for years.
So, you can imagine my excitement when I heard the far left was poised to take over the Democratic party from its rumored stronghold in Meridan, Connecticut.

I made a pilgrimage on the Metro North Railroad to seek an audience with Rainbow Ned and his blogger ashram.

Ned turned out to be a cool guy, but he doesn't seem like much of a lefty. His campaign staff didn't strike me as especially counter-cultural either.

I was there for two days, and he didn't promise to nationalize a damned thing. Frankly, I don't think he's serious about banning the Bible. Mostly, Ned talked about fighting terrorism, getting our troops out of Iraq, and creating jobs for Connecticut.

Comments

[alphabitch]

"I've been looking to join the far-left of the Democratic party for years."

You found the far-left of the Democratic party??? I had no idea there was one. Outta Meridian, CT, no less. I'll be hot-damned!

[Lindsay Beyerstein]

Nah, I'm still looking. Promise you'll let me know if you find it.

[johnieb]

In Meriden, those two are the far left of the Dem party these days: alas!

[SamChevre]

Largely off-topic, but I loved your comment on the Pandagon "Children are boring" thread that retail politics is boring. Been there, done that, agree on the boring/frustrating factor. (Although lobbying is even worse IME).

[Idealistic Pragmatist]

I've been looking to join the far left of the Democratic party for years.

I lived in the U.S. for the better part of twenty-seven years, and despite a great deal of searching, I never found it.

[Count Zero]

"You found the far-left of the Democratic party??? I had no idea there was one. Outta Meridian, CT, no less. I'll be hot-damned!"

The Democratic party is more a centrist party to me than the liberal establishment it has been made out to be.

In actuality, there is no "left" party which exists, only splinter elements that exist in the Democratic party, which have no real power. Maybe that's healthy and good for the party, I don't know. Some of the ideals of the party are considered left, though to me their just the counter position to what the Republicans offer.

I also, often disagree with what the Democratic party offers to the rest of the party in order to keep or attract voters. One of the main beefs I have with them is their immigration policy.
You can't have a society which is attempting to nationalize programs, many of which require the citizens to pay into for the benefit, and at the same time tell the party to accept unrestricted immigration and legalization of those which are illegally here. That is just counter-intuitive and is my main issue right now with the Dems. Much of the party leadership has also moved closer and closer towards a relationship with big buisness and farther away from unions and policies that benefit the lower to middle income Americans. Which is completly the reason Nader continues to be a thorn in their side, and will continue as long as they fail to address it.

[1984 Was Not a Shopping List]

>Much of the party leadership has also moved closer and closer towards a relationship with big buisness and farther away from unions and policies that benefit the lower to middle income Americans.

That's just it. Words that sound like accusations of "No Difference Between the Two Parties" predictably draw peremptory dismissals, like Nazi comparisons. I don't say there are no differences between the two parties, but they are plainly both just wings of the Capitalist Free-market Party. For the results of this party's policies, see under "Post-NAFTA Workers' Wages in Mexico" and "Remnants of Manufacturing Sector in the US."

[John Lucid]

Why hasn't the State Security Apparatus apprehended that old Bolshevik in the picture yet? Don't be thrown off by his pale skin tone or those kind elderly eyes; he's an Islamocommunazi if I ever saw one. Does Meridian, CT have a "friendly" airport from which we can extraordinarily render this aged enemy of freedom?

[parse]

Are you serious about wanting to join the far left of the Democratic party? Because the tone of your post suggests that your discovery that Lamont isn't a genuine lefty reassured you, rather than disappointed you. Am I reading you wrong--is Lamont a disappointment to you?

[Lindsay Beyerstein]

Lamont didn't disappoint me at all. I knew his positions on the issues before I went to CT. I mean, the guy's a cable millionaire who was in a position to bankroll a sizable share of his own campaign back when he was trailing by twenty points. That kind of guts and commitment impresses me. But I wasn't expecting a firebrand lefty.

To be honest, I didn't interact with Lamont extensively. I shook hands with him on Monday and watched him interacting with reporters and campaign volunteers for about an hour in the early afternoon. He was charming, and remarkably smooth for a political neophyte. I saw him give an excellent news conference later that afternoon, and a good victory speech on primary day.

Lamont's campaign operation impressed the hell out of me. I met volunteers from six or seven states, including one woman who had driven all the way from Ohio to help out. Campaign manager Tom Swan is a real pro. It was great to meet Tim Tagaris, the 'net director, after admiring his work on Swing State for a long time.