Dear Senator Lieberman,
Here's the thing: you lost the primary. You tell us all the time that you're a "life-long Democrat". Except that all of us Democrats here in Connecticut voted. And the majority of us didn't vote for you. You told us that you wouldn't run as an independent. But here you are, spitting in the face of the system that got you elected in the first place. The group that you publicly aligned yourself with (the Democrats) asked you politely but firmly to step aside and let us try something new. Why wouldn't you listen?
I mean, here we are, on the eve of the election, and you're ahead in the polls. That's great for you, and at first glance, it might even seem like it was a good idea for you to run because you are fighting for what you believe in. Except that the reason you're winning is because nearly all of the other party is voting for you. It seems like a vulgar misinterpretation of "bi-partisan" to deliberately court the Republican vote.
We have two parties (well, two and change) for a reason. It's because it's really hard to find a consensus when you have more than 2 or 3 candidates. It's hard enough to understand all the issues with just two major parties - imagine if there were 5 or 6 or 10 and they were all very similar except a few little differences. We would never be able to get anything done. So, a lot of us vote with "our party" in order to gain strength in numbers. When I vote for a Democrat, I'm often doing so to get a few things I want and I'm forced to give up some other things. There is no candidate out there for any office that stands for everything I want them to stand for. That's part of living in a democracy. It's not perfect. But what I believe in is no more "right" than what my neighbors believe in.
So, you running as an Independent kind of sucks. The party you said you were most in agreement with said we didn't agree with you, and for that disagreement we're going to lose our power in numbers. It's kind of cool that you're going to get elected by a mix of Democrats and Republicans. But it's like asking your parents for a piece of candy, being told no, then taking it anyway with the help of your bully friend down the street. They said no, Joe.
I know you have lots of experience, but sometimes experience isn't what we need. I'm not sure that Ned Lamont will get done what he says he'll get done. For all I know he'll get to Washington and act crazy. But maybe crazy is what we need. If there is one thing that's clear in all of this it's that something has to change. Even the President is starting to say it publicly. You weren't willing to change until we didn't elect you. We need an agitator to help us see the possibilities.
I myself will be voting for Ned Lamont. He's not perfect and he doesn't have a lot of experience. But he brings a fresh set of eyes and ears to the job. And he won the primary, fair and square. I want to keep strength in numbers.
Good luck tomorrow. May the best man win.
Sincerely,
KWT
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