« Lieberman's Last Stand? | Main | On Republican Turnout »
August 09, 2006
Quite A Day
Tuesday, August 8th was a most interesting day politically, both here in the Houston area and at the national level.
Here at home, the protracted battle over Congressional District 22 seems to have ended, three full months before Election Day. By removing his name from the ballot, Mr. DeLay has left his fellow Republicans only the option of writing in a candidate, which effectively concedes the seat to Democratic nominee Nick Lampson. No single write-in candidate will be able to earn 50% of the vote, whether the local GOP gets behind one person or not.
It was a fascinating end to a dramatic story, which saw one of the most powerful men in America become what he once despised and fall precipitously into political ruin and serious legal difficulty. On the other side, a long-shot gamble by a former Congressman who had fallen prey to DeLay's redistricting plan appears to have paid off big. Barring a catastrophe, Nick Lampson will be the next Congressman from the 22nd District. Whether he can hold the seat in two years remains to be seen, but for now spirits are high on the Lampson team.
Nationally, as many predicted, Connecticut Senator and former vice-presidential nominee Joe Lieberman lost the Democratic primary to newcomer Ned Lamont, though not by the large margin some had forecast. In losing 52-48%, Lieberman paid the price with the party faithful for his aggressive support of the Iraq War and ties to President George W. Bush.
Lieberman did offer a mea culpa of sorts in the campaigns final weekend, which tightened the race up significantly, but he simply waited too long, a move indicative of his out of touch campaign. His fate was not unusual for politicians who lose the pulse of their constituents.
But the story is not over. Lieberman will run as an Independent this fall, and the result is anybody's guess at this point.
Finally, in Georgia, controversial Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney was jettisoned by primary voters in her district -- the second such defeat for her in recent years.
Her latest flare-up was an altercation with a Capitol Hill police officer several months ago, and perhaps reminded the voters of the 4th Congressional District why they had voted her out four years ago. Her opponent, Henry C. Johnson Jr., an attorney and former DeKalb County commissioner, won easily with 58% of the vote.
Yesterday's events only solidify the notion that great political change may be afoot in 2006. We shall see.
Posted by houtopia at August 9, 2006 11:03 AM