Informed Speculation

Later this evening, I will name the 2006 Jackass of the Year, but there were so many contenders this year, I had to put in a few honorable mentions. The first goes to Ned Lamont.

Joe Lieberman had worked up a mighty torrent of discontent in certain progressive circles, and, remarkably, he lost the Connecticut Democratic primary six years after being his party’s vice-presidential candidate. Lieberman’s bipartisanship and his support for the Iraq War and Israel had become intolerable to a certain vocal minority of lefties, and they made a strong showing to deny him his party’s nod in favor of formerly obscure businessman Ned Lamont. That’s when the wheels came off.

At first blush, this award might more properly be bestowed on Jane Hamsher and the other hardcore Lamont-heads, for they surely hurt Lamont’s cause with their Lieberman in blackface, Rape Gurney Joe, and other assorted juvenalia. Lamont himself, though, ultimately stands accountable for his incredibly poor performance in the general election. So vapid and inconsequential was Lamont that Lieberman was able to absolutely scorch him with nary a sweat in the November election, because it quickly became evident his band only knew one tune: he’s not Joe Lieberman (sometimes sung in the minor key of “I don’t support the war”).

To which the voters of Connecticut replied: you sure as hell aren’t. Don’t let the door hit you on your way out, Ned…