A CAUSE OR A CAMPAIGN ?


Lieberman's 5th place finish, in a primary in which half the voters were Independents demonstrates that he is not going to win the nomination. But as Lieberman noted in his non-concession speech tonight, he is not just running a campaign, but is leading a cause. As Joe characterizes it, his cause is "for a Democratic party that fights as hard to defend our nation’s security as it does to does to advance the causes of social justice and equal rights." I would phrase this point somewhat differently - that only Lieberman stands for a Democatic party that pursues social justice both at home and abroad. It is however the same point - because only through the pursuit of justice for those living in the Islamic world can we defend out nation's security from Islamic terror. So, as long as Joe is able he should make his case to the Democratic party, and hopefully rack up enough delegates to force a platform fight at the convention.


However much I am behind Joe in his cause, however, there is still the matter of this campaign. And the way things currently stand the Democrats are running headlong towards nominating John Kerry on the "rich veteran who'll stand up for the poor and give peace a chance" platform. And it is irresponsible to stand by and let that happen while waiting for the Dem voters to have an epiphany and finally embrace Liebermanism (if not Liberman himself). Ruling out Dean (who at least is honest, genuine and a creative thinker) because of his irresponsible embrace of the party's Jeffersonian pacifists, that leaves me with two candidates, Edwards and Clark, that emerge from NH with limited momentum.


Clark is an enigmatic mess of a candidate, but in his more sober moments he is the only Dem other than Lieberman that has anything useful to say on foreign policy. I'll save the premature autopsy of the Clark campaign for some other point, but to needless to say I believe that Clark's "dovish general" routine is not going to get any traction against Kerry's revitalized "dovish veteran" schtick.


That leaves Edwards, the candidate with the best political skills, sharpest message and most thorough domestic agenda. I have serious doubts about Edwards on foreign policy. (His couplet on the "2 Americas" in the world is the weakness part of his stump speech). However, his lack of a track record is an improvement over Kerry's clear dovish vision. Can Edwards stay alive long enough to overtake Kerry? We'll find out next week in South Carolina. Anyone who wishes to see the Dems regain the White House should be rooting for an Edwards victory. I know I will.