The Big Day Is Finally Here

A lot is riding on what happens today in the Connecticut Democratic primary. If Lamont beats Lieberman by a wide margin, then Lieberman's political career is probably over and the GOP will be running scared. If Lamont squeaks one out, then the GOP will still be running scared, but Lieberman will probably run as an independent. If Lieberman wins, then the GOP will declare victory and perhaps might even get some momentum going into the Mid-Terms.

But as I'm reading about all of this, it struck me that, regardless of what happens to Lieberman, the Democrats couldn't ask for a better climate in which to run. Although GOP candidates will undoubtedly be focusing on national security issues as the Mid-Terms approach, a recent Washington Post poll shows that the country as a whole is not all that impressed with how Bush has been handling the security of our country (from Think Progress):

Americans disapprove of Bush’s handling of every major national security issue facing the country, a new Washington Post/ABC poll shows. 50 percent disapprove of his handling of terrorism (vs. 47 percent approval), 50 percent disapprove of his handling of the Israel-Lebanon situation (vs. 43 percent approval), and 62 percent disapprove of his handling of Iraq (vs. 36 percent approval).

The GOP might get some help if the Israeli-Lebanon thing quiets down, but everything indicates that the situation in Iraq will only get worse. Indeed, a resolution of the Israeli-Lebanon conflict may actually hurt Bush and the GOP, because it would force the Corporate Media to once again focus on the Iraq Debacle, which will undoubtedly be the number one issue in the run-up to the Mid-Terms.

Add to this (1) the fact that gas prices will be going up in the next few weeks because of the BP screw-up, and (2) Tom DeLay will still be on the ballot in Texas (and therefore will once again be a living symbol of GOP corruption), you have a perfect situation for the Democrats. If the Dems don't re-take at least one branch of Congress in November, then they should all just hang it up because chances like these don't come around all that often.

UPDATE: From David Sirota:

[T[he fact that Ned Lamont and the progressive movement have mounted such a serious challenge to an entrenched incumbent with such a massive corporate-backed warchest is a HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. In the course of just a few months, a guy who has never run for office took on one of the most well-funded, insulated politicians in America, who used all of his clout and cashed in all of his favors to get other Big Time members of the Establishment to help him. If Ned gets within 15 points of Lieberman, it is a display of real strength, and it is a major step forward in our movement.