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Lamont
distinguishes himself as worthy candidate for Senate
Norwich
Bulletin
Article published July 23, 2006
Editor's
note: Andy Thibault is a recovering cancer patient. He had suspended his
column in May at the conclusion of aggressive chemotherapy treatment.
Today, he is a blogger, and he is resuming writing his column, which is
available for reprint courtesy of The Cool Justice Report, http://cooljustice.blogspot.com
Who woulda thunk it? As the citizens of Connecticut get to know Ned
Lamont, they like him.
Lamont is now considered an acceptable alternative to that other guy --
what's his name, The Bush Lip-Locker -- for the U.S. Senate.
And why not?
Our modern-day version of Mr. Smith goes to Washington is a capable and
genial fellow who holds his ground without stooping to the base level of
the other guy. When the other guy tried to denigrate Lamont for being a
rich white boy, Lamont responded with a self-deprecating ad in which his
family made fun of him. Toward the conclusion of the ad, Lamont steered
the discussion back to a real issue, saying: Let's both support the winner
of the Aug. 8 Democratic primary.
Lamont's capable performance in the debate with the other guy has
resonated with voters. The Quinnipiac poll announced Thursday showed
Lamont up 11 points and the other guy down 8 points from just about a
month ago. Lamont is now the favorite to win the Democratic primary, 51-47
percent among likely voters. By any standard, he is a winner.
There are many ironies at work in this race. Lamont's hometown of
Greenwich takes a bad rap, often justified, as a place of power and
privilege gone amok. They don't want regular peons on their beaches, for
example. Still, after working in Greenwich for several years, I'm happy to
report I encountered a lot of nice, semi-normal people as well. Ned Lamont
was one of them. I didn't even know he was a rich guy.
It's funny and pathetic to hear the other guy try to distort the character
and qualifications of Lamont.
For example, the other guy is an ultimate tool of the rich and powerful
when it comes to energy policy, the war and health care. Lamont, in
contrast, is a strong advocate for universal health care and unafraid to
stand up to the closest thing the United States has ever had to a fascist
regime.
The other guy would censure one president for lying about oral sex and be
a good stooge for another president who orders massive illegal spying on
citizens, institutionalizes torture and weakens the country by lying about
the reason for going to war -- and condemning our young to die or be
maimed without justification or purpose.
Expect more intensity and more big lies from the other guy. Desperate
career politicians get that way, especially when they are losing.
How dare an upstart who hasn't sat around and sucked up lobbyist money for
18 years dare to participate in the democratic process. The other guy will
whine about Lamont's qualifications, perhaps out of jealousy. Lamont has a
record of achievement by running a successful business and meeting payroll
while finding time to inspire young entrepreneurs as a volunteer teacher.
As a member of his local Board of Selectmen, Lamont was more accountable
to the public than many U.S. senators, including the other guy.
The Senate was never meant to be a career. It's supposed to be public
service. Public service is what Lamont will give us. The other guy, well,
he'll continue to give us phony stories about the war in Iraq going well
and being in the interest of the American people.
It is noteworthy 70 percent of Republicans approve of the other guy,
compared with 47 percent of Democrats and 42 percent of likely voters in
the Democratic primary.
Lamont's current numbers in a three-way race are not insurmountable given
recent trends. With each passing day, Lamont will look more like a winner
and the other guy will be exposed as more of a loser.
Andy
Thibault, author of "Law & Justice In Everyday Life" and a
private investigator, is a mentor in the master of fine arts writing
program at Western Connecticut State University, consulting editor for the
literary journal Connecticut Review and adjunct professor at the
University of Hartford's Hillyer College. Website: www.andythibault.com
,and
blog: http://cooljustice.blogspot.com
Link: http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060723/OPINION/607230310&SearchID=73251522696181
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