I don't think it was solely Lieberman's position on the Iraq war that resulted in his defeat. I think it is a referendum of sorts on the leadership of the Democratic party establishment, and the ownership of the party by the Democratic Leadership Council.

I think the main message the Lamont voters wanted to send was a national one, that the party leadership is out of touch. On the war, but also on other issues of importance to mainstream Americans (the Terry Schiavo debacle was front and center in recent weeks, due to the appearance of her husband on the campaign trail for Lamont).

Lamont also courted African American voters quite successfully in a few (though not all) places.

Lamont won by a narrow margin, running as a new face for the status quo.

Joe Lieberman wasn't the only Democratic incumbent to be defeated yesterday. Atlanta Rep Cynthia McKinney was soundly trounced (her opponent took 59% of the vote), and that race had nothing to do with the war in Iraq. She was perceived as being too combative for a woman, so who did the voters elect? A nice, safe, status quo male.

I don't see any real "earthquakes" coming in the November mid-terms. The political landscape in the US is now owned and controlled by business interests, including the Democratic party noblesse oblige liberals, and Republican and Democratic family dynasties.

The majority of eligible voters aren't represented by either party's special interest groups. The silent American majority now consists of people who don't vote, or are independents not registered as party members.

In that context, ALL elected politicians can be said to be out of touch with mainstream American concerns. As an independent voter, I can tell you that the Iraq war is NOT my #1 concern.

Lack of health care for the uninsured, and middle class indifference to it, is one of my top concerns.

The effect climbing energy prices is having upon the working poor, and middle class indifference to it, is one of my top concerns.

The segregation of urban schools by race and class, and middle class indifference to it, is one of my top concerns.

The lack of a mass transit infrastructure, and middle class indifference to it, is a top concern.

The war on terror being used as a means of racially profiling fellow Americans who are largely poor immigrants of color, and middle class indifference to it, is a major concern.

The obscene militarization of our society, and middle class SUPPORT for it, is a major concern.

The mismanagement by and corruption of government officials, and middle class acceptance of it, is a major concern.

The destructive foreign policy/homeland security agenda being usurped by big business interests, who make money off political instability and government military and security contracts that "address" that instability, is one of my top concerns.

But the war in Iraq? Hell, Americans are getting exactly what they voted for with the war in Iraq. I'm not going to speak up for Americans on that one--considering it isn't Americans who are suffering most as a result of their support for the Iraq war, Iraqis and the people of the region are.

No

So to claim that