Connecticut Democrats yesterday sent a strong message to Republicans and the Bush White House when they refused to nominate incumbent Democrat Senator Joe Lieberman to a fourth term.
The new so-called "self-immolation" strategy marks a profound shift in campaigning, said one political analyst. “Usually, members of one Party express disagreement with the other Party by trying to defeat members of the other Party. Under this new strategy, they’re now threatening to defeat themselves.”
The new tactics won plaudits from Democrats nationwide. “We showed them,” said one activist, referring to the Republican Party. “The more they try to rob our freedoms, go to war, and help the rich and powerful, the more we will take out our anger on our own Party.” Democrats said that Lieberman, while perhaps the first, will certainly not be the last to feel their wrath. “There are 202 Democrats in the House and 44 in the Senate,” said one activist. “Today we are sending a message to Hilary, Harry, Maria, and Nancy: Your jobs are not safe.”
For their part, Republicans said they were intrigued by the Democrats’ new strategy. “Anything we can do to tick them off further, we’re happy to do,” said a spokesman for the GOP. “More troops in the Mideast? Another cut in the estate tax? How about more spying by the NSA? All the Democrats need do is let us know what infuriates them the most, and we’ll get it done.”