Lamont Wowing Students

by jcosta, Fri Mar 31, 2006 at 05:59:15 PM EST

I got to spend a few minutes with Ned Lamont on Wednesday, as he was nice enough to come by and speak at Wesleyan University, where I'm President of the College Dems chapter.

I must say that I went into the event with some doubts, seeing as the date was just two days after students had returned from spring break and there was minimal time for advertising.

My fears were more than assuaged. Not only were there plenty of students who turned out to see Lamont, but his performance was simply great. He spoke for about 20 minutes and then took every single question the audience had for him. He came across as knowledgeable and genuine, polished enough to be taken seriously, but not so polished that he seemed scripted.

The entire audience was genuinely impressed, and that includes both political junkies and students who I had never seen before at any political event, let alone a speech from a challenger. I've had students coming up to me for the last few days telling me how great the event was and how much they like Ned Lamont. Some are asking how they can get involved.

So to all the students out there: there are real opportunities to help. There's Students for Lamont, and there are internships and jobs that the campaign is looking to fill with enthusiastic young students. Unlike so many other campaigns, Lamont's seems committed to not wasting this support from enthusiastic young people.

Students, if you are reading this you can check out:

http://www.wesleyan.edu/democrat
http://studentsForLamont.blogspot.com and of course
http://www.nedLamont.com

to get involved yourself. This is one campaign where we can make a big difference.

Tags: College, Connecticut, CT-Sen, Lamont, students (all tags)

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

Excellent post. Informative and addresses that all-important question of why we should support Lamont, other than he's not Joe Lieberman. Ned Lamont is the real deal.

by Scarce 2006-04-01 03:20AM | 0 recs

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More Events

For students who are interested, Ned will be speaking at Trinity on April 3rd and New Haven DFA on April 5th.

Come get the details on these and many more events at:

http://nedlamont.com/events

by epv72 2006-04-01 10:42AM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

Before anyone supports Lamont, shouldn't they know where he stands on the issues? Okay, he doesn't like the war. So, what's his plan? He wants universal health care. What's his plan? He wants to stand up to the Bush administration while still "building coalitions". How? Slogans are great, and not being Joe Lieberman can be a plus, but how about some specifics?

by bluenc 2006-04-01 07:17PM | 0 recs

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Read

http://www.laresistance.us/blog/ned-lamo nt-la-resistance-round-up/

Many articles and interviews to comb through with Ned Lamont on the record on where he stands. Lamont has been nothing if not completely forthright, at times to the point of bluntness.

Rather amazing that one guy could very well upset the entire applecart of Washington politics should he defeat Lieberman. The stakes are really high in this one.

by Scarce 2006-04-01 08:48PM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

The war on Iraq is a multifaceted issue. It is one huge issue that has an effect on many other issues - the environment, foreign policy, war on terror, neocons continued bullshit, incompetence, corruption and the lack of will to crack down on it. If Lamont was against this atrocity and Lieberman is for it, it doesnt matter to me what the voting record is. Lieberman also treats the war issue as more than just an issue when you see how he backs up Bush and attacks fellow democrats, but rarely uses half the passion to defend the liberal bills he actually votes for(that's why i dont give a damn what his political scorecard is).

by Pravin 2006-04-01 10:15PM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

but what's lamont's plan now? ok, it was a bad decision and you would have done thing differently. i agree. but what is lamont going to do the day after he's inaguarated that will fix the problem or make the situation better? same for health care, or really anything.

by bluenc 2006-04-01 11:14PM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

Yeah, just like those careful and well spelled out plans Joementum has!

by ElitistJohn 2006-04-02 07:55AM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

Has Joe done anything worthwhile for the environment or other democratic party causes with the Bushies in power. Sure, he has seemingly done most of the right things with some of his votes boosting his scorecard with some environmental groups. But what use is he when there is a need to persuade other members to vote for those bills that are not easy to oass and he seems to spend all his energy preaching the need to support Bush and the Iraq war instead of spreading it around other causes.

The thing is, your question demanding Lamont prove himself becomes more relevant if Lamont and Lieberman had a third guy competing against them. There is no big need for Lamont to prove himself against the incumbent when the incumbent has received a failing grade from us already. Many of us have already decided Lieberman is no longer fit to lead. If a guy in a private corporation screwed up big time on a deal that nearly cripples the company, and his recent track record, while not terrible, lacked anything special, he would be fired, and they wouldn't even wait to see if a replacement is good enough. That is the problem in the U.S. I went to India recently. And as many problems as they have with legacy leaders(how ridiculous of a joke is it for Italian born and unqualified persona such as Sonia Gandhi to enjoy the power she does), they at least are quicker to boot incumbents from power. Our biggest weakness is we treat incumbents with way too much deference in the U.S. They have to offend a special interest group real bad to get voted out. We have low standards if our leader is likable and just does enough for us. To most people, every other politician is not good enough but ours.

by Pravin 2006-04-02 08:37AM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

I don't know, I guess I'm weird in that, before I give someone my time, money, or support, I actually want to know where they stand. It's not like I'm nitpicking here, either. Iraq is a serious issue. What's Lamont's plan? If he has one, that puts him head and shoulders above Lieberman. If not, then he's an empty suit. It's easy to say "We all ought to have health care", it's a totally different thing to actually have a plan. In the U.S., incumbents get the benefit of the doubt because, like it or not, networks matter. Lieberman is connected to important party people and all kinds of "Washington insiders" that people simultaneously loathe and depend on. If Lamont wants to distinguish himself, he's going to have to do more than not be Joe Lieberman.

by bluenc 2006-04-02 10:35AM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

First of all, I dont meant to add to the notion that Lamont has no plan. But even if he did, we know his general outlook is not as stupid as Lieberman's. We know enough of Lieberman over the years to know that he has made a fool of himself way too many times. With Lamont, we are dealing with a zero plan at worst and a good plan he can develop with a staff he will get if elected in the best case. A ZERO PLAN is better than a BAD PLAN in my book.

As far as losing Lieberman's connections, well no other politician will get those connections if people use that as a reason to keep an incumbent. At some point , you gotta say enough is enough and take your chances.

by Pravin 2006-04-02 07:06PM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

We don't know anything about his general outlook. "Universal health care is good." That's not an outlook. that's a soundbite. Who cares what slogans Lamont can whip out? What's his strategy? Where's the substance?

I don't buy the idea that no plan is better than a Lieberman plan. After all, basically the only argument against Lieberman is "He says mean stuff on TV". Frankly, I don't give a rat's ass what he says on TV, provided he votes with us enough of the time. The record says he does. I'm not going to chuck that out for an unknown.

by bluenc 2006-04-02 07:25PM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

Whenn a guy is not elected yet, pretty much all he is going to have is sounbites. Someone has to give him a shot to be able to work with other administrators and come up with a good plan. WHat we need is someone with an outlook we can agree with. The execution is what he will have one term to show us.

YOu keep holding Lamont to this high standard. Have you seriously studied all his policies? What are we losing by getting rid of him in favor a one term nobody as you seem to fear as a possiblity with Lamont?

Bush is a problem not becxause he is merely useless. This country can actually live with mediocre leaders more than they can live with leaders who have a track record of being adovocates for some incredibly wrong positions. Lieberman has done this country a lot of harm with his strong support for the Iraq war. With Lamont, I wont see that strong adovocacy of a war like this.

by Pravin 2006-04-02 11:18PM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

Sorry, but I don't support people for office so that they can figure out where they stand. If he doesn't have a position and he's running for office, he's not worth anyone's time (see: Lynn Swann). Again, it always comes back to "He's not Joe Lieberman", which is a pointless argument. I'm not Joe Lieberman, either, and I'm not running for the Senate. The burden of proof is on Lamont. He has to convince me why I shouldn't just stay out of this whole damn thing and focus on beating Republicans. If he announces some brilliant health care plan or a genius strategy to extricate ourselves from Iraq, or some new education policy, anything of substance, maybe I'll cut him a check.

by bluenc 2006-04-03 06:54AM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

Also, Sonia Gandhi is a very well-educated woman and an extremely skilled politician. Say what you will about India's obsession with dynasty politics, she's much better than the alternative (BJP).

by bluenc 2006-04-02 10:36AM | 0 recs

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Sonia and dynasty politics

Sonia Gandhi is NOT a well educated woman. She is a terrible public speaker. And has no vision whatsoever. She did not want to even live in India for a long time. I can safely say that India is fortunate that woman is not in total charge of the country instead of the more qualified Manmohan Singh. I cant even make fun of my cousins in India in a friendly debate with the embarassment of two families ruling the US over the last 20 years and potentially for another 8 more.

by Pravin 2006-04-02 07:11PM | 0 recs

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Re: Sonia and dynasty politics

You can't deny the fact that she's incredibly popular and very skilled at using that popularity. Her role is to keep the coalition together, and so far she's done a pretty good job of that. She carries a lot of weight in Indian politics, and she uses that weight to keep the nutcases in the BJP out of power.

by bluenc 2006-04-02 07:19PM | 0 recs

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Re: Sonia and dynasty politics

Her name is what makes her popular. Nothing else. You gotta see her speak. She can't speak neither English nor Hindi well. The Congress party in India is a joke and bunch of sycophants. They try their best to undermine their own prime minister to curry favor with Sonia Gandhi.

At least Hillary, as much as I am going to hate seeing her get nominated, has shown some measure of indepdence in her politics.

by Pravin 2006-04-02 11:13PM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

Dude...

The amount of time you spent here defending your right to not make an effort could obviously have been spent skimming a couple interviews. You could have gotten at least some sketches of answers in about 20 minutes, no joke.

If you care about politics, you get involved, period. You educate yourself. You say you don't have time to do that research, but you have time to spout off about how little time you have?

Please.

by bruorton 2006-04-03 06:53AM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

My point is this: I've read mountains of articles and interviews about Lamont, and can't find specifics. I'm asking folks here who seem to hold him in esteem to clue me in. I'm unaware of any source that talks about his specific plans. Since there are so many Lamont fans around here, I'm asking if those people can give me a hand. It's not like I just don't want to look it up. I've tried, but I can't find these specifics that everyone swears exist. The time spent telling me to just look at more articles could have been spent telling me where your candidate stands. I don't understand why I get the run-around when I look for facts and information.

by bluenc 2006-04-03 10:38AM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

I havent researched Lamont. But here's one. He woldnt vote for this war. Lieberman even to this day doesnt admit anything is bad about this war. This is a major mistake that is not isolated. It has cost the country many billions and will affect this country for the next two terms. It will have an effect on our domestic spending leading to less money for some progressive programs regardless if Uncle Joey praises them verbally.

If you expect Lamont to have well detailed plans, you are assuming he will be able to carry out these plans singlehandedly. All you need to know is his general outlook and whether his views will gel with what you are looking for and if he has integrity. Also voting out lieberman is along term action that will send a message to politicians that they should not take their incumbent status for granted. That in itself will help make the next senator from the state be on his toes.

by Pravin 2006-04-03 02:25PM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

Who cares if he wouldn't vote for the war? The vote's already happened. Unless Lamont has some kind of time machine I don't know about, his views three years ago don't do much for me. They do tell you a lot about the person, and in this case they tell us something good. I wouldn't have voted for the war either. But there's all manner of people who wouldn't have voted for the war, and all manner of people who did vote for it. Before I decide to give him a hand, I just want to know what his positions are. Not too much to ask, I don't think. So:

1. What's Lamont's plan for getting us out of Iraq?
2. What's Lamont's plan for health care, education, the environment, anything?

I'm not really interested in Lieberman's positions on those issues. I know them. I just want to know Lamont's. I haven't been able to find them as of yet. That leaves us with two possibilities:

1. Lamont has laid out specific plans and I'm just missing them.
2. Lamont has not yet had a chance to lay out specific plans.

If 2 is the case, that's fine. It's still early. But I don't think I should have to endure the constant Lamont pimping from Kos and the folks here. Let him earn our support, instead of simply getting by virtue of not being Joe.

by bluenc 2006-04-03 04:23PM | 0 recs

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You're so in the wrong place

Go over to redstate.org, they'll take you.

But don't fret. Only 4 more months of "pimping" to go.

by Scarce 2006-04-03 05:51PM | 0 recs

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Re: You're so in the wrong place

You can troll-rate me all you like. I bleed blue. I just insist on facts. I've got nothing really against Lamont. If he wins the primary, I'm behind him 100%. I just need to know where he stands.

by bluenc 2006-04-03 09:41PM | 0 recs

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JCosta, you can make Lamont win

JCosta, I assume you are a CT resident. Or at the very least, you have access to other CT residents. Since primary turnouts are so small, if you and your friends can help 500 people register and see if other small groups can get 25, or 50 others to register, a few thousand votes may sway the election.

The most important thing is to get the youth to register. I know whenever I did not vote, it was mainly because I was too blase about the registration deadline. Once the students are registered, it is relatively easier to mobilize a voting day march to the booth and make it fun for participants to join and vote mostly for Lamont.

by Pravin 2006-04-01 10:18PM | 0 recs

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Re: Lamont Wowing Students

I can't support someone just because they're not Joe Lieberman. Whenever you ask someone why you should support Ned Lamont, they just start talking about Lieberman. Well, let's assume we all dislike Joe Lieberman. Why would Lamont make a good Senator? Why should I divert my resources away from beating Republicans to support someone I know next to nothing about?

by bluenc 2006-04-02 07:21PM | 0 recs

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Again

Read and listen to what the man has to say. If you don't want to bother that is one thing. Blaming Ned Lamont by covering your own ears and eyes is quite another.

by Scarce 2006-04-02 07:58PM | 0 recs

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Re: Again

Quite frankly, I haven't the time to wade through every article and interview about the man. What's so hard about just telling me his plan?

by bluenc 2006-04-02 08:30PM | 0 recs

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Silliness

by Scarce 2006-04-03 04:11AM | 0 recs

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Re: Silliness

What's so absurd about the notion that I'm not going to wade through everything written about the guy? With all the supporters he has on this site, someone should be able to summarize his plan for Iraq, or health care, or anything.

by bluenc 2006-04-03 06:42AM | 0 recs

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Re: silliness

It's silly that you would not take the time to get it directly from the man himself and would trust some anonymous internet people to spoon feed you.

by Scarce 2006-04-03 07:38AM | 0 recs

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Re: silliness

I guess I just expected that, since I'm constantly bombarded with requests to give my money to Lamont, that somebody, somewhere, would be able to provide me with the specifics of his positions. Seems like all we have are articles saying "Ned Lamont doesn't like Joe. Here's what he says. Here's what Joe says. The End." If Lamont has ever outlined any specific proposals, I don't know of any. If anyone does, please point them out. Otherwise, I'll just assume that the lefty blogosphere is pimping an empty suit.

by bluenc 2006-04-03 09:35AM | 0 recs

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Re: silliness

How's that trolling business of yours going anyway?

by Scarce 2006-04-03 09:43AM | 0 recs

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Why over cautiousness hurts

Lets say Lamont is a failure as you think might happen. We already know Lieberman has been a failure in recent years. At least when you go with Lamont, you will know by the very next term if you want to continue with him or go with someone else. If you stick with Lieberman, and I dont see him backing off of his destructive agenda, you will still be wondering about Lamont next time in addition to other candidates.

GBet rid of the failures. You can always get rid of Lamont after one term if he is just a bunch of soundbites.

by Pravin 2006-04-02 11:22PM | 0 recs

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Re: Why over cautiousness hurts

The problem is that it will take significant resources to beat Lieberman, so before we invest those resources I think we should know what we're investing in. If he doesn't have a real plan, what have we accomplished? Replaced a generally reliable progressive vote with someone vulnerable to a Republican in the next cycle. My point is this: We're not going to have a vote on Iraq anytime soon. There's no exit strategy, from anyone, so it doesn't really matter where Lieberman or Lamont stand on Iraq. It would be different if Lamont had proposed some kind of plan to draw down troops or something. Then we could talk about the merits of his plan. As it is now, we would just be supporting him on the off chance that he could build a time machine, go back and vote against the war. With some vulnerable Republicans up for reelection this fall, you'd better give me a damn good reason to support a Democrat against a Democrat. So far, Lamont has just been "not Lieberman". Who cares? What's he going to do?

by bluenc 2006-04-03 06:49AM | 0 recs