NYTimes Endorses Ned Lamont
In an editorial that mirrors the Senate race in Connecticut, the NY Times today endorsed Ned Lamont in a piece centered on Lieberman’s failings. They mentioned Lamont’s views and abilities only in passing.
Lieberman’s main crime, according to the Times, is cooperating a little too enthusiastically with the Bush administration. There is too much complicity in his type of loyal opposition. More to the point, Lieberman has bought the Bush line that 9/11 can justify any government action or policy.
At this moment, with a Republican president intent on drastically expanding his powers with the support of the Republican House and Senate, it is critical that the minority party serve as a responsible, but vigorous, watchdog. That does not require shrillness or absolutism. But this is no time for a man with Mr. Lieberman’s ability to command Republicans’ attention to become their enabler, and embrace a role as the president’s defender.
…
If Mr. Lieberman had once stood up and taken the lead in saying that there were some places a president had no right to take his country even during a time of war, neither he nor this page would be where we are today. But by suggesting that there is no principled space for that kind of opposition, he has forfeited his role as a conscience of his party, and has forfeited our support.
