The Connecticut for Lieberman Party, originally founded by John Orman has a new Chairman ~ John Mertens of Trinity College.
Dr. Mertens has decided to use the Connecticut for Lieberman Party to run against Chris Dodd in the 2010 Senate Race.
For those who need a memory refresher on the CFL's history ~
John Orman: Pundit, Professor, Party-crasher
Orman, with a showman's touch and timing, seized the opportunity, joined the "party," became "chairman" and used the platform to blast Lieberman's policies. But, he wouldn't have used the word "blast." He said he did it to be a "watchdog," and he became a darling of the liberal blogs that nearly took Lieberman down.
This from The Courant
Mertens is chairman of the Connecticut for Lieberman Party and is seeking the party's nomination, along with the endorsements of three other minor political parties. Connecticut for Lieberman was launched by U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman after he lost the Democratic primary to Ned Lamont in 2006. But Lieberman walked away as soon as he won re-election, allowing his fiercest critics to seize control of the party that bears his name.
The goal was always "to use the party to hold Joseph Lieberman accountable, and it's vital that it remains in existence until Lieberman runs again," said activist Sue Henshaw. "To use the Connecticut for Lieberman Party for any other purpose than its mission diminishes both the politician and the party."
Those opposed to Mertens say their criticism is based on policy as well as process. They accuse Mertens of parroting Republican talking points and criticize him for speaking at a Tea Party rally in Hartford this summer. "Mertens is off in Nader-land, on a messianic trip that's all about him, with little regard for the left, or the founding intent of CFL," Anderson said.
What's the point of running under the CFL banner, unless it's used to call attention to the CFL Party? When John Orman, CFL Chair called on Senator Lieberman to resign, there are now 39,600 Google hits.
What other party exists whose purpose it is to cause it's namesake to accomplish what he was chosen do?
Senator Lieberman,
We, the members of the Connecticut for Lieberman Party, have passed the following goals and resolutions for our party at our meeting held on Thursday, January 18, 2007.
We call for you to:
Stop misleading Connecticut voters.
If you had that jewel, that golden crown, would you want to squander it?
Now some of those very same activists are furious at Mertens for risking their overarching goal: Maintaining ballot access so that the party can be used to mount an offensive against Lieberman in 2012.
I'd better check out his letter ~
Mertens shrugged off the critics. He said he fully expects to receive more than 1 percent of the vote, thus ensuring ballot access for 2012.
And he scoffed at the Nader comparison. "If Chris Dodd has done such a poor job in such a blue state, after being in office for so long, it's time for him to step down and let Mr. Blumenthal run for U.S. Senate. If my candidacy encourages him to do so, so be it," Mertens wrote in an open letter to critics posted on the liberal blog, My Left Nutmeg, referring to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
Connecticut for Lieberman, under John Orman, originally supported Chris Dodd for President.
Getting in the last word, Sue Henshaw observes:
Dodd is a "very effective" senator whose 2008 presidential bid was endorsed by the CFL.