I want to say that I am so glad that we have a primary challenger for Blanche Lincoln. Perhaps now we can pressure the senator to support the President's agenda, at least until the primary and potentially end up with a more progressive Senator from Arkansas than we had before. I just tossed him $5 on Actblue in celebration.
But something concerns me here. Let's call it "Jim Webb Syndrome".
I was here at this site when we felt quite strongly about the candidacy of one Jim Webb, former Secretary of the Navy, former Republican turned progressive (supposedly). We at this site donated a lot of money and generally went balls to the wall for the guy.
But look what we've gotten in return: opposition to the public option, opposition to cap and trade, etc.
I don't mean to say that we shouldn't get excited about Bill Halter. From all indications, he looks like a good progressive candidate. However, I notice some parallels with Sen. Webb: southern, conservative state, significant natural resource (read oil, gas and coal) base, etc.
Who is to say that he won't just turn around and screw us like Jim Webb has? Become another centrist darling once he gets to DC.
I'm not trying to say I know the answer to this. But until I know that some of these guys practice what they preach, my donations will come in much more limited increments than they did before.
And given that the PCCC is pushing this guy, they better know damn well what they might be getting into.