So Joe Lieberman got defeated and the GOP is spinning the story that "For a political party to reject a respected Senator who just six years ago was its candidate for Vice President is virtually without precedent. It speaks volumes about the new Democrat Party: if you stand for a strong defense and victory in the War on Terror, you have no place in the party and you must be purged." That according to Ken Mehlman The Chair of the Republican National Committee.

But wait General Wesley Clark , a Democratic candidate for President in 2004 comes back and says "You see, despite what Joe Lieberman believes, invading Iraq and diverting our attention away from Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden is not being strong on national security. Blind allegiance to George W. Bush and his failed "stay the course" strategy is not being strong on national security. And no, Senator Lieberman, no matter how you demonize your opponents, there is no "antisecurity wing" of the Democratic Party.

So will the GOP once again make national defense and the "war on terror" the issue in this fall's elections? It worked before in 2002 and 2004 and the defeat of Senator Lieberman gives them an opening to say " see if you support our troops and the fight in Iraq you cannot be a Democrat, Democrats are for cutting and running, etc ".

I liked Joe Lieberman and I am sorry to see his defeat, but sometimes a politician does forget to touch base with his voters and keep informed what folks back home are thinking. They look to the fall elections where moderate Republicans and Independents have a major voice in who gets elected and forget that they must get by the primary voters. They do not keep up with who are the active members of the their parties and lose touch.

Iraq was an issue but not the only issue in this election. Perhaps his support for the President on some matters did get the Democrats upset. But it could have been his friendship with the Lobby and some of the other votes he made over the last few years.

But Joe you lost the primary election and now is the time for you to leave the public scene. Let Lamont have the stage. We applaud you for your years of great service to our nation and say goodbye.