I grew up on Prince Edward Island. PEI is Canada's smallest province, and is located not too far north east of Maine. One of my best friends in University was from Hartford CT, and another from Boston. I have spent many a night in a bar in Portland, Bangor, Boston, Hartford and other places in New England. My province shares more history and has more in common with the New England states than we do with my current province of residence--Alberta.
My province is very insular and conservative. Politically, we may sail close to the wind most times, but we have a sense of when to tack into the wind and steer our own course when necessary.
Connecticut Democratic voters did this on Tuesday.
Politics--like sailing--can be a risky business. You need to have a natural situational awareness to ply the waters of any political arena--nowhere is this more important when attempting to win a federal mandate. When sailing, one must be confident in their own abilities to handle and manage their boat; from maintaining the hull and fittings, to rigging the sails properly and reading the wind, a sailor needs to be meticulous in how they go about their activities while on the water and under weigh. To forget this is to invite disaster.
Joe Lieberman's scow sank on Tuesday. I think we all know why.
The ocean is a dangerous place though, and no matter how good a sailor you are, eventually you will need to rely on the skill and good will of others to save you from the wind and sea. Some of the other ocean voyagers are there specifically to help you--like the Coast Guard. Others you prefer to stay on their own courses until you truly need them--their presence is comfort enough.
Political friends and supporters are like that too. One expects that the traditional Democratic supporters will come out of the woodwork on Wednesday and endorse Ned, and while it may take longer for some rather than others, I think it's safe to assume none of the current Democratic leadership want to go down with Jomentum's ship.
There are those of us though who have no right to 'meddle' in the political affairs of Connecticut--or the United States as a whole. Large numbers of Canadian Progressives have paid rapt attention to American Politics in the last six years. Call it a combination of enlightened self-interest, and morbid fascination. Nonetheless, many of us support the sea change Ned Lamont represents. There are disagreements with positions and policies to be sure (Ned's position on the Israeli-Lebanon war rubs me the wrong way) but that doesn't mean we'd rather see Joe keep his seat. True friends don't always agree, but they always provide moral support.
So while you are busy raising money and fighting for electoral change, know that there are quiet cheerleaders rooting for you from north of the border. Ethically we can't send money, or take part in GOTV activities, but we can radio you weather reports if we see a squall coming--and buy you a drink when we all make it safely into port.
Joe may have his Connecticut for Lieberman party now, but I think we can work on a Canucks for Lamont up here. We'll have to do it quietly though--we don't want the Republicans blaming 'ferrigners' for throwing the mid-term elections to the Democratic Party.