Primary here I come

I have never voted in a primary. I usually register independent and I haven't ever lived in a state where the presidential primary seemed like a big deal. In short, I've been like a whole lot of people who assume (tacitly usually) that elections like that are for "other people".

However, I've been following the challenge to Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman's comfortable incumbency for a while now and today, I decided I am going to register democrat just so I can go vote AGAINST Lieberman in the August 8th primary.

After Hillary Clinton's speech promoting the Democratic party's new "American Dream Initiative" (which is only new in packaging), I feel a little skeezy registering as a democrat. But I am so fed up with Lieberman and his current campaign that I am going to do it anyhow. What finally pushed me over the fence I was sitting on was this:

U.S. Senate candidate Ned Lamont released a document Tuesday showing he does not control investments in a stock fund that once included shares of Halliburton Co. The letter, signed by a Goldman, Sachs & Co. vice president, says the managed account is run by Goldman Sachs' Quantitative Equity Group, which makes all investment decisions. Halliburton stock is no longer part of that fund, Lamont Campaign Manager Tom Swan said last week when Lamont released his 2005 tax returns.
.....
U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman has repeatedly accused Lamont of having direct shares of Halliburton. The Connecticut Post reported last week that there is Halliburton stock in two mutual funds that Lieberman owns.

Lieberman spokeswoman Marion Steinfels would not comment on Lieberman's mutual funds.

"While Joe Lieberman was calling for a congressional investigation into Halliburton's abuses, Ned Lamont was profiting off them," she said in a written statement. "We are glad that Ned has dumped the $50,000 in stock that he owned in Halliburton."

This is part of why when I did have money, I was somewhat distrusting of mutual funds. You know, the whole "who the hell are they going to invest my money in?" issue. I've heard of "socially responsible mutual funds" but by the time I heard of that, I was well on my way to being divorced and destitute (my current status) and so I never really researched it. So really, I am not surprised to hear that Lamont's investment portfolio included shares of an evil corporation like Halliburton. I am disgusted that the Lieberman campaign is using THAT of all things as an issue. Not that it isn't relevant, but this really is one of those throwing stones from the lawn of your glass house moments. If the Lieberman campaign had anything to say about how exactly Lieberman is going to change, I might listen. Ok, I probably wouldn't but I sure wouldn't feel this irate.

That quote by Lieberman's spokesperson is a perfect example of what pisses me off about how a campaign like this is run. Issues? Intelligent debate of policy? Hell no! For the incumbent, public talking points tend to be comprised of bullshit, bamboozling, and backhanded insults.

After reading that campaign update, I called my town clerk, found out I can register to vote in the primary up until August 3rd (by mail in presumably) and up until August 7th if I do it in person. So off I go to register (today if I get showered and out in time...still moving slow from the hip).