The Moose notes a most heartening development. Meanwhile, Mr. Lamont, the Democratic nominee, failed to pick up significant momentum early on and has not maintained the level of national excitement that his long-shot candidacy first drew when he roared to victory in the August primary... "Despite the rush from many Democrats to endorse Mr. Lamont after his triumph - only a handful chose personal loyalty to Mr. Lieberman over the Democratic nominee picked by voters - some now quietly admit they would be satisfied to see their longtime colleague returned to Washington. But none of the Democrats would speak for attribution because of pressure to publicly appear supportive of their party's nominee, and they were granted anonymity so they could speak freely about their feelings toward Mr. Lieberman." Although it is likely that Democrats will dominate on election day, they should understand that the country is seeking less polarization and more cooperation. They should listen less to the nutroots and follow the example of Arnold and Joe. The future is in the vital center.
Amidst all of the partisan noise in this campaign, a interesting phenomena is developing in the center of American politics. On both coasts, candidates are forging intriguing coalitions of the vital center.
In California, Governor Schwarzenegger is holding a large lead after a rocky beginning to his tenure in Sacramento. Initially, Arnold largely governed from the right and was rebuked by the voters. But, in the past year, he has built an innovative coalition of the vital center and is headed to an easy victory.
Arnold realized that the politics of polarization is passe. The only way to govern successfully is to bridge the gap between the two parties. It is extraordinary that a Republican in a heavily blue state is doing so well in a year that is so abysmal for the GOP. Unlike the leader of his party in Washington, however, Arnold has figured out that Americans long for non-partisans who offer pragmatic solutions that defy the party divide. Trans-partisanship is the wave of the future.
And in Connecticut, Joe is forging a unique coalition of independents, Republicans and Democrats. Joe has emerged as the genuine insurgent in the race against the politics of polarization and the nutroots.
Today's New York Times,
"Democrats here are convinced that Mr. Lieberman stands a good chance of returning to the Senate as an independent, and many have reassured him that he will not be stripped of his seniority if he wins, according to people in several Senate offices, who were granted anonymity to speak of the sensitive situation amid an intense political climate. 
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