What If . . ?

What if . . . Ed Case wins the Hawaii "Democratic" primary (it is an open primary, which makes no freaking sense, open "primaries" are an oxymoron) in September? Then the pro-Iraq Debacle, DLC candidate will carry the Demoratic banner in November in Hawaii. But that is up to the Dem voters in Hawaii, except it isn't totally. In any event, what if Case wins?

[Note: Hawaii's Sore Loser Law looks airtight.] Does Akaka run as an "Independent Democrat?" Who would support that? Not me. If the Hawaii Dem Party has accepted this open primary nonsense, then they live with their choices. Respect the result. But what does Sen. Daniel Inouye say? Since he supports Lieberman, how could he not support Akaka?

But what about the reverse? What if Akaka wins narrowly and Case decides he "cannot let that result stand?" Let's consider that on the flip.

Would Case have less of a justification than Lieberman? Depending on the turnout, he probably will have more of a justification. Consider this:

Case, 53, acknowledged that the primary is a difficult and emotional choice for many but asked people to look honestly at the need for leadership transition. He said planning for transition is routine in business, the military and in many families and warned that it would be a mistake for Hawai'i to fail to recognize its importance in the Senate. . . Case also alleged that the political culture in the Islands -- and nationally -- is broken but can be repaired by politicians who reject partisanship for consensus-based solutions. He said, if elected, he would work with Senate moderates from both parties. "That is my natural home," he said. "That is where I will go on Day One in the United States Senate."

. . . Case and Akaka took opposing views at the start of the war and disagree on whether there should be a specific timetable for troop withdrawal. Case wants more stability in Iraq before setting a withdrawal date, while Akaka prefers removing troops by July 2007.

And of course that means Case has much stronger appeal to Republicans:

The polls track the impressions of political analysts and some party insiders, who believe the race is closer among all voters than among likely Democratic primary voters. An Advertiser poll in June found Akaka with an 11-point lead among likely Democratic primary voters.

Voters will have the choice in September whether to pull a Democratic or Republican ballot.The Rasmussen poll also found that the war in Iraq and the economy were the most important issues for Hawai'i voters.

"I agree that these are among the crucial issues for Hawai'i voters' consideration in this vital election. I want to stand up with my opponent on statewide media and across our state and debate these issues so that voters can make their choice," Case said in a statement.

Can Case run as an independent? Can Akaka? I have no idea. But I do think this is worth mentioning:

Akaka supports Democratic nominee Lamont, while Inouye and Case have said they'll forsake their party's nominee and back Lieberman in his independent run.

It gets especially complicated for Inouye, Hawai'i's senior senator. He disagrees with Lieberman on Iraq, he strongly supports Akaka in his anti-war campaign against Case, but he agrees with Case in supporting Lieberman.

. . . Case, who is more in agreement with Lieberman on Iraq, said he admires the Connecticut senator's moderate independence and ability to work with Democrats and Republicans alike to "get things done." Case said, "There is a core group of 15 to 20 senators in the Senate today that are increasingly providing the only realistic, broad-based debate and solutions in our entire federal government to a myriad of challenges. I call them the fulcrum of leadership in our country today, and hope to join them. Lieberman is one of them, and we can't afford to lose him, especially if the alternative is another extreme, purely partisan senator of either party."

Case is quite the dickhead isn't he? BTW, so is Inouye. But power is power:

A few Democrats are discussing whether Inouye and Case should be sanctioned by the party for backing a candidate other than the Democratic nominee in Connecticut, noting that local party rules seriously frown on such disloyalty. Other Democrats here have faced discipline for crossovers in the past; O'ahu Democrats brought charges against former state Sen. Milton Holt for supporting Frank Fasi in his Best Party run against Ben Cayetano, and the state party tried to sanction at least one Democrat who supported Ralph Nader's third-party run for president against Al Gore.

"If they can do it to the little ones, what about the big ones -- or are they too tied to Inouye's money?" said Marsha Joyner, a Democratic activist and former state Senate candidate.

Thanks for nothing Daniel Inouye. Funny that Ed Case didn't think Inouye was too old.

In any event, some interesting what ifs. Especially for the caterwaulers who think we spend too much on CT-Sen. Personally, now more than ever, I  am convinced the whole lot of them are seriously full of it. This is about what the Democratic Party will be and whether a Democratic agenda stands half a chance in our country.

With "good Dems" like Daniel Inouye, the job is that much harder.