It’s looking increasingly like the Massachusetts race is coming out in favor of Brown. With a majority of precincts reporting, it’s looking like Coakley is conceding. You’d think I’d be jumping for joy, but you know, I think I’m still in shock. We just turned Ted Kennedy’s seat in Massachusetts over to the GOP, and with an NRA A rated candidate. It’s like any minute things are going to get fuzzy and I’m going to find myself naked at school, and then hear the alarm go off.
I can’t even really speculate on the political implication of this for the Democrats. This is an upset of epic proportions for them. It’s like Bill Gates beating Mike Tyson. At the least, I would imagine we’re not done hearing about Democratic retirements. How’s this going to affect the health care monstrosity? I suspect it’s done. At the very least, the Democrats now have to know Obama cannot save them. I can’t imagine the Democrats are going to be in the mood to do anything controversial at this point. But if there’s one thing I’m amazed at, it’s the self-destructive tendency the Democrats have been exhibiting, so I wouldn’t write anything off.
UPDATE: Blog post title of the day on this “Hell. Ice. Some Assembly Required“
They can still just use the senate version of the bill, though. I don’t think the healthcare monstrosity is completely down and out, though this definitely changes the ballgame.
They can vote on it, but the Blue Dogs are likely to run far, far away from it. And they can without looking like they are going back on the deals they made to the pass the House version since the abortion language isn’t as strong and everyone who isn’t from Nebraska gets screwed on the Nelson vote purchase. Not to mention, the progressives are very unhappy with the Senate version, so they are expecting deals in exchange for their votes. Health care isn’t dead, but its future is exceptionally shaky right now.
Like Bill Gates beating Mike Tyson at the Frogger ap on the I-phone!
Mmm, good points, Bitter. Will be interesting to see how this game plays out.
What assurances do we have that Brown won’t turn Gillibrand?
I have a hard time trusting any politician, especially from north of the Mason-Dixon.
You never have the guarantee with any politician.
“I can’t imagine the Democrats are going to be in the mood to do anything controversial at this point.”
With all due respect, you kinda muddied up the post with all those other sentences when this one alone would have sufficed.
I thought after getting their asses handed to them in New Jersey, they would never pass health care, and they did.
Just pop on over to the Huffington Post. In huge, red block letters, the headline reads:
WAKE UP CALL
Even better, an article just below is entitled:
House Leadership “Whistling Past The Graveyard”
I really expected the Dems to take a kamikaze run at health care, accepting the losses in 2010 in an effort to get a game-changing entitlement in play. But with Barney Frank of all people saying wait until Brown is seated to continue the discussion, and other Dems admitting how big this is, it looks like I was wrong. They may yet pursue the “budget reconciliation” fiction and go for 51, but even that is a long shot now.
What assurances do we have that Brown won’t turn Gillibrand?
None, inherently. But he ran and won on a promise to vote against the current health care proposal. Also, his campaign manager claims treatment of terrorists was as big an issue as health care locally, it just didn’t make as many national headlines. Brown would be an idiot to throw away the issues that gave him a 5 point lead, 5-7+ million dollars in individual donations and national name recognition.
On other issues, I expect in a few months or years conservatives will be reminding themselves that he is from Massachusetts. I can live with RINOs from dark blue districts if they caucus Republican, the same way Pelosi can live with the blue dogs. That’s a different issue than tolerating them from red districts.
But if there’s one thing I’m amazed at, it’s the self-destructive tendency the Democrats have been exhibiting, so I wouldn’t write anything off.
This may be true, but never underestimate the ability of the Republicans to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Also unlike Gillibrand, Brown was ELECTED, not appointed, so his loyalties SHOULD be to the people, not to the establishment.
Also his massive bi-partisan support should be a huge factor.
But nothing is guaranteed.
Brown also has a history of taking a seat historically held by a far-left liberal and not changing his views. You guys seem to avoid giving credit to the man who has successfully held an office once held by Cheryl Jacques while remaining fairly conservative. He not only won the special election, but he was re-elected to the seat.
During the MSM coverage of the victory speech last night, the news tickers on some of the channels were already showing some Democrats (I can’t remember which) stating that they not only believe any vote should wait for Brown to be certified, but also that the health care bill should be completely rethought.
I’m not holding my breath yet, but this could be the end of THIS abomination of a bill. We might actually get a real bipartisan discussion on this issue now.
I can’t even describe how excited I am for the November elections. I’m not real thrilled with the Republicans, but these Democrats are FAR worse, and they’re going to get their clocks cleaned.