Beyond a pleasing sight for the heart, what would Ted Kennedy’s seat going Republican really mean?
A lot.
First, there would be the psychological effect. On Democratic donors — it would discourage them from opening their checkbooks. On Republican donors — the impact would be electric in kindling their interest and generosity. On Democratic incumbents seeking re-election — it would make the beaches and golf courses that await them in their Florida retirement homes (and the lucrative lobbying jobs in Washington) infinitely more attractive. On Republicans considering running for the House and the Senate — it will help them see the truth: That their time is at hand! (It might even help our esteemed Party Chairman Michael Steele, realize that we can capture both houses this year!)
But in the Senate itself, it would really signal the end of Obama’s legislative dominance. He’ll probably be able to pass health care either by Democratic dithering in certifying Brown’s election or by ramming through the bill while he’s en route to Washington on the shuttle.
But, beyond that, the prospects of getting 60 votes on the remaining items in Obama’s legislative agenda: cap and trade, union card check, and immigration reform would slip away with the Massachusetts result.
He cannot govern through reconciliation (passing bills with 51 votes by pretending they are just budget bills). If it were that easy, why would Harry Reid have worked so hard - and so successfully - to bribe Senators Landrieu (D-La), Lincoln (D-Ark) and Nelson (D-Neb)? Why would he have caved in to the demands of Connecticut’s Joseph Lieberman and discarded the public option much to the chagrin of his House colleagues?
A victory for Scott Brown would represent the Gettysburg of the Obama Administration - its high water mark, its tipping point.
But even more corrosive for Obama and the Democrats is the knowledge that nobody is safe from Republican assault. If the GOP can win a Senate seat in the People’s Republic of Massachusetts, it can win anywhere, anytime, against anyone. Long term Democratic incumbents from largely Republican districts would have to rethink their loyalty to Reid and Pelosi. Particularly in the House, it will be ever more difficult to round up majorities for Administration bills. Politicians will start running for cover and hiding in the cloakrooms.
Democrats will try to spin their defeat by blaming their candidate, Martha Coakley, for not campaigning hard enough. They will say that they lost because their base did not turn out and that the solution is to pass ever more radical legislation in the hopes of rekindling their fervor. But losing Massachusetts, on top of Virginia and New Jersey, will convince even the most loyal Democrat that the handwriting is, indeed, on the wall.
For all of these reasons, please make an effort today to telephone or e-mail any friends, family or colleagues you know in Massachusetts to urge them to come out and vote for Scott Brown. There is so very much at stake!
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This is also a test for so-called moderate republicans: moderation doesn’t work - strong conservative values will work, especially in heavy democrat turf! We can’t carve off some of the opposition by taking some of their plank. Give the electorate a true choice by showing you have the stuff to swim against the stream for your values.
Politicians have such a bad reputation that taking a tough stand at least indicates a potentially higher level of integrity. That gets the attention of the public - enough to get an initial vote and a chance to see if the actions match the words.
Last: Any American capable of voting for a non-democrat will respond to a defense of the Constitution. If that defense can differentiate the candidates, it has the capability of turning out conservative votes where you thought you had none.
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America is finally waking up to the fact they were misinformed, deceived, duped (or whatever verb is selected) in 2008 starting with Obama who paraded around like the next Ronald Reagan only to find out he is a composite left-wing radical.
I am convinced Obama never intended to be a two-term president but rather forge ahead with his remaking of America into some sort of nanny state. Inflation was up to 2.9 percent in January - this is the tip of the iceberg which in 2010 will be the economic killer.
While I would agree that the infrastructure in the country (e.g., roads, bridges, etc.) is in need of repair those projects are not stimulus but rather long term stability because of the time needed for completion. The interstate system was started in Eisenhower’s presidency and took 35 years to finish and would take a decade to repair, etc.
People are fed up with higher taxes, wasteful spending, handouts, and crooked politicians. I know that I cannot wait to pull the voter lever myself come this election year.