Republican Senatorial Gain

As the reality of Scott Brown's election win sinks in, the challenge is what can we glean from this stunningly huge Republican upset in the liberal bastion Massachusetts. The irony of him winning the late senator Ted Kennedy's senate seat, as an anti-health care candidate, speaks volumes. After all, Ted Kennedy was a strong advocate for Universal Health Care - it was, posthumously, to be his legacy.

What does it all mean?

Did it mean Americans rejected Universal Health Care? Was it a negative referendum on President Obama's agenda? Did it mean the Democrats fielded a weak candidate? Is it a unforced fumble by the an over confident Democratic party? Or, is it a harbinger for the 2010 mid-term elections?

One thing for sure, it means, President Obama's agenda faces daunting and mounting roadblocks now that his party no longer has a filibuster proof super majority in the senate.

Politics is not a Spectator Sport

First and foremost, in my opinion, we progressives tend to get out worked by the conservative machine. Case in point, after the historical election of President Barack Obama, we celebrated, high-fived and partied. The mindset was, we overcame and we reached the promise land.

However, on the other side, they licked their wounds and then they planned, plotted and launched, perhaps, the most cynical and unprecedented political scorched the earth attack in recent history.

Obama's administration had to contend with, 24 hours of FOX propaganda, Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Tea Party nuts (not all of them, mainly the fringe elements) and the "just say no" Republican congress. All of this played out while the American people were in the throes of the worst economic recession/depression and job shortage since the Great Depression.

Conventional wisdom would state that, while suffering from the affects of eight years of failed Bush/Cheney polices - giving to the rich; allowing Wall Street to go wild; and, fighting an expensive war of choice in Iraq - surely, the American public wouldn't award the criminals because the new sheriff couldn't magically fix everything over night. Conventional wisdom was wrong.

THE LESSON:

We can not continue to elect great leaders and watch, from the sidelines, as they do battle with well armed and financed armies. Our adversary is forever diligent in their quest. They have out worked, hustled, and maneuvered us. Just think, for instance:

Where was our Tea Party convention to counter theirs? Where were our Town Hall,

Yes We Can

rallies to show we are just as committed and passionate about the mandate we delivered election night to President Obama?


In a nutshell, Republican conservatives fervently believe, they are the only party fit to govern and when voted out of power they will - if allowed - sabotage, malign and nuetralize, by any means necessary, any other party in government - no matter how popular with the American people they are.

Just ask Bill Clinton!

Good ideas are not enough we need strategic activity and guile. What are you waiting for...