For those of you who are reading this late on election night but don't really want to think about politics right now, I'll note that Turner just started Sunset Boulevard. You can't see it too many times.
For the rest of you...congrats to Scott Brown, the new Senator from Massachusetts. By all accounts, it was a well-run campaign, and he certainly surprised everyone. Well, certainly me.
Spin: I've been away from TV and the computer since the polls closed, except for briefly seeing the results (hoops night). The logical move for the GOP is to call this a referendum on Obama and (pick the specific issues that they think they want to run on). The logical move for the Dems is to say it was all about the candidates and local politics. So it's only potentially meaningful or interesting if anyone says anything else, and even then probably not.
More on life with 59 (and life with 41) soon...the only immediate things I'd say are (1) anyone who tries to spin this as good for the Dems is kidding themselves, and (2) anyone who says that Obama's presidency is over, or even that his big-ticket agenda is over, is kidding themselves. It's a bad thing for the Dems and Obama, but not a killer. Beyond that, more to come.
Nice post. I agree with most of your points except healthcare. The President can survive this (he shouldn't have gone to MA - see risk) and most likely will. People like him.
ReplyDeleteHealthcare, however, is done and starts over. Tom
One correction. I just saw Norah O'Donnell on Morning Joe, security was the number one issue in the campaign (I missed this). The Christmas bombing appearently was huge.
ReplyDeleteSo Healthcare and Gitmo stays open (tomorrow the year is up?). Tom
Biggest applause line,
ReplyDeleteFrom Brown’s victory speech: “And let me say this, with respect to those who wish to harm us: I believe that our Constitution and laws exist to protect this nation. They do not grant rights and privileges to enemies in wartime. In dealing with terrorists, our tax dollars should pay for weapons to stop them, not lawyers to defend them.”
Tom
Final point: the KSM trial will not happen. Tom
ReplyDeletethat didn't take long.
ReplyDelete