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Democrats seriously got caught slipping this week. In what's being described as one of the most influential upsets ever, Republican Scott Brown played the political BS game much more shrewdly to swoop the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat and throw President Obama's plans into disarray. Curses! The health care bill and other Democratic reform plans are now in jeopardy as Brown's victory breaks the 60-vote majority. Operation gridlock.
The real loser, once again, is the two-party system. While countries such as Australia enjoy a system of proportional representation, Americans are stuck with the red or blue pill. Either way, it's still the matrix. Brown's supporters felt disillusioned with the country but seem to have the memory of a goldfish. Somehow, the Republican party is going to deliver jobs and improve their lives. Yeah, OK. While some Democrats are shaking with frustration, others view the loss as a blessing in disguise. But to understand what led to this historical upset, here's a look at the top reasons...Â
Massachusetts Not As Liberal As Once Thought
• John Kerry's home state has long been stereotyped as a bastion of liberalism. Not necessarily the case. The Boston Red Sox were the last MLB team to integrate, as Massachusetts has a long history of racial tensions— most recently displayed with the fiasco surrounding Professor Henry Louis Gates' false arrest. Also, one of the leading candidates for running against Obama in 2012 is their former Republican Governor, Mitt "Goody Two Shoes" Romney.
Brown Called Himself An "Independent"
• Brown embraced the most overused and meaningless term in politics today - a so called independent. "I don't need the man, I got my own money!" But it seemed to work. The cliche of an outsider coming to shake up Washington like a frustrated babysitter never seems to get old. But to think that Brown will do anything other than hop on the right-wing stonewall machine is delusional. He just wants to be down.
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Got Support From Curt Schilling
• If there's an endorsement voters should pay attention to, it's that of a multi-millionaire athlete. They're always looking out for the people's best interest. Curt "Bloody Sock In Game 6" Schilling threw his born-again Christian support behind Brown, similar to when he backed George Bush against Kerry. Strikeout.Â
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Brown Drove His Truck Everywhere
• Voters are extremely susceptible to illusions. Despite advocating policies that benefit pharmaceutical companies and Wall Street executives, Brown drove his 2005 GMC Canyon pickup everywhere to portray himself as an everyday worker. And the people gotten taken for a ride.Â
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Democrats Dropped The Ball
• For all the tactics enacted from Brown and his team, the real enabler was the Democrats' slip-ups. Martha Coakley might become a euphemism for campaign incompetence. She came across as cold and aloof with a sense of entitlement towards the Senate seat. Hopefully the lessons learned this time around can put some fire under the Democrats, otherwise it's back to the Bush era. Â
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