I’m still somewhat surprised that this actually happened. In Massachusetts of all places.
I only wish that I was still able to vote there – so that I could finally cast a vote for a Republican worth his name in my old home state.
How big of a deal is this? Huge.
What happens next depends on the democrats — Barney Frank was a true class act tonight with this statement – which I think indicates the direction that things are going to go:
I have two reactions to the election in Massachusetts. One, I am disappointed. Two, I feel strongly that the Democratic majority in Congress must respect the process and make no effort to bypass the electoral results. If Martha Coakley had won, I believe we could have worked out a reasonable compromise between the House and Senate health care bills. But since Scott Brown has won and the Republicans now have 41 votes in the Senate, that approach is no longer appropriate. I am hopeful that some Republican Senators will be willing to discuss a revised version of health care reform because I do not think that the country would be well-served by the health care status quo. But our respect for democratic procedures must rule out any effort to pass a health care bill as if the Massachusetts election had not happened. Going forward, I hope there will be a serious effort to change the Senate rule which means that 59 votes are not enough to pass major legislation, but those are the rules by which the health care bill was considered, and it would be wrong to change them in the middle of the process.
For once, Representative Frank and I may actually agree on something.
More: Jules Crittenden.