What Does The Election In Massachusetts Mean ?

Charles Krauthammer posted an article at the Washington Post today analyzing the impact of the election of Scott Brown to the Senate in Massachusetts.  Aside from the irony of a Republican who opposes national healthcare taking Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat, there are a few changes in Washington due to the election of Scott Brown. 

First of all, there was the expected ‘blame game.’  According to the President, the election of Scott Brown was the result of anger over what has happened over the last eight years.  Mr. Krauthammer points out that the logic in that statement is somewhat lacking.  Why would a person angry at George Bush vote for a Republican?

Mr. Krauthammer points out the three items Scott Brown ran on–opposition to the current healthcare reform bill, opposition to giving terrorists the rights of citizens, and support for lower taxes.  He also criticized the backroom deals that this administration has made in order to push the current unpopular healthcare reform bill forward.  All of these items are things that most Americans support–regardless of party. 

The article ends with the following quote;

“If you lose Massachusetts and that’s not a wake-up call,” said moderate — and sentient — Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, “there’s no hope of waking up.”

The ‘moderate’ Democrats in Congress are getting very nervous.