Now what?
It’s not perfect. I couldn’t get too excited. I didn’t campaign. I didn’t make phone calls. I didn’t talk to friends. But I voted. And I was rather anxious all day to learn the results. While not celebrating, I am satisfied and glued to the TV for the evening.
But now that the people of Massachusetts, in electing Republican Scott Brown to fill the remainder of Ted Kennedy’s senatorial term, have convincingly voiced a desire for “change” once again, I have to make note of a few important things this election has accomplished:
The 41st Republican Senator is now capable of providing the Republicans with the power to filibuster the health care bill.
A Republican has won the seat belonging to a very big “D” Democrat for near 50 years.
It has taken exactly one year for even the staunchest of liberal states to shrug off the aggressive agenda of the great American Apologizer.
It sends a clear message against the current push toward big, bigger, biggest government.
But what it hasn’t done is given a clear message of what the largely independent voters who rose to the occasion were actually voting for. That’s where the work lies ahead.
For now, I’ll take the little shot in the arm that comes from being able to be proud to be from Massachusetts.
Comments
On the other hand, Senator Brown's acceptance speech doesn't show him to be the brightest porch light on the block, does it.
I was commenting to Stephen that he seemed a little drunk - then again, I'm sure he was exhausted and elated all at the same time.
In any case, a message has been sent and received. Just what that message says is what we now need to help define.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Even if yesterday's vote only reflects a general disgust with the politics in this country, it was heartening to see it done quietly, at the voting polls, and within one of the most left-leaning states in the nation.
I don't think that Massachusetts is in danger of heading toward theocracy if that is your concern. If anything, I see the leftists as the new faithful - believing in that for which there is no proof, or in some cases, despite proof.
Of course, they are welcome to believe whatever they wish. But no one is welcome to legislate my choices based on their faith and with a blatant disregard for the Constitution and a palpable contempt of my individual rights to act in my own best interest.
It's a battle, but one I've been committed to fighting on some level for a while now.
My optimism isn't blind. My arsenal is just still a little too wimpy for my liking.