- So far, most Democrats don't get it. Brown ran a campaign centered on stopping the current health care reform package moving through congress and easily defeated Democrat Coakley despite receiving almost no early support from the GOP, the RNC, or even the State party. Over 30% of the people that voted for him cited the Health care issue as the primary cause, and over 50% of the folks in Massachusetts oppose the current plan, yet listening to the White House, it's business as usual. According to Axelrod, only the tactics will change. The expense of this approach will be prohibitive come November.
- So far, most Republicans don't get it. Brown ran on a Republican ticket, and his main campaign planks were conservative, but if you listened to his speeches, particularly his acceptance speech, you'll hear a consistent note throughout. He's independent. Last night, he sent a very clear message to Republicans. First, he said his win was a vidtory for independent voters. Then he said very clearly that he was owned by no person or party.
- When Democrat strategists said that the seat in Massachusetts was Ted Kennedy's seat, they were right. Their mistake was in assuming that "Kennedy's seat" was synonymous with "Democrat's seat."
- Assuming that Scott Brown will vote in lockstep with the Republican leadership in the Senate will be just as devastating to the Republicans as assuming Ted Kennedy's seat was safe was to the Democrats. He is a pragmatist who will work for a practical solution.
- I'll be very surprised if Brown gives the Republican response to the State of the Union address.
- Brown appears to have the same effect on liberals as does Sarah Palin and for much the same reason. He's immune to their normal tactics of slander, innuendo, and hyperbolic oratory. I thought Olbermann was going to stroke out.
Thoughts on Scott Brown
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