How did Scott Brown win an election in Massachusetts when, just a little over a month ago, he was down 30 points? Answer: it had more to do with the mundane than with ideology.
Consider the following
First, keep in mind the general dissatisfaction of the American people with Congressional spending void of any serious and measurable results - a national concern that was expressed in Tea Party attendance, protests during the August summer break and millions of phone calls and mailings, all without meaningful recognition form current leadership. In fact, the protests of millions of citizens were met with disgust and presidential threats that "we will call you out." Nancy Pelosi turned off her phone bank and presently accepts no calls from the public. Harry Reid closed the doors of his office and and has been personally rewriting the problematic parts of the reform bill, keeping the final wording from public view until after the bill has passed through the Congress.
Secondly, a general dissatisfaction with regard to openness and transparency has been driven to the surface. While we talk of "spending" and "secrecy" in separate paragraphs of thought, the two have been joined at the hip by the 111th Congress. Leadership not only spent its way into the record books ($2 trillion a month if you count all the monies funneled through TARP) but did it all behind closed doors. In fact, it has been nearly 4 weeks since Reid most recently closed the doors to his office. In the end, the American people have been kept away from the legislative process and have been asked to support a national bill written by 4 or 5 politicians. Ridiculous. Concern with the illegitimacy of this process has reached the boiling point.
Since the time Scott Brown was down 30 points, there have been related and specific events that have added to the heat in the kitchen: beside the general concerns cited above, deals made with the Nebraska Senator ($100 million over time), the Louisiana Senator ($300 million), and word of 12 other deals, all totaling more than a reported 1 billion dollars, taxpayer money, in Congressional bribes to districts, regions and states have come to the attention of the American taxpayer. Oh, and let's not forget the deal he made with the unions just a week ago - that may have been the last straw.
These specifics are the only added events during the past 5 weeks -- a time that saw Brown's number rise from a minus 30 to the final and winning total of a plus 5.
Ideology was not the most important issue for the larger population. Secrecy and the misappropriation of funds by a progressive congress was the straw that broke the camels back. Interview after interview with folks in Massachusetts have revealed their dissatisfaction with being ignored and maligned. The American voter is done with that.
Unfortunately, Midknight Review does not see a change in attitude on the part of those in power. Early reports give us a picture of an Administration prepared to continue the cramdown of the health care bill. Obama and Company see themselves as insulated from political harm. We believe that Massachusetts makes it clear to those with eyes that can see that this is not the case.
Obama's response
We must understand that Obama was raised - politically speaking - in the back rooms of Chicago. As an organizer with ACORN, Obama never accepted "no." In that regard, nothing has changed. While Clinton made an adjustment to his political agenda following of the health care defeat back in 1993, Obama is not of the same mind set. Clinton was raised in the political arena where compromise reigned as King. Obama was raised in the world of Chicago style confrontation, where determination and thuggery were tools of the trade, hence, the tough talk and angry looks. Clinton survived. Obama has to be broken. Period. The battle is not over. Massachusetts has significance because it means that others have joined the battle against this Stranger in our White House.
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