Reporting from the State that's not as smart and principled as you thought we is

[urbpan]

What are we to make of the Obama victory (massive landslide in Massachusetts) quickly followed by the Scott Brown victory? "We want change--only not so fast/so much?" I think a lot of people just do what FOX news tells them to do.

Coakely ran a completely incompetent campaign, and never once showed a sign of Charisma, or distinguished herself in any way that rang clear, but who cares? Republican is Republican. Voting for these people is an expression of hate and fear. It's a terrible black mark on Massachusetts. It was bad enough we voted in Weld as governor--and that was just because the Democratic opponent Silber was unrepentantly loathesome--which led to three consecutive Republican governorships completely out of inertia. But that showed that Mass wasn't impenetrable to Republicans--as long as they were articulate and relatively handsome young men.

Let me type it out for anyone who thought they were "sending a message:" The Republican party pretends to care about working class people and social issues in order to get votes, and it works. EVERY SINGLE POLICY they put into place actually removes social safety nets, removes rights from minorities, and consolidates wealth into a chosen elite. They don't actually care about gay marriage or abortion, but since Joe Pickup does, they coast on those issues while deregulating the banks and closing the mental hospitals (and work to eliminate gay marriage and safe and legal abortion).

The silver lining is that we only have to put up with this embarrassment for two years, and in the meanwhile Capuano or someone else worthwhile can build up a decent head of steam to get rid of this guy. In all likelihood, I won't be in Massachusetts to help, but that's okay, Massachusetts doesn't feel very special this morning.

Right now I feel like: where's my handbasket?

Comments

[g-weir.livejournal.com]

It's very frustrating how divisive politics has become, but guess what? That is intentional republican strategy. Rove perfected it for Bush 2 and it's still working- we don't have to do anything but villainize the opposition. That's our policy, our message, our job. It's cynical and stupid and I can't believe it's worked so well so so long. I have a better life than many and I'm still frustrated by all the disappointments and shortcomings in America right now and hope someone will do something about it, but It's kind of incredible that there are more people who are so terrified that what they have will be taken away that they'd do this much to keep things as they are.

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

we want change - change is coming too fast - we want slow change - wait, no, we don't really want change!

*head explode*

[dosboof.livejournal.com]

I said it yesterday, but I'll say it again: I'm betting that the GOP is going to vet Scott Brown for President in 2012. Probably with Palin. Maybe the other way around but I doubt it.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

Make that 2016 and I could believe it.

[ndozo.livejournal.com]

This is brilliant. If you ever get tired of nature, write about politics.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

At the moment, I'm really tired of politics.

[hissilliness.livejournal.com]

My tentative sense is that the Brown voters didn't consider Obama's change too fast--they considered it too slow. It's been almost a year, and the economy is still in trouble and there are still terrorists--gyp! Throw the bums out!

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

no, they thought health care reform was too fast.

[featheredfrog.livejournal.com]

Right now I feel like: where's my handbasket?

It's right there: it's called the Department of Homeland Security.

[roaming.livejournal.com]

I hope the ghost of Ted K haunts Brown into a psychotic breakdown.

And I'm wondering WHERE to move to!

WTF Brown?

[(Anonymous)]

Man, I don't even have an opinion here. But I wonder how many people *didn't* vote out of sheer spite? I counted at least twenty soliciting messages on my answering machine after one day!