According to the newspapers, this is a major rebuke of the Obama administration and the Democrats. Yeah, it probably is a little bit, though I think the crappy campaigning described above had a major influence. Massachusetts is labeled as one of the most liberal states in the country (mandatory health care for all and legalized gay marriage) and a Republican taking over Ted Kennedy's seat would seem impossible had it not just happened.
So, what can we learn from this? You've got to play all four quarters. No one is safe until they're raising the right hand in Congress.
I think that this defeat (minor or major, I'm not sure yet) puts the first half of the 111th Congress in a more realistic perspective. When you have a tent as big as the Democrats, you're not going to get the more/most liberal stuff passed because those pesky Blue Dogs (the ones who make your party the majority party) are going to demand abortion controls, opt-out provisions, and busts of Ronald Reagan in their capital building. Maybe next time, we should manage expectations a little bit and not think that CHANGE is going to happen by enthusiastic consensus or Presidential Fiat on the authority of his/her approval rating. Obama has not had the Congressional or party unity that Bush had in the wake of major national security concerns.
Maybe this isn't such a bad thing. Yes, Congressional politics will become more difficult, but I'm not sure that it will be SO different. Maybe the party will start getting its act together and focus on this year's midterms. Just like I said yesterday about Texas' loss, maybe losing some in the regular season can help you win the championship.
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