Democrats Will Avoid Tough Issues Until After The Election
Jan 20, 2010 Political
Scott Brown’s historic win in very blue Massachusetts was a shock wave that had been building in momentum. Even if he had lost the tightness of the race was cause for concern among Democrats who are expected to win by huge margins in Massachusetts. The Democrats and their big money supporters were forced to spend a lot of money in this race, money they had not planned on spending.
The ramifications of a contest this historical are nearly immediate. Senator Jim Webb said that there should be no more votes on health care legislation until Brown was sworn in. This is in opposition to all the stories over the last weeks (as a Brown victory became a possibility)that Democrats would drag their feet in getting Brown sworn in. I am still waiting for them to say Biden is at an undisclosed location so he will not be available to swear Brown in.
A story from al-Reuters today indicates that Democrats are unlikely to take up cap and trade legislation this year instead focusing on a separate energy bill that has bipartisan support. Cap and trade is very unpopular, like say, health care and the members of the House are already on a limb because they voted on it and are now stuck with their votes after the Senate dropped the issue leaving House members hanging.
The Democrats were reading the writing leading up to this election and now they are reading the writing all over the place. They can see that the people are angry and want blood (figuratively for those inclined to call law enforcement) and they are not too keen on the idea of voting on something that might well end their careers.
There might be 58 Democrats in the Senate and 256 in the House but they are really 58 individuals in the Senate and 256 individuals in the House who are worried about their own individual careers. When push comes to shove they will look out for their own political life.
Democrats are not likely to put anything on their legislative agenda that will result in tough votes that will require explanations to constituents.
If Coakley had won they would be full speed ahead.
Elections have consequences and this election has effectively defanged the Democrats.
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Tags: consequences, election, masachusetts, results