http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/frontpage/comments/massachusetts-senate-race-draws-to-a-close-today/ Voter's in Massachusetts head to the polls today to determine who will fill the Senate seat formerly held by Ted Kennedy, choosing either Democrat Martha Coakley or Republican Scott Brown. The race was originally seen as cakewalk for the Democrats, but Brown's campaign and supporters turned the race into a dead heat and now an seeming victory for Brown, as Nate Silver of 538 is puts Brown at 3:1 and other polls also point to Brown winning. If Brown wins, that puts 41 Republicans in the Senate, enough to sustain a filibuster, which puts Democrat plans for health care reform in jeopardy. Backup plans are already being considered, including asking the House to back the Senate plan with no changes. Got something to add? Add it below the fold! en-us brandonb Copyright 2010 2010-01-19T;16:02:40+00:00 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/90/ Get your own 'anatomically correct' Scott Brown Action Figure. What you do with it is your own business. I don't judge. Get your own 'anatomically correct' Scott Brown Action Figure.

What you do with it is your own business. I don't judge.]]> Mon, 01 Feb 10 21:54:37 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/216/ Tehanu, Yes! I'll start a post.
Yes! I'll start a post.]]> Thu, 28 Jan 10 01:46:36 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/80/ SOTU liveblog? y/n? Thu, 28 Jan 10 01:04:29 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/215/ The idea that 59 senators in the controlling party means the Democrats have lost the ability to pass ANY legislation puts us in the twilight zone. Dems still have a HUGE majority. Time to nuke the rules. We are now Israel, where the fringe controls the agenda.
We are now Israel, where the fringe controls the agenda.]]> Wed, 20 Jan 10 13:37:58 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ I'm curious to see what the White House does on that front. Are they going play, pass, or fold? Wed, 20 Jan 10 04:45:54 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/343/ And within 15 minutes of the race being called Democratic Senators are already calling to wait on health care until Brown can vote. Wed, 20 Jan 10 03:51:43 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ And then MSNBC cuts away from the speech. WTH?! Wed, 20 Jan 10 03:46:07 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Brown says he spoke to the President, hinted at playing basketball with him, then offered to drive "the truck" down to Washington. Yep, Presidential candidate, assuming he keeps his nose clean. Wed, 20 Jan 10 03:42:50 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Brown looks and sounds good. Presidential candidate for 2012? 2016? Wed, 20 Jan 10 03:37:48 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Brown salutes Ted Kennedy, saying he's try to be worthy successor to him. Wed, 20 Jan 10 03:36:23 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Brown says he's ready to go to Washington "without delay" Hope the Democrats are burning the midnight oil to get their shit together. Wed, 20 Jan 10 03:35:10 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Now the crowd is chanting "Seat him now, seat him now!" Wed, 20 Jan 10 03:34:14 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Brown is on now, saying the "Independent Majority has spoken" and he hopes Washington is getting the message. The crowd is chanting "41, 41, 41" Wed, 20 Jan 10 03:32:33 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/90/ The loss is bad enough, and the ordinary crowing will be bad enough, but because this was Teddy's seat, it's going to bring out everyone who was ever hard-done by by the Kennedys ever (who are still alive, and then some). John Dean, G. Gordon Liddy, Bork -- they're all going to find a teevee camera somewhere and claim vindication through this 'Kennedy loss'... Wed, 20 Jan 10 03:00:15 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Coakley's conceding publicly now. She's very nice. Wed, 20 Jan 10 02:59:05 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ President Obama called to congratulate Brown. Awkward. "Hey, congrats on winning and aiming to kill my signature piece of legislation. Have a nice day." Wed, 20 Jan 10 02:55:19 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ He's also advocating using reconciliation to pass health care reform and in doing so, make the change something most people will like, such as lowering the age for Medicare eligibility to 55. Wed, 20 Jan 10 02:41:08 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/90/ I guess there's solace in that Lieberman won't have as much leverage, now that he's no longer that 60th vote. Or he can just swing back to the Republicans... shit. WHEN WILL LIEBERMAN GET HIS COMEUPPANCE?!?
Or he can just swing back to the Republicans... shit.

WHEN WILL LIEBERMAN GET HIS COMEUPPANCE?!?]]> Wed, 20 Jan 10 02:38:17 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Howard Dean is talking to Rachel Maddow and his take on the situation is that Brown's winning might be a good thing as it could force Democrats to actually fight for something instead of ducking and running. Yah, like that'll happen. Wed, 20 Jan 10 02:37:16 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Brown campaign headquarters: a band is on stage, the lead singer is a woman in a black mini dress gyrating around while VICTORY flashes on a video screen in the background. Ah, American politics, I've missed you.
Ah, American politics, I've missed you.]]> Wed, 20 Jan 10 02:26:46 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ NBC news says Coakley is calling Brown to concede. Man, Ted is pissed. Wed, 20 Jan 10 02:24:27 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ AP is calling it for Brown, according to Rachel Maddow. Wed, 20 Jan 10 02:22:31 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ 57% reporting, Brown 52.7%, Coakely 46.3%. This is going to be a hell of an upset, Democrats got some 'plainin' to do. Wed, 20 Jan 10 02:04:24 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/90/ I'll join in when the new Kids In the Hall episode is over. Sometimes, it's good to be Canadian. Tonight is one of those times.
Sometimes, it's good to be Canadian. Tonight is one of those times.]]> Wed, 20 Jan 10 02:00:25 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Also, Haiti keeps pre-empting coverage. Amazingly they're still finding survivors. Wed, 20 Jan 10 01:37:38 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Do NOT watch MSNBC, they're flashing new percentages every 30 seconds it seems. First it was Brown 51, Coakley 48, then Brown 52.something, Coakely 46.1. NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. Talking Points Memo is saying "Game over, just pass what health care reform we got and let's hit the bar"
Talking Points Memo is saying "Game over, just pass what health care reform we got and let's hit the bar"]]> Wed, 20 Jan 10 01:34:25 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/80/ This is an election return night I prefer somewhat inebriated myself. 53-46 with 11% reporting.
53-46 with 11% reporting.]]> Wed, 20 Jan 10 01:33:04 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ 538 is tweeting too, for those who like their election results served sober. 538 is tweeting too, for those who like their election results served sober.]]> Wed, 20 Jan 10 01:29:50 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Polls closed at 8pm EST, and current results are Brown 52%, Coakely 47% according to MSNBC. Wed, 20 Jan 10 01:28:21 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/80/ Wonkette is livetweeting and liveblogging at the same time. It's hilarious, and I suspect they're drinking heavily. So many IS HEALTHCARE DEAD? headlines. :(
So many IS HEALTHCARE DEAD? headlines. :(]]> Wed, 20 Jan 10 01:27:23 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ I think you pretty much nailed it, especially on Democrats taking the seat for granted. Oops. Tue, 19 Jan 10 21:52:11 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/90/ Again, I don't know nearly enough about the race, but I would suspect that the seat having been Teddy's for so long, the Dems probably took it for granted, and didn't put forward as much effort as they should have, seeing it as an easy promotion for Coakley to a long-term Senate career. She doesn't seem to be the best campaigner, and there's enough in her bio for people to object to. Brown says all the right things, and appeals to conservatives who are currently underrepresented. But I stand to be corrected on any of this.
She doesn't seem to be the best campaigner, and there's enough in her bio for people to object to. Brown says all the right things, and appeals to conservatives who are currently underrepresented.

But I stand to be corrected on any of this.]]> Tue, 19 Jan 10 21:47:55 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/1/ Lots of people want to make this a national thing, but it sounds more like a local fight. The most significant national outcome of the race is how the winning party will frame this benefit their side. I wonder if it'll be too close to decide tonight?
I wonder if it'll be too close to decide tonight?]]> Tue, 19 Jan 10 21:15:19 +0000 http://www.politicalfilter.com/content/member/90/ All I know about the situation is what I saw on Jon Stewart last night (oh, how many things I can say that about), but based on that, a) she ran a lousy campaign, and b) it speaks a lot about the failure of Democrats all round over the last year. (Badmouthing Curt Schilling? Spelling "Massachusetts" wrong in your ad? That's amateur hour, and you don't deserve to win, even if your opponent did a nekkid spread in Cosmo.) Maybe the Dems need this kick in the pants. Speaking broadly, they haven't had any real successes, even when they had all the tools and no excuses.
Maybe the Dems need this kick in the pants. Speaking broadly, they haven't had any real successes, even when they had all the tools and no excuses.]]> Tue, 19 Jan 10 19:05:41 +0000