The thing about Scott Brown that I admire is that he is not running as Democrat Lite (RINO). However, I strongly suspect that if he wins that he will move to the center because he is still in Massachusetts and he wants to be reelected. The idea that a Northeastern Republican can sound like Duncan Hunter and hope to be either elected or reelected is a pipe dream for ideologues. Nevertheless the fact that he is so competitive in the Bay State should send shivers down the spine of the Democratic Party (if they were ever capable of overcoming their preening arrogance). The key is as William Buckley once said “to elect the most electable conservative, not necessarily the most conservative candidate.”
By Jonah Goldberg
In August, Ted Kennedy, the Lion of the Senate, the last son of Camelot, the soul of the Democratic Party, friend of the people and scourge of robber barons, fat cats and special interests, departed this mortal coil.
Now, that’s not really my opinion of the man. But if you were inclined to imbue Tom Brokaw with pontifical authority or view the world through the prism of The New York Times, or its mini-me The Boston Globe, that’s how you’d see Teddy.
So it should be of more than passing interest that “Ted Kennedy’s seat” in the Senate may go to Republican Scott Brown next week. And not just any Republican, but an actual conservative, as opposed to some me-too Republican who promises to drive in the same direction as liberals.
Not long ago, Brown was down 30 points to Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley. Now it’s neck and neck, according to many polls. Brown is still the underdog, but the fact that it is even close is in itself hugely significant. It’s a bit like Tibet holding its own against China in a land war, or Abe Vigoda giving Tiger Woods a run for his money at Augusta (or, for that matter, at a Vegas nightclub).
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This is like a Democrat successfully running in Texas on tax hikes, gay marriage and funding the Pentagon solely through bake sales.
The Democratic Party is panicking like brothel patrons with cops at the door. They’re dropping shock troops of hacks, muckety-mucks, spinners and door-knockers into Boston like Rangers into Normandy.
Meanwhile, the liberal press establishment is in near-total denial. Yes, the race is getting a lot of attention, but Coakley’s problems are being chalked up to the fact that she is a bad campaigner and that this is a bad “climate” for the Democrats.
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The Democrats’ “bad climate” is a direct result of how they’ve governed. The populist backlash is fueled by a sense that Democrats are acting on their preferred agenda and by their own rules. From the shenanigans of the people who write our tax code and collect our taxes to special deals and secret arrangements for big businesses and legislators who play ball, the Democrats have abandoned transparency in favor of transparent arrogance.
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“The people of Massachusetts” are an abstraction whose role is to ratify her entitlement to the seat. As for the citizens of the state her campaign can’t be bothered to spell correctly in campaign ads? By all means, keep them at a safe distance.
When asked if her campaign style is too aloof, she snapped back: “As opposed to standing outside Fenway Park [the way Scott Brown does]? In the cold? Shaking hands?”
Heaven forfend the royal heir apparent descend from her carriage and actually touch the prols.
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Coakley may still win. But Democrats should be on notice: The fault for her sad performance lies not in the climate, but in themselves.
Tags: Jonah Goldberg, Massachusetts
