Brown
The other night in trivia, one of the questions was, What are the top four last names that are also colors? The answers? Black, Gray, White and Brown.
Brown. That last name is all over the news this week. Unless you are living under a rock, you’ll recognize it as the Massachusetts Republican state senator who ran as a relative unknown and won the national Senate seat to replace the late Edward Kennedy.
Scott Brown. Earlier this week, I withered at the thought of him in office. Sure, I’m pretty liberal in my views. That’s no secret. But, it was more than one conservative gaining office in a state far from here. It was that one Republican that would give the 41st vote to the Republicans, making it far easier to filibuster a vote for a national healthcare plan. Something I strongly feel this country needs.
Once again, I’ve got to hand it to the Republicans. As a party, they are far more organized and far more focused and far more motivated than the Democrats. It’s been the Democratic weak link for years (which I thought the Obama presidential campaign overcame, but apparently it was just for a fleeting moment). I’m no political junkie and even I can see this gaping hole in the Democratic party.
But, something changed for me this week. I was listening to NPR last night and heard a segment about Scott Brown’s win. And I’ve got to say, I’m no longer raging mad the Republicans won (let that be differentiated from the fact I am raging mad the Democats can’t get their heads out of their asses). Let me repeat that for all you conservative whiners who claim the media is all biased against you. An NPR story changed my views of a new Republican Senator to possibly favor and certainly give him a chance.
If Scott Brown is true to his word, that he’s not against a national healthcare policy, then I want to hear what he has to contribute to the Senate debate. Hell, he comes from a state that already has enacted a healthcare policy, a policy which he voted for in favor. A state where 98% of its residents are now insured. Bring it on, Scott Brown.
This change in me doesn’t mean I like everything he stands for. According to that NPR story, He’s against gay marriage. He stands with business and gun owners, but he supports abortion rights, to an extent, and earns high marks from environmentalists. If politics is all about compromise, I’ll give him guns, will take abortion rights and let’s talk gay marriage, ok? And color me impressed that environmentalists like the guy. You don’t hear that often said about someone from a political party that, by and large, argues against the numbers and science behind global warming.
So, here we are. It’s a new day. Scott Brown makes his first trip to Washington D.C. to begin his next adventure. And for now, I’m right alongside him for the ride. I can only hope he brings a new dynamic to the healthcare debate (among the many other debates in which he’ll partake) and helps to move this country forward instead of stalling in the past.
January 21st, 2010 at 8:27 am
My political views have changed in the past few weeks too -- after reading each party’s manifesto on the arts (which I am extremely passionate about) I changed from Labour, to Conservative, to Liberal. I’ve actually enjoyed getting more involved with politics and being able to stand my ground in an argument. I don’t know much about American politics, and wouldn’t know where Republicans would sit in our Parliament, but I’m gonna go find out :D
January 21st, 2010 at 9:18 am
I am incredibly liberal and couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness that a Republican won. You are right about the democratic party needed to be more focused and organized. i definitly think that the next few weeks will be incredibly interesting.
January 21st, 2010 at 9:28 am
I heard that story driving home last night and felt very similar. While my liberal heart sank for a moment when I heard the news, I have to give him credit where credit is due, the fact that environmentalist gave him high marks really apprised me. The Democrats did not do a great job at reaching out to voters and they did not organize strongly enough.
I am just glad that people voted.
It is my hope that perhaps this new senator will actually be bipartisan as he said and actually encourage everyone to work together for a common good. Eh, hope springs eternal!
January 21st, 2010 at 9:42 am
Maybe I should listen to NPR more often. I have to admit that while I was watching the voting take place the other night while running my head off, I was intrigued by the stats they flashed on screen about him and actually thought “maybe he isn’t so bad,” which for me is a huge deal being little miss liberal as well. Maybe, just maybe, he can pave the way for more compromise in politics and be a great example for Republicans and Democrats alike. Here’s hoping…
January 21st, 2010 at 9:53 am
i admire your way of talking about such a heated and contraversial topic with such grace and tact, nilsa. seriously, and not to get all shmoopy on you, but i think you’re really wonderful, and here is just another way you prove that.
im sure you’ve heard what it’s been like around here in MA this week. insane. crazy. gotta say, im glad that the voting is done and like you, im eager to see what will happen from here.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:07 am
When the Republican guy (McDonnell) won in Virginia for the governor’s seat, I think a lot of people were not surprised (because well it’s Virginia). But, I observed the elections and I have to say that the Democrats did nothing short of the POOREST job “advertising” their candidate. A lot of it had to do with how the candidates portrayed themselves and each other to the public. The Republicans did a great job. The Dems, terrible.
I don’t really know why more people were swayed in MA to vote for Brown, but from what I can see, the Dems are doing a crap job in trying to maintain a strong base and party.
And to clarify, I’m my political thoughts veer towards the liberal side and NEVER to the conservative side. I’m just so disappointed in the Dems. They need to get their act together.
January 21st, 2010 at 10:26 am
I must have heard a different NPR story, because in the one I was listening to he was against national universal healthcare because “Mass already has universal healthcare, and the residents of Mass don’t want to pay for something they already have.” It made me cringe because it was such a self-centered statement.
I totally agree with you about the crappy actions lately of the dems. But overall I HATE partisanship. I think it ruins everything when people only vote party lines and don’t actually stop and THINK about the impact of their vote.
January 21st, 2010 at 11:32 am
I was quite happy when Brown won. We all know I am very conservative. But I think that Health Care reform is an important issue to both Democrats and Republicans. (Nearly) everyone knows that reform is necessary. Now there will be a chance to discuss what the reform should entail instead of having a one-sided bill pushed through.
January 21st, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Oh, this is a great post.
January 21st, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Scott Brown is not bad for a Republican. I agree that I still hold out a tiny bit of hope that he will not ruin everything. However I am still raging mad at the freaking Massachusetts Democrats for allowing this to happen.
January 21st, 2010 at 12:38 pm
As a liberal person I can’t say I’m on team Brown. It will be interesting to see where his votes go now that he will be surrounded and pressured by much more conservative politicians than he likely was in Massachusetts. We’ll see if he just ends up falling in line with the rest of them. Like Tia, I remember hearing somewhere that he was pulling the Massachusetts doesn’t need this card? Maybe I misheard.
The healthcare situation is so depressing and now I’m not sure any real change will actually happen. The Republicans always seem to act in the best interest of big business (i.e. insurance companies) and not their constituents (while always making clear that they are big believers in Jesus), so I think that if they had their way healthcare would remain status quo or maybe favor insurance companies even more.
The Dems are doing such a poor job too. Why are they such wimps? They had it in the bag a year ago. I guess I’ll believe there will be some kind of change after it happens.
January 21st, 2010 at 12:42 pm
I like your thinking. I find myself neither here nor there politically (I am a registered Libertarian), but I do know that part of the reason that I stay the hell away from politics is because half of it is pointing fingers and blaming the “other.” I find it humorous that people are doing what you have not done — blaming the Republicans for taking “over” the Senate seat, when the Democrats could have prevents it from the start. Your objective analysis of the fact that you give credit to BOTH parties where it is deserved reminds me that there are SOME sane, non-hater people out there!
January 21st, 2010 at 1:08 pm
So many talking heads are insisting that this election was about healthcare legislation and the way things have been run in the last year. But me? I think it has more to do with Martha calling Schilling a Yankee fan. Schilling. Bloody sock in 2004. A key element in ending the curse. You can’t tell me that didn’t sway several voters… ;-)
January 21st, 2010 at 2:47 pm
so far i’m liking what i’m hearing from him. i’m a conservative. but i ride the fence on a lot of issues…kinda like this guy. liberal on some stuff. conservative on other things.
January 21st, 2010 at 4:13 pm
But alas, he’s not a Kennedy.
It will never cease to frustrate me how disorganized the Democratic party is. That said, I’m afraid that strategists like Karl Rove likely have a special place in hell. Maybe we’re better off being innocent and discombobulated. :P
January 21st, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Gutsy! Talking politics on the Internet? You go girl!
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:08 am
This post saved my week. Tuesday was a particularly stressful day and when I saw the news, I wanted to sink into a hole and hide. It seemed as if the world was falling apart.
I need to listen to NPR more often. Thank you!
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:13 pm
I’m interested to see how Senator Brown will interact with his fellow Republicans in the Senate. He doesn’t seem to fit the mold.
January 22nd, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Thanks for sharing this info -- I am behind on news and didn’t know what was going on until I ended up at my uber-Republican uncle’s home Tuesday morning!
January 22nd, 2010 at 5:32 pm
I’m so glad you wrote about this! The more I read and hear about the special election, the more I think the Dems lost it (instead of Brown winning it).
However, I think there’s a huge issue holding the Democratic Party back and it’s rooted in their very nature: they allow their friends to disagree with them. You notice that Republicans close ranks quickly and seamlessly and don’t allow dissent -- you’re either with them or against them. Conservative media ignores stories about Republicans behaving badly and moderate Republicans get run out of office or treated so badly that they choose to switch parties. The Republicans stop just short of burning in effigy one of their own who dares to disagree with the leadership. Meanwhile Dems see questioning authority and measured discussion as useful tools in the democratic process. As much as I agree with them, I think it’s the reason they never get anywhere and we become an ever more center-right nation.
I also don’t quite see why the Democrats don’t just move forward and show the GOP as the obstructionists they can be (and often are). Republicans seemed to pass objectionable legislation in the Senate with a much slimmer (and certainly not filibuster-proof) majority.
January 25th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
As a avowed liberal Democrat, this post spoke volumes and is pretty spot on with my own concerns about Brown and my disgust with the lack of balls my party has.