Brown still up in Mass

[Goatnapper'96]

First, this was a special election in Massachusetts NOT a national election, so the results reflect the voters of Massachusetts NOT the U.S. So how you can claim that the people of Massachusetts now identify themselves as Republicans and the GOP's positions on terrorism, deficits, and healthcare is beyond absurd.

Second, the Democratic candidate was as approachable and appealing as you.

Lastly, as I stated previously, I think this is simply the trend of American politics. Fewer are buying the hard-line party stance and more people are self-identifying as Independents.

I agree there are a great deal of local issues that make up this event. I don't see this as any great mandate for Republicans, just as I did not see the Democrat success as any great mandate for the liberal agenda they are seeking to accomplish. However, I do think that this is a referendum on the WH and the Democrat Congressional leadership. I don't think this health care proposal is popular. I think health care reform is still a popular issue, but I think the issue has been preceded by the economy. The Democrats have been awful at moving to the issue that the American people want. I do think that if the Democrats would swallow their pride and apologize to the American people like Obama did to Europe on behalf of Uncle Sam, that a bi-partisan economic improvement/jobs bill and a legitimate effort at health care reform could be accomplished this year. If it is Obama would likely be re-elected.

[cowboy]

It all came down to healthcare, terrorism and deficits.

Yes and no. Among the whopping 56% of voters for whom health care was the most important issue, Coakley won 53% to 46%, so the health care issue didn't necessarily help Brown as much as everyone thinks. The only other issue a double digit percentage of the voters stated as their most important was the economy, and Brown carried that group 52% to 47%. National was the most important issue for 6% of the voters, and Brown carried that group handily, 67% to 29%.

So you're right that health care, terrorism and deficits were the most important issue. A total of 87% of the voters cited health care, the economy, and national security as their the top priority. However, Coakley led this 87% narrowly, by a 43.17% to 42.78% margin. It was taxes that actually pushed Brown over the top. of the 5% of voters for whom taxes were the most important issue, Brown pounded Coakley 87% to 13%, pushing him into a 47% to 44% lead among 92% of the voters.

The candidates appear to have split the vote for the remaining 8% of the candidates who stated some other issue as the most important.

Please. Scott Brown ran as a populist and as a moderate...

No, not really. It appears that 72% of Mass voters viewed Brown as somewhat or very conservative. Only 22% considered him a moderate.

[Fiyero]

With so many people viewing Brown's election as swinging the Health Care vote from pass to fail, I was curious to see how the Dow Jones would react; it's already -191 this morning.

[Hallelujah]

With so many people viewing Brown's election as swinging the Health Care vote from pass to fail, I was curious to see how the Dow Jones would react; it's already -191 this morning.

Understandable, considering the shenanigans the Dems continue to float out there as a run-around the fact they no longer have a super majority. That is why.

Yesterday when it looked like Brown was going to win, the stock market was up. Unfortunately Wall Street woke up this morning to more 'deals' that the Dems are considering which may still force healthcare down everyone's throat.

[cowboy]

Understandable, considering the shenanigans the Dems continue to float out there as a run-around the fact they no longer have a super majority. That is why.

Yesterday when it looked like Brown was going to win, the stock market was up. Unfortunately Wall Street woke up this morning to more 'deals' that the Dems are considering which may still force healthcare down everyone's throat.

Or...stay with me here...it could be that China has ordered its banks to stop issuing loans, and that housing starts were disappointing. Combined, these two items of breaking news are sending commodities and commodity stocks tumbling.

[SloanHater]

...
No, not really. It appears that 72% of Mass voters viewed Brown as somewhat or very conservative. Only 22% considered him a moderate.

"In a recent interview with Brown, Fox TV commentator Sean Hannity, after identifying himself as a "Reagan conservative," asked the Massachusetts state senator how he would describe himself. "I identify myself as a Scott Brown Republican," the candidate shot back, making the point that he is his own man and would vote independently."

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sco...k=MW_news_stmp

[cowboy]

"In a recent interview with Brown, Fox TV commentator Sean Hannity, after identifying himself as a "Reagan conservative," asked the Massachusetts state senator how he would describe himself. "I identify myself as a Scott Brown Republican," the candidate shot back, making the point that he is his own man and would vote independently."

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/sco...k=MW_news_stmp

How does that mean that he ran and was perceived as a moderate? I think the polling data are pretty clear that, if he ran as a moderate, he certainly wasn't perceived as such.

[Goatnapper'96]

How does that mean that he ran and was perceived as a moderate? I think the polling data are pretty clear that, if he ran as a moderate, he certainly wasn't perceived as such.

If one is looking for titles he is a fiscal conservative, even his acceptance speech hammered lowering taxes on businesses to fuel economic growth and prosperity, and a social liberal. I don't know if that makes him a moderate as it is up to SH to define what he means by moderate but my guess is he means a moderate is any Republican not beloved by the Religious Right which I don't think Brown will be.

[Fiyero]

I wonder how many Red Sox fans Coakley pissed off by calling Curt Schilling "a Yankees fan"?

[Goatnapper'96]

I wonder how many Red Sox fans Coakley pissed off by calling Curt Schilling "a Yankees fan"?

I wonder if Democrats wanted to lose the filibuster so they could find an excuse to change direction and then be able to point the finger at the Republicans for being obstructionists. I am convinced Obama is more optimistic about his chances to be reelected now.

[RobinFinderson]

I wonder how many Red Sox fans Coakley pissed off by calling Curt Schilling "a Yankees fan"?

A question asked and answered by Jon Stewart in his pre-election explanation for why Coakly would lose:

Jon Stewart saw this coming, and had some interesting thoughts.

This is definitely the most entertaining assessment of the whole election and its ramifications, and Stewart did this before the election.

[Moliere]

I wonder how many Red Sox fans Coakley pissed off by calling Curt Schilling "a Yankees fan"?

I know of one and he's a democrat, although he doesn't live in Massachusettes.

[Fiyero]

Brown's daughter Ayla plays hoops for Boston College. Is she any good or did daddy get her that spot? She was also on American Idol a couple of years ago.

[Moliere]

A question asked and answered by Jon Stewart in his pre-election explanation for why Coakly would lose:

Jon Stewart saw this coming, and had some interesting thoughts.

This is definitely the most entertaining assessment of the whole election and its ramifications, and Stewart did this before the election.

I watched this from your prior link and, while I usually find Jon Stewart's humor mildly amusing, I agree that this was well done.

However, in spite of the fact that Coakley sucked as a candidate, to all out dismiss the notion that her losing a 20 point lead in a month is not related somewhat to healthcare is ludicrous.

I keep playing in my mind the events that led up to Brown's election and it is both interesting and twisted.

[Moliere]

Brown's daughter Ayla plays hoops for Boston College. Is she any good or did daddy get her that spot? She was also on American Idol a couple of years ago.

Coakley apparently thought she played for Providence.