Whether Coakley wins or loses today, what message do you think the White House and Democratic Party establishment will take away from this? What message do you think they should take away from this?
Obviously the election today is a shocker; whether or not Coakley wins or loses. Two weeks ago who would have thought this was even in play? So what happened? How has so much changed in a year that we may lose Ted Kennedy's seat?
My guess is that the White House and party leaders will take a message from this that they have tried to do too much too soon. That they went too far on health care and that the public is not ready for the changes they are offering.
My belief is that the results today mean that they did not go far enough. Much of the base is not energized and feels like they are being taken for granted. Every time there is a concession it's the base that has to make it.
I also believe that many of the independents who voted for Obama in 2008 are angry because they did vote for change and they have not seen it. How many polls do you have to see that show that the vast majority of the voters favor a strong public option? Yet the party essentially sold them out.
I really don't see todays results as pro Brown. Rather anti the lack of change and the lack of the ability to get anything done by the Dems. In voting for Brown, many of these people are voting against their best interests. They are just adding one more obstructionist to the mix. Apparently they don't see it that way.
Win or lose, I hope this is a wake up call for the White House and both Houses of Congress. Be bold! Try to make the change you want to make. If you go down, at least go down swinging. If you are bold and actually draw a line in the stand against the Repubs; the majority of people will be with you. They want the Obama they saw in 2008. It's not too late.