Yes, we got our asses whooped! Progressives worked hard to get the vote out, and pumped money into the election but we still got our butts kicked. Why?
We lost the independents, even in a progressive state like MA we lost the independents to a teabagger. It is not hard to understand why. The timing of this special election sucked for the democrats here in MA and in DC and for the president. Don't read too much more than that into this! Unemployment is still double digits, which is THE main reason. Stimulus money, even here in the northeast, is slow to make a dent in that number, which historically is always last to emerge from an economic downturn. Presumably by november we will see more results from that initiative. If not, we're toast nationwide, no matter what happens in all these other side issues.
Look at it from the perspective of folks not reading DailyKos 2-3 hrs a day. And yes kos and MB, those folks are out there in great numbers, even here in Massachusetts. Beyond unemployment, what have those folks been getting fed by way of the media on a regular basis? Two wars still being waged and the cost in lives and dollars continues unacceptably, and unaffordably high. (The right approves, the left is livid.) TARP money not being repaid but instead going to bonuses of bank executives, (Left is livid.) Michigan looking like a war zone, with no real hope at all for a turn around. (Right is mocking us.) Global warming is being seen through the coldest winter in years in many places. (Left is trying to educate and the Right is again mocking us.) GLBT rights inching forward, but frustratingly slow for the GLBT community who sees the clock ticking on the democratic majority. (Right livid about the inches gained, left is livid at the miles to go.) Immigration just now being talked about. (Left is trying to find their courage, right is licking their chops.) Housing crisis continues in fits and starts. Banks still failing. NOLA still in tatters and Obama sending aid to Haiti in a manner most Americans were mortified to see never happen in the aftermath of Katrina. What did I leave out? Ahh yes, the HCR debacle. I won't even mention that here. ...rolls eyes...
And anyone is remotely surprised the democrats, with their super majority, got sent a message by way of this teabagging idiot from Massachusetts? Come on folks, lets look at this from a realistic perspective and not panic quite yet, but make the needed course corrections and focus on the task at hand. It's the economy stupid!