Renaming the "Scott Brown Effect"

Now playing: "Not Fade Away" - Sheryl Crow

"Turd in the punchbowl."

Gotcha now, don't I?

Bear with me. Let me set the stage with some political mumbo-jumbo before I get into the true meat of this discussion.

Shortly after I moved to New England last fall, the voters of Massachusetts were faced with a special election to fill the seat left by the late Senator Edward Kennedy. This was "The Kennedy Seat;" save two years, a Kennedy served in that seat since 1953 when John F. (Jack) Kennedy defeated Republican incumbent Henry Cabot Lodge. Ted Kennedy himself sat as the State's Senator for almost 50 years.

So naturally, the reliably blue voters of Massachusetts elected a Republican.

All eyes of the country were on Massachusetts during the special election. As soon as Scott Brown, a Republican State Senator from Norfolk County was elected, mass chaos ensued (allegedly). If you believed what you saw in the news, it spelled the beginning of the end for President Obama and the revival of a Republican party that was taken to task in the 2008 election.

It was the "Scott Brown Effect."

The GOP aimed to "return the power to the people" and the Scott Brown election was the starting line. Imagine angry crowds, fire and brimstone, "we're mad as hell as we're not gonna take it anymore from that socialist, elitist Obamer!" as people in white robes charge onto Capitol Hill (oops, I didn't *really* mean that.) In retrospect, we now know this to mean "two more years of purposefully creating gridlock with the express goal of sticking our tongues out and going 'nyah nyah' to the White House."

But I digress.

Here in Massachusetts, Republicans were ready to make big gains in a state which had previously been under lock and key to them. In Massachusetts' 10th Congressional district incumbent Democrat Bill Delahunt was retiring. Senator Brown carried this district with a whopping 60% of the vote. It was an open, toss-up seat in a fairly conservative, upper-class district and was ripe for the picking.

Naturally, the voters of the 10th district voted for the Democrat, Norfolk County's District Attorney Bill Keating. He beat State Representative Jeff Perry, the Republican candidate, 47%-42%.

Hmmm. The Commonwealth donned it's blue cloak again.

In fact, all 10 of Massachusetts' US House seats were back in blue, and back in the governor's seat was previously-vulnerable incumbent Democratic Governor, Deval Patrick. Score one for the Asses.

Now, we all know that nationwide the Republicans scored large gains and are well on their way to creating planned obstrucification in Washington as well as sweeping wins in Statehouses. I suppose what people forget is that the President's party almost ALWAYS gets shellacked in midterm elections. Since 1862, the President's party only twice has gained seats in midterm elections (1934 & 2002).

But it's so much more fun to scream and pound our fists "we're taking our country back, blah blah blah."

So....the point of all this is what?

The Scott Brown effect is inappropriately titled.

Here's why.

A month before that 2010 Massachusetts special election, Senator Brown was down almost 20 points to Suffolk County District Attorney Martha Coakley. The Democrats sat back, secure in the safety that their death grip on the seat was safe. Then candidate Coakley took a MONTH OFF and disappeared. To no one's shock (except the Massachusetts' Democratic leadership), Brown took advantage and made up that ground and then some.

To use a phrase from Mike Felger, a favorite sports radio personality of mine (which he uses to describe another area favorite Randy Moss)....

.....Martha Coakley was a turd in the punchbowl.

The aforementioned 10th US House race was the Republicans' best chance to gain a seat in the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation. The "Scott Brown Effect" was ready to do it's damage. Instead, much like the Democrats before them, they threw Jeff Perry into the race....the same Jeff Perry who presided over an illegal strip-search of teenage girls while he was a police sergeant.

The seat was gift-wrapped for the Republicans. Yup, say it with me.....

.....Jeff Perry was a turd in the punchbowl.

Maybe, just maybe, politicans LOSE a seat versus another WINNING a seat. Don't chalk it up to some mystifying "effect."

Let's face it. Harry Reid really should've lost in Nevada. Never mind that the man's story is quite honorable and details that of a life-long fighter despite the odds.

Sharron Angle was a turd in the punchbowl.

I rest my case.

Thank god I moved to Massachusetts, as Minnesota still gives us Michelle Bachmann. Those poor folks can't seem to get through an election without needing a recount.

Another day, friends.