This is your healthcare...

(photo by p0ps Harlow)

And this is your healthcare when it belongs to the government:

(photo by me)

Any questions?

Weekend Wrap-Up: "Business As Usual"

Once again, The Bliss Index©, dutifully provides a weekend wrap-up of news…

So much for "keeping big money out of politics" – Apparently, $5,000 gets you an hour-long breakfast (aka: healthcare shakedown) with Nancy Pelosi…

You know, $5,ooo isn't all that much to pay someone to carry a big hammer around...

And that promise about keeping your own health insurance: Um, yeah, not so much. According to Investor’s Business Daily, “Internal White House documents reveal that 51% of employers may have to relinquish their current health care coverage by 2013 due to ObamaCare. That numbers soars to 66% for small-business employers.” Now is that the Hope™ or the Change® we were told about?

To be expected: From Politico, “Enviros give Obama a pass on spill - As the greatest environmental catastrophe in U.S. history has played out on Obama’s watch, the environmental movement has essentially given him a pass — all but refusing to unleash any vocal criticism against the president even as the public has grown more frustrated by Obama’s performance.”

Remember when the oil clean-up folks said they didn’t know about the oil booms that company in Maine has/offered? Yeah, um, not so much. (They knew back on May 21…)

The president visits the Gulf (looking for some ___ to kick?)...

Add Gulf oil spill fib: According to Powerline, “The administration has decreed a six-month moratorium on exploratory drilling in the Gulf, based on a report that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar wrote for President Obama. Salazar claimed that a panel of seven experts selected by the National Academy of Engineering had peer reviewed his report. It turns out, though, that the seven experts never saw the recommendation for a moratorium, and in fact oppose it.” This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Salazar for what he is…

Last add Gulf oil spill fib: Remember when clean-up authorities promised that"the media will have uninhibited access?" Um, yeah, not so much – Press photo flyovers prohibited; photos in public areas (namely beaches) are verboten; media boats kept away from spill areas; journalists harassed and threatened with arrest. I guess that’s just the administration’s policies on transparency at work.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar: at least he's getting "thumbs-up" from someone...

Add Obama Administration’s media relations: – After almost a year and a half in office, this administration has surpassed all previous presidencies in going after “leakers.” Hiding something?

I guess they were absent the day they taught about this in Econ 101: “Pension Plans Go Broke as Public Payrolls Expand.” Gee, who’d a thunk it?

From the “putting a (D) after your name doesn’t make bigotry OK” dept.: According to Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire, South Carolina State Sen. Robert Ford (D) was quoted by the Charleston Post and Courier as saying, “No white folks have an 'e' on the end of Green. The blacks after they left the plantation couldn't spell, and they threw an 'e' on the end." Ford, a Democrat, was trying to explain his view that race could have played a role in Alvin Greene's (D) surprise victory in the primary elections since he was the only black candidate in a primary with a majority of black voters.

Add bigotry/idiocy: Looks like former-California governor/hopes-to-be-governor-again Jerry Brown really stuck his jogging shoe in his mouth. Seems Brown and KCBS-AM 740 reporter Doug Sovern bumped into each other while they were out exercising and Brown let loose about his opponent, GOPer Meg Whitman. From Sovern’s Sovern Nation blog – “Brown boasted about his legendary frugality. "I've only spent $200,000 so far. I have 20 million in the bank. I'm saving up for her." It's true - his stay-on-the-sidelines, bare-bones primary run cost him almost nothing, at least in California political terms. But he also fretted about the impact of all those eBay dollars in Whitman's very deep pockets. "You know, by the time she's done with me, two months from now, I'll be a child-molesting..." He let the line trail off. "She'll have people believing whatever she wants about me." Then he went off on a riff I didn't expect. "It's like Goebbels," referring to Hitler's notorious Minister of Propaganda. "Goebbels invented this kind of propaganda. He took control of the whole world. She wants to be president. That's her ambition, the first woman president. That's what this is all about." It’s one thing to oppose your political opponent, it’s entirely another (and intellectually lazy) to compare political rhetoric with the evils of Nazism.

Jerry Brown: what will he say next?

Another reason why the private sector is often a much better choice than the public (government): Costs (duh). According to the Wall Street Journal, “It costs about $12 more per hour to employ a state or local government worker. Meanwhile, a breakout of private workers showed that it cost more to employ union workers than nonunion employees. The largest share of the costs comes from wages and salaries for both sets of workers: 70.6% for private employees and 65.9% for government workers. The rest of the payment comes in the form of benefits. It costs state and local governments $3.16 per hour to pay for employees’ retirement and savings plans, compared to 96 cents for private workers. Another $4.52 goes to health insurance for public workers, compared to $2.08 for private workers. And governments spend $3 per hour for its workers’ paid leave, compared to $1.88 for private workers. Compensation for union workers cost $37.16 per hour compared to $26.67 for non-union workers.” Dear California, now do you understand?

Will this be business as usual? - Because we’ve officially got World Cup fever here at The Bliss Index©, we’ll tip our caps to the U.S. soccer (er, football) squad as it walks away from Game 1 of pool play against the Brits. It wasn’t the prettiest game and the Yanks got lucky with a ball that shouldn’t have found England’s goal - but we’ll take it. Next opponent: Slovenia (June 18).

Good news/bad news...

It's Friday, so that means it's time for The Bliss Index Weekly News Wrap©...

While Rome burned, Nero fiddled: Today, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released what his own staff said was a devastating budget proposal. Meanwhile, the de facto leader of the state’s self-proclaimed party “of the little guy,” state Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, was hobnobbing with lobbyists and campaign contributors in the wealthy California enclave of Pebble Beach. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) is hosting the annual Speaker's Cup, the state Democratic Party's biggest fundraiser of the year. Well-heeled interest groups have been asked to contribute $60,000 for two days of golf, four hotel rooms, two evenings of dinner and access to one of the most powerful people in the state Legislature.”

Hasta la vista, budget...

How’s this for (yet another) wake-up call in California? – The state’s massive/powerful public employee pension fund, CalPERS, is considering a “$600 million hike in what California pays next year to cover state worker pensions.” If you ever wanted to visit Greece, hold off a bit – California’s almost there…

Speaking of California: The Golden State's Very Own checks in from the No, Duh Dept.: “Nancy Pelosi (D-Soon-to-be-Former Speaker): No question that voters are in an 'anti-incumbent' mood.” Gee, ya think?

California - in the thick of things...

How’s this for (yet another) wake-up call in California? – The state’s massive/powerful public employee pension fund, CalPERS, is considering a “$600 million hike in what California pays next year to cover state worker pensions.” If you ever wanted to visit Greece, hold off a bit – California’s almost there…

Add California's "justice" system to the list of failures: This wasn’t just a failure of the system. This is the ongoing breakdown of our society. That an “animal” like this – after being convicted of attacking at least one young girl – would be allowed to walk free defies explanation. His head isn't the only one that sjould roll (literally)…

And now, moving outside California...

It’s about time: “Congress Reins in Travel Perks - House leaders are revamping the rules for lawmakers and aides who travel overseas, forbidding them to fly in business class on shorter trips, use taxpayer funds to buy gifts or pocket unspent cash.”

Attention Arizona: Another reactionary boycott bites the dust…

The old saying goes like this: “If you lose your job, it’s a recession. If I lose my job, it’s a depression.” So how should an updated saying go, considering that reports show “millions of jobs that were cut won’t likely return?”

The good housing news: Foreclosures Down 2 Percent from Last Year. The bad housing news: it’s because they’ve foreclosed on so many homes that there are fewer to take these days…

Color me (not) shocked: “The Health Care Reform Already Costs More Than We Thought It Would.” In case you haven’t heard, “the Congressional Budget Office just reported that the health care reform bill was slated to cost $115 billion more than they said it would.” Seriously – did anyone not see this coming? And, even more seriously, does anyone not see what’s to come? If you think $115 billion (yes, with a “B”) in extra spending is bad now, what do you think it’s going to be like once this is institutionalized/becomes a “third rail” item that is sacrosanct?

"Prognosis - Negative..."

This is going to be a tough, tough (did I say, “tough?”…I meant, TOUGH!) cycle for incumbents – particularly those in the Democratic Party. This headline says it all: “Obama’s job approval sinking in battleground states.” In numerous races last election, Democratic candidates rode to victory on pro-Obama/anti-Bush coattails. Friends, those coattails are gone. With unemployment at close to 10 percent nationally (nearly 13 percent in key states like California), the EU in a fiscal tailspin, Afghanistan lingering on, ObamaCare® in the wings, Cap and Trade™ being proffered…things aren’t looking good for the majority party. The shine is off the apple and unless the economy makes a quick and dramatic turnaround, Mr. Obama will be Mr. One-Termer…

At least this guy saw/sees it coming: My good friend, colleague and bon vivant, Tunku Varadarajan, interviews “Dr. Doom” (the guy who predicted this, The Great Recession) for The Daily Beast. Wanna know how the story will turn out? Follow this guy…well, both guys...

Finally, I’ll end this with a great bit of news: “No pay raise for Congress in 2011!”

The fallout...

The signing - "a big deal" - is history, but it's not over...

About that rationing thing…from the NY Times: “So figuring out how we can say no may be the single toughest and most important task facing the people who will be in charge of carrying out reform. “Being able to say no,’ Dr. Alan Garber of Stanford says, “is the heart of the issue.’”



Congressional Budget Office, then: “The health insurance bill? Yeah, no problem – it’s gotta whole revenue neutral thing going for it.” Now: “Um, yeah, um, sorry. Kinda not. In fact, all this debt will be unsustainable. Our bad.”

So much for the Massachusetts model…

Carol Shea-Porter (D-North Massachusetts) tries to explain ObamaCare to a town hall meeting. Result: FAIL.


"I understand this much of it..."

Five lessons learned…after the bill was signed.

Sown…and reaped.


"Have I got a deal for you..."

How many pieces of silver?

Remember Bart Stupak (D-Mich.)?

He was that highly principled Congressman (one of 11) who just couldn’t bring himself to vote for the multi-trillion dollar ObamaCare bill. Not because he didn’t like all of the bureaucracy, added taxes and unconstitutional elements built into it. No. He was against it – “before he was for it” – because he was worried it opened the door to federal funding of abortion.

Bart Stupak (D-Mich.)...

He and his men stood strong in breach – turning away the evil that the bill was sure to bring. Onslaught after onslaught was turned away. “Leading a revolt against President Barack Obama’s health care legislation over abortion [was for him] a ‘living hell.’”

Then, just as it looked like President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) might see their efforts stall, Stupak rode to the rescue – for them. Leading the Stupak 11, the Michigan Democrat’s decision to support ObamaCare made all the difference, propelling Team Obama over the necessary 216-vote threshold for final passage.

By now, we all know – after hearing it right from the horses’ mouths – that Stupak & Co. struck a deal. Despite pressure from important Democratic special interest groups and powerful party leaders (like Pelosi), the president acquiesced to the Dirty Almost Dozen’s demands and – after the bill’s passage – signed an executive order reaffirming a ban on federal funding of abortions.
Today, however, we learned the real truth.

Stupak and his squad were never in it for principle. They were in it for themselves.So how many pieces of silver do the 11 want for their moral stand? $4.7 billion (or an average of $429 million worth of earmark requests for each lawmaker).


The Sunlight Foundation uncovered the Gang of 11’s payoff requests, including Stupak’s “requested $578 million [plus] in earmarks, including $125 million for a replacement lock on the Sault Ste. Marie, $25.6 million to build a federal courthouse in Marquette, Mich., $15 million to repaint the Mackinac Bridge and $800,000 to preserve the Quincy Mining Company smelter near Hancock in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.”

Stupak's office said “there's absolutely no link between the earmarks and the health care bill's passage.”

No…no link at all.

"Like a canary in a coal mine..."

Like a canary in a coal mine that suddenly stops singing, the signs are all there…

From Larry Johnson of No Quarter – “[Larry Doyle] interviewed the founder and President of the Consumer Metrics Institute, Richard Davis. Why should you care? Davis has developed a system for using data readily available in the public sector to accurately track what is really going on in the economy. And the news is not good. Richard Davis has his hands on tracking what consumers are really doing (or not doing). Here’s the bottom line–if consumers ain’t consuming the economy ain’t growing. Click on the link in Larry’s article. Listen to Larry and please, please give Richard Davis some of your precious time. You may not feel better after listening but you will be better informed.”

Yes we can…dismantle the economy in four years. (h/t: Ann Marlowe)

Florida, Florida, Florida: the Sunshine State’s unemployment numbers are its highest – EVER.

Interest rates to rise? – former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan Calls Treasury Yields ‘Canary in the Mine.’

Add Treasury: So why lack of interest…which will probably lead to a rise in interest (rates)? Chalk another win up for ObamaCare!

Add ObamaCare: Wait, I thought passing that bill would result in a bump in the polls…

The "coal mine?"

As if you didn’t know, who is making out when it comes to pay? Those on government payrolls. (Surprised?)


Making the Stimulus work for...you or someone on your dime?

What's yours is ours...

More than 300 demonstrators staged a protest march in San Francisco this afternoon, hoping to gain support for their cause: immigration reform.

Organizers said the event was staged in order to take advantage of the large march that occur ed in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, where more than 100,000 protested but were overshadowed by the health insurance reform debate, vote and protests in and around the Capitol.


The crowd gathers around the stage.

The protest started in Justin Herman plaza and later, marchers made their way to the downtown offices of U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Money). The march took place during the afternoon rush hour, bringing slowdowns and congestion to an already difficult commute.

While the protest march was disruptive and there was a noticeable police presence, no problems were reported.


According to San Francisco city law, "No protest is complete without a drum circle." (Just kidding.)


Immigration activists/protesters came from cities throughout the Bay Area.

Protesters await their marching orders.

Che's image was plentiful at the protest. (Apparently, the Stalin, Mao and Hitler signs were still on back-order.)

Overseers from the United Commercial Food Workers union were in attendance.

This gentleman helped protesters wrap themselves in the flag.

The Gaffenator

By now, you’ve no doubt heard about VP Joe “Effin” Biden’s latest gaffe which came “during the ceremonial signing of the Obama administration's immense healthcare bill. As he did last year during an Amtrak ceremony in Washington, the longtime Democratic senator was too near an open microphone when he dropped what is preciously referred to by tsk-tskers as the F-bomb, a crude seven-letter word for copulation which is more often corrupted into a freaking adjective.” (h/t: LA Times)

Class. Nothin’ but class.

He's No. 1 - twice! (Actually, he's No. 2...)

But that’s not all!

According to the same LA Times piece, “The VP was supposed to unveil the nation's newest anti-drug strategy, but that minor deal was postponed. Just so that Biden could reintroduce a man who needs no introduction over at more healthcare remarks at the Interior Department. Here's what he said, according to the White House transcript: ‘As I said just before the president signed the healthcare bill, I quoted Virgil, the classic Greek poet, who once said, 'The greatest wealth is health.' The greatest wealth is health. Mr. President, you’ve made us a nobler and wealthier nation by providing for the health of your fellow citizens.’ [As one reader] points out: Virgil wasn't Greek. He was Roman. Very Roman. So Roman, in fact, that the author (70 BC-19 BC) of the ‘Aeneid,’ among other famous works, is buried in Naples. As in Napoli, as a graduate of Syracuse (Siracusa in Sicily) might know. But, hey, Biden's boss thought Canada had a president and they speak Austrian in Austria. And he went to Harvard.”

But gaffes for Biden are nothing new. Heck, he’s practically built his career on them.

Look, while I’m not particularly proud of the veep saying what he did, it’s far from being the end of the world. Plenty of good – and competent – people have been great at what they do while having a “potty mouth” at the same time. But between Biden’s previous penchant for plagiarizing speeches and being more long-winded than tornado on vacation in a trailer park, this wasn’t a “positive.”

Way to go, Joe!

What price (to destroy) liberty?

Tonight, the House of Representatives passed the ObamaCare health insurance plan

From the NY Times: “After Abortion Deal, Democrats Secure 219-212 Victory - Congress gave final approval to legislation that would provide medical coverage to tens of millions of Americans and remake the U.S. health care system along the lines proposed by President Obama.”


The Constitution - remember this?

One of my ancestors put it this way: “Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either [aristocracy or monarchy]. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.” - John Adams


John Adams - he saw this coming...


"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6

'A republic…if you can keep it'

Sometime later this week, it’s likely Congress will vote on one of the most far-reaching pieces of legislation in the history of the United States: the health insurance reform bill (aka: “ObamaCare”).

The GOP is doing everything it can to stop the 2,400-plus page law from being approved, but the Dems are trying anything and everything to get the bill over the hump…including a host of parliamentary tricks and unconstitutional measures.

When asked why it’s OK to circumvent our nation’s legal foundation and tradition, the answers are myriad. From the noted blog, Red State: “Lefties (Daily Kos, TPMDC, and Huffington Post) are defending against allegations that the ‘Slaughter Rule’ proposed strategy to pass ObamaCare without a vote is unprecedented and unconstitutional. The Slaughter Rule has the support of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and is the Democrats preferred strategy to pass ObamaCare. Liberals are peddling a talking point that self-executing rules like the Slaughter Rule have been done before and it was the Republicans that used this tool in the past. The fact of the matter is that there is no precedent for the House to pass a bill without a direct vote by using a budget reconciliation measure as a trigger and a means to pass ObamaCare. Nancy Pelosi’s potentially unconstitutional strategy to pass unconstitutional ObamaCare is without precedent or justification.”


The leaders of the pack...

So the question arises: why does the Constitution only seem to matter with the pro-ObamaCare forces when it applies to granting rights to terrorists, unlawful combatants, terror detainees and their abettors? Why doesn’t the Constitution matter now?

Two reasons:

• First, this is about an agenda. The Rule of Law be damned.
• Second, this is about cowardice. Even Speaker Pelosi admits as much.

From a Washington Post story by staffers Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane – “After laying the groundwork for a decisive vote this week on the Senate's health-care bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the measure without having members vote on it.

Instead, Pelosi (D-Calif.) would rely on a procedural sleight of hand: The House would vote on a more popular package of fixes to the Senate bill; under the House rule for that vote, passage would signify that lawmakers "deem" the health-care bill to be passed.

The tactic -- known as a "self-executing rule" or a "deem and pass" -- has been commonly used, although never to pass legislation as momentous as the $875 billion health-care bill. It is one of three options that Pelosi said she is considering for a late-week House vote, but she added that she prefers it because it would politically protect lawmakers who are reluctant to publicly support the measure.

"It's more insider and process-oriented than most people want to know," the speaker said in a roundtable discussion with bloggers Monday. "But I like it," she said, "because people don't have to vote on the Senate bill."

Republicans quickly condemned the strategy, framing it as an effort to avoid responsibility for passing the legislation, and some suggested that Pelosi's plan would be unconstitutional.

"It's very painful and troubling to see the gymnastics through which they are going to avoid accountability," Rep. David Dreier (Calif.), the senior Republican on the House Rules Committee, told reporters. "And I hope very much that, at the end of the day, that if we are going to have a vote, we will have a clean up-or-down vote that will allow the American people to see who is supporting this Senate bill and who is not supporting this Senate bill."

In closing, a bit of history: At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Benjamin Franklin was buttonholed as he left Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation, “Well, doctor, what have we got – a republic or a monarchy?’ Franklin replied, “A republic…if you can keep it.”

After all is said and done, what will we have?


The Constitutional Convention...

Dear Nancy...

Long week, short blog tonight....


Nancy Pelosi (D-Alcatraz) drops a hint...

Nancy Pelosi gives a new definition to “bipartisan.” (Madame Speaker doesn’t seem to understand that since 1895, it’s meant “relating to, or involving members of two parties ; specifically : marked by or involving cooperation, agreement, and compromise between two major political parties.”

Add Pelosi: Apparently she hasn’t gotten the message from the majority of the electorate. The message she’s spouting – “Health care first…jobs later.” Maybe Nancy needs to pay better attention to what’s going on in her own state.


"Do not make me mad!"

The hits just keep coming...

Gut punches, cheap shots, roundhouses, uppercuts, jabs...what do these have to do with this edition of The Bliss Index™? Not much...but they do seem apropos...

Who said the public healthcare option was dead? “Alive! It’s alive! IT’S ALIVE!”

Speaking of healthcare reform…there appears to be a move afoot to make sure tort reform isn’t in the mix. Hmmmm, I wonder who’s pulling those strings?

Ouch! According to a “CNN poll: 52% say Obama doesn't deserve reelection in 2012.” (Some might argue he didn’t deserve election the first time around.)


A little unhappy with the news...

If the White House gets a copy of The Wall Street Journal, they’d be wise to read and learn from this absolutely spot-on piece.

Remember when the cry was, “No nukes!”…? My, how times have changed.

Funny...didn't most of these people play music and raise money for the Obama campaign?

February 17, 2009: A date that will live in infamy.

Add Stimulus: Yeah, it ain’t really working – well, a lot of people aren’t working.

Now playing at an assassination near you: “You Don’t Mess With The Mossad.”


What looks like an ordinary couple on vacation is, in reality, part of a highly trained hit team about to exterminate vermin. (photo via BBC)

Finally, he’s right: “Nobody likes Chris Matthews.” (Heck, I don’t even think Matthews likes Matthews.)


Chris Matthews (bottom right), former speechwriter for Jimmy Carter...nuf said...

Super Bowl? Super radio...

Tonight on The John Batchelor Show, from 6:30-7 p.m. (PST), I’ll be joining John to discuss the economy, job figures, health care, POTUS vs some of his own party, and the big Tea Party.

For those of you who need a break from the demands of Super Bowl XXXIVLMXVIXX (parts A & B) , you can listen to the show at KSFO-560 AM San Francisco, WTTK-FM 96.9 Boston, WABC-AM 77 NY, WMAL-AM 630 Washington, D.C., XM/Sirius Satellite Radio and on more than two dozen other stations (check local listings for details). If you’re not in one of the broadcast areas, you can tune-in via any of those outlets’ websites.

And as always…thanks for listening.

Money, money, money...

Now that the Supreme Court has opened the door for corporations to make big gifts to political campaigns, those same corporations are slamming their doors in the faces of politicians begging for spare change. And a lot of ‘em don’t think the big guy in D.C. is doing such a hot job, either.


Go away...

First, a Republican wins Teddy Kennedy’s seat in Massachusetts. The Supreme Court decides corporations, unions and every other group is equal. Then, Air America goes belly-up. Could things get any worse this week for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Blackjack)? Yep. They just did.


Thanks for coming - now go away...

Speaking of the SCOTUS campaign cash decision: Why do Democrats so vehemently oppose the high court’s decision? Might it be because it levels the field by taking away their advantages in fundraising? Of course, the GOP isn’t doing itself any favors.


Mr. Moneybags...

Now that the health care/insurance reform bill is more DOA than a week-old corpse in the waiting room, the majority party has decided to tackle (spin wheel o’ misfortune)…unemployment. This should end well.


Hmm, what other problems can I successfully handle?

Remember the 2008 election campaigns? Remember one particular party’s pledge to those “evil Bush tax cuts?” Um, yeah, about that pledge…um, not so much.

Speaking of money troubles: From TIME’s “Man of the Year” to “what did you say your name was, again?”


Don't cry, Ben. It will all be over, soon...

"DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN" - pt. 2

In a repeat of another big American election-related faux pas, The Boston Globe ran an online headline earlier today reminiscent of The Chicago Tribune's premature political obituary.

Just as Give 'em Hell Harry did to his opponent in 1948, GOP candidate Scott Brown thumped his opponent in Massachusetts' U.S. Senate special election - despite the news media's insistence otherwise.

When all was said and done, the onetime underdog handily beat state attorney general Martha Coakley - one of the worst campaigners in modern American political history. Evah.

Just a few weeks ago, Brown trailed the heavily favored Democrat by double digits, but by the time Coakley surrendered tonight, the GOP upstart had won big (6 points-plus at "press time").

Ooops!

Massachusetts, a "blue-blue" state, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 3-1, not only failed to support Coakley, but more than 20 percent cast ballots for Brown. In retrospect, Coakley is coming under intense criticism for running a campaign that not only failed to address the largest concerns of voters - namely jobs and the economy - but she ran headlong to embrace President Barack Obama's health insurance reform plan - this at a time when Americans -and Bay Staters - are rejecting the proposal in growing numbers.

While Brown's election means the GOP now has filibuster power in the Senate, it's unclear as to whether Democrats will ramrod the Senate's version of the bill through the House - unchanged - as suggested by Speaker Nancy Pelosi(D). Regardless, on a whole host of other issues Brown now represents the chief stumbling block - the 41st vote against Obama's agenda.

The victor: U.S. Sen.-elect Scott Brown (R-Mass.)...

Brown, who will finish out the remaining two years in the late Edward M. Kennedy's term, is one of three Republicans (including the governors of New Jersey and Virginia) elected in the afterglow of Obama's inauguration last January.

These results have Democrat pollsters, pundits, party members and incumbents rightfully worried about the coming mid-term elections...not to mention a president with a severely weakened ability to now bring about the second half of "Hope & Change."

Brown's victory speech...