Heads will roll.Republican Scott Brown defeated Democrat Martha Coakley in Tuesday's special election for the U.S. Senate. With 99% of the votes tallied, Brown is ahead 52 percent to Coakey's 47 percent. Scott Brown has claimed victory and delivered his speech.

The results of the election have put Democratic pundits in a tailspin. Many have stopped just short of heralding the apocalypse. You've read my articles. You know that I don't write hot-headed and prefer do my research before commenting on matters. As always, you can expect a well reasoned and articulated assessment of what happened tonight. Please be patient while I dig through all the garbage people are saying on television and the internet and figure out A) How Democrats lost Ted Kennedy's seat B) What this means for healthcare reform and C) What this means for Obama's presidency.

So in the meantime, why do you think Coakley lost? What do you think this means for healthcare reform? What do you think this means for Obama's presidency? If you didn't catch yesterday's article, I outlined Democrats' options in the event of a loss. Take a look, come back, and tell me what you think.

 

I find your lack of win disturbing.Things aren't looking good for Democrats in Massachusetts. Republican state Sen. Scott Brown leads Democrat Attorney General Martha Coakley in the latest polls, 52 to 45 percent. Both are vying for Ted Kennedy's vacant seat in the U.S. Senate by way of a special election on Tuesday. Most had dismissed the election, figuring Coakley to be a shoo-in. Sure, the poll has a sampling error of four percentage points and is -- after all -- a poll, but the fact of the matter is not one poll has shown Coakley ahead in the last few days.

With Democrats' slim filibuster-proof, 60-seat Senate majority, Ted Kennedy's open seat is paramount. If Brown wins, his victory would derail the Democrat's healthcare reform and likely any left-leaning legislation over the next few years. Brown has sworn to oppose Obama's healthcare reform. "Massachusetts wants real reform and not this trillion-dollar Obama health care that is being forced on the American people," he said. "As the 41st [Republican] senator I will make sure that we do it better."

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I'm not sure what crazy deals Nancy Pelosi had to make to Blue Dog Democrats to get their vote. Maybe I don't want to know.Democrats narrowly passed their healthcare reform bill Saturday in a close 220-215 vote. After the bill's passage, Nancy Pelosi struck the gavel to Democrats' cheers and applause. Now the fate of healthcare reform lies in the significantly less capable hands of Harry Reid and re-election conscious Democrats in the Senate.

Between Reid and Pelosi, it's clear which is the stronger party leader. I still can't forget the look on Pelosi's face when Joe Wilson shouted, "You lie!" at the President in her chambers. Frankly, she looked ready to wrap the offender in her coils and swallow him whole. Despite the outburst, Pelosi has been able to get business done with Republicans at their craziest.

Reid, on the other hand, may not even be re-elected. His approval rating dropped to 32% among Nevadans in October 2007. Much of that can be blamed on sketchy land purchasing deals he made in 2006. God knows how low it is now. The man has allowed Republicans to create a 60-vote passage minimum without them actually having to filibuster. Ridiculous! Maybe if he'd called their bluff during debate over lesser bills, then we wouldn't be in this mess. But now he has no leverage and no real power.

So what's next? Well, here's what I'd do if I could ghost-hack the Democratic party leadership:

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