I don't buy it. 1% of the Senate can't control our destiny

[yodoobo]

There is something wrong with Democracy is we are going to be held hostage to one Senator from Massachusetts.

[rockymountaindem]

1. All the people acting like this is the end of the world are buying into the absurd spin

that we need 60 votes to get absolutely anything done, which is just an excuse for lazy, timid Democratic legislators to take the path of least resistance. All this wailing and gnashing of teeth that the Obama administration is supposedly over only makes them think they are justified if they don't do anything. The Republicans certainly never let the fact that they DIDN'T EVEN WIN A MAJORITY IN THE 2000 ELECTION get in their way. Why should we? Could it be because a critical mass of our Congressmen and Senators don't want to put themselves out on a limb? Naaah...

This is a huge kick in the teeth, granted. Seeing Ted Kennedy's seat go to the likes of Brown is hard to swallow. But it's like every time I see the Red Sox lose to the Yankees. It sucks all the time, but there are times I have to admit that the Sox didn't deserve to win. Sometimes the team you like plays a crappy game and misses opportunities: I draw your attention to the San Diego Chargers this weekend. Coakely had every advantage and managed to fritter them away through a series of inaction and gaffes. Hopefully this will light the fire under the rest of our candidates and get them out there being as assertive as possible sooner rather than later. But, if past experience is any guide, they will run for cover in the mushy center and draw all the wrong conclusions from this sad episode, which is the real thing to worry about.

[jody]

2. Are you certain you want a government that governs based on 50% of the vote plus one? SCOTUS seems

reluctant to rule that there are such things as inalienable rights that protect a minority against the tyranny of a simple majority.

[yodoobo]

3. What we seem to have a disfunctional majority

Today we are only one member short of a super majority.

Four years ago, we would have been thrilled with a 59 member majority.