Pausing

There is nothing more refreshing in a democracy than when the voters behave against 'type', so I am enjoying the outcome in Massachusetts. Sometimes our elected leaders need a poke in the eye, and I believe the Bay Staters just delivered one. Good for them.

Have we forgotten that Massachusetts has a 3+ century tradition of poke-in-the eye politics?Going against the grain seems to be a point of pride in the Commonwealth's political DNA, up through and to the present era. The only state that voted for McGovern in 1972? Loved that, too, but that should tell you something about their essential nature. To interpret them as a reliably liberal constituency is a misreading of history.

I'm in the 'wake up call' school of thought about this, as long as it means that and only that---a call to arise, with a fresh and open mind, and consider how best to use the new day that's been given to us. And I'm not just talking spiritual gobbledygook here---it really is a call to fresh action and fresh thinking. And just in time.

The 'six months is an eternity' in politics rule applies here. I don't think yesterday's vote was an early warning sign of the political deluge to come. Though the deluge may come. Frankly, I have no idea what it portends. No one else does either. That's comforting---the future is unknowable, so let's do the best we can to deal with the challenges facing the people.

Jobs and economic security; terrorism and physical security; war; health care. Those are the priorities and in that order. If the Obamites can't figure that out, they'll be washed out to sea come November.