Scott Brown’s truck

The guest columnist, Danny Gardner, wrote a thought-provoking column in the January 20th edition of The Sun Times.  He compared our present administration and congress actions to the American colonists struggle against an overbearing and arrogant aristocracy hell-bent on teaching unruly American ragamuffins who was in charge.  After penning similarities and bemoaning the sympathetic media, he asks this question – “What moment in 2010 will ignite American patriots in political revolution against arrogance in Washington”?
That moment may have occurred about 8:30 p.m. on January 19th.  That was the time AP, Fox News and even CNN declared Scott Brown the winner in the Massachusetts special election for senator.  Talk about a moment in history.  Only 3 or 4 weeks before the election almost everyone projected the winner to be the long suffering Attorney General Martha Coakley.  Why not?  This was Massachusetts, home of John Kerry and the late political icon Ted Kennedy.
This election was a clinic on how to relate to the voters or how to operate as an elitist above the heads of the Massachusetts populace.  Scott Brown stomped the state with a clear and simple message usually highlighted by claiming he is the 41st vote against a health care plan that could destroy the country.
The reaction by Obama on the drubbing of his Democrat candidate from Massachusetts was priceless.  Unable to admit his own failings or the sentiment of the voters, his comment was that the anger and frustration was not just because of what’s happened in the last year, but what had happened in the last 8 years.  Let’s review that – the Massachusetts voters were so upset with George Bush, they elected a Republican senator to one of the most Democrat states in the nation.
One of the most magical moments in the campaign occurred when David Gergen, the elite sophisticated moderator of the one debate between the two candidates, asked Scott Brown something along the lines of – Do you really believe you are the proper candidate for Massachusetts to fill the Democrat seat of Ted Kennedy?  Without hesitating Mr. Brown reminded Gergen, “This is not Ted Kennedy’s seat, this is not a Democrat seat, it is the peoples’ seat”. From that point on it was clear that Scott Brown was not under the thumb of the machine, either Democrat or Republican.
It was indeed humorous to observe on CNN the antics of a panel of liberal elites punctuated by one Republican activist.  All the liberal panelists except one believed this to be a monumental moment.  They believed Democrat leadership including Obama, Reid and Pelosi should regroup and listen to what the voters in one of the most liberal states were saying.
Not Paul ‘the forehead’ Begala.  He believed this to be only a bump on the road to nationalized health care.  Begala said Obama should double down with the congressional leaders and ram through this legislation in spite of voter discontent.  After it is signed by Obama, that will be the time to explain to us common Americans that it is really a good deal.  As Nancy Pelosi complains on the day after the election, “It appears we have not done a sufficient job of explaining this health plan to all the people.”
When an important vote is lost, it’s invariably only hours before the blame game comes into play. 
The Obama administration leaked tidbits that Martha wasn’t a strong candidate and she didn’t work hard enough.
 Well, in a state as blue as Massachusetts many elections have been won by Democrats who were weak and unworthy candidates. 
In a state where registered Democrats outweigh registered Republicans by three to one, a strong candidate is usually not needed.
Of course the Obama administration can feel good in defeat.  Didn’t they do their part in sending King Barack down to Massachusetts on Sunday to romance and calm the belligerent natives?  That makes Obama 0 for 6 in trying in influence decisions on Democrat candidates and provide leadership on important issues.
True to the hearts of Arkansas voters the final straw might have been when Martha and Obama both berated Scott Brown for driving across one of the most civilized and snooty states in a pickup truck.  The insinuation was clear - only rednecks, in-bred Arkies, and the unwashed drive pickup trucks.  It is apparent that Massachusetts not only has rednecks, they have voters that fail to adhere to the aristocratic principles.
So what does the Democrat leadership do now?  If these incompetent buffoons attempt to use a sleight of hand by delaying the seating of Brown or demanding the House agree to the Senate bill with no changes, it will so infuriate the electorate they will experience a complete tsunami in November of this year.
Should the Republicans work with them on a new health bill?  Absolutely, but only if it is agreed to scrap the 2600 pages of complete gobbledygook and start over. 
There is absolutely no reason all aspects of health care reform need to be done at one time.  The only reason is to satisfy the ego of certain characters and to solidify liberal power over all citizens of the country.
Start with a provision that most people agree on.  That would be insuring citizens for pre-existing conditions.  This could be done by subsidizing the insurance companies or helping individuals with their premiums.  No one knows how much this would cost but try it for a year or two to determine the economic effect.  This could be paid for by eliminating all the fraud and waste the liberals say they can identify. 
This will no doubt be insufficient so cuts in entitlements could be made.
The Republicans should insist on tort reform to reduce the billions paid to the trial lawyers and expended to pay for unnecessary CYA procedures by physicians.  The unions should have no special treatment and eliminating the provision on taxing Cadillac plans should be first on the list.
Common sense can solve our medical care problems and it should be done on a step by step basis without adding one penny to our bloated 12 trillion dollar federal debt.
Blanche Lincoln should hear the roar of Scott Brown’s truck, and if she doesn’t get out of the health care roadway, the tire tracks on her derriere may be forever implanted thereon.

(Jerry Jackson of Heber Springs writes his “conservative viewpoint” column each Wednesday)