In whence I use the “f”word

Did you hear that rumble? Did you? No, that was not yet another earthquake our neck of the woods has been experiencing on a regular basis for the past few weeks. That rumble! Well, that was Ted Kennedy turning over in his grave!!!

As unbelievable as it might have seemed only a few weeks ago, the seat held by the “Lion of the Senate” for 46 (!!!) years, a man who was re elected to said seat nine (!!!) times and who had made it his life goal to get affordable health care coverage for all citizens of this country, has been replaced by a Republican! In the bluest state of the nation! On the eve of passing a major reform bill that would bring this country closer to universal health insurance coverage than ever before in its history! No, the irony is not lost on me. Neither is the fact that the unimaginable took place exactly one year after Barack Obama’s inauguration as our 44th President.

What the fuck happened?

Of course the pundits on both sides are out in force today. I have not looked at anyone’s column or watched cable news as it would be too overwhelming to digest. Everyone is pointing fingers, analyzing, trying to blame the next person. The G(rand) O(bstructionist) P(arty) is gloating of course, as the Democrats would be had their candidate won this special election. Of course looking back it is really no wonder that their candidate did not win. Since she was arrogant enough to think the seat would be hers no matter what she seemed to have forgotten that although Ted Kennedy occupied it for almost five decades, it was not actually his, but that of the people of Massachusetts. And he had earned it! Something she still needed to do! Meeting and greeting the people of her home state would have been a great start. Maybe even at Fenway Stadium! In the cold! Shaking actual hands! Voters like to meet their candidates in person, a lesson Martha Coackly had obviously never learned, or thought she was above!

So, here we are! Down to 59 democratic seats in the Senate, one vote short of ending a filibuster, because one thing is for sure, Scott Brown will certainly not take a lesson from the majority party and break with his own. No, he will align himself right with his own party, the one that is still in the minority but seems to be running the country anyway because the majority lets them. Our Democrats on Capitol Hill actually allow the minority to sabotage Barack Obama’s Presidency into failure. A minority whose main goal it is to oppose our President no matter what, delay or stall confirmation of key administration officials, and bring him down with every step. And so it really makes not much of a difference now that the Democrats no longer have the magical 60 seats in the Senate. It’s not that they accomplished anything when they had all of them and the White House. Instead of standing united behind a President that was elected under such promise, they just showed us once again how little they can accomplish but how much they can screw up.

And of course our general public only makes matters worse. A public who seems to suffer from severe short term memory loss. A public who only a year ago remembered all too well that it took George W. Bush and his henchmen eight long years to burn this country to the ground, yet expects our new President to fix the disaster we emerged from in 12 short months. Do the people of Massachusetts truly believe that Scott Brown is the shining star that can lead this country back to prosperity? Of course I understand that this country has a long history of voting against the incumbent majority every four years as if it will actually accomplish anything. It hasn’t so far, so why would it now? Insanity is often defined as doing the same thing over and over again hoping for a different outcome…

A year ago we called for change in an election that gave Barack Obama more popular votes than any other past President. Did we not realize that change cannot come overnight, or even in 12 months? Yes, I am frustrated at times that things don’t get done fast enough but I also realize that change in Washington can only come slowly and with a lot of patience. Moving mountains takes time and can only be achieved if we stay united behind the cause long term. I fear that this year’s mid term elections will be the repeat of the old voting statistics of the past. Which means nothing will actually be achieved. And those who feel disappointed that the promise of change has been unfulfilled might as well pack up.

We live in a Democracy where elections have consequences and yesterday Democracy was certainly at work in Massachusetts! And now we will have to live with it! Just as we still have to live with the consequence of voting in George W. in 2004… And now we also have to live with a guy who is mostly known for his past spread (ahem!) in Cosmopolitan Magazine:

Today’s Running Tip: Misery loves company!

During these cold and dark winter months where it would be just so easy to stay in your warm bed or on the couch, it is a good idea to schedule runs with a buddy or a group of people. It is much harder to talk yourself out of missing a run when others are counting on you.