Kentucky's Republican senator-elect, Rand Paul, is perhaps the purest expression of Tea Party success. There is little doubt that he will be on a collision course with the GOP's national leadership on two issues: foreign policy (especially the Afghanistan War) and the looming question of how much debt the nation needs to keep the government operating. If you're looking for someone to make Washington Republicans squirm, this may be the guy.
And then there is Rubio. Like Brown, he played footsie with the Tea Party and continues to flirt with the movement. Unlike O'Donnell, however, he declines to lie in bed with the Baggers for too long.
Democracy in action
This election was about anxiety over the economy, rage that the government has not returned the nation to better times, and opposition to those very moves that government — read President Barack Obama and the Democrats — have taken to set things straight.
Here in the United States of Amnesia, we expect instant gratification, immediate results. The problems of debt and unemployment that plague not only the United States but the rest of the industrialized world have been more than 30 years in the making.
Republicans who spent most of Obama's first two years in office blocking everything the president proposed somehow convinced the nation that Obama and the Democrats simultaneously did too much while not doing enough.
It was a neat trick that aptly illustrates H.L. Mencken's dictum: "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard."
Related:
State of flux, Chaos Theory, Elephant in the Room, More 
- State of flux
A few weeks ago, the state legislature headed into its winter break with what might be called a flurry of inactivity.
- Chaos Theory
In less than two weeks, when Massachusetts voters elect Martha Coakley to the US Senate — let's not pretend that Republican state senator Scott Brown has any chance of pulling off the monumental upset — they will trigger a massive domino effect that has the state's political class buzzing with anticipation.
- Elephant in the Room
Platoons of state Republicans, energized by Scott Brown's stunning victory over Democrat Martha Coakley last week, are setting their sights on November.
- Might as well jump
Last Thursday, Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island — the last of his legendary clan in Congress — announced that he will not run for re-election.
- Poor WGME
As the gubernatorial primary date inches closer, we’re starting to see more and more TV ads showing would-be governors touting themselves and their qualifications for the job.
- Library woes
In an attempt to save four Boston Public Library branches that are slated to close due to budget shortfalls, some state legislators from Boston have threatened to block all state funding the library receives if it shutters any of its 26 branches.
- Maine Democrats try to put the past behind them
State Democrats may be down (in numbers) but they're not out (of ideas).
- From carpenter to king
In the wake of last month's election, I expected Republican governor-elect Paul LePage to provide me with an inexhaustible supply of column material.
- Down again
Here's a great idea for commemorating the 20th anniversary of Maine's last state-government shutdown in 1991: Let's do it again.
- Gridlock groove
Everything at the State House is about to come to a halt.
- A shot at progressive reform
With their sizeable majorities, the Democrats' reconquest of the Maine House and Senate could lead to a rebirth of progressive politics in the state — to reforms in health care, taxes, social services, and other issues.
- Less
Topics:
The Editorial Page
, Massachusetts, Politics, Democrats, More
, Massachusetts, Politics, Democrats, Republicans, GOP, Scott Brown, House of Representatives, editorial, tea party, Marco Rubio, Less
