I Don't Hate Scott Brown

Alright, I admit it.  Although I'm very liberal and very partisan in my politics, I find Scott Brown quite unobjectionable.  He doesn't talk like a fire-breathing radical, he occasionally votes with Democrats, and he seems like a thoughtful character.

But that doesn't mean I'm voting for him.  It's not that I'm unable to vote for any Republican (OK, maybe it's that too).  But first of all, Elizabeth Warren stands where I stand on the issues (Scott Brown is against any financial regulation of Wall Street, for example).  Most importantly though, he's a vote for Mitch McConnell for Senate Majority Leader, and he's a vote for very conservative Supreme Court justices.

So if I comment on the Warren-Brown race in the next few months, I hope to take it easy on Scott Brown and avoid calling him names that should be reserved for the really crazy (Hello, Michelle Bachman) and cynically evil (that's you, Newt) in the GOP.

Elizabeth Warren for Senate

The more I learn about Elizabeth Warren for Senate, the more I like her.  This is a woman who understands the problems on Wall Street, and believes in reining in the abuses.  And she talks about the deficit and taxes with compassion, intelligence, and a little anger.  She has a compelling personal history.

It's going to be tough.  That's because Scott Brown is a good candidate.  He's not as crazy as many people the GOP is putting out there.  As Republicans go, he's as moderate as they come.  And he's articulate and has a "regular guy" persona that voters like.

But make no mistake: he's one more vote to filubuster almost everything that the Crazies want to filibuster.  He's one more vote for Mitch McConnell as Majority Leader of the Senate.  He's against any reform of financial industry regulations.  He's going to vote to keep taxes low and the welfare state unsustainably underfunded.  We've got a chance to get rid of him now.

Scott Brown's Legislative Career Begins (posted by DT)

So Scott Brown wants to spend unused TARP funds to give tax relief to American workers http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Scott-Browns-first-legislative-proposal-is-Immediate-Tax-Relief-Act-for-Americas-Workers-amendment-86044517.html
I eagerly await Scott's fellow Republicans falling all over each other rushing to criticize him for spending money that could go toward reducing the deficit. What? The Right likes his idea? Don't tax cuts increase the deficit just like spending increases? Wait, I'm confused, I thought the burgeoning deficit was the biggest problem facing our country. It's almost as if Republicans talk about reducing the deficit as a point-scoring device against Obama and Pelosi and Reid, while their actual policy positions would actually make the deficit way worse!
Well, that couldn't be it- Republicans have proven that they are the party of Fiscal Responsibility. Remember when they were in power and we went from a surplus in 2000 to a $1 Trillion deficit 8 years later- oh, wait, that proves just the opposite.

Well there it is anyway.

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Posted by AS)

While everyone who is not on the far-Right sleeps, the Tea Party movement is growing stronger and stronger.

If you consider yourself a moderate, or a centrist, either on the Republican or Demcratic side, you should be very concerned. Even my fellow Massachusetts residents who voted for Scott Brown should be aware that he is being scrutinized very closely. Senator Brown could easily find himself a target of the Tea Partiers. Even that GOP stalwart, John McCain, is facing a serious primary challenge this year.

I encourage you to read this article and keep yourselves informed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/us/politics/16teaparty.html?nl=us&emc=politicsemailemb1