So remember how Ted Kennedy died? Well today in Massachusetts (ie: the most impossible state to spell in the union) is holding a special election to re-fill the late senator’s seat, and it’s close between Republican candidate Scott Brown and Democrat Martha Coakley.
To be quite honest, neither are dreamy candidates. Scott Brown posed naked for Cosmo in the 1980′s (google if you don’t believe me, and don’t say I didn’t warn you), said on television that Obama was a bastard born out of wedlock, has done some things as a state senator that weren’t very popular, and is kind of a douchebag. Martha Coakley has the charisma of a wet paper towel used to clean the grimy build-up in your sink, said Kurt Schilling was a Yankees fan (gasp! If you don’t get how this is a big deal to Bostoners, trust me – it’s a big deal), and has done some things as a state Attorney General that were not popular, and is kind of a douchebag. Scott Brown astro-turfed and brought in all of his supporters from out of state to make his campaign seem like a giant groundswell. Martha Coakley went to special interests groups and lobbyists. They’re a real winning pair, the two of them.
But this is a big vote for both parties, because if Scott Brown wins, that ends the Democratic super majority in the Senate, which means the Republicans can (and probably will) delay the crap out of the nearly-finished health care bill (which, ironically, was Ted Kennedy’s life’s work) and whatever else President Obama chooses to do in the future.
Honestly, what it comes down to is a simple, partisan vote, since it’s hard to vote for the better person. If you’re a liberal or a Democrat, vote for Coakley. She’ll get what you want done. If you’re a conservative or Republican, vote for Scott Brown. He’ll get what you want done. Either way, I know a lot of my American readership is Massachusetts-based, so brave that crappy weather outside, get to your polling stations, and cast yourself a vote. IF you don’tdo it for me, do it for that little otter voting for herring. Just look how cute he is. If you vote, you’ll be that cute too! I think that’s incentive enough for anyone.
Extra Reading for Voters: 7 Things At Stake In Massachusetts Senate Race (via NPR)