Is Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts a sign of things to come? (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Washington (CNN) – Political analysts say that emotions played as big a role as issues in Republican Scott Brown's earthshaking win this week in traditionally Democratic Massachusetts.
Related: Mr. Brown goes to Washington
And those emotions will appear likely to influence the rest of the political season into the November midterm elections.
"People are so angry out here in the real world they can't see straight," political analyst Jennifer Donahue said.
Independent voters can break an election. It happened in 2008 and once again in 2010.
A day after his victory to fill Ted Kennedy's old Senate seat, Brown said Wednesday the one thing he heard the most during his campaign was that people were tired of business as usual.
"That means the behind-the-scenes deals. ... They want to make sure that their elected officials are doing things in a transparent manner, and doing it with the best interests of our state and mine."
Related video: What's next for health care?
Follow Ed Hornick on Twitter: @hornickcnn
From CNN Politics
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I wonder if he immediately picked up his envelope full of "campaign contributions, wink wink" from the medical insurance industry or if they'll deliver it later. Is it just a coincidence that the stock market is tanking now that it appears we're starting back to the bad old days? So many americans and small businesses are now doomed to go bankrupt in order to benefit big health corporations.
Absolutely and it's going to happen. The arrogance of Obama, Pelosi and Reid to dismiss us and call us names and ignore the will of the people will cost them. We are angry and despite Obama still to this day trying to blame it on Bush, that only furthers our anger. Obama this is your mess and quit trying to shove your socialist ideas down our throats, we don't want them and will vote you all out. Obama has been nothing but a huge disaster and the biggest campaign liar ever. He needs to go, the sooner the better.
The Democrats had 100% control of everything for a year, and did they ever manage to screw things up. what a mistake and now it is time to undo it.
Another political airhead analyst says:
"People are so angry out here in the real world they can't see straight," political analyst Jennifer Donahue said.
Nothing can be further from the truth, many are seeing straighter than they ever have in the past and they are not liking what they see.
"People are so angry out here in the real world they can't see straight," political analyst Jennifer Donahue said.
True. They're so blinded by anger they actually think Republicans will help them.
Hmmm. Whatever happened to the ten requirements by the republican party to be a politician?
What we have is their continuation of anything to win policy, speaking with forked tongues.
No, it will not make a difference to the American people. We are all Aware that the republicans are well on their way to becoming our countries most dangerous domestic terrorists, out to destroy everything.
God I hope so. Unions are running jobs out of the country and dumbing down our schools. Liberals want everything to be an entitlement, at tax payer expense of course. There is only so much that the tax payer can stand, I am hopeful that politicians understand soon that tax payers vote too and we do not go to work every day so that those who dont can have all of the benefits of somebody elses hard work.
Enough with the welfare state and social agenda, ask what you can do for your country and get your hands out of my pockets!
If the news media and the late night comics had any inkling that this upset was about to happen, Senator Brown would have been ridiculed and made to look like a goofus, even when he isn't. This is how the liberal media controls the American sheep.
Politicians of both parties need to realize that the electorate has woken up and we will demand that they listen to us and not the people who lobby them.
We want out country back!
Politicians of both parties need to realize that the electorate has woken up and we will demand that they listen to us and not the people who lobby them.
We want out country back!
WOW! Another Palin! Whats this country coming to!
It may be. Or it may be that Brown ran as an Independent and pulled the wool over the voters' eyes. Time will tell if he does right by his constituents.
As a Democrat, however, it would be nice to see them grow a spine, stop catering to the banks, break up the too big to fail companies, and stop "dithering" on health care reform before it bankrupts us all, including the government. It's going to get to the point where employers won't be able to offer health care as a benefit, and those of us who buy it on our own won't be able to afford it. And we need to work on job growth. Personally, I'd stop giving corporations who ship jobs overseas those healthy tax breaks. If they don't like it, let them leave. They're not doing us any good anyway.
Of course, since the Supreme Court decision today, what will any of this matter anyway? Corporations can now buy politicians with no restrictions. Not like it wasn't happening anyway.
People are angry and Washington had better take their ear plugs out as we vote them in but we can also vote them out! Can you hear us now!!!
Lots of hope and change to come ,Obama now will make Palin a shoe in for President.
This vote is an indication of what idots people can be. This is embarassing that in Ted Kennedys seat they elected a truck driving red neck former pin up boy. Americans havn't learned anything in the last 10 years.
I fail to see the logic behind the thinking of Republicans and Democrats concerning the election of nude posing, Family Values Guy, Scott Brown. Interesting. The Republicans will sleep with anybody to stop Health Care Reform.
The final victory count for Brown was +100,000 votes, a 2.5% victory. That means that if 50,000 voters, or 1.25% of the MA voters had voted differently, the result would have been different, and we wouldn't be having this orgy of "end of the World as we know it" thinking.
Because of the votes of this very small number of voters the Republicans act like they alone defeated Communism (which, BTW, they do claim) and the Democrats act like they just made the last out in the Little League Word Series.
Everybody take a deep breath. There is a MA Law which dictates when the Race can be certified, and the Senator may be seated in the U. S. Senate. That Law must be obeyed.
Second, the Democrats must stop running scared. Heath Care Reform is the RIGHT thing to do – period. They must go forward, not backward, and push Reform through and make it become Law.
Remember Civil Rights legislation in the 60s? It cost the Democrats dearly for 20-30 years. So what? It was the RIGHT thing to do
President Obama: You must LEAD the charge. Do not step back. Even if some of your fellow Democrats (I'm starting to see a new definition for "YELLOW – Dog Democrat") want to chicken out, to preserve their little kingdoms, go forward. Make this happen.
The 50,000 MA voters should not be able to set the Health Care agenda for 300,000,000 Americans. That's just wrong.
Couldn't CNN's Ed Hornick find a more suitable description than "earth shaking"? How Hannityesque. Thoughtless moron!
Already the Dems including Obama are moving toward the center in their speeches and interviews. However, the American Voter isn't dumb....fool me once....This change of direction is political expediency, they are trying to limit the damage they will face during the mid term. Don't believe them.
Another dramatic example of the critical role swing voters play in any election.
I would suggest that all Republican operatives carefully study the latest Gallup poll which shows that an overwhelming majority of Independent voters said they feel Sarah Palin is "unqualified" for national office and that her being on the '08 ticket was a "major" reason for them voting Democratic.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and expecting a different result!!
Yes, what happened in MA is definitely a sign of things to come.
Pretty simple, Independants and many Democrats favor; fiscal conservatism! Less government, lower taxes, strong National Defense, Trasnparency and no Obamacare!
Left-wing policies spearheaded by progressive liberals like Reid,Pelosi and Obozo are now being overwhelmingly rejected by THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!.
Is this a sign of things to come?...........NO!!!
The democrat ran a poor campaign. In the upcoming elections, you'll see alot of republicans running as independents. They are acting as sheep in wolves clothing. All they want is power and can care less about the people. I wonder do the people of Massachusetts know that Scott Brown supports waterboarding(TORTURE).
Obama lied about everything he campaigned on.
There is no way to spin this. Scott Brown won in a Democratic State. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents are tired of the Obama Administration. It is definitey a sign of things to come.
I hope this is a sign of things to come and I am sure it is. Everyone is sick to death of the arrogance of Obama, Pelosi and Reid and all of the rest of the bribe making and taking party. They are completely out of touch with Americans. I don't even know one Democrat who likes them even though they voted for Obama. They are all having "buyers remorse." The people want to take back America from a radical, dishonest, dirty-backroom-Chicago politician and his band of thieves and we shall do it! We shall overcome!
Typical republican !!! Inside his small world and HE OWNS A TRUCK !!!
Very conservative but posed nude for a magazine and, in his first speach,said the "his daughters were available "!!! What a jerk !!! He is a Palin in pants !!! MA made a big mistake electing this brainless Adonis, adding one more NO in the Senate. What a disgrace !!!