A Political Earthquake is Imminent

In the waning hours of the Coakley-Brown campaign, we're seeing the polls still trend toward Brown. Obama is set to land in Massachusetts (using our tax dollars and spewing massive amounts of carbon into the air) to prop up the flailing Coakley effort. The largest entitlement program in history hangs in the balance and the future of our nation over the next decade comes down to a special election in a deep blue state that has elected a Democrat in every federal election in recent memory.

Here's how the healthcare fiasco could shake out: Suppose Brown does win, the Dems will have to work fast to pass the healthcare fiasco. Chances are it will be close and the Massachusetts authorities will call for a recount to ensure that the outcome was indeed valid plus they will have to count the mail-in ballots. In other words, they will work as slow as possible. However, the GOP is set for legal action:

Appointed Senator Paul Kirk will lose his vote in the Senate after Tuesday’s election in Massachusetts of a new senator and cannot be the 60th vote for Democratic health care legislation, according to Republican attorneys.

Kirk has vowed to vote for the Democratic bill even if Republican Scott Brown is elected but not yet certified by state officials and officially seated in the Senate. Kirk’s vote is crucial because without the 60 votes necessary to stop a Republican filibuster, the bill will be defeated.

This would be a devastating loss for President Obama and congressional Democrats. The bill, dubbed ObamaCare, is the centerpiece of the president’s agenda. Brown has campaigned on becoming the 41st vote against ObamaCare.

But in the days after the election, it is Kirk’s status that matters, not Brown’s. Massachusetts law says that an appointed senator remains in office “until election and qualification of the person duly elected to fill the vacancy.” The vacancy occurred when Senator Edward Kennedy died in August. Kirk was picked as interim senator by Governor Deval Patrick.

Democrats in Massachusetts have talked about delaying Brown’s “certification,” should he defeat Democrat Martha Coakley on Tuesday. Their aim would be to allow Kirk to remain in the Senate and vote the health care bill.

This will make Bush v. Gore look like arguing a parking ticket as the Dems have almost grasped the holy grail--healthcare reform--and will not go away without a knock-down, drag-out brawl. They will use every means to get this done including invoking arcane rules and procedures and will never stop if they have any avenue to subvert the will of the people.

Grab the popcorn because this is about to get really good.