Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A good first vote
From a purely political standpoint, Scott Brown’s vote in favor of a new jobs bill was a smart move. He wasn’t elected by Massachusetts Independents to pal around with the CPAC and Fox News crowd. So let fanatical conservatives feel betrayed. Brown has to show he can reach across the aisle. Believe it or not, it’s needed now and then. He will also lose in 2012 if he doesn’t do it. At heart, he may or may not be a classic New England Republican, but that’s exactly how he has to come across if he’s to survive as a Republican in New England. Do alleged conservatives understand this regional political dynamic? Probably not. They want it all: ideological purity, all the time – except when their guys are in power, of course. …
Conservatives should judge him on other looming and larger issues.
From a purely political standpoint, Scott Brown’s vote in favor of a new jobs bill was a smart move. He wasn’t elected by Massachusetts Independents to pal around with the CPAC and Fox News crowd. So let fanatical conservatives feel betrayed. Brown has to show he can reach across the aisle. Believe it or not, it’s needed now and then. He will also lose in 2012 if he doesn’t do it. At heart, he may or may not be a classic New England Republican, but that’s exactly how he has to come across if he’s to survive as a Republican in New England. Do alleged conservatives understand this regional political dynamic? Probably not. They want it all: ideological purity, all the time – except when their guys are in power, of course. …
Conservatives should judge him on other looming and larger issues.
