http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704240504574585824236833660.html

DECEMBER 10, 2009 Kentucky Votes No
A special-election warning on health care.

In his private meetings with Democrats, President Obama's health-care argument has come down to an appeal to make "history". He'd be more candid if he said that if they vote for the current bills many of them soon will be history.

That's the warning from the unlikely quarter of Tuesday's special state senate election in Kentucky that became a referendum on the Democratic agenda in Washington, especially health care. Voters in the 14th District elected Republican Jimmy Higdon over Democrat Jodie Haydon by 12 points. That's significant in a district that leans Democratic by more than 2 to 1, and where Democrats and their allies spent more than $1 million, perhaps twice what the GOP did.

While the Democrat campaigned on local issues and jobs, Mr. Higdon focused relentlessly on the national controversy surrounding health care. In direct mail, TV and radio ads, the Republican stuck to variations on the theme that it was time to "end Nancy Pelosi's one-party rule" and that "if [Kentucky's capital] Frankfort becomes like Washington, Kentucky health care will be placed at risk." Given the vast new Medicaid burdens that will be put on states, he is exactly right, and voters took the point.

Democratic Governor Steve Beshear had created the vacancy by appointing the seat's long-serving incumbent Republican to a judgeship in a play to tip the balance of the state legislature toward the Democrats. In a statement congratulating Mr. Higdon, Mr. Beshear conceded that "The Republican Party was successful in their efforts to nationalize this race."

Yes, next November is a year away, the economy will probably improve and, you never know, Tom DeLay could always return as the ghost of Republicans past. But the message from Kentucky is that the Pelosi-Harry Reid agenda is becoming politically toxic, and Democrats who vote for it will want to have career contingency plans.

"In his private meetings with Democrats, President Obama's health-care argument has come down to an appeal to make "history". He'd be more candid if he said that if they vote for the current bills many of them soon will be history."



Always wonder where all this public information about PRIVATE Meetings comes from.

This is no different than any other major issue that comes up. Many of the same threats were probably made to proponents of abolition. Im glad that those politicians didnt let threats get in the way of their decision then and I am hopeful that they wont now.

Improper interpretation, of course....Obama has urged democrats publically to make "history" so I'm pretty sure he's done it privately as well.

There no threat there but a lesson - voters in Kentucky don't like the dems health care agenda. Hmm, maybe voters in other states will get the messagage too.

i live in kentucky...and i disagree with you. Have you spoken to every kentucky voter here to get your theory of "ky voters don't like the dem's agenda?" Here in lexington alone, rallies for Healthcare reforms overshadowed these so called tea party rallies 3-1.

What is with all these slavery references? I am really perplexed. The issue of abolition of slavery and this healthcare debacle dont have a damn thing to do with one another. Explain..

In the middle of the article,

"While the Democrat campaigned on local issues and jobs, Mr. Higdon focused relentlessly on the national controversy surrounding health care."

Why is this?
Why is the Republican campaign focused on controversy, instead of local issues and jobs?

Could it be that he has nothing to offer on local issues and jobs?

I'm sure in this economy his constituents are happy with that.

The Democrat campaigned on local issues and jobs.

Seems like a good future!

They have less than a year to enjoy their power.. They are going to be buried in November.. I hope you are still around..

As expected it would be asking too much of a Republican to focus on important issues rather than sensationalizing and creating a controversy out of any attempt to improve America's futures.

Oh please... the politicians are screwing over the future of our nation without lube. Our pants are around our ankles...

if we do not do something drastic to stop the actions congress is taking right now, there will be no future to enjoy.

If they really were about improving our future, it would involve long-lasting relief and stability, not calling three months "saving" a job so they can count it for credit. This is all smoke and mirrors - in the end, we are doomed.


EDIT
oh, and I love how you are always first to point out that it's all the republicans fault that progress cannot be discussed or made. You democrats are no better. Both sides are stubborn mules and just because you guys have the power, it's the republicans that are being bad

and I know, you're an "independent" but if it walks like duck and quacks like a duck...

First, the above article is about a local election campaign in Kentucky.

Second, I've never hid my goal of weakening or eliminating the Republican Party as the second major political party in America.

Third, I'm unaffiliated. I have never voted for a Democrat Presidential candidate in my life until Kerry in 04. Previously I had voted Bush, but after seeing him in action and recognizing his intentional lies earlier than most I began to realize the depth of the premeditated and organized corruption within the whole Republican Party.
To me, they are a domestic enemy and a threat to American life and liberty.

Do my beliefs about the Republican Party mean I will vote for a candidate because they are Democrat?
NO!
There are plenty of other candidates representing many parties to chose from. It only means I will never again vote for a Republican. Never!

If you saw through Baby Bush, one would see Hussein is the same as BB. He has picked up and run with just about every policy BB left for him. His other boss is a Commie.

If you don't think that our liberties are disappearing at an alarming rate, then there is no hope for you. At least with W it was pretty much just the Patriot Act. With this administration, nothing is off limits. he's furthering the bush doctrine and taking on the democratic goals all at once.

oh, and votes don't determine your affiliation - your ideals do. And to be honest, i've never heard you argue against a democratic ideal.

If you're really serious about taking down the republicans, you might consider hooking up with this group. They can use your passion;
http://www.queerty.com/will-homosexuality-destroy-the-republican-party-20090316/

nah, just looks like people's health care in that area right now is more important than local issues.

Republicans have taken a drubbing in a lot of polls, but a new survey by CNN/Opinion Research conducted Dec. 2-3 finds that Americans are split on whether they think the country would be better off if the GOP controlled Congress.

Forty percent favored Democratic control compared to 39 percent for the Republicans, well within the poll's 3 point margin of error. Sixteen percent said neither, 3 percent said things would be about the same, and 2 percent expressed no opinion.

In a mid-summer poll, the Democrats enjoyed a much greater margin, with 44 percent favoring them in control of Capitol Hill compared to 34 percent for the Republicans. At the beginning of the year, when the new Congress began, the margin favoring the Democrats was 56 percent to 31 percent.

Republicans also pulled within the margin of error with the Democrats on who Americans trust more to handle major changes in health care, with 43 percent trusting the Democrats more and 40 percent favoring the Republicans. Sixteen percent said neither.


"As the debate over health care continues, the Democrats may have lost the competitive advantage that they enjoyed earlier this year," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Since August, the number who support Democratic control of Congress has fallen farthest in the Northeast and the Pacific Rim -- two regions that have been Democratic strongholds for many years."

-CNN

The similarity is in their potential to DRASTICALLY change a system that has been in place for decades and the expectation that some will oppose such change.

I don't buy it. You are saying that changing the healthcare system is equal to ending slavery? That is incredible..