Watch A Forlorn Rachel Maddow Read Barney Frank's Statement that Congress "Won't Get Sneaky And Bypass The Electoral Process"

Aw, Rachel is sad.  Clip is short; runs 1 minute.  Transcript of Frank's statement is included.

-----

Barney Frank:

"I have two reactions to the election in Massachusetts. One, I am disappointed. Two, I feel strongly that the Democratic majority in congress must respect the process and make no effort to bypass the electoral results. If Martha Coakley had won, I believe we could have worked out a reasonable compromise between the House and Senate health care bills. But since Scott Brown has won and the Republicans now have 41 votes in the senate, that approach is no longer appropriate. I am hopeful that some Republican senators will be willing to discuss a revised version of health care reform. Because I do not think that the country would be well served by the health care status quo. But our respect for democratic procedures must rule out any effort to pass a health care bill as if the Massachusetts election had not happened. Going forward, I hope there will be a serious effort to change the senate rule which means that 59 are not enough to pass major legislation, but those are the rules by which the health care bill was considered, and it would be wrong to change them in the middle of this process."

Comments

[DailyBail]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0110/On_to_Plan_C.html

Sen. Jim Webb puts out a statement that puts the notion of a quick Senate vote out of reach and pretty much makes a certification fight moot:

In many ways the campaign in Massachusetts became a referendum not only on health care reform but also on the openness and integrity of our government process. It is vital that we restore the respect of the American people in our system of government and in our leaders. To that end, I believe it would only be fair and prudent that we suspend further votes on health care legislation until Senator-elect Brown is seated.

[Will]

How does electing a pro-wall street guy restore openness and integrity to our government? This guy is bought and paid for. We need to be electing a third party candidate, not a republican. As long as we're playing the game in the boundaries that have been chalked by the people in power nothing is going to change. Republocrats won't save this Country.

[gobias]

The big winner on Tuesday was Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The Clintons are going to live in that backroom, cutting deals for 2012. Hillary, just tell me where to send my contribution. No, not really. Hillary, just tell me where I can buy the t-shirt.

The only thing left for the Dems is to remove Barry with a gigantic right wing conspiracy. Waitor, I will have one Reichstag Fire with a side of Chicago style revenge (best served cold).

[gobias]

Associated Depressed...WASHINGTON – Senate Democrats on Wednesday proposed allowing the federal government to borrow an additional $1.9 trillion to pay its bills, a record increase that would permit the national debt to reach $14.3 trillion.

That's what you get when you hire a community organizer.

[James H]

Will, keep shootin' from the hip. Maybe you'll hit something. A (bull) moose, perhaps.

Here's what I had to say about Brown (thanks for making it a "featured comment," DB):

"hope Brown wins, but Scott Brown is not going to breathe new life into anything, least of all the Constitution. He's nothing more than a country-club Republican who voted for the disastrous Romney-care program in Mass. Moreover, check out his idiotic stance on the bank tax -- he talks as if the banks just took out a little loan, dutifully paid it back, and are now being picked on by socialistic Democrats. As if.

By all means, root for a Coakley loss and a finger in Obama's eye, but I hope we will be tarring and feathering Scott Brown this time next year."

Just like it wasn't about Obama in 2008, this wasn't about Scott Brown. People are just monumentally pissed off and have no trust in TPTB. I agree -- the Stupid Party is as bad as the Evil Party. We need a Tea Party. A Tea Party run by the people, not by Dick Armey.

[S. Gompers]

I like Will...

"Just like it wasn't about Obama in 2008, this wasn't about Scott Brown. People are just monumentally pissed off and have no trust in TPTB. I agree -- the Stupid Party is as bad as the Evil Party. We need a Tea Party. A Tea Party run by the people, not by Dick Armey."

Excellent.

[Paul E. Math]

I agree with the above comments. People voting for Brown were just voting for vague, nondescript but somehow compelling, change. Just like the election of Obama himself.

And Brown, like Obama, represents the illusion of change only.

[DailyBail]

well said paul...

---
i wrote this earlier and am copying it here...

However, do not buy into the hype. Brown is not the perfect candidate, and calls for him to run for President are outrageous and reflect the continued, idiotic, American Idolization of our political process.

He is likely to behave in the Senate as a Wall Street captured Republican. In fact, don't overlook the obvious: He has already come out in opposition to the Obankster's tiny, tax-deductible levy on Wall Street. Do not be fooled.

Rejoice in the moment and celebrate the end of Obamacare, but do not annoint Scott Brown as your saviour.