I live in Massachusetts and am 'fortunate' to know a few RWDB (right wing douche bags). The rumbling I am hearing right now makes me think the next T-Bag/Astroturf movement is coming to my back yard.
So, as we all know, Senate Kennedy's passing has left the Democrates with 59 votes in the Senate. As we also all know, Massachusetts law currently requires a 145-160 waiting period to fill that vacancy, which Ted Kenneday addressed in a letter before his passing. Gov. Deval Partick has already selected a special election day in January, but now comes the part about changing the current law and filling the vacancy.
Massachusetts lawmakers have already drafted a bill(H 656) to address the vacancy, and it is short and sweet. You would figure with the super-super-super majority the Dems have in our state senate, it would be a done deal ... but... on September 9th, they are going to have a public hearing for the public (cough cough) to expresses their 'views' (cough cough . . talking points) on filling the vacancy before the special election in January. So, the T-baggers will have to stall an appointment until January...right...sort of...
Taking a peak at the 2009 Senate Schedule, senate goes on X-Mas recess starting on October 9th...so the T-Baggers only have to stall things for about a month stop the Dems from having 60 votes until January. And if they can stall any health care reform bill until next year, they will be able to stall it long enough so Senators & Congressmen will be more worried about the election in 2010..so they will wimp out on health care reform. Which makes sense why Obama is pushing hardcore for health care reform this year, because he knows that, much like Cinderella's coach turns into a pumpkin at mightnight, the Dems on January 1st, 2010, will turn into pussies.
Some of my RWDB friends are aware of the October 9th date and the implications and are gearing up to disrupt things. I work with someone from Rhode Island and he is talking about taking some trips to the Mass State House. So I figure it won't be long before some astroturfers join in to make it appear that Massachusetts residents don't want the vacancy filled.
On the bright side, if it becomes a big enough astrotruf event, I may have a chance to call some famous people 'Douchebag' to their face.