http://www.mlgoodell.webs.com

In a stunning setback for those planning to impose European-style Social Democracy on the American people, Scott Brown was elected to fill the US Senate seat vacated by the late Ted Kennedy. Brown became the first Massachusetts Republican to be elected Senator since 1972.

Election coverage was spirited and entertaining, especially on MSNBC, where its stable of impartial analysts devoted hours of inquiry and angst to the question, What Went Wrong? There were many theories bandied about, including Martha Coakley was a horrible campaigner, the national Democrat Party leadership let Coakley down, people were upset at the slow pace of health care reform, the economy, stupid, Obama hasn’t been liberal enough, and of course, George W. Bush.

No one was more petty and childish than Keith Olberman, the former sportscaster. After Coakley’s gracious concession speech, Olberman cut away from Brown’s speech to deliver a tirade so filled with invective as to make his usual tantrums models of decorum. Falling back on the shopworn sporting adage, “Show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser,” Olberman transformed it into a new one, “Show me a potty-mouthed, spittle-spraying MSNBC commentator, and I’ll show you a loser.”

The upshot of Brown’s election is that the government takeover of American health care is dead in the water. Oh, all the Democrat leaders mouthed the party line last night. They discussed options, ranging from delaying Brown’s certification, to a legislative stratagem called reconciliation, to having the House of Representatives pass the Senate version of the bill with the promise of amending the legislation after Obama signs it.

These were all reflective of a 1/18 mentality, the thinking of a bygone era. Because on 1/19, the world, at least that little bit of it inside the Washington Beltway, changed forever. According to Charles Krauthammer, passing the new bill before Brown is seated would cause insurrection.

Asking the House to pass the Senate bill is a nonstarter in the post 1/19 world. Recall that the original bill passed by the slimmest of margins, 220-215, with a number of Democrats voting in opposition, and another bloc supporting it only under House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lash. After witnessing Massachusetts, one of the bluest of blue states, elect a Republican solely on the basis of his opposition to the bill, at least 64 Democrat Representatives are asking themselves what chance they will have in Missouri, Arizona or Nevada if they defy their constituents’ wishes.

Add to this reluctance Pelosi’s suddenly precarious position at the top. Her aggressive, partisan, ruthless leadership has helped bring Democrats to the precipice. She can no longer wield her power as effectively, because that power is waning, increasingly likely to slip from her grasp in 2010.

In some ways the death of Obamacare weakens Republicans’ hand. If the bill dies, they can no longer run on the “Repeal the Bill” platform. Absent this highly effective marketing tool, they may go back to being the damaged product they remain. Make no mistake, Brown’s election was not a vote for Republicans, it was a vote against European-style Social Democracy. Until the GOP manages to rid itself of its reputation as power-greedy, big-government-friendly, and cynical, it still has the potential to fumble away the gift leftist Democrats have given it.

The temptation to gloat is enormous, but it is exactly the wrong thing to do. The right thing is to show true leadership, and a statesmanlike willingness to elevate policy over politics. Starting now, a delegation of Republicans should approach the Obama administration with an offer to sit down and negotiate a truly bipartisan, incremental approach to resolving some of the serious health care issues many Americans face.

The first point of agreement is that every American should have access to affordable, quality health care, but not every American should be forced to have it. The second point should be that Americans want and need more options, not fewer. Most Americans want to make up their own minds, not have the Federal government tell them what to do.

If the two parties can agree on tort reform, increasing competition among insurers and expanding the pool of doctors and other health care professionals, then they can begin to explore incremental needs-based health insurance subsidies.

The outreach should be made quietly at first, and only if they are rebuffed should Republicans come forward with their plan. If they make the effort and fail, then the game is still afoot, but it is important for Republicans to stand for something positive. Not being Democrats is an effective short term play, but Republicans should not forget that just 14 months ago, being Republican was the kiss of death.