A Taste of Irony

With all of the media discussion about the upset by Scott P. Brown in the Massachusetts Senate race this week, I have yet to see anyone make mention of the irony it produced.

Brown now takes over Ted Kennedy's seat, which he had held since 1962. Ted Kennedy's professional passion, "the cause of my life" was for Congress to pass a universal health care bill. By dying, he also killed the chance for a significant change.

Brown's upset victory has brought the opposition party its 41st seat in the senate, and an endless fillibuster by the Republicans. Serious health care reform is now DOA, just like Teddy.

Had Kennedy resigned from the Senate last year while he was still alive, it is more likely a Democrat would have won, and the Dems would still hold a fillibuster-proof majority. So as his last act, he killed the reform he loved. And maybe if he had crappier health insurance, he would have died earlier, thereby preserving his seat for his party.

That's how I like my irony buttered.