By now everyone who pays attention to such things knows Republican Scott Brown has won the special election in Massachusetts. He will take the seat formerly held by the late Senator Ted Kennedy thereby ending the 60 vote stranglehold Democrats had on that legislative body. What will happen next regarding health care reform, cap & trade and other items on the Obama agenda remains to be seen. There are ways the no longer super yet still majority party can get around a minority filibuster and the will of the American people but they risk the ire of voters by doing so.

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The death of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) takes the senatorial succession law of Massachusetts out of the hypothetical. Last week Senator Kennedy petitioned Governor Deval Patrick (D) to change state law to allow a speedy replacement for him. Current law requires a special election be held within five months. Bear in mind that that current state law was changed in 2004 when Democrats feared then-Governor Mitt Romney (R) would appoint a Republican replacement to fill Senator John Kerry's (D-Massachusetts) seat should he win the presidential election.

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