License to Thrive

"End of an Era"

By a decisive margin, a little-known Republican state senator Scott Brown defeated Martha Coakley, the state’s Democratic attorney general, who had been considered a favorite to win just over a month ago after she easily won the Democratic primary.  The loss gives Republicans control of the Senate seat held by Sen. Ted Kennedy for 46 years until his recent death.  The huge upset is also considered to be a referendum on the Obama presidency and will significantly shape the healthcare debate in Washington.  The defeat also eliminates the Democratic majority in the Senate, which had been filibuster-proof.