A Brownout one way or the other

Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts already has been eye-opening in so many ways. I would have no more thought a Republican would stand a chance in such a liberal stronghold than I would bet San Francisco would toss Nancy Pelosi out on her ear.

But here we are on Election Eve, and Republican Scott Brown has emerged from Ron Paul For President-like depths in the polls to leading Martha (Don't Call Me Marsha) Coakley by anywhere from 5 to 11 points.

Will he win, though? Yes, that's the $40K question, isn't it?

As eye-opening as Brown's meteoric rise has been, Tuesday's result largely will determine this country's direction. And I'm not talking health care, Cap & Trade or open borders.

Democrats can not lose this election. The reasons are numerous.

First, imagine the shock waves throughout the party if a Republican wins a Senate seat occupied for nearly half a century by a Kennedy in such a liberal mecca. The media's collective "this has no national significance" claims would become the very definition of vacuous.

Then there's the pending health care legislation that Democrats desperately need their 60-vote super majority to force down America's throat.

The repercussions of a Brown victory would be immensely negative for Democrats, President Obama in particular, on both fronts.

This is why SEIU and ACORN have been pouring people and resources into Massachusetts for at least a month. Obama and the uber liberal machine backing him cannot leave anything to chance. The stakes are too high.

So this election will offer Republicans (well, conservatives anyway) a sneak peek at what they can expect going forward.

What is the magic number for a Republican to overcome fraud? Is it 5 percent? Six? Or is it to the extent already that no lead is sufficient and the concept of a legitimate election of consequence has passed?

And what will be the reaction if that is so? Will America simply bend over as it did in Minnesota last fall and again in New York District 23 and accept the outcome?

We'll soon find out. Either Brown will represent the beginning of a political tidal wave or we'll be left to wallow in brown of quite another sort.