The Scott Brown phenomenon

If the brilliant president has been confounded by the reality of politics in Washington, which is a world apart from campaign politics, this smaller-in-every way politician will be overwhelmed. The tea-party folk who popularized Brown, and Sarah Palin, are extremists who will never have national or long-term influence. Shallowness shows itself, eventually. It did with Palin and it will with Brown

Probably, the Democrats will persuade a Kennedy family member to reclaim the seat the family owned for half a century, and Brown won’t beat that opponent, even as an incumbent. So, revelers, enjoy yourselves. This victory will be short-lived.

You heard it here first.

Visit www.RonaldGoldfarb.com.