Patrick Kennedy seat is in trouble ~John Loughlin could upset the apple cart  

I think both parties had better change their attitudes! The people are fed up--we have the same situation here as when the Boston Tea Party happened, taxation without representation. Our "representatives" represent only themselves or special interests and refuse to listen to the people. If both parties start listening and acting on the wishes of the people they are supposed to represent, things will get better. If not, the anger will build until the people take drastic action. "When a man loses everything, he has nothing to lose" I don't know who said that but when the people are poor and oppressed enough here, they will storm Washington in a righteous frenzy. Our "representatives" had better watch out.

The recent election in New Jersey was for governor. The same day as that election and the other governor's race in Virginia there were two special Congressional elections and both seats remained in the hands of the Democrats. That's something that seems to have been forgotten!

As far as Patrick Kennedy's seat being in trouble, I guess only time will tell what happens there but it should be noted that while Loughlin may have raised the most of any candidate who has opposed Kennedy, Kennedy himself had raised twice that amount as of Dec. 31. Also, in Massachusetts a Kennedy wasn't on the ballot. Martha Coakley was the Democrat running to replace the late Senator Ted Kennedy but she certainly wasn't the candidate he'd been throughout his career. In my opinion "...the national scene shifting away from Kennedy-type politics..." may be a bit misleading. So far, no Kennedy has lost anything, other than Ted Kennedy tragically losing his battle with cancer.

Annie

It doesn't appear independents are happy with either major party. I'm surprised more of them aren't going third party. Republicans and Democrats have both broken trust bigtime. For sure the last Republican administration did not live up to the repub reputation of fiscal responsibility. The republican idea of job creation in recent years is to make themselves beholden to corporations, who in turn hire illegals and set up shop overseas. It can only get worse with the recent Supreme Court ruling. Whether republican or democrat we all have one thing in common: we are kinda screwed. EVERYBODY needs a better game plan.