Democrats need a leader — maybe someone like Toby Keith?

Last week, events conspired to make me question my political affiliations and the existence of a kind and benevolent God. No, I’m not talking about the success of Avatar.

The Democratic Party blew it in Massachusetts, allowing an aloof and ill-qualified candidate to lose Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat to a former male model who likes trucks.

Some pundits believe voters in Massachusetts simply freaked out and sent a clear message to Washington that they, and the country as a whole, are against a more progressive health care plan. Voters sent a clear message to Washington all right, but not about health care. The Commonwealth already has a more comprehensive system that goes further and helps more people than the wilted lettuce currently making its way through the bowels of Congress.

Their message, instead, was: We want a leader.

And they aren’t alone.

This article appears in Jan 20-26, 2010.