We are only 22 days into the new year, and already my neck is sore from all the excitement. One story after another has driven us to the edge of despair, only to be updated with new details, or new analysis that pushes our emotions to the opposite side. My vertebra can't take this much longer.

We had a prelude of this at the end of last year. Martha Coakley, the party-appointed heir-apparent to Ted Kennedy's senate seat held a comfortable double-digit lead heading into the holiday break. A week later, the polls showed the Republican challenger had pulled dead-even with her.

*whhiiippp*

The House and Senate had finally both passed health care bills, and the merging of the two was all that remained. We were disappointed that the bills weren't stronger, but it was finally going to happen! And then - Scott Brown beat Martha Coakley.

*whhiiippp*

It could still happen though. It would likely take 2 weeks to certify the results. The bill could be pushed through before he was seated. Inexplicably, President Obama urges Congress NOT to push the bill through. Congress has been ignoring his wishes all along, so they'll ignore this too, right?... right?... wrong.

*whhiiippp*

With Brown committed to stopping the health care bill, the only option left seems to be passing the Senate bill in the House. Can we do it? Nancy Pelosi says no.

*whhiiippp*

But wait - some House Dems are saying now that it could happen...

*whhiiippp*

All of this has been political fodder for those either wringing their hands in despair, or wringing them in evil anticipation of Obama's defeat in 2012. Surely if Massachusetts elected a Republican, the pendulum must be swinging the other way? According to a poll by FAUX News (of all places), Obama would still beat any comers.

*whhiiippp*

After an election where a President won using small contributions from individual donors, it seemed that Big Money was finally at a point where it could no longer influence the election process. Then came the huge SCotUS decision to allow corporations to buy elections.

*whhiiippp*

It's not all bad, though. Apparently there's some wording in there that forces the corporations to divulge the donations, such that we'd all know which candidates were bought by which corporations.

*whhiiippp*

Except that - that language already existed in law, and was one of the few items not overturned; it is not a new requirement:

*whhiiippp*

Finally - it's not uncommon in political circles to have "mixed marriages" (think Carville/Matalin or Schwarzenegger/Shriver). Who would've thought, though, that Cindy McCain would be a supporter of gay marriage? - to the point where she's appearing in a NOH8 ad?


*whhiiippp-snnaapp*

Someone get me a neck brace.