With the end of the GOP's 16-year hold on the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, Bay State Democrats in 2007 will enjoy a political monopoly unequaled by either party in any state in the country.
In January, Democrats will hold all six statewide constitutional offices, all 12 seats in Congress, roughly 7-to-1 majorities in both chambers of the state Legislature, and all eight seats on the Governor's Council. With returns still incomplete late last night, Republicans were losing one net state Senate seat, which would drop the GOP to an all-time low of five seats in the 40-member upper chamber, and in close fights for several House seats. The highest ranking Republican officeholders in the state will be a smattering of district attorneys and county sheriffs.
As you have all undoubtedly figured out by now, I am not a Republican. Nevertheless, I am a bit worried about this latest turn of events. A two-party system is based upon the presupposition that there will be some sort of shared power. (Of course, I would prefer to see more than two parties, but that is a separate post.) In this scenario, the Democrats will have a monopoly over state politics unequalled at any time in any state in the history of the United States. Does anyone else think this could lead to scenarios that might have unpleasant reprecussions? I certainly am not accusing the Massachusetts democrats of being potential despots, but one must agree, there is some scary potential here. Or am I way off base? What do you all think?
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