A new reset button

The Obama administration presented the Russians with a "reset button" to denote departure from the diplomacy of the previous administration.

On Tuesday, the people of Massachusetts gave President Obama a reset button for domestic politics.

Evan Bayh saw it coming:

“The only we are able to govern successfully in this country is by liberals and progressives making common cause with independents and moderates,” Bayh said.  “Whenever you have just the furthest left elements of the Dem party attempting to impose their will on the rest of the country -- that’s not going to work too well.”

In point of fact, beginning with the Porkulus package, Congress has been run by a liberal faction of the Democratic Party.  That faction pushed its agenda with Gingrich-style party discipline and "Let's Make a Deal!" persuasion for those not part of the camp.

The reset button dictates that Obama and the Democrats will need to build broader coalitions of support for their agenda.  That means either better bribes or a more centrist direction--hopefully the latter.  The 2012 elections portend another significant reset.