I was born in early 1963, during the presidency of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Some months previously, his youngest brother, Edward Moore Kennedy, had been elected to fill the seat that the president had previously held. Over the next 47 years, Ted Kennedy disgraced the office of United States Senator from Massachusetts in more ways than need be recounted here -- and at no time during my life has a Republican occupied that seat.

But that is about to change -- glory hallelujah!

In an epic upset in liberal Massachusetts, Republican Scott Brown rode a wave of voter anger to win the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Edward M. Kennedy for nearly half a century, leaving President Barack Obama's health care overhaul in doubt and marring the end of his first year in office.

The loss by the once-favored Democrat Martha Coakley in the Democratic stronghold was a stunning embarrassment for the White House after Obama rushed to Boston on Sunday to try to save the foundering candidate. Her defeat signaled big political problems for the president's party this fall when House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates are on the ballot nationwide.

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Brown will become the 41st Republican in the 100-member Senate, which could allow the GOP to block the president's health care legislation and the rest of his agenda. Democrats needed Coakley to win for a 60th vote to thwart Republican filibusters.

The Republican will finish Kennedy's unexpired term, facing re-election in 2012.

Brown led by 52 per cent to 47 percent with all but 3 percent of precincts counted.

What does this race mean? It is hard to say exactly, and it may take time for that question to be answered completely.

My take? This was a referendum on Barack Obama and his leadership (actually, on his lack of leadership). It is an unambiguous rejection of both the Hopuse and Senate versions of health care. It is a repudiation of the arrogance of power shown by Democrats since the 2006 elections, and especially since they acquired veto-proof majorities in both houses of Congress.

And make no mistake about it -- given the national involvement of both parties and the influx of cash from outside of Massachusetts (one of the bluest of blue states), the voters of Massachusetts have spoken not just on their own behalf, but on behalf of the American people as a whole.

Now the question remains -- how soon will Scott Brown be able to take the Senate seat and begin representing the people of Massachusetts?

More commentary on this momentous victory at RealClearPolitics Video Log, The Plum Line, Donklephant, Taegan Goddard's …, Wizbang, Ben Smith's Blog, Washington Post, Scared Monkeys, MyDD and Left Coast Rebel, protein wisdom, Another Black Conservative, The Lonely Conservative, CNN, This ain't Hell …, Associated Press, Raw Story, The Anchoress, JammieWearingFool, Sister Toldjah and Outside The Beltway, The Huffington Post, NewsBusters.org, Power Line, CNN, The Radio Equalizer, The Moderate Voice, Instapundit, TalkLeft, Gateway Pundit, The Corner on National …, Think Progress, Keyboard Militia, TPMDC and Political Byline, Prairie Weather, PostPartisan, Public Policy Polling, The Jawa Report, Maggie's Farm, Hit & Run, FiveThirtyEight, The Daily Caller, Verum Serum and Pam's House Blend, The Moderate Voice, The Huffington Post, The Note, Ben Smith's Blog, Prescriptions and American Conservative …, Gateway Pundit, LifeNews.com Pro-Life …, The Other McCain, Raw Story, HillBuzz, Founding Bloggers, Hot Air, Michelle Malkin and Keyboard Militia,