The irony must be exquisite for some. Ted Kennedy -- put aside whether you liked him or not -- devoted many years to the cause of health care reform, right up to his death. It nearly comes to fruition, only to be thwarted by the person elected to serve out his term. Ain't life strange?

As Brown said: it is not Ted Kennedy's seat. It is the people's seat. This was a referendum on Obama and his policies.