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Last week, events conspired to make me question my political affiliations and the existence of a kind and benevolent God. No, I’m not talking about the success of Avatar.

The Democratic Party blew it in Massachusetts, allowing an aloof and ill-qualified candidate to lose Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat to a former male model who likes trucks.

Some pundits believe voters in Massachusetts simply freaked out and sent a clear message to Washington that they, and the country as a whole, are against a more progressive health care plan. Voters sent a clear message to Washington all right, but not about health care. The Commonwealth already has a more comprehensive system that goes further and helps more people than the wilted lettuce currently making its way through the bowels of Congress.

Their message, instead, was: We want a leader.

And they aren’t alone.

The entire country is crying out for leadership and strength. President Obama talks a good game, but then compromises us right out of the change we’d been seeking. The new Senator from Massachusetts isn’t a Rush Limbaugh conservative. He’s from Massachusetts, for crying out loud. No, this was about Dems getting cocky and propping up a rotten campaigner because they thought Teddy’s seat would stay blue until the end of time. Voters had to slap some sense into the lazy bastards.

Any hope that Washington would understand this message and get its act together quickly vanished. The morning after the election, President Obama signaled that he would compromise yet again to pass the health care bill.

So much for leadership.

Frustrated constituents wonder why voters can't understand the importance of universal health care.

The Democrats are incompetent at framing such a large message. Don’t blame the voters. If Simon can manipulate millions, why can't the Dems? How many of your friends are singing Pants on the Ground? It ain't hard!

Also last week, the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a main portion of the McCain-Feingold bill.

Corporations now have more power than before Teddy Roosevelt’s time to buy the government of their choice and continue selling out the rest of us. Just in time for midterm elections. I wonder if they will have any trouble framing their messages?

In the midst of all this bad news, The Today Show reported that John Edwards was indeed his mistress’ baby daddy. Fantastic. Afterwards, Matt Lauer covered breaking news that planets do revolve around the sun.

The only truly disappointing thing, for anyone outside his family, is that from the very beginning, Edwards should have stood up to the media, tabloids and American people.

He should have told us,

“It’s none of your goddamn business.”

Instead we had the typical denials, somber interview, more denials and humiliating tell-all books.

Anyone who believes in a politician and plans for a better town, state or country and then gets devastated by news of said politician’s infidelity should have his or her head examined. Men who seek power, especially charismatic and charming men, do succumb to the “baser instincts of our nature.” This country’s most effective leaders have been known philanderers.

A man who cheats on his wife and has a baby out of wedlock is nothing new. It doesn’t have anything to do with us, does not affect his ability to lead and should be left to him, his wife and, if he is a believer, his God.

I look forward to the day when a public servant tells the public to back off his private life. I look forward to the day when a leader’s ability to stay faithful to his wife is as relevant as whether or not he smoked weed in college.

But that day is certainly not upon us.

Also last week, Air America went off the air. This happened, not because conservatives are better talkers, but because Air America’s business model was doomed to failure from the very beginning.

Obviously, liberals don't listen. Perhaps Air America should have aired silence and let the listeners call in and scream themselves. They could shout about Sean Hannity, legalizing drugs, or the winter solstice. Random ranters couldn’t have done any worse than the broadcasters getting paid to complain.

Then, in what was probably the most insidious development of all last week, one of my children’s friends gave them a Toby Keith CD.

I stared at the obnoxious country singer and almost had a meltdown. It was all a bit more than I could take.

But then I listened for a moment. You know what? It doesn’t sound half bad.

He’s compelling, projects strength, seems destined to lead, gives his public what they need, and doesn’t sugarcoat it with a lot of nonsense.

Dems could learn a thing or two from him.