"This is a step toward taking our country back." ...

The Scott heard 'round the world

Mass. rebellion! Republican Brown defeats Coakley for 'Kennedy's seat'

"This is a tidal wave that's sweeping the country, telling politicians in Washington the status quo is not acceptable," 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin told Fox News. "This is a step toward taking our country back."

"This is monumental. This is epic," said former Massachusets Gov. Mitt Romney. "This is the people of Massachusets telling Obama they've had enough of him."

"It is a revolution," said Fox News analyst Stuart Varney. "Health care is dead. Cap and trade is dead."

On Wall Street today, investors sent health-insurance and drug-company shares higher, on the prospect a Brown win would slow Obama's health-care agenda.

Brown also didn't even wait until he reached Washington to put Democrats on notice that their 60-vote dominance in the Senate was over, addressing the issue of health care reform.

"It's going to raise taxes and cost jobs. It's doing to do irreparable harm to our economy and I know we can do better," Brown said. "I will work with Democrats and Republicans and pledge no more closed meetings and the business has to be open. Again, we can do better."

"I will work with the Senate to create jobs. And as John F. Kennedy said, 'It starts with across the board tax cuts to put more money in the pockets of the people'," he continued. "I will work to keep our military second to none. I'm a 30-year member of the Massachusetts National Guard, so I will keep faith with those who serve."

He also confronted President Obama's plans to put terrorists on trial in New York City.

"We don't grant rights and privileges to enemies in wartime. The message we send to terrorists is that our tax dollars should pay for weapons to stop them, not lawyers to defend them," he said. "Giving rights to terrorists is unacceptable."

According to a statement from the White House, Obama "spoke to both candidates in the hard-fought Massachusetts Senate race. The president congratulated Sen. Brown on his victory and a well-run campaign. The president told Sen. Brown that he looks forward to working with him on the urgent economic challenges facing Massachusetts families and struggling families across our nation."

Scott Brown's brother, Bruce, lives in neighboring Connecticut, and said his brother is on the cutting edge of history.

"This is great. He's making history and he'll be able to live up to every promise he's made. That's the kind of man he is. He is trustworthy and takes seriously the charge that this is the people's seat," he said.