Free Republic

When people asked for this newly minted celebrity's autograph, Brown signed his name, followed by the number "41," signifying the critical vote the GOP needed to shoot down the president's signature legislation (healthcare reform). "Sometimes he'll be the 41st vote, other times he'll be the 60th," says Eric Fehrnstrom, a Massachusetts political consultant who has done some work for Brown's reelection in 2012, On Democrats' financial-reform package,Brown surprised even his own party when he decided to vote yes, giving his would-be opponents exactly 60 votes.