Mark Steyn of the National Review is playing the defeatist, but he seems to be in the minority among conservative political analysts. He says, "Dems wouldn't be doing what they're doing. Their bet is that it can't be undone, and that over time, as I've been saying for years now, governmentalized health care not only changes the relationship of the citizen to the state but the very character of the people."
But, does he underestimate the "character of the people"? And does he jump the gun on the "woe is me" talk? Is he wrong that voters will be inundated and then, once again, stop caring?
Yes.
The first thing to understand is that the fight has merely shifted from DC to the states as Attorneys General line up to challenge the constitutionality of the bill's mandate that requires everyone to buy health insurance.
FoxNews.com reports:
Health Care Reform Fight Shifts From Congress to the Courts
Now that the House, in a historic vote, has passed the Senate's health care bill and sent it to the president's desk, state lawmakers and attorneys general already are lining up to challenge its constitutionality and wage an outside-the-Beltway war against it in the courts.
Now that the House, in a historic vote, has passed the Senate's bill and sent it to the president's desk, state lawmakers and attorneys general already are lining up to challenge its constitutionality and wage an outside-the-Beltway war against it in the courts.
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli was the first to announce Monday that he will file a legal challenge -- as soon as Obama signs the bill.
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum also plans to announce Monday morning that he and top prosecutors from nine other states are filing a lawsuit to "protect the rights" of the American people from the bill.
While some Republicans have threatened to pursue repealing the legislation down the road, the most immediate challenge will take place in the courts.
At least three dozen state legislatures are considering proposals to challenge the federal legislation. Some are pursuing amendments to their constitutions by ballot question; others are looking to change state law.
Constitutional lawyers have questioned whether such a lawsuit could be successful, since federal law trumps state law. But opponents are looking to get around that by questioning the law's constitutionality.
There are a few other reasons to believe that Sunday's vote was not the Armageddon many thought it would be. The main one being that it has awaken the conservative voters, and ruined the future chances of the Democrats getting much of anything else done. If that is the case, then all this celebratory hoo ha will be much ado about nothing, and Democrats will find that they are celebrating their parties banishment into the wilderness.
Powerline:
"repealing this disaster of a bill will be a rallying cry for the American people for years to come. Moreover, even if the Republicans only take over the House in November, and not the Senate, won't it be possible to throw roadblocks in the way of the bill's implementation? Won't budget appropriations be necessary to sustain the various federal tentacles the bill seeks to establish? What will happen if the House simply refuses to fund them?"
"Barack Obama has used his political capital--pretty much all of it--on unpopular legislation that will continue to rile the voters for years to come. As a result, Obama is a remarkably unpopular second-year President. And he hasn't even experienced any bad luck yet. It is hard to see how he will be able to regain his footing."
Powerline also makes one more "silverlining" observation that I think is good news for conservatives in general and the Republican Party specifically. That is that:
Paul Ryan has emerged as one of the conservative movement's strongest spokesmen. In the years to come, I think we will hear the words "I'm a Paul Ryan Republican" with increasing frequency.
Paul Ryan is simply one of the brightest young minds in the country right now. He understands that conservative principles are more than just talking points. I've been a big fan for over a year now. It's really good to see his star rising.
So, if you like references to bible verses then be ye of good cheer, and worry not. Proverbs 18:2 says "A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions." But verse 13 adds, "He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame."
The folly and shame part is yet to come.
If you're a little more hardcore then try the classic line from Tombstone:
