Pirate's Cove

First, the supporters, also known as Constitution and freedom haters, most of whom do not even understand the legislation (including those Congress people who voted for it,) will get to gloat a bit. Fine. You won. Barely. I’m not quite sure how one can call a 219-212 vote a victory, when the bipartisanship was on the side of voting against the bill (34 Democrats vote in favor of less government and more freedom). Has there ever been such a sweeping piece of legislation passed that affects every American’s life passed with such a narrow vote? No.

What happens now? First of all, as Michelle Malkin points out, three states, South Carolina, Virginia, and Florida will file federal Constitutional lawsuits. Nine other states are expected to follow suit, no pun intended.

John at Powerline points out

The health care bill’s taxes will go into effect promptly, but its substantive provisions are, for the most part, deferred for four years. This means that we have plenty of time to repeal the legislation. Sure, it will take a new Congress and new President. But repealing this disaster of a bill will by 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?

If Republicans are smart, and they have done a very good job in highlighting the problems with this legislation, as well as sticking together through this whole mess, taking the position of the majority of Americans, they will beat the drum right up through the November elections. There is a great chance for retaking at least the House, and perhaps the Senate. If they do retake at least the House, they need to pass quick and dirty legislation repealing what Andrea Tantaros calls the “biggest abuse of power and arrogance Washington has ever seen” on a daily basis. If they do not control the Senate, it gets killed there. If they control both, it goes to Obama, who will veto it. And would have to veto it on a daily basis, further eroding his standing with We The People.

At that point, Republicans could work towards passing common sense legislation that addresses the actual issues, using what Ann Coulter calls “free market solutions.” Yes, they might have to compromise and include some measures Conservatives might not like, the stickiest being, most likely, a way to insure those with pre-existing conditions. There could even be some type of tiny government exchange for people like that. Time will tell.

Some on the right are pessimistic about the ability of the Republicans to do away with Obasocialist Care because it can be very hard to get rid of entitlement programs. Well, good news! Most do not kick in for years. But, the taxes do. Let’s take a look at the timeline, via my horrible Dem House member’s (Brad Miller NC-13) website. In 2010 we get quite a bit of action, most being taxes and infrastructure

• Immediate Access to Insurance for Uninsured Individuals with a Pre‐Existing Condition
• Small Business Tax Credit
• Eliminating Pre‐Existing Condition Exclusions for Children
• Prohibiting Rescissions (most people, including Republicans, have no problem with stopping insurance companies from dropping people who get sick and have been paying their premiums)
• Eliminating Lifetime Limits and Restricting Use of Annual Limits
• Covering Preventive Health Services. All new group health plans and plans in the individual market must provide first dollar coverage for preventive services.
• Extending Dependent Coverage

I’m not going to list every one of the things that kick in in 2010, as the rest are simply infrastructure and taxation. The above are the toughies to do away with, not that they want to do away with rescissions.

Mark Steyn stays on the sunny side of the street

Longer wait times, fewer doctors, more bureaucracy, massive IRS expansion, explosive debt, the end of the Pax Americana, and global Armageddon. Must try to look on the bright side . . .

Which is why Republicans and pundits on the right need to continue to beat the drum on this issue right up to the election and beyond. Democrats, once they get done with their gloating, will shift to a mindset that “this is done. It’s passed. We’re moving on. Stop looking in the past.” They will look towards Cap and Tax, amnesty, and other big government legislation. Don’t. Let. Up!

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU