Republicans are convinced that if ACA is struck down that Obama will lose the election

[librechik]

That's why all the excitement and triumph on the right. They think that will be enough to end Obama.

Does that seem likely to anyone here? Given a Romney or Santorum as Obama's opponent?

Really?

That certainty (so like our Republican fascist narcisssist friends) is driving the narrative in the media and elsewhere, as it so often does. That is why they are putting everything they have into painting the ACA as evil and the SCOTUS appeal as a losing battle today.

I believe they can drive the Supreme Court into striking down the law. But can they really use that loss to drive Romney into the presidency? Really?

I think they are delusional.

[PoliticAverse]

1. Carville: ObamaCare being struck down would be the best thing ever to happen to Democrats

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/03/27/carville-obamacare-being-struck-down-would-be-the-best-thing-ever-to-happen-to-democrats/

[librechik]

3. good article

and I tend to agree--it would enrage the left and make us more likely to kick out Repubs around the country, if we can.

[Scuba]

12. I couldn't agree more. Republicans are fools, again underestimating BHO, who will use this issue...

... to make mincemeat out of them, regardless of the SCOTUS decision.

[eridani]

15. I agree. Politically, it would make things much easier

At least in my neck of the woods.

[liberal N proud]

2. This is their plan?

Their whole platform has been to overturn ACA, if it is struck down, what will they run on?

Gloating?

[Politicalboi]

4. I don't know what's it going to take

These assholes that vote for Repukes are only voting against themselves. Is it going to take a Repuke to win in November and we get rid of Medicare, SSI, unemployment, for these assholes to wake up. If the Repukes win or steal come November, I hope all hell breaks loose. This country may have to become a third world nation to get some to see what they did. If this country didn't learn it's lesson over Bush, we may never learn.

[GopperStopper2680]

21. Hear Hear!

Personally you would think that the deeds of W would be enough to show voters that the Republican party is not only an outdated and immoral system but a dangerous one that endorses totalitarianism as well. W was a hairbreadth from becoming the first dictator of the United States of America and he would have continued the tradition with a Neocon dynasty continued by John Mccain. Fortunately they picked Sarah Palin as their VP Candidate and I think that went a long way to ruining it for them.

[Renew Deal]

5. I don't think it will cost Obama anything and will give Romney even less to run on

They'd have no mandate to run against. It's one less issue.

[PoliticAverse]

7. How can Romney credibly run against the idea of a Health Insurance Mandate ? n/t

[Renew Deal]

14. He can't

But credibility has never been a concern

[C_U_L8R]

6. Or it could be a total landslide for the Dems

and we'll take back Congress for a generation or more

[RZM]

8. They have to sound positive and spin this as best they can

If it is struck down, it will be a victory for the Republicans, but what effect (if any) that would have on the election I don't know. I can't see them able to make too much hay out of it though:

'Yay, less health care! Vote for us!'

That's not going to cut it. If it helps anybody it's going to be Obama.

[libtodeath]

9. It will show that the bastards dont just have a war on women but a war against all of us.

[BlueDemKev]

10. Yes, and they're absolutely right

Obama's only perceived achievement during his term was health care reform and he was all-but demonized for it. If the Supreme Court throws it out, he will be fatally-weakened and he will appear to be a very, very weak and ineffective president.

[DefenseLawyer]

13. Wasn't bin Laden fatally weakened?

Sounds like a little wishful thinking there, BlueDem.

[BlueDemKev]

16. My mistake...add that feather to his cap...

...but it won't get him re-elected.

[SpencerShay]

23. But...

But the improving economy, including his improving poll numbers, WILL get him re-elected.

Sucks to be you.

[boxman15]

11. Obama will be re-elected regardless (if nothing crazy happens)

The nature of Obama's second term will be greatly impacted by the Supreme Court's decision, though.

[obxhead]

17. If it's struck down they lose one of their few talking points.

Seriously, the primary focus of their campaigning since 2010 has been ending the ACA. They have nothing left to run on if the SC strikes it down.

[Madmiddle]

18. If the Affordable Care Act is struck down

Lots and lots of republicans will lose their seats all across the country. What is happening in the supreme court is because the republicans agenda is to turn this country into a fascist regime. Bush came damn close. The Affordable Care Act would make it much better for Americans and health care. Vote Obama 2012. Vote out all republicans

[emulatorloo]

19. See TPM: "Is The Right Getting Punk'd by SCOTUS on 'Obamacare'?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/are-conservatives-getting-punkd-by-scotus-on-obamacare.php?ref=fpa

[Walk away]

20. Sadly, I believe they are correct.

Only the very left of the party is happy about the ACA going down. Here it is the norm to see everyone wanting it to fail because they believe we will get single payer instead... somehow.

For people who desperately need the coverage ACA provided it is a disaster and an enormous failure to lose it.

[SpencerShay]

22. Charlie Cook disagrees with the asshole republicans...

Charlie Cook:

“Count me among the few who don’t believe that this week’s oral arguments before the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka “Obamacare,” and whatever ruling the justices announce, will be pivotal in determining President Obama’s fate in November. Notwithstanding the natural tendency for journalists to breathlessly cite everything (and every primary night!) as hugely consequential, some issues have already run their course with the public. President Obama’s two-year-old health care law has already been fully litigated in the court of public opinion, with a split and very close decision: A plurality think it and the individual mandate were bad, a handful of points ahead of those who approved of both.
These attitudes are fairly stable.

This is unlikely to be a topic that dominates conversations around the water cooler, grocery aisle, or backyard fence.”

http://nationaljournal.com/columns/off-to-the-races/a-supreme-election--20120326
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A list of things the republicans, and the media thought were going to cost President Obama the 2012 election:

‘The Underwear Bomber’
Passing the healthcare bill
NOT passing the healthcare bill
The Justice Department challenging the “Paper’s Please” law in Arizona
The oil spill
His comments in support of the “Ground Zero Mosque”
The 2010 midterm election losses
The debt ceiling disaster
High gas prices
Not visiting Israel
Birth control…
And the list goes on. They are desperate.

[Swede Atlanta]

24. I agree this is not a watershed moment for the President.......

A few observations.....

(1) The tone of questions, body language of the Justices, etc. in oral arguments is no indication of the leaning of the Court
(2) The severability issue discussed before the Court today will be key if they decide the individual mandate is unconstitutional
(3) I firmly believe that when the Court accepts a case on Cert, the Justices have generally already decided how they will rule on a case but the written filings of the parties and others are arguably more important than oral arguments. I believe they tolerate oral arguments just to get a few jabs at the attorneys and to put on a puppet show for the public
(4) The ACA was the best that Obama and the Democratically controlled Congress could accomplish given the Filibuster-minded minority in the Senate
(5) Health care costs continue to rise albeit less under the ACA than projected
(6) Millions of Americans have benefitted from the provisions already in effect

So, don't assume the Court is going to strike down the law completely - possibly just the mandate. Then consider that millions of Americans will be negatively affected IMMEDIATELY upon issuance of an order vacating ACA. They will be mad as hell and ready for a fight a ready to vote.