"There's no success like failure and failure's no success at all..."

[kentuck]

The Party of No failed last night. Even after they brought in the "tea-baggers" to threaten and intimidate the Democrats, they still failed.

The Democrats are in a better position today than yesterday. Even though, nobody knows what the next step might be in this healthcare reform battle. It is not a completed product. But neither was the Civil Rights Act when it was passed. It will need to be fixed again and again. This was a first step.

The big winners in the debate seemed to be the insurance companies and the drug companies. And the 32 million people that might now have access to medical care. It's not that they had no healthcare but that everyone else picked up their tab when they did go to emergency rooms, etc. This was a major reason premiums for everyone else kept going up. Pay me now or pay me later. The insurance companies get theirs no matter what.

But now, the Democrats are in a much better position for November's election. This was a major political defeat for the Republicans. David Frum, long-time Republican adviser, said this was the biggest defeat for them since the 1960's. Maybe? Time will tell.

However, anything always beats nothing. If the economy starts creating jobs and the economy shows improvement in the next 6 months, it could reap big rewards for the Democrats. They could hang on to their majorities in each House and put themselves in good position for the election in 2012.

The Republicans are stubborn creatures. They will continue to say "no" and to block everything the President proposes. You can bet on that. But, it the Democrats play their cards right, they could turn last night's battle into a long-term victory.

...

[derby378]

1. Actually, this was a REPUBLICAN bill that got passed...

...so this was a major victory for the Republicans - with an added bonus. Since not a single Republican voted for this (despite the fact that they shaped the bill), they don't have to take the blame for it when it starts to fail the American people. That way, they can ride in on their pale horse and promise Americans they'll repeal the whole damn thing.

They've been planning this since the day Obama was elected, mark my words.

[kentuck]

2. I certainly hope not.

Circumstances will dictate the changes that will need to be made to this legislation. I'm not so sure Americans will want to repeal it once they see something in it that they might like?

[WilliamPitt]

5. "...when it starts to fail the American people..."

(facepalm)

[Guilded Lilly]

3. Republicans don't take blame for anything. It is their core belief system.

They hate losing anything.
Their message of hate and fear will be in the forefront this fall, as usual.
They haven't changed a spit.

Democrats gave themselves something to build on. Including the beginnings of a spine.

Republicans hate when they do that :)

[Uben]

4. Even the republicans know it was a bitter defeat....

...they (the usual suspects) have conceded that even if they regain control of congress in 2012, they will not be able to rescind this bill. Who is going to vote to raise the medicare prescription prices on the elderly? Who is going to vote to end the "pre-existing conditions" clause for children? There are so many aspects of this bill that they will not want to touch for fear of retribution. So, It was a resounding victory for democrats, and may very well be the death knoll for republicans this fall and all the way into the 2012 elections! Even David Frum, the Bush speech writer, admits this could be disastous for republicans. At least we have something to build on now. That, my friend, is a plus!

[NJmaverick]

6. This was the GOP's Waterloo