Constitutional Crisis and Republican Reactions

Tuesday's decision out of Florida that deemed ObamaCare unconstitutional shook the earth! What further shook the earth is that Vinson's ruling voided the law, as it did not contain a severability clause. Since the ruling, the Obama Administration has vowed to ignore the ruling and keep moving forward. By flipping the bird to the court, the administration has ignited a Constitutional crisis and continues to show their unwillingness to listen to and follow the will of the people.

If I am Pam Bondi, current Florida Attorney General who will see this case through, I would be making my way to Pensacola to appear before Judge Vinson and present him with the evidence of this defiance. When Judge Vinson is presented with this evidence, he will have no choice but to hold the administration in contempt, and then can issue an injunction, which he had originally decided against, as he believed the system of checks and balances would be followed. The administration's behavior in regards to the court and healthcare will likely be a campaign issue in 2012.

While the court case progresses, we fortunately see the Republicans not waiting around for the decision and instead, fighting the good fight in the Senate, as a repeal vote occurred today. While it did not pass, (51-47 vote) that does not mean the fight is over. If enough constituent opinions can be stated to some the Senators, namely Joe Manchin (WV), Jim Webb (VA), Claire McCaskill (MO), Bob Casey (PA), Bill Nelson (FL), Ben Nelson (NE), Jeff Bingaman (NM), Sherrod Brown (OH), Herb Kohl (WI), and John Tester (MT); all of whom are likely running for re-election in 2012 and will likely face a close election, there is the chance these Senators can be brought to change their votes, in the interest of saving their seats, if repeal comes up again for a vote. At that point, Obama will have to either veto or stand by this law.

In the end, the records of both sides will be clearly visible as we approach the 2012 election. And if the Supreme Court gets this by 2012 and rules it unconstitutional, the president's chances for re-election will be severely impacted.