If the SCOTUS rules Obamacare unconstitutional...

[Frodo]

It actually would be a blessing in disguise in that the issue of health care would at least no longer be a burden to Democrats -they no longer have to defend an unpopular law that even their base doesn't support.  It would free up resources to go on the offensive and demand single-payer reform as the only long-term solution to our health care funding crisis.  The base will be energized as never before, while Republicans (spin aside) will be deprived of a potent issue to use against the President.   

[Frodo]

It actually would be a blessing in disguise in that the issue of health care would at least no longer be a burden to Democrats -they no longer have to defend an unpopular law that even their base doesn't support.  It would free up resources to go on the offensive and demand single-payer reform as the only long-term solution to our health care funding crisis.  The base will be energized as never before, while Republicans (spin aside) will be deprived of a potent issue to use against the President.  

Defend a law their base doesn't support? The law they passed was indeed supported by their base, not the individuals who want single-payer, but the corporations (people!) and wealthy that finance campaigns and purchase public policy.

There's a reason Democrats didn't pass single-payer, it's because they serve their profit demanding owners. I have a hard time seeing single-payer passed before 2020 even if the mandate and the rest of the bill is struck down.

We're in for a long, disgusting for-profit ride.

Interesting that you say this, especially considering that passing a single-payer health care system would be the single most business-friendly thing Congress can do.  With such a system, businesses would no longer have to be burdened with providing health care for their employees, and can instead focus on doing what they do best -doing business and making profits.  

[Frodo]

Regardless of the ruling, Obama's a goner. If upheld obama will worse than if struck down.

Itll be 5-4 Tea Party victory and maybe they can strike Roe v Wade in the process.

You guys really want a revolution ten years down the line?

I see one coming regardless unless a Christian revival of the magnitude of of the Great Awakening or greater.

I doubt any revival at this point would be of your particular brand of Christianity, politically speaking (sadly, it would probably be theologically comparable, but let's not talk about that because it depresses me).

I don't quite follow.  Would you mind elaborating?  

[Frodo]

Endorsing Single Payer would probably save Obama election. I haven't met a single person who supports Obamacare over Single Payer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-payer_health_care#Public_opinion_in_the_United_States

The Right will cry "Socialism" even louder than before. If Obama wants to lose, he can straight out endorse Single Payer.

They cry 'socialism' over everything -including public education, Social Security, and Medicare.    

Besides, given his track-record of late as the Democratic version of Richard Nixon, Obama would not be the right spokesperson to advocate single-payer anyway.

[Frodo]

The way Congress works now and has worked forever you can't get anything done without backroom deals. Even if you tried to pass Medicare for all, you'd need backroom deals to get it done.

The grass is always greener on the other side. Everything looks shiny from a distance. Try actually doing it and see where it gets you. ACA is our best shot. It took our political system 100 years to produce this. 100 years. To have it struck down by five unelected, partisan men would be a travesty.

No, actually the ACA was our best shot at achieving universal health care while maintaining a predominately private insurance market.  With the individual mandate gone, that will leave only one alternative to bring health care costs under control (and they have to be, one way or another): single-payer.  

[Frodo]

The way Congress works now and has worked forever you can't get anything done without backroom deals. Even if you tried to pass Medicare for all, you'd need backroom deals to get it done.

The grass is always greener on the other side. Everything looks shiny from a distance. Try actually doing it and see where it gets you. ACA is our best shot. It took our political system 100 years to produce this. 100 years. To have it struck down by five unelected, partisan men would be a travesty.

No, actually the ACA was our best shot at achieving universal health care while maintaining a predominately private insurance market.  With the individual mandate gone, that will leave only one alternative to bring health care costs under control (and they have to be, one way or another): single-payer.  

The tea party isn't going to start falling all over itself for socialized medicine if the National Review/Bob Dole plan is struck down. They'll come up with some other bullshyte, or simply oppose universal coverage, period.

Beet, I don't know if you know this, but the Tea Party Republicans are going to oppose everything we as Democrats propose -even if the idea is their own.  Surely this episode with what they call 'Obamacare' should persuade you on the futility of compromise with foes who don't believe in the concept and who keep moving the goal-posts during negotiations but then wind up voting against the final product anyway.  We might as well advocate a solution that at least we believe in wholeheartedly and would be willing to do the footwork to get it passed in its entirety (un-watered down, in other words), not just in the halls of Congress, but more importantly among Americans on Main Street.  The first step is to stop being scared of what the other side might say about it.