SUPREME COURT UPDATE – AT 8:33 P.M. ET:  These are some of the things I've seen today in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision on Obamacare:

Most disgraceful journalism – some CNN commentators, plainly jubilant.  We single out anchor Brooke Jackson for an utterly ridiculous question asked of Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri.  She asked whether Republicans were sore losers for continuing to oppose Obamacare even after the Supreme Court affirmed its constitutionality.  Politely, Blunt tried to explain that an affirmation of constitutionality does not mean a law is good or wise, or helpful.  I'm not sure Jackson understood, having asked a question on a junior-high-school level.

Most depressing prediction – a physician interviewed on Fox who suggested that we're now heading for a British-style health system.  Procedures you can now get immediately will take more time to schedule.  But the wealthy will simply opt out and go their own way, leaving the poor and middle class to pay for this monstrosity.

Most brilliant writing – The Supreme Court dissent, written by Justice Kennedy and joined by Scalia, Thomas and Alito, pointedly charging that the Court didn't interpret the law today, it rewrote it.  It was the conservatives at their best.

Most tasteless comments – Some out-of-control folks on our side who theorized that Chief Justice Roberts's illnesses, and medication, may have led to his siding with the liberals.  Let's get off that.  The chief justice wrote a reasoned opinion, with which I respectfully disagree, but which reflected issues he raised during the oral arguments. 

Most thought-provoking dissenting comment – from Charles Krauthammer, who raised the possibility that by calling the fine levied by Obamacare on those who refuse to buy health insurance a tax, the federal government can now punish any behavior it wishes.

Best political comment – by Mitt Romney, who asserted vigorously and unambiguously that the Supreme Court did not pass judgment on the value of Obamacare, but only on its legal status.  He promised to move to revoke the law on his first day in office and replace it with something much better.

Moment of utter revulsion – Obscene posts by employees of the Democratic National Committee, one of which referred to Republican women as "bitches."  They have now been taken down, but these employees need to be sent away.

COMMENT:  On balance, despite some very bad moments, the discussion today was reasonably civil.  Obamacare will remain part of the debate in the presidential campaign.  How much a part will depend on other events, and on how successful the Republicans will be in presenting it as a huge tax increase sold to the American people as something else.  We are at the beginning, not the end.

June 28, 2012