One of Many Moments of Truth In Today's SCOTUS Hearings: Justice Alito Shreds Verrilli's Arguments

INTRADE ODDS UP +39.7% TO 53% IN FAVOR OF NEGATIVE RULING


WORD OF THE DAY: SKEPTICISM

THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE forcing every American citizen to buy health insurance has not gone down easy today in the hearings. Could it be that there's real hope and light at the end of this dark tunnel?

Again, here are the 4 issues the Justices must rule on:

1.Does Anti-Injunction Act prohibit states and other parties from challenging the individual mandate? (Highly unlikely)

2. Is the individual mandate that requires all Americans to buy health insurance unconstitutional? (Looking more likely. Though I am only cautious optimistic at this point.)

3.Can the individual mandate, if ruled unconstitutional, be severed from the Affordable Care Act? (Unknown since it hasn't yet been addressed yet)

4.Did Congress exceeded its enumerated powers under the Spending Clause and violate basic federalism principles by placing heavy regulations on states that receive Medicaid funding? (Likelihood unknown)

Again today's developments are very encouraging although I do not want to get overly giddy and then be crushed if the Justices rule in favor of this behemoth law. At this point nothing is a done deal.

Meanwhile, good ole Harry Reid soldiers on saying if the Supreme Court overturns Obamacare, it could likely help President Obama's chances of re-election.....o----kay......