MICKEY KAUS: What happens if Dems pass health care?

Look at the way various groups can be expected to react to the health care victory::

A–Will old people be happy? No, they’re kind of pissed off.

B–Will young people be happy? Well, they’re getting targeted by the mandate to buy insurance and milked by community rating to make the system solvent. So maybe not.

C–Will opponents of the bill like it? Obviously not. They will turn out.

D–Will supporters of the bill like it? Two subgroups here: i) Those who wanted more (like a public option or single payer) are disappointed and maybe angry and demoralized. But at least they have a good reason to show up at the polls (to elect liberals who will help them achieve what they want). ii) Those who didn’t necesarily want more–who are happy with the Pelosi/Reid product–have far less incentive to show up. For them, the deed is done. Unless, that is, Dems can somehow bait the Republicans into making repeal of Reid/Pelosi a hard-core pledge. …

I still expect the Democrats will hold the House and Senate, simply because (in part thanks to the Feiler Faster principle) the entire health care issue will seem like less of a big deal by November. But when you think about it in this category-by-category way, the outlook is kind of grim for the Dems, no? ….

But he sees a silver lining, of sorts.