SYMBOLISM – AT 8:05 A.M. ET:  The Republicans in the Senate have scored a minor, and temporary, victory, but we caution that it will probably have no ultimate significance.  From the Washington Post:

Senate Republicans have successfully identified two minor violations of reconciliation rules in the final piece of the health-care package. The violations will force the Senate to change the reconciliation bill and ship it to the House of Representatives for final passage.

But Democratic leaders said the provisions that will be struck -- from the part of the bill dealing with Pell Grants for college students -- do not significantly affect the student loan program or the health care bill overall.

The corrected legislation most likely will not be subjected to additional challenges when it is sent back to the House, Democratic staffers said, and is expected to receive final approval before the weekend.

COMMENT:  It's time for Republicans to move on, and realize that the bill is passed and signed, and that the reconciliation package, fixing the original bill, will be signed by early next week.  Polls show that Americans are still heavily skeptical of the health plan, and that is what the GOP should build on.  The new Republican mantra is "repeal, replace and reform," and that is exactly right. 

The Republicans did not do the full, required job in the health-care debate.  While some fine ideas came from the Republican side, there was never a complete plan, wrapped up in a red ribbon.  And in today's media world, you need the ribbon. 

The GOP must go to the people in November with a full plan, far more attractive, and far less expensive, than the one that was just adopted.  When Americans find out the true cost of what's just been done, the Republican challenge will be easier.  But since Republicans have a nasty history of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, take nothing for granted.

March 25,  2010