Perhaps the last legislator to refuse the beltway Kool-Aid

Byron York has pretty much eked out a niche for himself as a "hey-I'm-just-sayin'-these-are-my-observations-about-what's-going-on-politically"-type observer.  Oh, you can tell from certain flourishes in his writing that he's right of center, but he generally winds up any given piece on a "you-have-to-be-realisitc-about-the-way-Washington-works" note.

Such is the case with his piece about what he thinks is likely to happen with FHer-care in the next few months.

Even though the whole damn thing is built on naked redistribution - seizing Citizen A's assets at gunpoint to address some particular need of Citizen B (as York points out, "A family of four with income as high as $88,000 will be eligible for subsidies.") - the Freedom-Haters, true to form, are going to play the pity card:

When people begin receiving that entitlement, the dynamics of the Obamacare debate will change.

At that point, the Republican mantra of total repeal will become obsolete. The administration will mount a huge public relations campaign to highlight individuals who have received government assistance to help them afford, say, chemotherapy, or dialysis, or some other life-saving treatment. Will Republicans advocate cutting off the funds that help pay for such care?

That's going to kick in January 1.   And that's why Ted Cruz, far and away the coolest guy in the U.S. Senate, is shouting about the small window of opportunity available to us from the rooftops:

“On Jan. 1, the exchanges kick in and the subsidies kick in,” said the Texas Republican in a speech Saturday at the Western Conservative Summit. “Once those kick in, it’s going to prove almost impossible to undo Obamacare. The administration’s plan is very simple: Get everyone addicted to the sugar so that Obamacare remains a permanent feature of our society.”

And also why he feels an urgency to call out those in his own party afflicted with Reasonable Gentleman Syndrome:

“I think there is a powerful, defeatist approach among Republicans in Washington. I think they’re beaten down and they’re convinced that we can’t give a fight, and they’re terrified.”

Now, which view of FHer-care imbues you with more hope and more fighting spirit?