Jeffrey H. Anderson writes about the three things we have learned from the Obamacare repeal effort, and tells us why the 2012 election is so crucial.

Bill Kristol comments on the Anderson piece and adds his two cents on the critical nature of the 2012 election.

Sean Trende analyzes the Senate seats that will be contested in 2012. In my opinion, it all boils down to how independent voters break. The electorate will be much larger than in 2010, but if independents break toward the GOP in similar percentages to 2010 it will mean the end of the Obama Administration and Democrat control of the Senate.

The New York Times has this front-page article on the possibility that Congress might create a legal path for states to seek bankruptcy protection. Clearly, the awful fiscal condition of many states, and the crushing burden of unsustainable pension and health care obligations, will continue to drive this discussion. Unlike cities and other municipalities, there is no legal way for states to go bankrupt. Public officials are reluctant to even discuss the matter for fear of spooking the bond markets and, thus, making things even worse for states trying to borrow money. But the discussion will not wait, and should not wait. Alas, I fear no serious action will be taken until one of our big, cash-strapped states like California faces imminent default on its debts.

Democratic pollster Douglas E. Schoen writes about how public employee unions threaten the future of the Democratic Party.

Charles Krauthammer points out the ridiculous accounting practices that allow the CBO to say that Obamacare reduces the deficit, and says that chicanery is just one of many reasons why everything starts with repeal.

George Will says the hubris of big government advocates is leading them to a big political fall.

The common thread running through all of these stories? While it may take a long time to happen, eventually you just end up running out of other people's money to spend.