I think it feels oddly like the day after election day here in D.C. Last night, the big health care vote was held on Capitol Hill. The President made remarks late, at 11:47 p.m. The White House put out a photo of the President and staffers cheering and clapping when the vote got to where they wanted it, past 216. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs tweeted that they were at the White House until 1:05 a.m.
They're all high-fiving and super cheerful this morning.
(White House Photo by Pete Souza)
But on the other side, there is the feeling of defeat.
The Republicans are pledging to still fight the health care bill, saying this is not the way the American people wanted it. They're tweeting about lawsuits that are going to be filed - one by Virginia's attorney general - and saying the bill was "bipartisan only in opposition."
I'm hearing some people call Rep. Bart Stupak a sell-out for the agreement he reached with the White House over the anti-abortion language coming in the form of an Executive Order. The Pro-Lifers certainly aren't happy!
As for what's next.... Expect to see the President hit the road this week to "pitch" health care. That's right, same verb you heard during the time the idea was being debated in Congress. Now that this thing has passed, Obama will try to re-sell it across America. Don't think they're not thinking about November.
It feels so weird and "morning-aftery." Everything feels like it's getting a late start this morning. The President doesn't have any public events planned.
We'll see.