It's morning again in America

Just after midnight, still pitch black, yes, and the ominous clouds from last night's storm still loom, threatening to pound us again before dawn.

But it's morning, nonetheless, and there's nothing the storm — though frightening as it approached, and devastating as it rained hail down on us — can do to prevent its demise at sunup.

* * *

The last year's debate has shown us that there are more Americans who favor freedom than who favor slavery. (Insert "socialism" for slavery, if you wish, but they are the same.) In the end, even President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on Congress to ignore what was "popular," pretending their actions were somehow "right" instead.

I believe we all will be judged by our maker someday, and that those who steal will go to the same place as those who murder. But, today, my intent is not to discuss the rampant immorality in Washington.

Today, my intent is to express my own optimism for the future. It comes from two sources: My study of American history, and my readings about Ronald Reagan.

I'll start with the former. Consider:

— In 1777, Gen. George Washington led a band of 12,000 revolutionists into Valley Forge, Pa., to spend the winter diseased, wet, and hungry.

About a sixth of the men in the army — and that army was America's one good hope — died that winter.

But Washington led those men out of Valley Forge the following spring, and they went on to defeat the greatest empire in the world.

— In 1812, British soldiers entered Washington, D.C., unopposed, and set ablaze the federal buildings, including the White House and the the U.S. Capitol.

But the next day a rainstorm arrived, driving the British out and dousing the raging fires. Americans rebuilt the city.

— In 1865, America lay shattered by war, and remained divided by culture and politics. More than 620,000 American soldiers had died — as many as have died in all other American wars, combined — and the two sides continued to stew in their own mutual hatred for more than a generation.

But slavery was abolished, and, eventually, the wounds healed.

— In 1940, a genocidal maniac hell-bent on world domination had conquered all of America's allies on mainland Europe, and then launched a devastating attack against Great Britain. Meanwhile, Japan had amassed the most formidable navy we had ever seen, and was achieving a similar conquest over the Pacific Realm.

Over the next five years, America awakened and led the free world to victory over both.

* * *

The pessimism I've seen from my freedom-loving friends is understandable. If Obamacare survives long enough to take full effect, it will fundamentally change America for the worst. (Those who say otherwise do not understand Obamacare, or do not understand America, or are trying to enslave us.) We must destroy Obamacare or allow it to survive and destroy freedom. They remain mutually exclusive.

The victorious self-righteousness I've seen in my friends on the other side is deeply troubling, almost enough to move me to anger. But I do not see them as willfully supportive of slavery; I see them as ignorant. And I remain confident that they will eventually agree with me because the legislation will hurt them, too.

I am also confident, after seeing the protest marches (conservatives usually don't protest), and seeing the state of Massachusetts elect (to replace Ted Kennedy!) a man promising to fight Obamacare, and seeing Washington win its "victory" over America, that America will strike back in coming elections. The conduct by Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Obama indicates that they realize they probably will be fired for merely considering what they just enacted — so they had to enact it while they had the chance.

Those of us who love freedom have always known that our cause is greater than the cause of those we oppose: Freedom will always be better than slavery. But, this year, we have seen that our strength of numbers also is greater than theirs. If one party articulates a platform of freedom this fall, it will defeat the party of slavery. (The same holds true for 2012.) America has elected the immoral and the imbecilic before, and it has survived by realizing the mistake and defeating them.

Which reminds me of the second source of my optimism, Mr. Reagan. (Things were arguably worse in America in 1979, before he ran for president.)

And it reminds me of the thunderstorms that often approach on spring evenings, and release their senseless fury into the night, leaving dramatic destruction that isn't even fully realized until daylight.

It also reminds me that, each and every time, the sun does come up, and it vanquishes the storms.

Even with his memory rapidly clouding from Alzheimer's disease, Mr. Reagan said his public goodbye with a note of optimism: "I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright new dawn ahead."

We are wise to fear the storm and to seek shelter from it. But we must remember: We maintain the courage to ride out the onslaught because we know the sun will return in a few hours, and then we can rebuild.

I've read the bill

Actually, I just searched it for the word "qualified." That adjective appears -- usually in front of nouns such as "health care plan" or "health care provider" -- almost 500 times. (I counted 499, but I didn't have the fortitude to double check.) Count them for yourself, if you want.

When the leftists at the top promise you that you can keep your current coverage if you like it, please understand this: They are lying to you.

Their favorite word -- qualified -- betrays their secret. You will only be able to keep your current plan if they like it.

Their peril ... and ours

Most of us don't expect Nancy Pelosi to provide honest debate or sober analysis. For years she has asserted that health care in America is "broken" and requires immediate "reform" by a government takeover. The very premise of her argument (indeed, the premise of the last year's worth of health care discussion) has been — at best — willfully false or willfully ignorant. Our health care is not perfect, but it is far from broken. It is the finest in the world. (Ask Danny Williams.)

All who say otherwise are lying or stupid.

On some level, Mrs. Pelosi is probably both. Her verbal and legislative excrement is normal to us by now. But in the last year, I've come to expect (indeed, they have earned this expectation!) better from Republican leaders in Congress.

In fight over the renewed push for Obamacare (Part 6: Americans Aren't Smart Enough to Know They Want This!), GOP leaders have targeted their remarks at centrists Democrats who will decide the outcome. For example, from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: "I want to assure our Democratic friends that if they are somehow able to pass this bill in the House, it will be the issue in every race in America."

He's correct, but is telling only part of the story. In campaign mode, congressional Republicans are missing the point.

Democrats are free to risk their own careers as they see fit. It's still a free country, and they're still free individuals.

Yes, if they enact Obamacare, it will be the end of them, politically. If they pass Obamacare, President Obama and Co. will be damned by history for bankrupting America and destroying the world's finest health care — by robbing from the rich and the poor alike, to give to bureaucrats and health insurance companies.

If they enact Obamacare, voters will fire them in November, and rightfully so. But I don't care (and most Americans don't care) about the political challenges that Democrats are willing to bring on. As a Republican, I'd like to see Mrs. Pelosi voted off the Speaker's podium.

But I'm an American first. And Obamacare will do far more than imperil Democrats' offices in Washington. It'll imperil America.