Naturally the republicans will try to delay this until the election. There's the obvious reason of wanting a republican in, but there is also the potential, for both parties, to use this to their advantage in election. If for example, Cruz proclaimed he would appoint a justice that would overturn Obergefell v. Hodges (gay marriage case), then he'll instantly get a large bump in the polls... cause people are concerned about that for some reason.

Of course, it doesn't matter if he actually can or would do that, but it gives credibility to the threat.

Hopefully, whoever is voted in stands against the Citizens United decision, which is by far the worst decision the court has made in many years.

Without a doubt.  Absolutely agree that has got to go.

Forcing people to pay income tax is constitutional.  Forcing people to drive a certain speed is constitutional.  Fining people for not wearing seatbelts is constitutional.  Not allowing people to drink in public is constitutional.  Forcing people to wear clothes is constitutional. 

And there's one thing I'm forgetting... Oh yeah, forcing people to join the army to kill and risk death is constitutional.

Considering that those things are all constitutional, I don't think a fine for not having healthcare is so unreasonable, especially as the uninsured are a burden to the healthcare system, and there are individual exemptions for low income families.

First and foremost, RIP.

Secondly, this is a lose-lose for the GOP. They're going to cave and confirm the moderate that Obama chooses, after five months of drawn drawn-out delays. Any shorter and it comes off as too buddy-buddy and they lose some credibility among undecideds, any longer and they come off as hostile and too partisan and they lose undecideds. If they try and stall it any past August they're gonna bite themselves in the election, and then they might lose Senate seats on top of the election - then President Clinton/Sanders puts in somebody much more liberal. There's no way to win this one unless they somehow rig the election or convict Clinton (assuming she wins the primary, which is anything but given right now).

Mind you, even if Obama nominated a moderate who leans right (think Roberts) the court as a whole is still shifting drastically to the left. Either way this will be the big election issue until the Senate caves (which I expect to happen very quickly because the respectable GOP senators won't stand by Cruz and McConnell if they try to delay it and the Dems need only a handful of votes to win this one).

and an already crazy political year is going to get that much worse

This is pretty big. I betcha both sides are pining to get their side in.
But man I didn't think he would pass away for a while now though. But we never know when these things will happen.

Did you litteraly just abandon your origional argument and jump right to drawing comparisons to the British rule of the American colonies? Seriously?

Uhhhhh... and that has to do with the constitution how?  Article 1 section 8 of the constitution specifically gives congress the ability to levy taxes for common defense and general welfare.  Healthcare certainly falls under general welfare.  So, I fail to see how this is unconstitutional in any way.

Oh, it's just a counter to the whole "We pay taxes, we can be drafted, the government can do blah blah blah" position. The fact is this isn't something for the safety of others, or for the continued existence of our country (both in finance and defense). This is something that sat everyone down and said "Oh, that thing that you've been fighting for to have for free? Oh, you'll get it! Don't worry! Did you say free? We heard expensive. Whoops!"

Obamacare is nothing but an insurance drafted joke. It's a convoluted system that gives insurance companies even more power than they had at the cost of being able to turn people away. Oh, sure, they can't deny you because of medical issues. But they can charge extra because of it. Oh, can't afford it? Well here's your Obamacare- oh wait, do you make any amount of money whatsoever?. Sorry, the private healthcare was cheaper.

My mother can't afford healthcare anymore because my dad makes too much to get a good rate, but not enough to afford a bad one. And the healthcare that she had? Well, apparently they were allowed to raise their rates on my mom. So either my mom's health degrades to the point of death, or they declare bankruptcy. Obamacare isliterally killing my family. So no, it doesn't work. Honestly, the "You have to have healthcare cause it's the law" is only the tip of the iceberg on how much absolute BULLSHIT the entire bill is. It didn't help us. It took a shitty situation and shit all over it by making absolutely sure that every American was a customer, whether they want it or not. All because those things that masquerade as humans at the top of those insurance companies wanted more benjamens to line their pockets. And on a more personal level, I have absolutely zero respect for anyone who thinks that Obamacare works or is a good idea. Maybe in the beginning, sure. When it really was free healthcare.

But not this. So yeah, I hope they put someone in there who will start overturning this giant, unpolished piece of horse refuse.

Added: All that said, I'm withdrawing from this conversation. I don't believe I can have any form of level-headed discussion on this topic.