I believe that there was no severability clause. If any part of the 2000 pages of Obamacare is declared unconstitutional, the whole shebang is void.
I've heard and read that too. Regardless, I'm not jumping for joy on this until Obama's "chickens come home to roost," and this monstrosity is repealed.
In the last analysis the severability issue doesn't matter much. The individual mandate is the keystone of the whole Obamacare arch. Knock that out and the whole thing comes crashing down. If this ruling stands the test of appeal repeal of Obamacare will be inevitable. They'll do it on a voice vote without significant opposition. Better yet, for the first time since Wickard v. Filburn there will be genuine, judicially enforced limits on the scope of federal power. That has profound implications for the shape of our government going forward. It is a mortal blow to the whole progressive idea. Obamacare may turn out to be the progressive Picket's charge — the catastrophic “advance” from which progressives never fully recover.
As we celebrate, however, bear in mind that there is danger in beating back Obamacare through the courts. If Obama had an IQ anywhere in the normal range he would be able to seize on this ruling as an opportunity to retreat gracefully from his health care debacle. He could work with the new Congress to replace Obamacare with something the public might like and pave the way for a successful reelection campaign. I'm betting he's too inflexible and too stupid for that, but still, the danger is there.