GOP SMELLS BLOOD – AT 9:02 A.M. ET:  The resignation (or political execution) of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is only the beginning for Republicans who want the total abolition of Sebelius's main "accomplishment" – Obamacare.  From Fox:

Republicans responded to news of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' resignation from the Obama administration on Thursday with fresh calls to repeal the president's health care law.

Sebelius leaves the administration after the tumultuous launch of the Affordable Care Act exchanges last fall. Despite calls for her ouster from Republicans at the time, she stayed on until the enrollment period ended at the end of March.

A White House official said President Obama will formally make the announcement on Friday, and nominate White House budget office director Sylvia Matthews Burwell to replace the outgoing secretary. The Senate would have to confirm Burwell to the position.

Republicans quickly made clear that Sebelius' departure will not temper their criticisms of ObamaCare.

"Virtually everyone who has come into contact with this law has had new reason to worry about what it means for the government to control their health care," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement. "Secretary Sebelius may be leaving, but the problems with this law and the impact it’s having on our constituents aren’t. ObamaCare has to go, too."

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch said Sebelius "had one of the toughest jobs in Washington" because she had to implement the law, which he said is "flawed" and continues to fall short.

"While we haven’t always agreed, Secretary Sebelius did the best she could during the tumultuous and volatile rollout of the law," Hatch, R-Utah, said in a statement.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said Sebelius' resignation will not fix problems with ObamaCare.

COMMENT:  The Republicans are correct.  However, it's unlikely they can get Obamacare repealed because any repeal legislation will face a quick presidential veto.  But they can amend it with popular and effective provisions that the president might be forced by public pressure to accept. 

And they should start now.  We noted recently that polls show Obamacare to be the leading issue, as of now, in the 2014 midterm campaign.

April 11,  2014