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I was afraid my comment might sound a bit too apocalyptic, but my point was that things can escalate rapidly. Obama comes out of a radical tradition in which casual talk of revolution is commonplace. He does not see himself as a custodian of tradition, and has only contempt for traditional forms that get in his way. He will do whatever he thinks he can get away with. He is playing with dynamite, and I do not think he really cares.

Obama's overreach has had political cover because Harry Reid's democrats have short-circuited legislative remedies. And because Republicans have been burned repeatedly on government shutdowns and are afraid to risk another, even if it is triggered by an Obama veto. And because John Roberts twisted himself into a pretzel on Obamacare. And because the courts have hidden behind standing to kneecap judicial challenges. Etc.

Now the balance has shifted. Republicans have the Senate, though with not enough votes to break a filibuster. And a couple of the legal challenges have matured, and the courts may (let us hope) impose limits. But Obama has become even more imperious as his range of lawful action has diminished. Do I think he would openly defy a court decision? Probably not ... but there are many on the left who would support such an action, and Obama is a man of the left. I think we are at a dangerous moment.