On a historic day, after a long battle not seen in recent memory, President Obama will sign the health bill and complete a major promise he made on the Campaign trail.  Not only is this a victory for this administration, but a victory for the Democratic party which has championed health reform since it was first proposed by President Teddy Roosevelt.

Two weeks ago, the story was that Democrats were marching toward their doom, and failure to pass health reform would mean a critical blow to the Obama Presidency.  The Press was roasting White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Congressional polls hit 17%, while Senate majority leader Harry Reid and President Obama also saw their poll numbers fall.  Now, the tables have turned, and the new story is that Democrats are able to govern, while Republicans are struggling to decide how they will run their mid term election campaigns.  Originally,before the bill passed, the GOP were going to run on the fact that Democrats couldn't govern, even with a huge majority.  After the bill passed, some Republicans said they would run on repealing the bill, but now that message is faltering because it would force them to run against popular items within the bill like an end to pre-existing conditions.

As for the signing ceremony today, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden walked into the East Room of the White House to cheering and applause and the crowd began to chant, "fired up and ready to go!"

Vice President Biden spoke first and lavished praise on the President, saying that he delivered on his promise, and the promise the Democratic party to pass historic legislation.  President Obama seemed uncomfortable with the complimentary language, but thanked the VP just the same.  In his brief comments he highlighted those changes which will  occur right away, like no more life time or annual caps, no more pre-existing conditions for children, and tax credits for small businesses. but he cautioned that it will be four years before all of the rest of the changes will take place.  He thanked and honoured all the people involved, but not least of which was Speaker Nancy Pelosi as one of the greatest Speakers the House had ever had, as well as similar praise for Senate majority leader Harry Reid.

It was really a day for Democrats to celebrate, and after a year of negotiations and single mindedness, it will certainly be a relief to be done the lion share of the work on this issue.  Although, the Senate still has to pick up and pass the reconciliation package which the House passed right after the original health bill.  However, the timing couldn't be better, as there are other pressing issues to deal with, not least of which is the Middle East peace process, immigration reform, Iraq, Afghanistan, Social Security, and even terror trials.

Watch the speeches and signing ceremony below: