Republicans have literally no idea what they're going to do after they repeal Obamacare.

Publicly, they're putting up a strong face, but privately they're freaking out.

This isn't conjecture - it's confirmed fact.

The Washington Post recently gained access to recordings from a closed-door meeting of top Republican lawmakers - and in it they can be heard talking about the huge challenges they're going to face after repealing Obamacare.

Representative Tom McClintock of Carolina summed up the situation as well as anyone when he said, "We'd better be sure that we're prepared to live with the market we've created that's going to be called Trumpcare. Republicans will own that lock, stock and barrel, and we'll be judged in the election less than two years away."

Republicans have only themselves to blame for the situation they find themselves in.

At the Congressional level, at least, their opposition to Obamacare was always about politics not policy - and now that they're in a situation that actually calls for policy - they're stuck.

Of course - even if they DO decide to go ahead and repeal the Affordable Care Act without any clear replacement, Republican lawmakers will at least get to keep their government health insurance.

That can't be said for millions of Americans who depend on Obamacare right now to make ends meet.

They have no idea what they're going to do next - and for them the fear isn't political as it as for Republicans - it's a matter of life or death.