I saw an article on Axios on the state of GOP moderates’ discomfort with the likely Senate version of the AHCA bill, especially when it comes to how it hurts Medicaid. As the story goes, all it takes is for a few of them to say the bill is unacceptable, and it dies, hopefully for good.
If only there were reason to believe that to be the case.
The way I see it is arguably not that much different from Steve M. or Josh Marshall: GOP “moderates” whine and complain, but all their whining and complaining amounts to is a bizarre form of performance art and little more. The basic rule of thumb is that the “moderates” inevitably cave. Anyone pinning their hopes on Caputo or Portman to save the day is seriously in need of a reality check. The “moderate” GOP Senators will whine their way to voting “yes” because … reasons.
So my basic advice is to not take articles on GOP moderates possibly not supporting the AHCA on face value. It would be nice if that were possible, but these idiots almost never break rank. To do so now would be something of a minor miracle. I don’t go through life counting on miracles. Nor should you.
Expect to see these “moderates” in the news for the next however many news cycles whining about alleged problems they have with the AHCA. Will they actually do something to stop it? I’ll believe it when I see it, and not one moment before.
Tips and recs appreciated. More importantly, shine a spotlight on the AHCA and its likely devastating effects on so many of our fellow Americans (including people I personally know and love). I’m not much of an optimist on the upcoming vote, but I think we should persist nonetheless.
Whining ain’t votin’. Show us the votes, or be considered Trumpublicans, “moderates”. Talk is so cheap it tweets.
On that we agree.
Heller’s statement of opposition to the bill today was positively shrill. To me, the biggest tell was him appearing with Governor Sandoval. That’s very solid political cover. All in all, it creates space for others to step away from the bill on the left, particularly if the Cruz/Lee crew pull it even further to the right.
Yes, there is a “Lucy and the football” tinge to all this. But this is a VERY unpopular bill. It would actually be unusual if they got 50 votes for it. There is literally no way supporters don’t suffer substantial electoral hazard unless the vote suppression and asymmetrical information warfare are each cranked up four notches in future years. Senators can’t gerrymander the borders of their Districts.
Kentucky has, I think, the largest percent concentration on Obamacare, called Kynecht there. Doesn’t McConnell fear retribution? Even from within his party as some young hotshot tries for his job, calling him “the man who killed kynecht”?
Or is his wily enough to seem to support repeal while working behind the scenes to defeat it? Maybe by egging on the extremists to taint the bill?
Oh, McConnell wants to pass it. It would be a promise broken if they fail to repeal the dreaded Obamacare. It just appears that he’s unwilling to spend unlimited amounts of political capital to do so, and he has other things on his legislative agenda. If he doesn’t get it thru in the next two weeks or so, it looks like he’ll abandon the effort.
On the other hand, he is behaving in a sociopathic manner and he is leading somewhat unpredictably, breaking many governing norms. So I don’t fully trust that ACA repeal efforts would remain dead if it didn’t pass by Independence Day.
I see he’s three years older than I. he looks 100. He comes up for reelection in 2020 at which point he will be 78 (79 in Feb ’21). Maybe he doesn’t figure on running again.
Yeah, maybe. If he succeeds in eviscerating the New Deal and Great Society programs, then he’ll be able to rest on his extraordinarily wealthy laurels.
True. Why face the electorate if you have achieved all you set out to do? Why give the voters a veto? If your successor fails, it’s his fault, not yours. You retired as the longest sitting US Senator, the Majority Leader and architect of your political philosophy’s triumph. It does make sense. Especially when viewed through old eyes.
Call every Congressmember you can. Let them know you will work and contribute money to take them out of office if they vote to kill and maim and cause suffering for tens of millions of Americans and cause healthcare-caused bankrupticies to jack back up.
I’ll give money to the most viable challenger to a Trumpcare Congressmember in every single District. I’m not wealthy, and I’m working with others to try to prevent this from happening, but I know these Congressmembers are being told by their constituents and others that they are doing the wrong thing. They appear to be ready to do it anyway.