"The thing which will really be interesting is this - will the Senate Republicans look at today as huge 'win', slap each other on the back, and pack up for a month at home? Or will they roll up their sleeves, and work this issue until resolved?"
No, I did not make a typo in the title of this article. Just call it a double entendre. Or something like that. The Senate just voted (barely) to bring this healthcare issue to the floor for debate. Good luck with that one. By the way - what is being debated, and with who? Republicans against Democrats? Republicans against Republicans? And what is being debated? Repeal? Repeal and replace? Fix ObamaCare? I am getting dizzy.
John McCain made it back to the Senate floor for the vote. My guess is most folks given the diagnosis that McCain was given, would have called it a day immediately. Not John. He is not quite done yet. And he used this opportunity to really lay into the process which got us here. Yes today, Senator McCain was the ultimate truth teller. We need more of that kind of "straight talk".
What are more truths as I see them? First off, the reason this bill will go nowhere is almost as solid as any law in physics. Fact - Healthcare costs have to go somewhere. Fact - If we insure everyone, the costs will ultimately end up in the national debt. The conservative Republicans in the House and Senate will not go for that. Fact - If we don't ensure everyone, the bleeding hearts on both sides of the aisle will cry bloody murder. It will end up being a HUGE election issue which would cost some people their seats. The result - a stand off in the Senate. This bill will go nowhere.
The other truth we have found out is this - Republicans have been playing "liar's poker" for the past seven years. They had nothing to put forward to replace ObamaCare - and they still don't. ObamaCare will continue to disintegrate in front of everyone's eyes, and our House and Senate will continue to look like Keystone Cops in their ability to repeal, replace or fix it. For a country which could send men to the Moon and bring them back in 1969, our current lawmakers can't even tie their shoes. I mean everybody - blue, red or otherwise.
What is next? Besides the Russia issue, we will be "entertained" with lawmakers calling each other every name in the book and then resolving - absolutely nothing. By the way Speaker Ryan, how are we coming on the budget? The one which everyone is waiting for? The one which needs to be in place in slightly over two months? The one you promised would not be an omnibus mess? Just asking sir. Never mind - I think I know the answer.
My opinion has not changed. We are hosed folks. It is as simple as that. It is times like this I think it might be better to live under a Monarchy. Then someone can wave a wand and make a proclamation. I know - we fought a war to get away from that. But this system today sucks. Why? You say up, I will say down. You say black, I will say white. No gray - either black or white. If we don't agree, nothing will get done. And nothing has.
The thing which will really be interesting is this - will the Senate Republicans look at today as huge "win", slap each other on the back, and then pack up for a month at home? Or will they roll up their sleeves, and work this issue until resolved. My bet is the former. Sorry, but that is the way I feel.
Hope this is on topic.
ReplyDeleteWe are living under a system as close to a monarchy as I have ever experienced in my 71 years.
A monarchy consists of distinct but interdependent institutions—a government and a state administration on the one hand, and a court and a variety of ceremonies on the other—that provide for the social life of the members of the dynasty, their friends, and the associated elite.
Monarchy thus entails not only a political-administrative organization but also a “court society,” a term used to designate various groups of nobility that are linked to the monarchical dynasty (or “royal” house) through a web of personal bonds. All such bonds are evident in symbolic and ceremonial proprieties.
Proclamations are called " tweets" and are expected to be followed post-haste.
Congratulations on today's Repeal/ Replace milestone.
Your guys really have their act together! Breathlessly anxious to see what happens next.