Republicans Aren’t Team Players. GOP Senators who defect from ObamaCare repeal will hurt themselves, their party and the country.

[rangerrebew]

Republicans Aren’t Team Players
GOP Senators who defect from ObamaCare repeal will hurt themselves, their party and the country.
 
By Fred Barnes
July 16, 2017 2:17 p.m. ET
 
Politics is a team sport, and Republicans are playing it poorly. They have one more chance in the Senate to repeal and replace ObamaCare—possibly their last hope for a victory.

Democrats are performing like a well-coached team. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has all 48 members of his caucus on board with saving ObamaCare at all cost. It’s been a successful strategy.

It works for one reason: Republicans are divided. Their 52-48 majority in the Senate means they can lose two votes and still prevail, since Vice President Mike Pence is the tiebreaker. After promising to get rid of ObamaCare for the past seven years, it shouldn’t be difficult.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/2017/07/17/expect_a_midterm_disaster_if_republicans_keep_obamacare_415646.html

[INVAR]

The BIG LIE Mr. Barnes that you and the rest of your GOP party hackosphere are promoting - is that the GOP's efforts here will repeal and replace ObamaCare.

No.

That is a lie.

A BIG LIE.

It does NOT REPEAL ObamaCare in the slightest.  It massages and attempts to ease the pain felt by Americans while shoring up the fiscal bankruptcy of the exchanges.  The Cruz Amendment which would permit CHOICE, has been/will be stripped and government-mandated insurance just for breathing will continue with fines (errrr. ..taxes) and punishment to coerce compliance in paying for ridiculously expensive poor coverage.

McConnell himself RAN for re-election with the words REPEAL OBAMACARE ROOT AND BRANCH:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeJ4_paARPY

[GtHawk]

Isn't it amazing? When the Republicans are in power, well at least on paper, they are supposed to be team players and share power and when the Dems are in power the Republicans are supposed to, well, shut the F'up and do what their told. Sadly this appears to be what the GOP leadership believes too!

[Jazzhead]

Fred Barnes is dead-on right.  The Dems' refusal to contribute any votes to the fixing of ObamaCare requires the GOP to act with near-unanimity.   If it fails to do so, any chance of bending the ACA along more conservative lines will evaporate.   

[Oceander]

So basically, if the GOP cannot even make small changes, Obamacare will become the de facto consensus on how healthcare should be done, and as problems become more obvious, the GOP will own those problems.

Even small changes would have left the option of fixing more.  Doing nothing will not.

[Jazzhead]

So basically, if the GOP cannot even make small changes, Obamacare will become the de facto consensus on how healthcare should be done, and as problems become more obvious, the GOP will own those problems.

Even small changes would have left the option of fixing more.  Doing nothing will not.

The proposed changes are anything but "small".   Each bends the ACA in a conservative direction.   But you are correct,  ANY changes, big or small, must, as a practical matter, be agreed to by all Republicans (only two defections are permitted).  In the absence of solidarity, not even small changes can be made, because the Dems are unanimous in opposing all changes.

What the GOP in Congress has to have drilled into their skulls is that when the Dems are unanimous in opposition, the GOP must be unanimous in support.   That's why Barnes says, correctly, that EACH and EVERY GOP member needs to be a team player - to go along with Party leadership notwithstanding dissatisfaction over details.     

[truth_seeker]

So basically, if the GOP cannot even make small changes, Obamacare will become the de facto consensus on how healthcare should be done, and as problems become more obvious, the GOP will own those problems.

Even small changes would have left the option of fixing more.  Doing nothing will not.

Contrary to Reagan's admonition to take 80% and go back for more, later....

....the contemporary inept GOP seems hell bent on "the perfect, as enemy of the good."

[Oceander]

Contrary to Reagan's admonition to take 80% and go back for more, later....

....the contemporary inept GOP seems hell bent on "the perfect, as enemy of the good."

Very contrary to Reagan's modus operandi. 

[Free Vulcan]

These guys only care about party at election time. Otherwise it's weaselly 'bipartisanship' any other time.

[INVAR]

Contrary to Reagan's admonition to take 80% and go back for more, later....

....the contemporary inept GOP seems hell bent on "the perfect, as enemy of the good."

80%?????   

Pray tell WHERE is there 80% REPEAL anywhere in these efforts by your Batter-Managed Socialism party? Where is there 80% Conservatism in anything your party has obtained by compromise with the Left?  Please cite where 80% Conservative principles can be found among all the compromises your party has made with the Democrats and Obama?

You yank out this insipid 'the perfect is the enemy of the good' bullshit, the same as you people did to push a lifelong NY Liberal Democrat to counter the other NY Liberal Democrat.

The historical trajectory with the stupid statement that insisting on Conservative principles and opposing outright Communism is an enemy of 'good' is a 70 degree oiled slip-and-slide off the edge. 

Since when did Communism become something you decided was a good thing to surrender to and compromise with?

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

The same goobers who whined about "the GOPe" are now insisting that GOPers fall into line now that Trump is in charge.

[Cripplecreek]

The same goobers who whined about "the GOPe" are now insisting that GOPers fall into line now that Trump is in charge.

This is why I now consider myself to be a federalist.

The only pledge of fealty my congressman should make is to the people of this district.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

80%?????   

Pray tell WHERE is there 80% REPEAL anywhere in these efforts by your Batter-Managed Socialism party? Where is there 80% Conservatism in anything your party has obtained by compromise with the Left?  Please cite where 80% Conservative principles can be found among all the compromises your party has made with the Democrats and Obama?

You yank out this insipid 'the perfect is the enemy of the good' bullshit, the same as you people did to push a lifelong NY Liberal Democrat to counter the other NY Liberal Democrat.

The historical trajectory with the stupid statement that insisting on Conservative principles and opposing outright Communism is an enemy of 'good' is a 70 degree oiled slip-and-slide off the edge. 

Since when did Communism become something you decided was a good thing to surrender to and compromise with?

t_s is spot on, here.

The GOPe does not want full repeal, they want to tweak a few things.

Voting for full repeal now and then coming in with their own socialist plan later would be taking 80% now.

Personally, I think they're afraid of winning now and then not being able to pass Ryancare later.

[berdie]

I often wonder if Dem constituents all think the same (free, free, free stuff!) So it maybe easier for the Dem politicians to stay in lock step.

On the other hand the Pubs deal with a varied constituency so that complicates things considerably.

I look at the varied opinions on this board and wonder how in the world they will ever coalescence and still retain the vote of the base.

I do have a question. I thought that the additional Medicare funding was for a defined period of time in the original bill. So why is everyone screaming NOW that the new bill cuts back on Medicare funding?

[INVAR]

I look at the varied opinions on this board and wonder how in the world they will ever coalescence and still retain the vote of the base.

I look at varied ideas of what this country is supposed to be about and what the role of government is supposed to be and wonder how in the world we can stay united for much longer.   

And then I wonder how much longer before the Hundred Trillions of Dollars Debt Bubble everyone wants to keep increasing, pops - and our economy and currency become worthless in a crushing collapse every other civilization that came before us will look on in horror.

Then the answer of whether or not we can stay united as a nation becomes clear.

[Right_in_Virginia]

.../  McConnell himself RAN for re-election with the words REPEAL OBAMACARE ROOT AND BRANCH

Good for McConnell and good for you.  But you do realize the Senate represents 49 other equal states, do you not?

"Minority" .... look it up and deal with it.

[EasyAce]

. . . Barnes says, correctly, that EACH and EVERY GOP member needs to be a team player - to go along with Party leadership notwithstanding dissatisfaction over details.   

Unfortunately, the devil is in the details.

[INVAR]

Good for McConnell and good for you.  But you do realize the Senate represents 49 other equal states, do you not?

"Minority" .... look it up and deal with it.

What difference does it make when they are the "majority"??

The Democrat/Leftist agenda goes full steam ahead with just a different engineer in the locomotive.

Then there is the fact your party acts like the minority - even when they are handed the reins in all 3 branches.

Not all of us have forgotten why so many Conservatives and Republicans sat home in 2006.

I guess your failed party wants to go back to that.  They think they work better as a go-along second string party to help Democrats pass their agendas while pretending to oppose them.

[Fishrrman]

Title and supposition:
"Republicans Aren’t Team Players
GOP Senators who defect from ObamaCare repeal will hurt themselves, their party and the country."

Makes no difference to many, particularly those from "safe" states.

The only thing that matters is to be re-elected.

Being in the minority isn't a problem, indeed it may be preferable, because then they can be "United States Senators" without having the responsibility to actually DO anything...

[EasyAce]

My personal preference would be senators and representatives hoping to undo things
. . . daring to dream . . .

[Right_in_Virginia]

What difference does it make when they are the "majority"??  .../

Your preference is total repeal by the branch and roots.  This is the minority opinion of the majority party in the Senate---meaning you a minority within the majority. 

@INVAR

[Mom MD]

Disingenuous title.  Repeal has never been on the table.  Vote every one of the bums out.  I am beyond disgusted.  At least the dems are honest about what they are.

[Oceander]

Disingenuous title.  Repeal has never been on the table.  Vote every one of the bums out.  I am beyond disgusted.  At least the dems are honest about what they are.

Repeal never had enough support amongst the voters.  Certainly not when sold as a simplistic repeal and return to the situation before; most people recognize that there were a lot of problems before Obuttockscare came along and don't want to just return to the status quo ante.

[roamer_1]

Fred Barnes is dead-on right.  The Dems' refusal to contribute any votes to the fixing of ObamaCare requires the GOP to act with near-unanimity.   If it fails to do so, any chance of bending the ACA along more conservative lines will evaporate.

Bull crap. ROOT AND BRANCH.
Liars.

[Mom MD]

Repeal never had enough support amongst the voters.  Certainly not when sold as a simplistic repeal and return to the situation before; most people recognize that there were a lot of problems before Obuttockscare came along and don't want to just return to the status quo ante.

There are a lot more problems with Obamacare than we had before it was enacted. A full repeal would not get us perfection but it would be a start. Unfortunately even with a full repeal which we will apparently never see, there are tentacles of Obamacare that can never be unwound.  As intended by the authors of that abomination.

The main component of ocare was the expanded medicaid which is a big mistake.  Whenever I see someone in the ER with a sore throat that came in by ambulance, I don't even have to look.  They are medicaid patients.  It costs them nothing to call an ambulance and run up a several thousand dollar bill in the ER for something that could have been treated for $25 in a walk in clinic.  But you and I have to pay for the most expensive level of care there is thanks to the government.  The whole thing needs to be flushed.  Since our elected officials are unable to do what we elected them to do, they need to be flushed.  Every one of them.  Maybe they can find a job as ditch diggers and sewer repair technicians.  At least it would be honest work.