They already threatened to shutdown the government to simply delay a vote on the AHCA, and they got that wish. They might as well threaten the same to get rid of AHCA for good. Getting rid of AHCA is not "scoring some temporary political points".
First, the blame for a shutdown on the 100th day of Trump's term with a Republican majority would fall right on the GOP. Secondly, the GOP would still have the power to avoid the shutdown by using up one of their reconciliation bills. It would simply mean that it would make passing AHCA and tax cuts via reconciliation much harder.
The next CR will probably be around the same time that the GOP is hoping to pass its massive tax cuts via reconciliation--you believe the Democrats should not threaten a government shutdown and force the GOP to use up its last reconciliation opportunity for the year on a CR instead of their massive tax cuts?
Where am I excoriating Republicans for putting party before country?
I guess I'm referring to the collective you.
There is no "getting rid of AHCA" from Democrats. They're the minority party! They can't get rid of anything that is reconciliation friendly. The only thing that can get rid of that bill is a handful of Senate Rs, most of whom have apparently made peace with taking away Medicaid from thousands of their constituents.
This is all so fucking stupid.
They obviously know this bill is political suicide. If they didn't, they wouldn't be acting like this. Paul Ryan, a true believer and all-around moron, proudly announced his plan to the world. Say what you will about him, at least he actually thinks his shitty idea is a good one and he's standing behind it.
These guys know it's dogshit and they're so terrified of the public seeing how bad it is that they're going to extraordinary lengths to prevent anyone from finding out. But we'll all find out in like 2 weeks anyway.
Why march yourself to the fucking guillotine over something you don't even believe in?
Because after seven years, nobody wants to be publicly blamed by the base, the party, and the president for being the one to kill the chance at repealing Obamacare. The "moderates" are especially squishy about this, but even the Freedom Caucus clearly did not like taking heat for killing AHCA the first time. It's not a coincidence that THEY are the ones who restarted the negotiations that ultimately got the bill out of the House.
Like I said earlier, when public pressure and shame over the bill's unpopularity are no longer part of the calculus, nothing is stopping the bill from passing.
