Support NeoGAF

[Aaron Strife]

What successful legislation has "dear" "leader" even passed? Anything, I can't recall.

The only significant legislation passed by Congress this year was a funding bill that kept the government open for six more months.

Trump basically has nothing. Obama by this point in his presidency got the stimulus bill, credit card bill of rights, cash for clunkers, Lilly Ledbetter, etc etc in addition to the humdrum day-to-day laws that keep everything running.

 

[numble]

No, they would have had another vote on the bill before sending it to the house. The vote that failed was just an amendment vote to insert the skinny repeal language

No, it was an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Amending the House bill to substitute it with the skinny repeal. If the Senate passed the amendment, it goes back to the House since it is different from the version that came out of the House. It was the final amendment in the vote-a-rama process. They do not vote on a full bill after the amendment process, because the bill's text has been decided through that process.

 

[Gurgelhals]

The only significant legislation passed by Congress this year was a funding bill that kept the government open for six more months.

...and which only passed with the help of Democratic votes in the House because the Freedom Caucus nutjobs would rather have risked a government shutdown less than three months into his presidency, lol.

 

[Angelus Errare]

You can't get McCain, Murkowski and Collins so fuck off Cheeto.

When the fuck does the damn recess start already? Oh McCain is already gone so this ain't happening in August anyway.

McCain still wants to repeal and replace ACA.

 

[BrutishMrFish]

McCain explained his vote, so it's no mystery or anything. He voted more about the manner in which the entire thing has been done, the behind-closed doors meetings, the lack of any hearings or meetings, putting the entire thing in the hands of about 5-6 Senators, the midnight vote, etc. It was his way of basically telling McConnell to go fuck himself with the way he's continued to do this in the more 'improper' way possible.

His explanation isn't very believable when the BCRA that he supported was made exactly in the way he supposedly detested (sans the midnight vote).

He's been in the GOP forever, and he's smart enough that he would have known how the bill was going to be made from the start. If this were really about the principles, he could have voted against the BCRA or voiced opposition to McConnell's methods at any time.

 

[CrocMother]

McCain still wants to repeal and replace ACA.

I feel like it's going to happen, we can only hope that it gets watered down as much as possible before it does.

 

[Matticers]

They're not going to stop until they're able to push something through.

 

[Mighty Chin]

I'm pretty sure since the vote failed they cannot bring another reconciliation vote to the floor this year.

 

[KernelPanic]

Why can't they just stop? This is asinine. It's wildly unpopular and clearly they can't reach a consensus on it. Just drop the issue and move onto something else instead of constantly trying to kill your constituents.

It's an extremist ideology carried by an extremely wealthy minority to protect their "liberty" which has infested the GOP. They don't care about the majority(their constituents).

 

[Raxus]

Can't let you do that Trump

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOy6hqzfsAs

 

[Username1198]

The only significant legislation passed by Congress this year was a funding bill that kept the government open for six more months.

Trump basically has nothing. Obama by this point in his presidency got the stimulus bill, credit card bill of rights, cash for clunkers, Lilly Ledbetter, etc etc in addition to the humdrum day-to-day laws that keep everything running.

Man trump stays "winning"

Quotation mark president lol

 

[Shoeless]

I'm pretty sure since the vote failed they cannot bring another reconciliation vote to the floor this year.

But they can start trying to rewrite the laws so that they can try it again. Which is the most terrifying aspect of this. Since checks and balances are getting in the way of their abuse of power, why have 'em? Let's get rid of these pesky checks and balances, and let the abuses run wild. They're basically admitting "Democracy is getting in the way, so let's get rid of the democratic process."

 

[Cranster]

The GOP just won't learn will they?

 

[Ambient80]

As someone who studies and diagnoses breast cancer almost every day at work, BCRA keeps reading to me as BRCA, like the cancer gene related to breast cancer. Sort of fitting, honestly, since these bills are cancer, and will likely kill cancer patients.

But they can start trying to rewrite the laws so that they can try it again. Which is the most terrifying aspect of this. Since checks and balances are getting in the way of their abuse of power, why have 'em? Let's get rid of these pesky checks and balances, and let the abuses run wild. They're basically admitting "Democracy is getting in the way, so let's get rid of the democratic process."

Yep, and if Dems look like they’re about to take back power, they’ll pass some sort of legislation to change it all back and make it near impossible to change again so Dems can’t do the same thing.

 

[kc44135]

I thought Healthcare repeal was done? That they couldn't pass anything because of budget reconciliation? Didn't McConnell say it was time to move on?

 

[Journeywalker]

No, it was an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Amending the House bill to substitute it with the skinny repeal. If the Senate passed the amendment, it goes back to the House since it is different from the version that came out of the House. It was the final amendment in the vote-a-rama process. They do not vote on a full bill after the amendment process, because the bill's text has been decided through that process.

I think it's confusing because the amendment process doesn't seem to follow mathematical laws of parentheses. It's almost as if, during the construction of a ship, you could attach a stickie note to the ship stating, "insert time paradox here" and when it was put out to sea, the entire universe collapsed and was replaced with the skinny repeal.

 

[John Rabbit]

They are really trying to die on this hill.

 

[Saint Gregory]

I'm sure people have probably noticed but the Republicans haven't made a single move to work on tax reform or their tax cuts that they promised big businesses and the rich. That's because repealing the ACA was that tax cut reform/cut plan. The republicans are never going to stop, they'll keep this up forever without working on anything else because tax cuts for their patrons is what's keep their campaigns funded.

 

[jelly]

I wish the press would corner Trump about these bills to show he doesn't know or care about them whatsoever. He just wants a win and never think about it again or the consequences unless it's about the win.

 

[old]

They won't stop until they win.

 

[Dash_Riprock]

The GOP just won't learn will they?

Forgot the dead horse. At this point they're just pounding red mush into the dirt.

 

[Loxley]

They are really trying to die on this hill.

They really want their tax breaks for the rich.

 

[Like the hat?]

If they're so convinced this is what the American people want, is there any way the vote could be made by the American people? I fully admit I am not very smart about how politics work so sorry if this is a dumb question.

 

[Tovarisc]

The only significant legislation passed by Congress this year was a funding bill that kept the government open for six more months.

Trump basically has nothing. Obama by this point in his presidency got the stimulus bill, credit card bill of rights, cash for clunkers, Lilly Ledbetter, etc etc in addition to the humdrum day-to-day laws that keep everything running.

Didn't he also start working on ACA on day 1?

 

[Sectorseven]

If they're so convinced this is what the American people want, is there any way the vote could be made by the American people? I fully admit I am not very smart about how politics work so sorry if this is a dumb question.

You could vote on a state level proposition, but I don't think there's such a thing for federal laws.

 

[psyfi]

they want us dead

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

They really want their tax breaks for the rich.

They still have Tax Reform to deal with too and the budget and the debt ceiling.

 

[Freeza Under The Shower]

Sure, why not.

 

[Ekai]

What successful legislation has "dear" "leader" even passed? Anything, I can't recall.

He's done pretty much absolutely nothing. Even his EO's are suggestions more often than they are actual policy. They have all branches of the government and still can't accomplish anything. I should be thankful cause I despise everything they represent but god damn is it sad.

 

[Tovarisc]

They still have Tax Reform to deal with too and the budget and the debt ceiling.

Can they even do their planned tax reform and tax cuts if they can't kill ACA first to free up capital?

 

[ThisIsMyDogKyle]

5th time's the charm?

 

[Ekai]

I'm sure people have probably noticed but the Republicans haven't made a single move to work on tax reform or their tax cuts that they promised big businesses and the rich. That's because repealing the ACA was that tax cut reform/cut plan. The republicans are never going to stop, they'll keep this up forever without working on anything else because tax cuts for their patrons is what's keep their campaigns funded.

Pretty much. It'd be delicious if this failed until both 2018 and 2020.

If they're so convinced this is what the American people want, is there any way the vote could be made by the American people? I fully admit I am not very smart about how politics work so sorry if this is a dumb question.

I mean, all polling indicates that even a large chunk of their base doesn't want this bill.

5th time's the charm?

They've attempted this almost 40ish times now, I swear.

It's been their entire platform outside of attacking minorities ever since it came into being. And all their claims about the Democrats rushing it all the way back then are hilarious since Dems followed all legal pathing. It's them who are trying to rush this shit. Fuck McConnel.

 

[The Kree]

Working so hard to accomplish so little. Senate Republicans are making a strong argument for their own obsoleteness.

 

[DarkKyo]

Pretty much. It'd be delicious if this failed until both 2018 and 2020.

Are you telling me that we have to deal with this stress for the next three years straight?

 

[Zukkoyaki]

Can they even do their planned tax reform and tax cuts if they can't kill ACA first to free up capital?

They can do Dubya style temporary tax breaks

 

[Zolo]

Are you telling me that we have to deal with this stress for the next three years straight?

If it's not passed by mid-terms and Democrats can retake the House or Senate, no.

 

[Ekai]

Are you telling me that we have to deal with this stress for the next three years straight?

Most likely. It's been the lead part of their platform for almost a decade at this point. They so desperately want to use this to cut insurance from millions just to save their corporate donors a bit more money elsewhere. They aren't going to give up on this so easily despite it continually failing.

As Zolo said tho, if Dems can retake the house or senate in the midterms, it's dead in the water. They just have to fail long enough for that to happen.

 

[GoldenEye 007]

Are you telling me that we have to deal with this stress for the next three years straight?

Ideally this would be over next year if the Dems at least take the House.

 

[Suikoguy]

If it's not passed by mid-terms and Democrats can retake the House or Senate, no.

They are out of time, they will look even worse if they are working on taking healthcare away from people while defaulting on US Debt.

 

[greepoman]

The vote would have erased the AHCA and replaced it with skinny repeal but you still need to vote on passing the bill, not just amending it

Here is a better explanation:
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.timeinc.net/time/4872721/health-care-vote-senate-process/?source=dam

Step 4 is what you guys are skipping over

The part this leaves out is that the house can just skip the conference and just pass the bill as is...that is what McCain was afraid of and why he said he voted against it. And reports were coming out Paul Ryan was getting ready to tell people to just push it through so he was right to be worried.

 

[Steel]

If it's not passed by mid-terms and Democrats can retake the House or Senate, no.

They'll likely get the house, but that would probably put Pubs in the Senate back to the Obama years of blindly voting for full repeal for optics knowing it won't get through.

For the Senate, Heller is probably gone then there's a chance of Flake flipping, but it's unlikely to go further than that because of what states are up. That would leave the Senate 50-50 with VP tie-breaker.

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

Can they even do their planned tax reform and tax cuts if they can't kill ACA first to free up capital?

That one of the reasons why they wanted to do repeal in the first place is for the tax cuts.

 

[Fragamemnon]

They are really trying to die on this hill.

It's really strange seeing McConnell line up over and over for a stinker like this. the only thing he cares about is winning, I can't fathom why he's going so hard in the paint for a loser bill just so they can gun through MORE loser bills.

Maybe he's internally capitulated to the entire Congressional session's agenda. That would explain the raw nihilism behind the leadership behavior (which was what drove McCain over the edge earlier in the week).

 

[Zolo]

They'll likely get the house, but that would probably put Pubs in the Senate back to the Obama years of blindly voting for full repeal for optics knowing it won't get through.

For the Senate, Heller is probably gone then there's a chance of Flake flipping, but it's unlikely to go further than that because of what states are up. That would leave the Senate 50-50 with VP tie-breaker.

I'm not sure on the specifics on why Murkowski and Collins aren't voting on it, but winning even getting a net gain of one or two senate seats would likely be good enough.

 

[John Rabbit]

They really want their tax breaks for the rich.

Oh I know. This has zilch all to do with actual healthcare reform whatsoever. It's more that they're stuck pushing that agenda through as "lets fix Obamacare" because literally any other way they'd have to own up to simply wanting tax breaks on the rich. I just don't understand political math here. They're risking on burning out even moderate to hard GOP voters because at some point they'll be tired of the failures/continuation of failed policy.

Like, what are you even doing GOP?

 

[Fox Mulder]

.

 

[Aaron]

Most GOP voters will still fall in line rather than vote for a Democrat. They run on fear not on logic or reason.

 

[bigzgod]

They'll likely get the house, but that would probably put Pubs in the Senate back to the Obama years of blindly voting for full repeal for optics knowing it won't get through.

For the Senate, Heller is probably gone then there's a chance of Flake flipping, but it's unlikely to go further than that because of what states are up. That would leave the Senate 50-50 with VP tie-breaker.

That's the best case scenario for Democrats though, in terms of realistic possibilities.

Democrats still have to defend Montana, Indiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota, West Virginia, Missouri, Ohio, and Florida. Only Nevada and Arizona have a decent chance to flip D.

 

[FloydtheFathead]

This is all too much day after day. What are the chances of Democrats winning a majority in the Senate in 2018? I can't take this anymore...

Currently they would have to not lose a single seat and win 3 (Donnelly and McCaskill are two who may have tough challenges) and there are far more dem seats up compared to gopper seats.

The three best seats for them to win are Heller, Flake, and the Zodiac Killer's seat (which highlights how hard the challenge for Dems is since Cruz's is one of the easier seats)

Spoiler

This is asssuming McCain somehow holds on past 2018 which is highly unlikely. Depending on when he dies, the seat will be open which is a lot easier compared to Cruz's.

That's the best case scenario for Democrats though, in terms of realistic possibilities.

Democrats still have to defend Montana, Indiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota, West Virginia, Missouri, Ohio, and Florida. Only Nevada and Arizona have a decent chance to flip D.

Sherrod Brown will win (Mandel is not beating Sherrod, the one person who would have beaten Brown is Kasich so we are fine there).

That prick Manchin should win still as he is still popular in WV

 

[Steel]

^ Wouldn't McCain's seat be picked by the Governor to serve out his term?

That's the best case scenario for Democrats though, in terms of realistic possibilities.

Democrats still have to defend Montana, Indiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota, West Virginia, Missouri, Ohio, and Florida. Only Nevada and Arizona have a decent chance to flip D.

Considering the way polls and Special elections are going, I doubt the dems lose any Senate seats. And the House is up for grabs in a wave election.