I wonder if Mitch McConnell is intentionally sabotaging the AHCA...

[DetlefK]

The GOP promised to repeal Obamacare. Trump promised to replace it with something better.

Problem Number 1:
In order to work, this "better" healthcare-bill would have to be very, very similar to Obamacare. The GOP would have to root out Obamacare... and then replace it with a system that's almost identical.

Problem Number 2:
If they pass a healthcare-bill that is worse than Obamacare, people would be worse off and blame the Republicans.



The Solution:
Don't repeal Obamacare. Don't pass a replacement. Leave everything as is.
I have this feeling that Mitch McConnell is intentionally sabotaging the passage of the AHCA in the Senate. He is deliberately creating so much uproar and controversy that republican Senators will jump ship and the AHCA won't make the 50 votes (+1 from Pence).

If the AHCA fails in the Senate:
- People won't blame the GOP for losing their healthcare.
- The GOP can tell the voters that they tried to repeal and blame their failure on Washington-gridlock.
- The GOP can tell the voters that they tried to replace and blame their failure on those mean, partisan Democrats.

It's a win-win.

The GOP can say that they tried and then never bring this up again and move on to the next topic: tax-reform.

[Vinca]

1. I thought that might be the case until I heard Medicaid cuts were even greater than in

the House bill. That means the total wingnuts will eagerly vote for it along with the party loyalists. A few brave souls might give a shit about their constituents, but the GOP is not the face of courage.

[dawg]

2. That isn't what they are trying to do.

They'll throw millions of vulnerable people to their potential deaths for a few pieces of silver. Don't doubt that for a second.

[HAB911]

3. You may be giving Turtleman too much credit

I hope you are correct in a way, but..............

[greymattermom]

4. Maybe they are trying to make it so bad

that Trump vetoes it because it's mean.

[n2doc]

5. Tax cuts for the rich are the only thing

That is the only thing they care about. Anything other than that is unacceptable to their masters.

[Freethinker65]

10. Exactly

The GOP is funded by wealthy donors/corporations that passionately hate the idea their taxes are paying to improve anyone's lives but their own. They may only have a small window of opportunity to decrease their taxes and regulations so are pressuring Mitch who is happy to oblige. Once this is done, they will demand further tax cuts and reduced regulations, as well as the privatization of our lands, infrastructure, education, public housing, social security, etc. It is all about $$$. It has never been about anything else.

[beam me up scottie]

15. +1

[tgards79]

6. Yes I think so too

Everybody focused on this "hiding" strategy being the only way the GOP can win.

But it is also the fastest way to lose, and McConnell knows this. He wants it to be over, win or lose. And losing is probably best for 2018 and 2020. This way they can move on.

[WinkyDink]

7. No.

[sharedvalues]

8. No because the "secrecy" coverage hurts the GOP

McConnell wouldn't be exposing the GOP to criticism as devious politicians if he expected the bill to fail.

[vi5]

9. "People would be worse off and blame Republicans"

That's some solid comedy right there. Kudos.

[Dem2]

14. I know, right?

[WhiteTara]

11. No. I don't think so. I think they really

want to destroy everything that Obama did and to hell with what comes next.

[no_hypocrisy]

12. No. Repeal is to fund tax cuts.

[dembotoz]

13. the gop could line folks up and send them to death camps and they would still blame obama

cutting off ones nose to spite ones face seems to be a fox viewer trait