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McCamy Taylor

(19,240 posts)
Sun Mar 12, 2017, 12:38 PM Mar 2017

The Republican Party is Up Sh*t Creek---and They Expect Democrats to Paddle for Them

Congressional Republicans are screwed. They are up shit creek without a paddle. They have been handed shotguns and told to aim at their own feet and pull the trigger (a sport that the GOP seems to love even more than race baiting).

Congressional Republicans are facing a dilemma. If they satisfy their base and repeal the Affordable Care Act, millions of American will suddenly find themselves uninsured or under insured. Many of these millions voted for Trump because he promised them better insurance not worse insurance. They will take out their frustration at the polls in 2018, and Congressional Republicans will suffer. On the other hand, if they do not repeal the ACA, their own base will stay home in disgust---and anti-Trump voters will flip Congress in 2018.

The political damage is going to be huge. Much worse than the Clinton Impeachment that cost Newt Gingrich his career in 1998. What the hell are they gonna do?

They will do what they have done since the beginning of time---blame Democrats.
Here’s their strategy from the NYT:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/11/us/politics/republican-health-law-repeal-strategy.html

Republican leaders have made no effort to hide the strategy. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan spoke at length this past week about a three-stage effort: First, with only Republican votes, repeal major parts of the health law and put in place some new provisions. Second, let Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price use regulatory powers to try to stabilize insurance markets. Third, pressure Democrats to help with a series of bills to complete the replacement and change the health care system more to the liking of conservatives.
Why the hell would they brag about a lame ass strategy like “We’ll fuck things up and then blame the Democrats”? Because they are hoping to rally their own Republicans to complete step one---the riskiest step. The one that will put individual Republican Congressmen in the crosshairs in 2018. As in “You took away our ACA insurance and our father/husband/baby died!” That kind of testimony will make for some very nerve wracking Republican Congressional town halls.


Step three is supposed to give Republican members Congress the balls to do what their party bosses tell them to do. And yes, any politician who will do what he or she thinks is the “right thing” only if given the promise that someone else will take the blame is a worthless bottom feeding piece of pond scum---

But I am not here to state the obvious. I am here with a suggestion. Democrats in Congress need to declare right now that Democrats will settle for nothing less than what Trump promised during the campaign. Health care for all. No pre-existing condition clauses. No high deductibles. Pie in the sky. Right now. That is the only bill that Democrats will approve---one that improves upon the ACA in every way.

Let the Republicans put that in their pipe and smoke it.

And yes, I know that it goes against everything that Democrats stand for not to clutch at straws, not to beg for scraps, not to try to "get along" for the sake of one or two Americans who will be allowed to keep their health insurance while millions are dying. Because we think that the needs of the few are just as great as the needs of the many. But trust me, if Democrats try to pull the Republicans out the of the fire, we will be the ones indicted on charges of arson. And those two Americans we thought we could save--they will die anyway. The GOP will see to that. They've got hundreds of ways to kill Americans, from polluted air and water to bad drugs to bad food. No Republican authored ACA replacement will come even close to saving America for what Trump and Putin have planned for it.


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The Republican Party is Up Sh*t Creek---and They Expect Democrats to Paddle for Them (Original Post) McCamy Taylor Mar 2017 OP
The party of MFM008 Mar 2017 #1
The ACA passed with little to no help from Republicans. mwooldri Mar 2017 #2
One thing Democrats in Congress better not do is get sucked KPN Mar 2017 #4
Sorry, I left off the sarcasm tag. mwooldri Mar 2017 #7
I figured you were being sarcastic. I just wanted to express this ... KPN Mar 2017 #10
Wowsers!!! You're talking the way Democrats USED to talk!!!!! LongTomH Mar 2017 #3
Their should be commercials with dems supporting Benedict Donald's words uponit7771 Mar 2017 #5
Kind of like that AARP ad... Wounded Bear Mar 2017 #9
Asshole Rick Santelli (cnbc) and Governor Kasich.. coco22 Mar 2017 #6
And how many times did I hear from the News Media AwakeAtLast Mar 2017 #8
Glad for you. And ... right on!!!!!!!!! KPN Mar 2017 #11
Exactly! Proud Liberal Dem Mar 2017 #14
One note - they have the bill written to protect them Cosmocat Mar 2017 #12
Democrats seem unified on blocking Proud Liberal Dem Mar 2017 #13
Dems should counter with single payer Buckeyeblue Mar 2017 #15

mwooldri

(10,291 posts)
2. The ACA passed with little to no help from Republicans.
Sun Mar 12, 2017, 12:55 PM
Mar 2017

I propose a double effort in number of votes to pass the repeal on the part of Democrats. Then sit back and be accused of no bipartisan support.

KPN

(15,587 posts)
4. One thing Democrats in Congress better not do is get sucked
Sun Mar 12, 2017, 01:16 PM
Mar 2017

into a bipartisan fix of this piece of crap American Health Care Act.

There is absolutely nothing that the GOP would consider accepting that would actually be better than the ACA. So why the fuck should we engage in any bipartisan effort at this point unless we want to share some of the blame?

Any Democrat that even thinks about doing that is an idiot in my book. Hopefully, we don't have any (but historey tells me otherwise).



mwooldri

(10,291 posts)
7. Sorry, I left off the sarcasm tag.
Sun Mar 12, 2017, 03:00 PM
Mar 2017

Double zero. You get zero.

That's exactly how many Democratic votes I hope the new TrumpCare gets. Heck. I'll be generous. Let's triple that number! Hmmm...3 x 0 is ? In alternative fact land, that's full on bipartisan support.

KPN

(15,587 posts)
10. I figured you were being sarcastic. I just wanted to express this ...
Mon Mar 13, 2017, 12:13 PM
Mar 2017

because our party has definitely disappointed me in the past. If we have any blue dog Dems jumping out to play with the GOP, I'll ... well, let's just say would it be wrong to hope something fatal happens to someone?

Wounded Bear

(58,441 posts)
9. Kind of like that AARP ad...
Mon Mar 13, 2017, 12:42 AM
Mar 2017

with Trump declaring he will "Protect SS, Medicare, and Medicaid."

There is plenty of video of Trump promises. Of course, we have to pick the right clips. He's been on both sides of every issue.

coco22

(1,258 posts)
6. Asshole Rick Santelli (cnbc) and Governor Kasich..
Sun Mar 12, 2017, 01:22 PM
Mar 2017

among other CONS want Dems to work with CONS so they can help them because they know nothing about governing,they want Dems to take credit for their destruction of the American people.Fuck em!

AwakeAtLast

(14,112 posts)
8. And how many times did I hear from the News Media
Mon Mar 13, 2017, 12:25 AM
Mar 2017

"Shouldn't the DEMS be doing something about this?"

"Dems should be proposing an alternative."

WTF?

IT'S CALLED THE ACA YOU NITWITTED
MOTHERFUCKERS!!!

Whoo! I feel a little better now.

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,355 posts)
14. Exactly!
Mon Mar 13, 2017, 12:40 PM
Mar 2017

We have our plan (ACA) and it actually works pretty well given the circumstances. It has it's flaws (some inherent and others inflicted by Republican sabotage), but I feel pretty optimistic in saying that they could easily be fixed if both parties came together in good faith to work out some of the issues with the law. But Republicans, of course, have (prematurely) declared ACA a failure and simply want to take a wrecking ball to it and replace it with a bunch of half-baked lame ideas that won't help anybody who isn't already rich, so, not much chance of anything meaningful happening any time soon. We'll either get a cr** replacement courtesy of the GOP or ACA will remain in place and continue to be sabotaged by Republicans at all levels of government until it simply doesn't work.

Cosmocat

(14,543 posts)
12. One note - they have the bill written to protect them
Mon Mar 13, 2017, 12:28 PM
Mar 2017

First the mid terms, they immediately eliminate the primary revenue sources (tax breaks to the rich and the insurance companies) BUT are going to deficit spend to maintain existing subdued through 2018.

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,355 posts)
13. Democrats seem unified on blocking
Mon Mar 13, 2017, 12:35 PM
Mar 2017

or at least not supporting Republican efforts to dismantle ACA. And, since they are in the minority, cannot realistically affect much in terms of them repealing ACA. They can (and should) block things that can't go through Reconciliation but, just as people didn't understand Senate rules with Democrats in charge but having a lot of their legislation die by Filibuster, it's not like people don't know who's in charge in Congress right now, are going to blame Democrats for the Republicans not being able to pass anything. Nope. If Republicans decide to break ACA, they'll have to own the resulting consequences. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Buckeyeblue

(5,491 posts)
15. Dems should counter with single payer
Mon Mar 13, 2017, 12:56 PM
Mar 2017

It would save corporations billions because they wouldn't have to facilitate employee health insurance. Workers would all pay the premium through payroll tax. Everyone is covered. Medical industry also saves billions because they won't have to keep track of and chase down all of the insurance companies.

Let's face it health insurance choice is bullshit. If you are covered through your employer there is no choice or very little choice unless you want to pay out of pocket.

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