I have found the solution to what ails the troubled Republican Congress. It is becoming clear that conservatives in the House and Senate are not going to buckle under pressure from House and Senate Leadership; and we may assume that any conservatives voting against Trumpcare can expect well financed primary opponents in their next elections. It is also clear that the Kasich/McCain wing of the Republican Party will absolutely block any attempts at a simple repeal of Obamacare. This makes it impossible for conservative Republicans in the House to keep their promise to their constituents.
As I indicated in a previous post, I believe Ryan and McConnell are dedicated to making sure that conservatives (with whom they have no working relationship) are kept out of this process. The result will be a failure for conservatives to get a full repeal and for leadership to get their Trumpcare fix. So what should they do?
Well, I have the solution for Speaker Ryan and Leader McConnell. Once the Republican bill fails (if it fails), Ryan and McConnell should reach out to Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer and ask them to write an Obamacare fix. The Democrats can sponsor the bill with the promise that Republican leadership will kill any amendments offered to whatever the Democrats put together to save Obamacare from its inevitable implosion. Ryan will guarantee enough Republican votes in the House to pass this groundbreaking bi-partisan legislation and McConnell will provide the votes in the Senate (McCain, Graham, and Collins).
Obamacare is fixed in a way that will please both the insurance companies and the Democrat Party, Obama’s legacy will be preserved, and Ryan and McConnell can feign leadership, in this our most difficult time.
I can just see it now; Speaker Ryan walking into Pelosi’s office saying, “Save us Nancy Pelosi. You’re our only hope.”
