Republican push to end Obamacare collapses in US Senate

If the ACA collapses, it will be because the Republicans cut the legs out from under it.  Trump saying the ACA will implode on its own is like Bernie Madoff saying his investors lost their money on their own.

Well, they still can make it fail by defunding it further and shout "I told you so!".

Back when the GOP didn't have the numbers to repeal I asked how they were going to do it since they won't even compromise with each other. Too many little kingdoms promoting the philosophy that compromise is a bad thing. The failure of this legislation is a perfect example of that.

If they can't compromise with each other, it should show you the level of BS they started about 2 years ago when every bubble dweller suddenly started saying Obama refused to compromise. It was such a crafted narrative to pop up on it's own; it was obvious the bubble leaders heard criticism of themselves and just switched out the names and sold it to their base.

My opinion then was that the GOP is too fractured to enact major legislation. I think this proves me right. And the notion that they won't compromise with each other but they had an open mind with Obama is as funny now as it was then.

Republicans control the senate, and Trump blames the Democrats for his not being able to pass a bill.

The guy is dumb as a post.

Weird thing going on in the US: many vote Republican for cultural, not policy, reasons. This results in a large number of congresspeople whose policy positions are at odds with their own supporters.

Ask any GOPers if they like Obamacare, and they'll say no; ask about most any single provision (save for the mandate, without which it would collapse), and they'll say yes. It's political schizophrenia.

There's no clear way out of this trap. Even the experts - those paid tons to predict what will happen - are stumped. Well, America, you sleep in the bed you've made. One would have thought, though, that those scant eight years following the Bush fiasco would have left sufficient memory to deter such a foolish choice.

America needs to end this foolishness and just go single payer like the rest of the developed world.

The costs need to come down. That will help accomplish the Democrat's goal of more people covered and the GOP's goal of reduced cost.

This should be very interesting to see what happens next.

Ooh, apparently VP Mike Pence (aka "most unpopular American governor before Trump snatched him up because he's a toady") is irked:

Congress needs to step up. Congress needs to do their job. And Congress needs to do their job now.

Oh, that'll work. All Republicans need is a threat from Pence to get them in line.

I totally agree with Ally's comment. Either unite and work for your country or just keep screwing things up. One nation but they could not work together for the good of that one nation.

Just as elections in Puerto Rico last year. They had enough options but decided to go for the ones that spent more than half political debates building dirty on each other. Just like debates between Ted Cruz, Trump and all the others. Sadly, people like that. Meh...

Huge Republican failure. They just weren't willing to walk in lockstep like the Dems. So for a few Senators to save their own skin they condemn their party to slaughter in the next general election - and their nation to fiscal oblivion.

Obamacare will continue its downward spiral. The CBO predicted the exchanges would cover 23million by now. There are barely 10 million enrolled. There will be no fixes in the immediate future because neither side will give an inch in the other parties direction. On present course Americans will be right where they were prior to Obamacares enactment within a decade.

Send the money to the States so they can manage the problem and be done with it already.

America needs to end this foolishness and just go single payer like the rest of the developed world.

It's going to happen sooner or later, especially as the US dollar and Petrodollar lose their influence, or if we find ourselves in a depression/hyper-inflation.

I say do it now. Won't happen though. We can't depend on the Dems or Reps to do it. They are too much part of the corporate/bankster establishment, Big everything, and global hegemony.

An utter disgrace. People are dying because of this rank stupidity.

Wasn't Obamacare to be replaced by something "amazing"?

This should be very interesting to see what happens next.

Yes, because there is no consistency with the WH or legislature, unless consistent lying by the WH counts for consistency. It keeps everyone guessing.

Will Trump attempt to defund a program his supporters rely on and then suffer the backlash from the only people supporting him now, and then gain the hardcore GoP like Rand Paul and Cruz and to what end? Probably no.

Will Trump continue to fund the program and suffer the opposite effects, continue with inability to pass absurd legislation? Probably and hopefully yes.

Will Trump be in the WH long enough to have any effect on ACA? Hopefully no.

What is next? Attacks on net neutrality to benefit big ISPs? A laughable proposed tax reform, which will end similarly to this GoP farce? More undisclosed meetings with Russians? (Highly likely, but I am cheating. Trump had an undisclosed meeting with Putin during the G20 that was unreported until he was outed)

An utter disgrace. People are dying because of this rank stupidity. 

What utter nonsense! You make it seem like there's an epidemic of bodies all over the street. I was never for government intrusion when it comes to healthcare, but now that the Dems sorrily started the ball rolling and the GOP couldn't come to an agreement, what next? Even for arguments sake, the country would go "Single payer" that would collapse in No time, there is no way the Federal government can subsidize the healthcare for 330 million people, not going to happen, at least it'd be a short lived honeymoon.

Wasn't Obamacare to be replaced by something "amazing"?

well, that didn't happen, but at the same time in its current form, it was going to collapse anyway. So now let's see what happens next.

Here's my take: Both parties are going to spend, spend, spend on things that the average taxpayer doesn't want. The Repubs will spend on big ticket items with a kickback into their wallets. Demos will spend for the poor and underprivileged in the hopes of both kickbacks and partisan majority voting. The taxpayer, (the one who has to foot all this crap), gets nothing. Under ACA with all it's overpriced meds and care, the taxpayer is included in getting a bone or two concerning healthcare.

The repubs see that as a threat as they don't get as many kickbacks so they want this stopped at all costs. What they don't understand is that by diversifying their portfolio they'll profit just as much if not more. But that opens the door for the Demos to crow about how they "changed healthcare for the better".

I truly wish that both parties would really understand that the taxpayer's burden is already too high and start working together to lower the amount of tax that their greed has and will continue to raise until the system collapses and they both find themselves underground in their well-stocked bunkers awaiting their end by angry hordes of disgruntled ex-taxpayers.

For American politicians the nation does not matter, they are interested in hitting at each other. Why they don't work on improving ACA? These days American politics has become like Arab politics, trying to prove they are dumb.

Here's my take: Both parties are going to spend, spend, spend on things that the average taxpayer doesn't want. The Repubs will spend on big ticket items with a kickback into their wallets. Demos will spend for the poor and underprivileged in the hopes of both kickbacks and partisan majority voting. The taxpayer, (the one who has to foot all this crap), gets nothing. Under ACA with all it's overpriced meds and care, the taxpayer is included in getting a bone or two concerning healthcare.

The repubs see that as a threat as they don't get as many kickbacks so they want this stopped at all costs. What they don't understand is that by diversifying their portfolio they'll profit just as much if not more. But that opens the door for the Demos to crow about how they "changed healthcare for the better".

I truly wish that both parties would really understand that the taxpayer's burden is already too high and start working together to lower the amount of tax that their greed has and will continue to raise until the system collapses and they both find themselves underground in their well-stocked bunkers awaiting their end by angry hordes of disgruntled ex-taxpayers.

100% Agreed on all point! Perfect analysis.

Trumps "No healthcare is better than Obamacare.

I don't think so, but in its current form, it's going to collapse anyway, so why prolong the inevitable.

Anyway, the GOP need to come up with something and fast with a reasonable alternative whether they like it or not.

"Congress needs to step up, Congress needs to do their job, and Congress needs to do their job now." they are doing their job, its a job that the POTUS has no right to dictate how it should be done, man Im getting tired of all the winning that Trump said he was going to do, and he has the deck stacked in his favor with a Republican controlled house. LOL

The EU provides affordable health care for all of its 750 million citizens.

They also don't have to worry about having a huge military protecting them, so if we give up our military, then maybe, but that would make a lot of countries happy, especially our enemies for the US to have a Denmark size military. By the way, how big is their military?

Thousands of Americans visit Mexico each year for medical treatment and dental care. It’s no wonder. The care is high quality and the cost is a fraction of what you might pay in the U.S.

And thousands of Mexicans come over to the States for prenatal care and surgeries, a lot, so what's your point?

They also don't have to worry about having a huge military protecting them,

They don't? Why is that?

so if we give up our military, then maybe

If you're saying that is only choice we have, I'm down with that.

, but that would make a lot of countries happy, especially our enemies for the US to have a Denmark size military.

Who might they be?

Trump = failure

Trump administration = failures

Senate Republicans = failures

House Republicans = failures

Trump losing streak = unbroken now for 6 months!!

bass4funk: "This should be very interesting to see what happens next."

We KNOW what happens next. Out of mere wounded pride Trump and Republicans repealed Obamacare, with NOTHING in place to substitute. It is so bad that they have failed not only for seven years, but so desperate were they to live up to promises of mere "let's do the opposite of Obama" that their feeble attempts at an after-the-fact replacement have failed.

So, clearly, Trump is so angry that he can't top Obama (yet again!) that he's just going to let it fail and the people suffer for his god complex and child-like petulance. Then, as is usual, you guys will deflect and say it's not your fault -- it's Obama/Hillary/the Dems fault!

What's funny is watching Mitch McConnell try to do backroom deals and tell people, "Don't worry -- it'll take years to come into effect!" and Trump scream at his own members, who are more and more defecting on the bills to save their own skin.

Your party -- and it IS your party -- is quite the piece of work.

I don't think that system of government was intended to be dominated by two-parties. The voters vote as if rooting for a sports team. No matter how bad our team is we can't help but be loyal. Why then would the elected officials really give a damn about the people instead of the money that keeps them in power. The government is unbelievably corrupt with a president loyal to Russian mob money. The USA is in serious trouble, this healthcare fiasco is the least of the worries.

Looks like McConnell's back handers to Senate hold outs didn't work.

It was close.

 I don't think so, but in its current form, it's going to collapse anyway, so why prolong the inevitable.

That is the alt-right narrative. They claim there are states (like Kentucky) where there are no insurance providers, but there are insurance providers in each state.

The point is that Trump will need to make an affirmative effort to let ACA collapse by not funding medicade expansions, which has become the biggest component of the ACA.

ACA needs more work. It was never going to be a simple fix, and the government should work to fix it.

The ACA was enacted to help citizens, but the GoP isn't interested in helping their citizens. Each GoP senator is more interested in their pet ideals than their constituents or a cohesive GoP agenda. That is why they failed while having the majority, and they should fail because of that.

They don't? Why is that?

Because they can get a free ride....oh, that ended since Trump became president, never mind.

If you're saying that is only choice we have, I'm down with that.

If the rest of the world wouldn't always call us, I wouldn't object either.

We KNOW what happens next. Out of mere wounded pride Trump and Republicans repealed Obamacare, with NOTHING in place to substitute.

Not pride, cost! It was on Skydive already.

It is so bad that they have failed not only for seven years, but so desperate were they to live up to promises of mere "let's do the opposite of Obama" that their feeble attempts at an after-the-fact replacement have failed. 

That's correct and that didn't happen.

So, clearly, Trump is so angry that he can't top Obama (yet again!) that he's just going to let it fail and the people suffer for his god complex and child-like petulance. Then, as is usual, you guys will deflect and say it's not your fault -- it's Obama/Hillary/the Dems fault!

No deflections and It's not about topping Obama, he doesn't have to, Obama is not the president! Those days are gone and behind us, thankfully, but the important thing is, how do you keep premiums low, repeal and replace it without penalizing people to the point where it puts them in a financial bind.

What's funny is watching Mitch McConnell try to do backroom deals and tell people, "Don't worry -- it'll take years to come into effect!" and Trump scream at his own members, who are more and more defecting on the bills to save their own skin. 

Well, it's not Trump's job to do anything but to try to get congress to work on this, that's their job. Trump is frustrated and I don't blame him, both parties are a complete mess and a complete disgrace, no arguments here.

Your party -- and it IS your party -- is quite the piece of work.

It's not my party because I'm NOT a Republican, I'm a conservative and independent, big difference.

@zichi

It depends, usually, I just pay cash, but in Japan I do pay.

The GOP whined and moaned and complained and lied about the ACA for 7 years. Now they have 100% of the government power and they're 0/3 in fixing it, and apparently it's somehow all the Democrats' fault.

It's like the whole GOP is the Dunning-Kruger effect somehow evolved into a political party.

It's not my party because I'm NOT a Republican, I'm a conservative and independent, big differenc

You do seem to defend them a lot while tearing into the dems non-stop.

You must admit it doesn't seem balanced. You should be ripping the spine out of the Republicans on this one in the interests of balance, but you seem a bit subdued.

You must admit it doesn't seem balanced. You should be ripping the spine out of the Republicans on this one in the interests of balance, but you seem a bit subdued.

Seeing your "team" (i.e, the GoP) lose has that effect.

That the GoP can only blame themselves for losing and looking so incompetent while losing makes it all the more worse.

By the way, the "team" should be Americans, not the party supposedly in power. A concept missed by the GoP and their supporters.

So you didn't vote for Trump. And the last time you voted for a democratic president? You don't vote for republic representatives in your district?

I voted for Clinton twice, but I'm nowhere close to being a liberal.

So while in Japan you pay for and use the universal healthcare system but you object to doing the same in America.

Wothout a doubt.

It's not my party because I'm NOT a Republican, I'm a conservative and independent, big difference...that has to best some of his best work to date.

Glad I could amuse you. There is a big definitely a difference and No, I'm not working in Congress, I have No control of these things.

You do seem to defend them a lot while tearing into the dems non-stop. 

Yes, because the Democrat party of today is not the party I grew up with, the party has now been hijacked by so called college 'know it all' loons that are sooooo far left, Russians wouldn't want them and they make socialism almost sound sane....almost.

As I said before, I have my share of gripes with the Republicans as well, but the vitriol coming from the left these days and what they've done to my home state saddens me every time I visit it.

You must admit it doesn't seem balanced.

Life isn't a balancing act.

You should be ripping the spine out of the Republicans on this one in the interests of balance, but you seem a bit subdued.

Ahhh, you guys hate guns, but if it's a verbal beheading and execution that's all acceptable, right? As bad as they have been with the ACA, overall, Im still happy they are in power, I just wish they get their butts into high gear and fix this mess the Democrats started.

Republicans need to fix themselves first.

I wouldn't argue that one bit.

Insurance companies are now against republican plan. If trump stopped to mention Obamacare is so bad, people wouldn't compare their monthly insurance statement with republican promise.

@bass4funk

They also don't have to worry about having a huge military ... if we give up our military, then maybe, but that would make a lot of countries happy.

Too ****ing right it would. Starting with the 201 armed conflicts it has started since WWII. (Total figure of involvements 248).

30 million dead and counting, 90% of which are innocent children, the elderly and ordinary working civilian women and men.

What a great idea. Stop feed the military-industrial complex and a big part of the CIA to create enemies, and pay for healthcare instead.

Stop feeding those guys and pay for nurses instead and the US won't have any enemies. Send out doctors instead of marines and the whole world will worship at the USA's feet.

I think you've just won the Nobel Peace Prize.

I was never for government intrusion when it comes to healthcare, but now that the Dems sorrily started the ball rolling and the GOP couldn't come to an agreement, what next?

Says a person that lives in Japan. What about government intrusion to tell a woman what to do with her body? I'm guessing you'd think that was okay.

Even for arguments sake, the country would go "Single payer" that would collapse in No time, there is no way the Federal government can subsidize the healthcare for 330 million people, not going to happen, at least it'd be a short lived honeymoon.

Yes, because the Japanese, Canadian, Australian, Italian, German, Chinese, etc. systems collapsed long ago. Someone has drunk for too much conservative Flavor Aid.

They also don't have to worry about having a huge military ... if we give up our military, then maybe, but that would make a lot of countries happy.

China, Japan, France, and the U.K. have rather well funded militaries. Nothing near Americas, but perhaps that means the US could scale back a bit.

Something most Americans I've read voicing criticism of state medical systems don't get is that the successful models, of which there are few, all pay half as much as the USA does for the care and treatments given.

They are successful because they use the power of the state to hold at bay the profitmaking and bureaucracy of that related industries (healthcare, pharmaceuticals etc).

A number of nation even manage to get equivalent levels of treatment for significantly less investment.

The tribally opposed to the ideas of universal healthcare or "big government" are utterly blind to this even when you point to the actually statistics.

They'd rather pay twice as much and have less people treated, than pay half as much and have everyone treated.

It's insane.

Says a person that lives in Japan. What about government intrusion to tell a woman what to do with her body? I'm guessing you'd think that was okay.

Unlike the left trying to allow transgenders to use women's restrooms and locker rooms, that's not intrusion of the first order?

I believe the GOP needs to get into gear to try and come up with a new plan, that should happen, they know what could be in play in 2018