Killing the big MO from last Tuesday.

I just feel hollow today. What was the point?

We gained absolutely nothing after 40 days. Republicans are going to do what they intended to do 40 days ago. The "vote" on the ACA will be 100% "NO" votes from Republicans, same as it would have been 40 days ago. Trump is on the phone to Republicans, threatening them if they go off script. None of them intend to do that.

I should know better than to have optimism. It’s the worst of the isms.

Which is what this seems to have been about

Oh, and an argument over how much to give insurance companies

It relies on Democrats having a majority and being in power again, I get it.

For NOW...at LEAST until the Midterms, or maybe 2028...this cycle will repeat itself.

Deadlock.

Trump, like Kruschev, banging his shoe on the table, demanding Republicans end the filibuster.

If this worked once (it did), they will do it every time they don't have enough Democratic votes to pass Trump's "agenda."

And really, what Trump wants more than anything is to circumvent Congress altogether, so who knows?

People in treatment, those scheduled for surgery, pregnancies already in progress, emergency services will go uncovered. The Republicans are responsible for all of the pain, suffering and death to come.

...the APATHY is DUMBFOUNDING. Not on DU of course...I know people here get it...but step outside of DU and drop that little nugget into everyday conversations and people either don't get it, don't care, or both.

We "ONLY" ( ) lost 400,000 people on Trump's watch, during COVID.

If he lasts another three years and Dems don't pick up enough seats in Congress to fix it, we'll easily reach 7 digits.

And even if they DO succeed in fixing it, Trump will attempt to crush it.

As a small business owner in the 20 years before the affordable care act we sweated health insurance for our employees. The fear of any of us getting something that would become a preexisting condition was terrifying. I understand what these people who have had their premiums go up 400% overnight feel! Terrified is the word.

...is that if Americans are PRICED OUT OF EXISTENCE in the healthcare market, the insurance companies aren't simply going to ABSORB THAT LOSS.

They will raise premiums on EVERYONE ELSE, which will result in MORE people dropping out, and I won't even PRETEND to be able to tell you where it will all end.

Picture this playing out over THREE YEARS and MILLIONS of DEAD or TERMINALLY ILL Americans.

And it's just not "sinking in" with the general public AT ALL.

the rich do not care about the poor or middle class. As Rousseau once said "Let them eat cake".

The temporary expanded ACA subsidies going away doesn't impact the requirements around medical spending as a percentage of premiums. So if they raise premiums past the 80 or 85% requirements, they just have to return that money to the insured.

But, alas, we gave the Republicans everything they wanted. Well done.

Time for him to step down. Lead, follow or get the fuck out of the way.

Cortez-Masto runs for re-election in 2028 and Rosen runs in 2030. I will be voting for their primary opponents. If either wins their primary, I will cast my vote for a write-in candidate. If we're still voting in 2028.

who gave them the covert ok to vote to re-open the government. Chuck Schumer.

Collins and some others voted with democrats because they knew enough votes was in place to pass it anyway.

Mission accomplished.