Republicans finally face consequences of promising the impossible, and it's Zombie Trumpcare

The Republican Party is finally faced with the consequences of allowing the nihilistic, know-nothings on the far right to take over the party, all in the pursuit of "winning." They made outlandish and unachievable promises to people who didn't know better, and actually elected many of those ignoramuses to both Congress and now the White House. They did it primary on one promise—that it would be easy to just erase the Affordable Care Act, one of the most complex and far-reaching laws passed in modern times. There's no excuse for the Mitch McConnells of the party—the ones who actually know how law-making and governing works because they've been in it their entire adult lives—to perpetuate this fiction. But he and his like did it and they "won" on it. And now they have to deal with the fact that they've promised the impossible. Thus Zombie Trumpcare:

As they meet constituents back home, GOP lawmakers seem trapped between the reality of their failed repeal effort and President Donald Trump’s renewed promises this week to finish off Obamacare before taking on tax reform. Vice President Mike Pence is also still trying to keep the repeal dream alive, working with conservatives on new tweaks to the stalled House bill. But even if the ultra-conservatives come on board, there’s no sign that the moderate Republicans needed to pass a bill are ready to sign on.

Those dynamics mean the Obamacare repeal effort that has helped define the Republican Party for seven years may live on in a sort of political purgatory — with no one willing to pull the plug even though there are few signs of life. The uncertainty created by that zombie state could compel health insurers to stop offering coverage in the exchanges next year, paralyze action on other legislative priorities on Capitol Hill and come back to haunt Republicans at the polls in 2018.

Lawmakers back in their districts during their first recess since the collapse of the House effort are downplaying the repeal agenda as if the rallying cry to eliminate the law “root and branch” has been pared down to some leaves. Some constituents are conveying their displeasure. […]

Privately, Republicans are nervous about completely giving up on Obamacare repeal, knowing they gained power in Washington in part by promising to wipe the law off the books. That has driven some to keep talking. But it's unclear whether the latest negotiations are signs of life or simply more false starts.

from Daily Kos http://ift.tt/2peVkuW