Republicans are probably still failing to repeal and replace Obamacare: Daily Bullshit, May 1-4, 2017

Updates

  1. May 1, 3:12 pm:
    • No shit: “[Hillary] Clinton had a much bigger problem with voters who had supported President Barack Obama in 2012 but backed [Donald] Trump four years later.”[1] (Democrats)
    • No shit again: “The White House and congressional Republicans are in serious danger of not having enough votes to pass their health care bill.”[2] (Obamacare)
    • If there was any doubt about the neoliberal attitude toward labor, consider what happened when American Airlines gave its workers a raise.[3]
    • Pittsburgh’s mayor is mad at Uber.[4]
  2. May 2, 1:30 am:
    • I’m leaving room for doubt, in part because my own understanding of conservatism[5] doesn’t seem to help much with the divisions among Republicans we’re currently seeing, but it’s looking more and more like Obamacare will live to see another day.[6]
  3. May 2, 11:00 pm:
    • It appears that Republicans made some faulty assumptions in crafting their strategy for repealing Obamacare[7] and it continues to get even harder to see how their effort can succeed.[8]
    • Greg Sargent follows up on the story on research as to why the Democrats lost last year, presenting the results more starkly.[9]
  4. May 4, 02:57 am:
    • That crack that’s set to make Larsen C into a massive iceberg has grown a branch.[10] (Antarctica)
    • Republicans have come up with a fig leaf that might enable the House to pass their bill to repeal and replace Obamacare[11] although a few suspect the Senate may be more discerning.[12]
    • Folks are still arguing about why Hillary Clinton lost,[13] even if the Democratic Party had finally figured it out.[14] (Democrats)
    • Hopes for a relatively amicable divorce between Britain and the United Kingdom currently appear to be dimming[15] and the vote that Theresa May, a Conservative, has called to strengthen her negotiating position appears set to deal Labour a blow in Scotland, hand the Glasgow city council over to the Scottish National Party, and may boost May’s Tories among Scots opposed to independence as well.[16] (Brexit)
  5. May 4, 11:32 am:
    • The Republican bill to repeal and replace Obamacare has passed the House[17] but likely has a “less than 1 in 5” chance of passing the Senate, with “Republican senators say[ing] they don’t see a way to get healthcare reform over the finish line.”[18]

Obamacare

Earlier, I wrote,

Republicans are trying to be mean, by cutting coverage, and nice, by not cutting coverage, at the same time. It might be possible to resolve a paradox, but this looks like a contradiction and, if so, until they agree on one course of action—which they probably can’t do—the “repeal and replace” effort is almost certainly doomed.[19]

This contradiction has not been resolved[20] but rather a lean toward the mean side[21] has been covered over with a fig leaf (Matthew Yglesias minces no words in labelling this move as dishonest).[22] It really did appear that the House effort was doomed[23] and it still might fail when it reaches the Senate.[24]

Rachael Bade, John Bresnahan, and Kyle Cheney, “GOP faces make-or-break moment on Obamacare repeal,” Politico, April 30, 2017, http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/30/ryan-obamacare-repeal-house-republicans-237815

Lauren Fox, “GOP on verge of losing health care vote,” CNN, May 1, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/01/politics/republicans-continue-to-work-on-health-care/index.html

Jessie Hellmann, “GOP struggles to find ObamaCare repeal votes,” Hill, May 1, 2017, http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/331478-gop-struggles-to-find-obamacare-repeal-votes

Rachael Bade, Kyle Cheney, and John Bresnahan, “Outlook for Obamacare repeal turns bleak,” Politico, May 2, 2017, http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/02/republicans-obamacare-repeal-votes-237871

Kristina Peterson and Stephanie Armour, “GOP’s Health-Bill Woes Show New Power of Party’s Centrist Wing,” Wall Street Journal, May 2, 2017, https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-losing-votes-on-health-bill-imperiling-its-chances-1493742778

Andrew Prokop, “Why Republicans are still desperate to pass a health bill absurdly quickly,” Vox, May 2, 2017, https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/5/2/15515216/republicans-health-bill-rush

Peter Sullivan and Jessie Hellmann, “GOP bill hung up on pre-existing conditions,” Hill, May 2, 2017, http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/331632-gop-bill-hung-up-on-pre-existing-conditions

Adam Cancryn and Paul Demko, “No good GOP options if Obamacare repeal fails,” Politico, May 3, 2017, http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/03/republicans-obamacare-repeal-fails-237903

Greg Sargent, “Republicans just hatched a last-ditch strategy to destroy Obamacare. It’s a total scam,” Washington Post, May 3, 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/05/03/republicans-just-hatched-a-last-ditch-strategy-to-destroy-obamacare-its-a-total-scam/

Matthew Yglesias, “House Republicans are charging ahead with a dishonest, reckless health care plan,” Vox, May 3, 2017, https://www.vox.com/2017/5/3/15531702/ahca-republicans-lying

Alexander Bolton, “In Senate, pessimism over ObamaCare repeal,” Hill, May 4, 2017, http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/331842-in-senate-pessimism-over-obamacare-repeal

Lisa Mascaro and Noam N. Levey, “With a push from Trump, House Republicans pass Obamacare overhaul,” Los Angeles Times, May 4, 2017, http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-house-obamacare-vote-20170504-story.html


Democrats

Alex Roarty, “Democrats say they now know exactly why Clinton lost,” McClatchy, May 1, 2017, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article147475484.html?rh=1

Greg Sargent, “Why did Trump win? New research by Democrats offers a worrisome answer,” Washington Post, May 1, 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/05/01/why-did-trump-win-new-research-by-democrats-offers-a-worrisome-answer/

Mark Hensch, “WikiLeaks’ Assange to Clinton: ‘Blame yourself’ for election loss,” Hill, May 3, 2017, http://thehill.com/homenews/news/331781-wikileaks-assange-to-clinton-blame-yourself

Alex Roarty, “Democrats say they now know exactly why Clinton lost,” McClatchy, May 1, 2017, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article147475484.html?rh=1


American Airlines

Matthew Yglesias, “American Airlines gave its workers a raise. Wall Street freaked out,” Vox, April 29, 2017, https://www.vox.com/new-money/2017/4/29/15471634/american-airlines-raise


Uber

Ashley Gold, “How Uber lost its way in the Steel City,” Politico, May 1, 2017, http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/01/uber-pittsburgh-city-mayors-237772


Antarctica

Andrew Freedman, “Uh oh: The rift that’s about to cleave off a massive Antarctic iceberg has a sibling,” Mashable, May 2, 2017, http://mashable.com/2017/05/02/second-crack-larsen-c-ice-shelf-largest-iceberg/


Brexit

I have my doubts about how seriously to take this spat between Theresa May and the European Union negotiator. I’ve learned to suspect posturing in advance of negotiations and it’s possibly wiser to just wait for the outcome of those negotiations.

Peter Geoghegan, “UK election reinforces Scotland’s divide,” Deutschewelle, May 3, 2017, http://www.dw.com/en/uk-election-reinforces-scotlands-divide/a-38674936

Laurence Norman, Valentina Pop, and Jason Douglas, “U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May Hits Out at EU officials on Brexit,” Wall Street Journal, May 3, 2017, https://www.wsj.com/articles/european-union-lays-out-tough-position-on-brexit-talks-1493804444


  1. [1]Alex Roarty, “Democrats say they now know exactly why Clinton lost,” McClatchy, May 1, 2017, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article147475484.html?rh=1
  2. [2]Lauren Fox, “GOP on verge of losing health care vote,” CNN, May 1, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/01/politics/republicans-continue-to-work-on-health-care/index.html
  3. [3]Matthew Yglesias, “American Airlines gave its workers a raise. Wall Street freaked out,” Vox, April 29, 2017, https://www.vox.com/new-money/2017/4/29/15471634/american-airlines-raise
  4. [4]Ashley Gold, “How Uber lost its way in the Steel City,” Politico, May 1, 2017, http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/01/uber-pittsburgh-city-mayors-237772
  5. [5]David Benfell, “Conservative Views on Undocumented Migration” (doctoral dissertation, Saybrook, 2016). ProQuest (1765416126).
  6. [6]Jessie Hellmann, “GOP struggles to find ObamaCare repeal votes,” Hill, May 1, 2017, http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/331478-gop-struggles-to-find-obamacare-repeal-votes
  7. [7]Andrew Prokop, “Why Republicans are still desperate to pass a health bill absurdly quickly,” Vox, May 2, 2017, https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/5/2/15515216/republicans-health-bill-rush
  8. [8]Rachael Bade, Kyle Cheney, and John Bresnahan, “Outlook for Obamacare repeal turns bleak,” Politico, May 2, 2017, http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/02/republicans-obamacare-repeal-votes-237871; Kristina Peterson and Stephanie Armour, “GOP’s Health-Bill Woes Show New Power of Party’s Centrist Wing,” Wall Street Journal, May 2, 2017, https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-losing-votes-on-health-bill-imperiling-its-chances-1493742778; Peter Sullivan and Jessie Hellmann, “GOP bill hung up on pre-existing conditions,” Hill, May 2, 2017, http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/331632-gop-bill-hung-up-on-pre-existing-conditions
  9. [9]Greg Sargent, “Why did Trump win? New research by Democrats offers a worrisome answer,” Washington Post, May 1, 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/05/01/why-did-trump-win-new-research-by-democrats-offers-a-worrisome-answer/
  10. [10]Andrew Freedman, “Uh oh: The rift that’s about to cleave off a massive Antarctic iceberg has a sibling,” Mashable, May 2, 2017, http://mashable.com/2017/05/02/second-crack-larsen-c-ice-shelf-largest-iceberg/
  11. [11]Greg Sargent, “Republicans just hatched a last-ditch strategy to destroy Obamacare. It’s a total scam,” Washington Post, May 3, 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/05/03/republicans-just-hatched-a-last-ditch-strategy-to-destroy-obamacare-its-a-total-scam/; Matthew Yglesias, “House Republicans are charging ahead with a dishonest, reckless health care plan,” Vox, May 3, 2017, https://www.vox.com/2017/5/3/15531702/ahca-republicans-lying
  12. [12]Adam Cancryn and Paul Demko, “No good GOP options if Obamacare repeal fails,” Politico, May 3, 2017, http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/03/republicans-obamacare-repeal-fails-237903; Greg Sargent, “Republicans just hatched a last-ditch strategy to destroy Obamacare. It’s a total scam,” Washington Post, May 3, 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/05/03/republicans-just-hatched-a-last-ditch-strategy-to-destroy-obamacare-its-a-total-scam/
  13. [13]Mark Hensch, “WikiLeaks’ Assange to Clinton: ‘Blame yourself’ for election loss,” Hill, May 3, 2017, http://thehill.com/homenews/news/331781-wikileaks-assange-to-clinton-blame-yourself; Alex Roarty, “Democrats say they now know exactly why Clinton lost,” McClatchy, May 1, 2017, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article147475484.html?rh=1
  14. [14]Greg Sargent, “Why did Trump win? New research by Democrats offers a worrisome answer,” Washington Post, May 1, 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2017/05/01/why-did-trump-win-new-research-by-democrats-offers-a-worrisome-answer/
  15. [15]Laurence Norman, Valentina Pop, and Jason Douglas, “U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May Hits Out at EU officials on Brexit,” Wall Street Journal, May 3, 2017, https://www.wsj.com/articles/european-union-lays-out-tough-position-on-brexit-talks-1493804444
  16. [16]Peter Geoghegan, “UK election reinforces Scotland’s divide,” Deutschewelle, May 3, 2017, http://www.dw.com/en/uk-election-reinforces-scotlands-divide/a-38674936
  17. [17]Lisa Mascaro and Noam N. Levey, “With a push from Trump, House Republicans pass Obamacare overhaul,” Los Angeles Times, May 4, 2017, http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-house-obamacare-vote-20170504-story.html
  18. [18]Alexander Bolton, “In Senate, pessimism over ObamaCare repeal,” Hill, May 4, 2017, http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/331842-in-senate-pessimism-over-obamacare-repeal
  19. [19]David Benfell, “Cornel West advocates abandoning the Democratic Party,” (Supposedly) Daily Bullshit, April 28, 2017, https://parts-unknown.org/reading/2017/04/28/cornel-west-advocates-abandoning-the-democratic-party-daily-bullshit-april-26-2017/
  20. [20]Kristina Peterson and Stephanie Armour, “GOP’s Health-Bill Woes Show New Power of Party’s Centrist Wing,” Wall Street Journal, May 2, 2017, https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-losing-votes-on-health-bill-imperiling-its-chances-1493742778
  21. [21]Rachael Bade, John Bresnahan, and Kyle Cheney, “GOP faces make-or-break moment on Obamacare repeal,” Politico, April 30, 2017, http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/30/ryan-obamacare-repeal-house-republicans-237815
  22. [22]Matthew Yglesias, “House Republicans are charging ahead with a dishonest, reckless health care plan,” Vox, May 3, 2017, https://www.vox.com/2017/5/3/15531702/ahca-republicans-lying
  23. [23]Rachael Bade, Kyle Cheney, and John Bresnahan, “Outlook for Obamacare repeal turns bleak,” Politico, May 2, 2017, http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/02/republicans-obamacare-repeal-votes-237871; Lauren Fox, “GOP on verge of losing health care vote,” CNN, May 1, 2017, http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/01/politics/republicans-continue-to-work-on-health-care/index.html; Jessie Hellmann, “GOP struggles to find ObamaCare repeal votes,” Hill, May 1, 2017, http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/331478-gop-struggles-to-find-obamacare-repeal-votes; Kristina Peterson and Stephanie Armour, “GOP’s Health-Bill Woes Show New Power of Party’s Centrist Wing,” Wall Street Journal, May 2, 2017, https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-losing-votes-on-health-bill-imperiling-its-chances-1493742778; Peter Sullivan and Jessie Hellmann, “GOP bill hung up on pre-existing conditions,” Hill, May 2, 2017, http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/331632-gop-bill-hung-up-on-pre-existing-conditions
  24. [24]Alexander Bolton, “In Senate, pessimism over ObamaCare repeal,” Hill, May 4, 2017, http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/331842-in-senate-pessimism-over-obamacare-repeal; Adam Cancryn and Paul Demko, “No good GOP options if Obamacare repeal fails,” Politico, May 3, 2017, http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/03/republicans-obamacare-repeal-fails-237903

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.