Per Lawrence, Mitch McConnell only had FIVE votes for repeal

[CatWoman]

FIVE VOTES!!!!!

[Johnny2X2X]

1. O'Connel?

I wonder if McConnel had more than 5?

If he only had 5 votes then the bill is dead, completely.

[CatWoman]

4. i fixed it

[avebury]

5. Lawrence indicated that as soon as the vote dropped to 49

(losing 3 Rethugs) and there was no chance of it passing that the Republicans would fled away from the bill. It would have been a really bad loss for McConnell. A guy who worked for Reid said he thought McConnell might have gotten as much as 20 votes (which would still be a bad loss).

I think that his analysis came from the fact that no one was publicly defending the bill and pushing it. Everyone else was saying what they didn't like about it. Also, once three Rethugs said No the bill would have been dead in the water with no chance of passing and other Rethugs would feel free to flee the bill.

[rpannier]

27. His biggest problem (IMO) was

there were at least 6 who had problems with it
3 wouldn't vote for it because it was too extreme and 3 wouldn't vote for it because it wasn't Logan's Run enough
No matter how they tweaked it, they weren't going to be able to find something to pull thee three from either side back in (or even one)

[madaboutharry]

2. I didn't hear all of his explanation.

How does he know this?

[CatWoman]

6. don't know

but it appears it was a domino effect.

More and more just kept coming out against it.

[karynnj]

25. He didn't. His point is that just 5 were publicly for it

Even as they approached the likely date of the vote. Think back to 2009. As each vote approached, remember both DU and Daily Kos had tallies and we knew most of the Democrats had made positive commitments. This was on the stimulus, the budget, healthcare, etc
Even in 2010, the unsuccessful climate change bill had more than 50 votes, but could not make 60.

Larry O'Donnell's point was just 5 Senators gave a clear yes. His comment was this was unprecedented for a vote that would pass. Yet, with primary threats etc until it fell to 49, few gave their positions. His OPINION was that after it fell to 49, it could collapse down to a number that would seriously embarrass McConnell. Later a guest, a former Harry Reid staffer said he would guess 20.

[sheshe2]

3. Five?

Are you kidding me? He Only had FIVE VOTES?!

[CatWoman]

8. yup

that's why he yanked it like he did

[sheshe2]

13. Bwahahahahaha

7 years he had to come up with a bill and he only had five votes and he is going to change all that in 96 hours? I hope they get slaughtered by their constituents when they go on recess.

[LesterKasai]

7. Five votes out of the entire GOP Senate? Or five votes only within some committee??

[CatWoman]

9. five out of the entire GOP senate

[LesterKasai]

10. wow I am absolutely shocked!

[CatWoman]

11. as am I

McConnell sure looks/looked like a complete out of touch fool

[avebury]

15. I am not that shocked. Once McConnell had 3 Rethugs

say no the bill was Dead On Arrival with no hope of passing. He could not afford to lose more then 2 votes. It was pretty obvious that the bill was a pretty nasty piece of work and would have devestated millions and it would only be a matter of time before the masses turned on the Rethugs. Once it became evident that the NOs has reached at least 3 that created the cover for other Rethugs to flee the bill and make it look like they actually care for the people. Considering the fact that some of them waited until McConnell pulled the bill to speak out and say they planned to vote no indicates that they were actually cowards.

I think that the former Reid aide was probably more realstic in estimating 20 votes. But I do think it would have been bad enough to make McConnel look like a fool.

[onenote]

12. That almost certainly is bs

Had a vote been called, I would bet everything I own more than five repubs would vote for it. And so would anyone who lives in the real world.

Of course that vote wasn't going to be called, not because it would lose 95-5 but because it would lose 50 something to 40 something.

[Freethinker65]

14. McConnell would have gotten more than five votes just for the tax cut and PP defunding

The GOP would not want to appear that dysfunctional.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes to cobble something together that can pass. It did not take the house very long after Ryan pulled the repeal bill, but the Senate will be harder to finesse.

If the Senate GOP begins to lose confidence in McConnell, then things could get really interesting.

[gratuitous]

16. That's not even half of the Gang of 13 that wrote the goddam thing

But isn't it, what's the word, not courageous something else, that the Republicans kept up the suspense for nearly five days that they were going to pass this abortion of a bill. As soon as they hit critical mass - defined here as three measly votes - practically every one of these fluffy bunnies scurried for cover. Chickenshits. But that's the party the Republicans have become.

[spooky3]

17. And now George Will is bloviating about how the primary problem

with Obamacare is...

That employees are not taxed on the value of their health care benefits!

Not:

--the outrageous drug and testing prices paid here vs in every other developed country
--profits taken by insurance companies and reverse incentives

Etc etc etc

[Honeycombe8]

28. It was even a Trump campaign promise that Medicaid & Medicare NEGOTIATE drug prices.

Currently, they're prohibited by law from negotiating drug prices, which is RIDICULOUS. Big Pharma paid for this provision.

It paid Congress for that provision put into Part D of Medicare that Bush got passed. Sen. Breaux (D-La) (a co-sponsor of Part D) then quit the Senate and went to work for...guess who? A big pharma company at a salary of $1,000,000. And they got away with it.

The Obama admin. and Congress did not repeal that provision, which was a big disappointment to me. I THINK Obama promised in his campaign that he'd get that done. But he didn't.

So Trump did the same thing. Promises, promises. But the drug prices are part of the problem.

[safeinOhio]

18. Finally

Bipartinship in the Senate on health care.

[bdamomma]

19. I don't trust

McConnell at all, this is not over. He is a sneaky SOB.

[CatWoman]

22. and he looks like a fucking turtle to boot

not that I have anything against turtles

[babylonsister]

20. That was awesome! That despicable person got no love; he's so gross. nt

[marylandblue]

21. The story must have gotten turned around

There were 5 definite No votes as of today, there were probably more that would have been no but by that time, they didn't need to say anything. Also today's vote was only to decide if they should begin debate. A lot may have felt it was too rushed, even if they are actually plannong to vote yes.

[CatWoman]

24. if my reporting is wrong I will retract

however, I could have sworn that's what he said

[Blaukraut]

23. Lawrence's count only included Repubs who outright said they'd support he bill

Which were only five of them. Of course more would have voted yes in the end, but still nowhere near 50.

[bucolic_frolic]

26. They are in Stealth mode to kill Obamacare and blame Obama for it

If they can avoid responsibility for their actions, they can convince the public of their innocence and blame Democrats

[Astraea]

29. When are they going to get rid of him?

He's useless as a leader. He can't put anything together or get anything done. Idiots.

[Buckeyeblue]

30. It would be better if they just repealed ACA

And did not replace it. Just repeal. Let things go back to pre-ACA. The Rs are not good at coming up with new ideas. Just repeal. That is what they ran on. That's what they should do. The replace part is where things get ugly.

The Rs are the party of No. They should stick to that and try not to break anything.

Honestly, I think about the conservative people I've worked with over the years. They are good at following procedures. They are not good at problem solving or coming up with innovative solutions. Their minds are not wired around solving problems.