Any GOP member of Congress in a competitive district would be committing career suicide in signing off on the latest bill cutting taxes for the rich in exchange for stripping millions of health care.
Seems like there’s no longer any real incentive for Republicans to repeal ACA. Sticking it to Obama doesn’t have the sting it had now that he’s out of office. Caring about supporting Trump’s campaign promises seems to be in free-fall. There’s still the euphoric rush of keeping the poor in their place, but with 70% polling in favor of fixing ACA, who’s gonna take the risk for a cheap high?
While some wont, the majority will likely say yes, because the primary scares em more.
"Many moderates, including those who were previous “yes” votes on the original bill, " I know it’s handy to have a term to refer to them by. But, really, you can’t possibly call someone who voted for a bill that would strip 24 million Americans of health insurance a “moderate.” Call them “slightly less extremists” if you need a label.
I just don’t think the anti-Obamacare groundswell is there anymore. It’s now the “ACA” and the shit is flying from the other side.
It might be, but no modern day Republican wants to cross 45 yet.
Humoring is one thing, but crossing a guy who has essentially weaponized that party’s electorate is a good way to head to the unemployment line.
Just ask Mark Kirk.
I dunno. I think they’re beginning to realize no one ever wins with Trump. And Trump’s threaten and retreat tactics are looking more ridiculous than dangerous. But you might be right.
They might lose that fear in 19, but now…noipe.
The Freedumb Caucus might want to commit suicide, but the moderates want to be re-elected.
Mark Kirk lost in a Democratic wave election in Illinois last year. Trump was political kryptonite, and even a moderate like Kirk was swept along to defeat.
I say call them the “Far Right” and the Freedom Caucus wahoos the “Fascist Fringe.”
“Weaponized” the GOP electorate? I don’t think so. The shocking thing about the Trump victory was not the size or strength of it. It was shocking only in that the GOP actually voted for such a despicable person.
Ive gotta check later, but 86-90% of the Republican base is still backing him.
Of course, their fear of Drumpfie and the “primarying” may also be mitigated now that we have seen how often Drumpfie beats his breast and makes threats, then immediately climbs down. Especially recently. “Won’t sign without funding for the wall” became “we’ll wait until later”, “EO withdrawing from NAFTA” became “we’ll look at renegotiating”, “China is a currency manipulator” became “oh, well, no they’re not”, “We’re not gonna pay the CSR” became “oh, well, yes we will”… “build a wall” means “increase security” rather than a phyical wall, “NATO’s obsolete” became…and on and on.The courts are blocking enough stuff that many promises are stuck there. The list of failures is growing and growing.
Drumpfie’s credibility is shrinking daily. He’s doing a lot of posturing and it is slowly dawning on the Goopers that it is in fact nothing more than that. And he changes his mind according to whomever he spoke with last.
It is clear that Drumpfie is vindictive and revenge is his main driver (as witnessed by the snail’s pace of filling jobs while candidates are checked for “purity”, i.e., their loyalty / support for Drumpfie). So, yes, the Goopers believe that he would be vicious enough to primary the disloyal.
However, the Goopers have now had a taste of what it is really like when people are mad at them. And the healthcare issue has become one lightning rod. As more of the base wake up to the benefits of ACA (instead of Obamacare), and see what Trumpcare takes away, they’re gonna get madder. And when the wall doesn’t get built, more people will get disgusted. More and more people want to see his taxes. And if the Russian thing continues to gather steam…
The Goopers are caught between a rock and a hard place. They’ll do whatever will get them elected again. And they might just be catching on that a year from now, distance from Drumpfie will serve them better than sticking by him. I think we are beginning to see some of this already.
Coffman is a screaming bagger and no moderate…even newsmax is reporting that Americans DO NOT WANT REPEAL OF ACA…THEY WANT A FIX…
SEND THAT TO YOUR CONGRESS RETHUG CRITTER…
One circular firing squad for the GOP isn’t enough. Now they want to rename the Freedom Caucus the “Suicide Squad.”
It’s not the Freedom Caucus who will pay the price; it’s those in swing districts, who appear reluctant to join the shooting party and for good reason.
I’m beginning to wonder: by early 2018, will getting primaried from the right be a positive factor in the general election? Any representative who hasn’t been attacked by Trump will have to explain to the independents and non-trump republicans why not.