Down to the wire
The big, ugly bill is now going to be the wholly owned property of the Senate. What will they do? They’re going to argue — THAT’S what they’re going to do. Argue A LOT. This bill flickers — it flickers in the shadows of millions of lives — waiting to be either turned loose in all its ugly carnage or to be swatted away — a shadow of possible mayhem, fading into blackness…
Which will it be? House Creeper Johnson has begged the Senate not to enact too many changes. Desperate is the hand that holds so many dreams in it — the American people’s dreams. Donald J. Trump’s dreams. And now the Senate can make it or break it. Which will they choose? What path will they choose to wander down?
Senate Leader Thune has been noncommittal. He did say the Senate will “have its imprint” on the bill. He can only afford three votes against him from the GOP. Already, there are signs of conflict. Rand Paul says it will explode the debt. Then there are Lisa Murkowski and concerned Collins, who want changes to the cuts to Medicaid. Hawley, too, does not appear to be thrilled with the bill in its current iteration.
However, all that is talk, and it’s cheap talk at that. This will come down to the wire. It will be a history-making moment. Hawley the first pumper, said making these cuts to Medicaid would be “political suicide.” It would be, but Republicans ARE known for making horrible, no-good, terrible decisions. They appear to be relatively ineffective in responding to political crises.
Some of the more fiscally conservative members of the Senate are also upset at the deep spending cuts. There are going to be a lot of screaming matches, I am certain. Changes are likely to be made before this bill returns to the House.
What will it mean? It means a potentially calamitous activity for the GOP, no matter what happens. Here’s why: If they make too many changes, it won’t pass in the House, and their beloved benefactor will be pissed. If it does pass, the American people will be pissed. When all is said and done, the GOP seems to be fading into mere flickers of what they once were as well. One thing I know.
This bill has the potential to stop many a Republican political career, and it WILL if it passes. That is one certainty. All the rest? That remains to be seen as with most things political these days.
