Vichy GOP

So with Paul Ryan's Obamacare repeal and replace bill its hard to avoid the conclusion that the Speaker doesn't get it.

In a lot of ways this is not his fault. He's the same generation as I, and he came of age in the era of Newt and W, Heritage policy papers, Weekly Standard movement journo pieces, and a slew of policy-wonk ideas. Paul Ryan has certainly loaded this bill up with those.

This reminds me of previous failed GOP big idea bills, W's Social Security plan of 2005, the immigration reform bill of 2006, the debt ceiling fiasco of 2011, Marco Rubio's own attempt at immigration reform in 2014; all loaded with ideas none of which will work.

Frankly Paul Ryan's bill is a surrender document. All that remains is for the Dems to ad their bits ala No Child Left Behind.

Fortunately both the GOP squishes like Senator Collins of Maine, and hardliners like Senator Paul of Kentucky pronounce the bill DOA.

President Trump is a deal maker of course and I suspect this bill will be negotiated and marked up to acceptability. But I've always been an optimist.

Look, Mr. Speaker, this isn't about tweaking medical delivery systems or medical savings accounts. This is about repealing the most vile piece of American legislation since the Fugitive Slave Act. You got the power, use it.

The Dems wouldn't hesitate.