McCain did nothing more than take one for this colleagues on his way out

[Txbluedog]

They were never going to let the "Skinny" bill pass because they don't trust the House to negotiate. All of these men did not have the balls to come out and vote against the bill (like Murkowski and Collins) and McCain took one for the team because he is, unfortunately for him, going to meet his maker soon.

[scheming daemons]

1. Whatever his reason... he stuck a stick in Trump's eye, and that's a good thing.

Don't ruin the moment.

A good thing happened last night.

[dalton99a]

2. I agree

[Txbluedog]

4. Not denying that for a single, solitary moment but...

Murkowski and Collins were the heroes of the night, they risked everything. They deserve adulation from us not him.

[scheming daemons]

6. Susan Collins has a 78% approval in Maine, specifically BECAUSE she is moderate and anti-Trump

She didn't really risk anything.

And Lisa Murkowski won in 2010 running as an independent after the tea party primaried her out of the GOP nomination. She has no reason to be beholden to the GOP.


Both made a great courageous vote, but they didn't risk anything. Both are more popular than ever. Being an enemy of Trump is an ADVANTAGE for them in their states.


The real losers last night are Jeff Flake and Dean Heller. They are bye-bye in 2018. And that gets Dems to 50.

[redstateblues]

5. McCain has been playing the long game

Waiting for a chance to not only do the right thing but to stick it it Trump while giving cover to his cowardly colleagues. There's nothing Trump can do to McCain- he's dying.

[still_one]

12. If McCain had voted yes, in all likelihood a lot of people would have lost their insurance. Instead

he voted NO, and some feel so motivated to minimize that vote.

All three republican Senator's votes were necessary.

After McCain voted yes on the first version of the repeal/replace bill, it was a complete surprise that he voted NO on the skinny version.

Both McConnell and Pence put intense pressure on McCain as was evidenced by their approaching him several times on the floor

We barely dodged a bullet, and some want to minis what McCain did? If there is a next time we might not be so lucky, but at least then there would be a reason to be cynical

Those who depend on the insurance were very lucky that things turned out the way they did. It would have been a very different mood if any one of those three republicans voted yes

[Justice]

14. I agree.

[beachbum bob]

3. disagree, Sen Heller HAD every reason to vote NO and he chose not to and that

will cost him re-election. McCain did not nor ever has "taken one for the team"....

[edhopper]

7. Voting No

would cost him the primary.

[Adrahil]

8. I actually don't think so...

McCain is not the best person in the world, for sure. He reminds me of my departed Dad in many ways. Both were Navy vets of Viet Nam. Both had traditionally conservative upbringings. But sometimes, very rarely, their inner deceny just won't let them do something they know is wrong to satisfy their conservative friends.

My dad was the kind of man who could say in one breath that MLK Jr was a rabble rouser, and the next day he would fiercely stand his ground and refuse to book a fire department barbeque at a place that won't allow their first black member, even if it's been held there for 30 years.

[still_one]

9. I guess it is easy to minimize it, but the fact is it failed by one vote, and to glibly state that

he just took "one for the team", implying perhaps it was only because he was going to "meet his maker", really underestimates what happened

We just barely dodged a bullet last night, and it was because of the actions of 3 republicans.

[Motley13]

10. After LOSER 45 called McCain a brave man for showing up

I wonder what he is saying now?

[virtualobserver]

11. I don't believe that McConnell wanted to lose this.....

but a number of Senators probably did.

I don't see how voting for that nonsense last night helps people like Heller.....

[loyalsister]

15. I bet a few republican governors lobbied

KY, AR, and other states expanded Medicaid to great success. They knew what it would do to their state budgets and those of their constituents.
McCain probably helped the senators who wanted to keep the coverage but still placate the Kochs and freedom party types.

[Cosmocat]

13. It was literally the middle finger to 45

That he knew it was a horrible bill lent some validation, but this was clearly his long awaited comeuppance for 45 taking the dig at him for being a loser ...

That is why he hushed the room and did the "thumbs down ..."

Revenge is a dish best served cold.