# Thank you to senators Murkowski, Collins and McCain **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 28, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328 "2017-07-28T15:07:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/1 "2017-07-28T15:07:11Z")
I heard that because this bill came to the floor, the gop can’t use budget reconciliation again for the year. Since every other bill will now require 60 votes due to the filibuster, the repeal of the aca will be put off for a while. No idea if it is the fiscal year or calendar year, I assume fiscal. But at least this buys a few months of ending this crap. Also I’m guessing the gop was in on McCain being the deciding vote. He isn’t up for reelection and now all the gop senators can pretend they wanted to repeal the aca but couldn’t (supposedly the number of gop senators who actually wanted to repeal the aca were less than 40). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/2 "2017-07-28T15:39:36Z")
No, they weren’t in on it. Pence wouldn’t have been there and Cornyn wouldn’t have looked like he’d been donkey-punched if they were in on it. Women do the heavy lifting and a man gets all the credit. God Bless America. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/3 "2017-07-28T16:24:20Z")
And there’s a video posted on twitter of McCain’s vote. There are audible gasps from the floor. ---
**Author:** ![Caldazar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Caldazar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caldazar)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/4 "2017-07-28T17:00:41Z")
Agreed that Murkowski and Collins are the ones who more consistently stuck to their principles on health care. I guess McCain finally decided that this was too much political nonsense for him. Repeal-only got 45 votes in the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/5 "2017-07-28T17:29:25Z")
I guess knowing you have brain cancer allows you to vote your conscience. And, if you can do so while giving a hearty “fuck you” to the guy who said you weren’t a real hero because you were a POW, so much the better. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/6 "2017-07-28T18:20:02Z")
Plus he gets to do that Circus Maximus thing with the hand gesture, then pausing half a beat facing Mitch. Style points. But I really loved Murkowski’s soundbite earlier about how she’s not due to run until 2022… ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/7 "2017-07-28T19:13:29Z")
He could have saved everybody a lot of effort by staying home. I don’t know what to think of him. Imagine a dying man flying 2000 miles to accomplish exactly nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/8 "2017-07-28T19:39:44Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > But I really loved Murkowski’s soundbite earlier about how she’s not due to run until 2022… There’s an amusing side story about how Trump had Sec. of the Interior Zinke call her and try to put the screws to her, threatening energy exploration in Alaska if she didn’t get in line. But Murkowski is chairman of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee by which Zinke’s department lives and dies and the only thing accomplished was making an enemy out of the one person Zinke needs the most cooperation from. > [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > He could have saved everybody a lot of effort by staying home. I don’t know what to think of him. Imagine a dying man flying 2000 miles to accomplish exactly nothing. No, if McCain had stayed home, McConnell would have just delayed the vote. He already suspected he’d need Pence to get them over the line so no chance that he would have held it without everyone present. This way, the bill went up and McCain got to drive a stake through it. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/9 "2017-07-28T19:47:12Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > He could have saved everybody a lot of effort by staying home. I don’t know what to think of him. Imagine a dying man flying 2000 miles to accomplish exactly nothing. His disease will kill him eventually, but he’s not exactly on his deathbed, yet. His daughter tweeted a picture of them hiking over the weekend. Anyone who can hike in the Arizona heat is sufficiently capable of hopping on a jet to Washington. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/10 "2017-07-28T19:55:15Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > He could have saved everybody a lot of effort by staying home. I don’t know what to think of him. Imagine a dying man flying 2000 miles to accomplish exactly nothing. Well, not exactly nothing. He did manage to allow Obamacare to keep fucking over America - that’s not exactly nothing. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/11 "2017-07-28T20:38:22Z")
McCain was all like: You’d like to repeal Obamacare? I’d all love to see the plan, shoo bee doo wa. Wot? there’s no plan? (Marv Albert voice, from McCain) Ree-jected! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/12 "2017-07-28T20:45:10Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Well, not exactly nothing. He did manage to allow Obamacare to keep fucking over America - that’s not exactly nothing. For which I will give him some props. He gave McConnell and Trump a royal fucking, publically and emphatically. The fact that he pissed off **Clothy** and his ilk doing it is just gravy. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/13 "2017-07-28T20:56:29Z")
While Obamacare has done some great things we do have to at some point face the music and realize the costs are just not sustainable. If a solution could be had that made the thing work I would be for it. Or as McCain said: “I have believed that Obamacare should be repealed and replaced with a solution that increases competition, lowers costs, and improves care for the American people. The so-called “skinny repeal” amendment the Senate voted on today would not accomplish those goals.” This “skinny repeal” just puts us back to 2007. I believe that truly is what McConnell and his ilk would like. Thank god the three GOP dissenters can see this for what it is. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/14 "2017-07-28T21:17:03Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I guess knowing you have brain cancer allows you to vote your conscience. And, if you can do so while giving a hearty “fuck you” to the guy who said you weren’t a real hero because you were a POW, so much the better. This was my thought as well. Making enemies in politics often comes back around. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/15 "2017-07-28T21:23:53Z")
NM … I think my post broke the rule about no political jabs in breaking news in MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/16 "2017-07-28T21:25:14Z")
That’s my theory on why McCain flew in to vote “yes” to having a vote. So he could dramatically vote “no” in front of everyone, partly, but not entirely, to stick it to his foes. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/17 "2017-07-28T21:28:31Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > That’s my theory on why McCain flew in to vote “yes” to having a vote. So he could dramatically vote “no” in front of everyone, partly, but not entirely, to stick it to his foes. I’m sure he’s been simmering about Trump since the “not a hero” comment. Too little too late, perhaps, but a fine moment nonetheless ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/18 "2017-07-28T21:31:52Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > While Obamacare has done some great things we do have to at some point face the music and realize the costs are just not sustainable. > If a solution could be had that made the thing work I would be for it. Or as McCain said: > “I have believed that Obamacare should be repealed and replaced with a solution that increases competition, lowers costs, and improves care for the American people. The so-called “skinny repeal” amendment the Senate voted on today would not accomplish those goals.” > This “skinny repeal” just puts us back to 2007. I believe that truly is what McConnell and his ilk would like. Thank god the three GOP dissenters can see this for what it is. Thank God you can too. I have respect for anyone that knows what they want in a policy and can admit when it’s not there yet. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/19 "2017-07-28T21:32:02Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Well, not exactly nothing. He did manage to allow Obamacare to keep fucking over America - that’s not exactly nothing. A few people alive today might disagree with your definition of “fucking over America.” I never understood the opposition to providing health care to people. You have a beef with the fire department’s paramedics too? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328/20 "2017-07-28T21:35:52Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > While Obamacare has done some great things we do have to at some point face the music and realize the costs are just not sustainable. > If a solution could be had that made the thing work I would be for it. Or as McCain said: > “I have believed that Obamacare should be repealed and replaced with a solution that increases competition, lowers costs, and improves care for the American people. The so-called “skinny repeal” amendment the Senate voted on today would not accomplish those goals.” > This “skinny repeal” just puts us back to 2007. I believe that truly is what McConnell and his ilk would like. Thank god the three GOP dissenters can see this for what it is. Yup, the problem isn’t the ACA, the problem is we spend 2x as much on health care as any other nation and have less to show for it. This was a problem long before the ACA came about. However true reform is going to galvanize very powerful industries. The AMA, hospital industry, pharma, insurance industry, etc. because true reform will lower their business revenues and net profits. There is no way they take reform lying down. I don’t know what the answer is. We desperately need health reform in the US, and we already know what that reform is I’m sure (a panel of health care economists could probably fix our system or at the very least make it much cheaper) however we don’t know how to get anything passed. I guess the only hope is true reform will start on the state level, spread and eventually go federal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-to-senators-murkowski-collins-and-mccain/792328.md?page=2)