It looks like Trumpcare is dead on arrival. Paul Ryan has gone to the White House to beg Donald Trump to spare him a final humiliation and pull the bill before laughter or tears turn the House of Representatives into a scene best described by Charles Dickens. The only remaining question might well be whether the humiliation will rub off on the aspiring author of Obamacare's downfall, Mr.Trump. It seems likely from the past performance of the chief executive that he will respond with blame. First, he may blame the House GOP Freedom Caucus, the most conspicuous opponents of this hastily-conceived effort to do serious healthcare reform.
He may then turn to Paul Ryan. But what will he say? That Paul Ryan led him astray? These are not the words of a strong man.
Is Trumpcare really dead?
The broad consensus is yes. The No pass votes on PredictIt are moving close to 100 percent which means even the most avid supporters are jumping ship. There remains the question of how humiliating this might be for the loser of the contest. Trump has never shown a disposition to be humiliated. He has responded to his defeats on immigration by steadfastly making it hard for people to move freely if they have an Islamic background. He displays no hint of remorse for multiple incidents in which he has been the attacker. One might hazard a guess that he would exult in rubbing the noses of recalcitrant Republicans in the continued triumph of Obamacare.
But there is a much bigger problem.
Paul Ryan Rushes to White House to Tell Trump Votes Are Lacking to Repeal Obamacare https://t.co/gSEP04aSRU
— Stephen C. Rose (@stephencrose) March 24, 2017
Now what?
If the bill from nowhere becomes the bill that was, then what becomes of all those other promises that the president said were going to make America great again?
If one can surmise Trump's state of mind, the answer may not be that he can work with the GOP on other matters. It may well be that he has found the enemy and It is led by Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell. If so we may witness yet another chapter in an unwritten history titled 'The Trump Intervention'. That would be the time Donald Trump decided he was really a Democrat after all.
