So the tea party/Freedom caucus just had a major FAIL -- the ACA stands thanks to them.

[pnwmom]

Because they held out to their purist position, they got nothing.

That should be a warning to Dems who think we should copy them with our own version of their tea party.

No thanks. Better to have half a loaf for dinner than no loaf at all.

[Phoenix61]

1. Good point

Much less painful to learn from other's mistakes.

[Stuart G]

2. Half Loaf...vs No Loaf...

I recall that was what was said when Obama put through his health care program.. ACA ..and guess what..It may have looked like only half a loaf, it was not all that we wanted...but.........it has saved tens of thousands of lives....not bad for ..."half a loaf

[leftstreet]

3. It was a failure of Trump/Ryan leadership

There are many scenarios where a different GOPer Prez with the majority House and Senate could have gotten it rammed through

Trump is hated

Ryan is an idiot

The elected GOPers feared losing their seats

The 'tea party' had nothing to do with it

[LakeArenal]

4. Slight adjustment...

Trump is a hated idiot.
Ryan is an idiot hater.

[leftstreet]

5. LOL

Indeed!

[angrychair]

6. Point taken...BUT...

There is nothing wrong for trying to get as much of that loaf as possible...three-fourths....seven-eighths...the whole loaf....the key is not to fall into the "all or nothing" trap or the mindset of "we will just try for half because that is likely all we can get" mindset as, IMHO, both are self destructive.

I'm sure you agree but I just wanted to draw attention to the distinction between trying as hard as you can for the best possible outcome and only trying as hard as you need to achieve the easiest to achieve possible outcome.

As a wise person (me) once said:
"Compromise is easy when you are not the one being compromised"

[pnwmom]

8. I am just saying that emulating the tea party's rigidity isn't going to be the best strategy. n/t

[Nitram]

7. They actually helped the liberal cause. No one ever said they were either logical or smart.

It was McConnell and Boehner's fault that the Tea Baggers had the outsized influence on Congress that they had during Obama's presidency.

[Demsrule86]

9. I don't think that is completely true...from what I heard, they were making headway and then the

moderates bailed...there are over 50 moderates from various places...and not just moderates either....the protests and Town halls, post card, phone calls emails had an effect.

[alarimer]

10. The point is the the Democrats ALWAYS start out with half a loaf.

They never begin by asking for the whole loaf, then negotiating from there. They start out compromising and meeting the other side halfway, but it is never the other way around.

And the moderate Republicans (ones vulnerable to a potential electoral loss to Democrats) gave in BECAUSE of pressure from the people, people of all political stripes. Now, I think Democrats are generally more responsive to what people want, but we have not really put on that kind of pressure in a long time. Well, it turns out it works!

[pnwmom]

11. When you start out by demanding the whole loaf, like the tea party does,

then more and more you convince your constituents that the whole loaf is completely possible and that nothing else is acceptable.

That is the danger in that approach.

I think it is wise to start off with a position that appeals to both moderates and most people on the left -- not to start off at the extreme end of the party. And to be flexible, not rigid like the tea party people.

[alarimer]

12. Bullshit

The half-assed approach is stupid and fucking cowardly. And it results in nothing good. EVER.

How is is that Democrats are the ONLY ONES WHO EVER FUCKING COMPROMISE?

[pnwmom]

13. We are the only ones with empathy and concern for others, including those on the other side. n/t

[Initech]

14. We won the battle, but the war is definitely not over.

I'm definitely celebrating this victory though! Who wants a beer?