So here is "the good news"

[Tom Rinaldo]

Lisa Murkowski stuck with Collins. That eliminates any margin of error for the Republicans on repeal. Refusing to even allow debate makes them rather firm No's. Other Republicans on both the far right and in the center right can now use their generic "Yes" votes as political cover. By keeping debate alive they can each now vote for their favorite version of repeal/replace during the amendment phase - and potentially vote against all others. Then they can go home saying that they supported something

But if they lose just one more senator on Version A, and a different one on Version B, and so forth, no version will get 50 votes. It is still hard to see what version can win the support of every single Senator who voted to allow debate to precede just now, given their own differences and the differing prevailing politics back in their home states. This could still be only political gamesmanship, posing for differing constitutes back home, rather than actually legislating.

[COLGATE4]

1. Unfortunately for us, the old saying that "Democrats fall

in love while Republicans fall in line" is once again proving to be true.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. Yes. So far anyway. And that is their well worn tradition...

But it only takes one more defector per version to kill this. And that person or those persons would still be able to then go home saying that they approved of a version of repeal and replace (while opposing some others).

[Stuart G]

2. Thank You for the update...Yes, just one more..and we will see if there is one more..

k and r...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Josh Barro agrees with you.

Link to tweet

[RedSpartan]

9. This makes sense

and would be a good move by McConnell to protect the GOP Senators. Best case for him, they can pass something. Worst case, they can't, but his Senators have political cover going into 2018.

[BootinUp]

4. Agreed. I am cautiously optimistic. Nt

[barbtries]

6. i guess we'll find out

it's unconscionable what they're doing to the country. but republicans are absent souls.

[emulatorloo]

7. Yeah also cautiously optimistic.

Good post, you did a great job laying it all out

[IronLionZion]

8. Or they will just repeal without any plan to replace

and let the hate radio/Fox spin it into how Democratic socialism killed millions of people in the ensuing chaos. They will find a way to blame Obama and us for booting people off their plans.

[Tom Rinaldo]

12. I think that would lose at least Capito from West Virginia

and likely at least one other (so neither can be singled out as the person who killed the bill). Some repeal/replace option is more likely to win 50 votes in my opinion.

[IronLionZion]

14. Brooking Institute sent them plans

where they can amend the unpopular parts of the ACA and claim victory over us while keeping the important stuff that most everyone likes. But they said no of course.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. The bigger "good news" is

that ALL the Democrats (and both indies who caucus with Dems) stood firm to oppose moving forward. There are the usual suspects on our side who could have flexed their red-state street cred figuring that Rs might get enough to move forward with Pence so it wouldn't make any difference for them to vote "yes" to allow the debate, but they DIDN'T. They forced the tie.

I listened to the roll call after all the Rs voted and heard every D & I vote "no" for proceeding. If anything, that was something significant.

[grantcart]

11. she will need her for the duel.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. Touche! LOL n/t

[diva77]

15. thank you for giving me something to cling to for the time being

[mountain grammy]

16. Cory Gardner's approval rating in Co dropped below 30%

http://www.coloradopols.com/diary/97418/gardner-breaks-promises-to-colorado-as-health-care-repeal-advances#sthash.RF3OZkN6.dpbs

Look.. no voting machines here. Paper, mail in ballots. No Russian dirty tricks will save your sorry ass, Cory Gardner.