Looks like a setup between Graham and McCain

[Renew Deal]

Graham trashes the bill, but gets political cover from the wingnuts by voting for it. McCain has nothing to lose and shoots it down. They both get what they want. I suspect it actually provides cover and relief for a bunch of republicans (Heller, Capito, etc).

I bet Boehner is enjoying the freak show.

[Agschmid]

1. What I dont get is... didnt McConnell know it would fail?

Was he not able to count the votes? Why bring up a bill that would fail?

[Renew Deal]

3. Nobody wanted to be the one that killed it

Not in the House and not in the Senate. Everyone was looking for cover.

It can be argued that the entire thing was a setup by McConnell. Everyone gets to say they voted for repeal, but never enough of them at one time.

[OnDoutside]

4. Do the math ! He very nearly did it. It shocked him to the core that old reliable McCain voted No,

as much as it shocked you and me. McConnell thought he had it, that's clear.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. McCain is normally a guaranteed vote for his party

despite his grandiose pronunciations. I doubt Turtle or his henchman whip Cornball expected him to vote "no", although they probably expected that Heller or Capito might have caved and voted no. But the odds were low for those 2 meaning Turtle decided to go for it - i.e., he had to shit or get off the pot.

I do notice that they will shuffle who will vote against their own party allowing the other doubtfuls to hold the line.

McCain just got back in for a 6-year term in 2016 so he could throw caution to the wind to allow Heller & Capito to live for another GOP day.

[malaise]

2. Did you see the photo of the three of them

They had dinner together the other night

[duncang]

6. Agree.

Even on the house bill it was just enough to get it passed. They gave cover to the most vulnerable. It always seems they fight over who is going to be the yes or no vote. The person with the least to lose does it.