E.J. Dionne Jr.: Who will stand up to unforgivable recklessness?

[babylonsister]

https://www.arcamax.com/politics/fromtheleft/ejdionnejr/s-2018475


Who will stand up to unforgivable recklessness?
E.J. Dionne Jr. on Nov 16, 2017


WASHINGTON -- The GOP bill that should be called the Cut Taxes on President Trump and Other Very Rich People Act of 2017 always had a secondary purpose: to jack up the deficit so Republicans could later cry out in horror, "Look at that awful debt!" They'd then use the pools of red ink they created to justify deep cuts in social programs.

But people who call themselves conservative are shovelling out so much money so fast to corporations and the privileged that they needed some health care cuts upfront -- at the expense of coverage for millions of our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

snip//

Let's take a step back and ponder the exceptional irresponsibility of what's transpiring here. The same people who complained that more than a year of hearings, analysis and debate around Obamacare constituted "rushing" the bill are now recklessly spiriting through the system a gigantic piece of legislation that would touch all corners of the American economy.

They are changing it willy-nilly, day-by-day, to accommodate this or that political problem. They are rationalizing their thrown-together product with false claims about everything from whom it will benefit to how it will affect the long-term deficit. They are using a tax bill to punish their political enemies (people in high-tax blue states, major universities, low-income Americans) and reward their friends and donors (corporations and the very affluent).

And the allegations of outrageous past conduct by Roy Moore, their Senate candidate in Alabama, and the shifting stories about all things Russian from Attorney General Jeff Sessions are consuming so much media energy that these truly radical policies and procedural abuses are floating by with minimal public scrutiny.

We are told that there still are responsible Republicans. Sens. John McCain, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski had the courage to block repeal of Obamacare. Sens. Bob Corker and Jeff Flake have said they are concerned about the deficits this tax bill would create. McCain has been especially eloquent about the need for "regular order," bipartisanship and a careful approach to legislating on complex matters.

Well, responsible Republicans, your time has come. You have the power to say a loud no to cavalier, partisan legislating; no to budgetary folly; no to wrecking the health care law; and no to a bill that would impose real sacrifice on your constituents down the road. Yes, you'll enrage your colleagues. But history will treat you better.

[marybourg]

1. They are willing tp throw anyone and everyone under the bus,

for the pitiful prize of passing something, anything, before the blue wave hits them. They deserve oblivion.