The Emperor Loses -- Bigly

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The attempt by the Republican party to repeal the Obamacare law has proven to be a failure. On the doorstep of a vote to replace Obama's healthcare program, the GOP bosses abruptly pulled the legislation from consideration rather than face the ignominious certainty of a legislative defeat. After more than 60 tries over a period of 8 years, the Republican attempt to diminish the legacy of the country's first African American president came to nothing.

What happened? The representatives in the House went home to their districts and heard the voices of their constituents. Findings by the Congressional Budget Office were sobering to say the least: if adopted, the Republican health plan would not only result in higher premiums and deductables, but it would mean 24 million people being stripped of their healthcare entirely. In this era of frighteningly real television, the once-- and possibly future-- king of reality TV and his rightist minions had met their match in the American people and the king was at last humbled.

Watching the coverage on cable today, seeing Paul Ryan futilely tap dancing for his master, I began to feel pity for our democracy. Now some questions remain: Have the Grand Old Party finally tired of their slavery to the Freedom Caucus? Have the American people finally begun to figure out that when they follow the Emperor they are following a skilled, practiced con artist? 



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