The Crusade to Kill Affordable Healthcare Rages On

Last week, I posted an appeal to Republican senators from across the pond featuring Boy George crooning in his own inimitable style, his 1982 chart-buster, Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?  (Check out the link in that previous post.)

Well, believe it or not, the very next day, West Virginia's junior senator Shelley Moore Capito (R), declared that "she didn't come to Washington to hurt people." Sheer coincidence, or is she a fan?  In any event, good for her.  At least two other Republican senators have joined their colleague, stating their opposition to the upcoming, supposedly revised version of the --- uh --- "Better Care Reconciliation Act."  (BCRA). Consideration of the bill may be brought to a vote as early as today (Tuesday, July 25th).  However, that would just initiate debate on this measure.  Affordable health care ain't dead yet.

Here's the kicker.  They have no idea what the bill contains.  It might include chunks of the House Bill a.k.a.,The American Health Care Act (AHCA) as well as parts of the BCRA.  In any case, according to the Congressional Budget Office, at least 20 million souls would lose their coverage.

Texas Senator and Majority Whip John Cornyn, Mitch McConnell's Senior Bookend,* insists that letting senators know what's in the bill they'll be voting on is "a luxury we don't have." Gotta ram it through before summer recess, y'know.

All of these endlessly --- and mercilessly --- repetitive attempts to scuttle affordable healthcare remind me of one thing:  That angry turd that you can't ever flush down!  It just keeps on defiantly bobbing back at you! 

Well, progressive Democrats have fashioned a much-needed plunger.  It's called  "Medicare for All."  The House bill has been assigned the number 676 (HR 676).  Add ten points to "666" and we'll exorcise Lucifer, once and for all.  This measure now has about 100 sponsors --- and it's growing! The Senate version is SB 1782.

If your member of Congress hasn't signed onto it yet, give 'em a poke!  It's time!

* Here's what I meant by "Senior Bookend."  Whenever McConnell makes any sort of official announcement/proclamation, he's always flanked by the same two senators:  Senior Bookend Cornyn, to his left, and  on his starboard side, Junior Bookend John Barrasso(R), a solemn-looking, bespectacled non-household name of a senator from Wyoming.

Boy George's Plea to Senate Republicans

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his minions ain't givin' up!  Their determination to eliminate health insurance for millions of our most vulnerable citizens seems to be iron-bound.  Heartlessly, soullessly iron-bound!

Ironically, the Republican crusade to Make America Sick Again --- otherwise known as the Better Health Care Act or Trumpcare --- has been stalled by one senator's absence for a spell, owing to his need for emergency surgery.  Arizona's senior senator, 80-year-old John McCain had a clot removed from a frontal lobe above his left eye, and will need time to recuperate. Having received the finest medical care available, he's recovering nicely. I wish him well.  Maybe, just maybe, he'll undergo an epiphany and discover that he has a moral backbone by casting his ballot to deep-six Trumpcare, this time for keeps.  Just three GOP dissenters will do the trick.  Two have already committed.

Perhaps an appeal from across the pond might work, not just with Senator McCain, but some already-declared fence-sitters as well, such as Louisiana's recently-elected senator, Bill Cassidy.  That's Doctor Bill Cassidy, who co-founded a free clinic in his home state's capitol, Baton Rouge!  Very commendable, Doc.  Now how about that Hippocratic Oath, "First do no harm?" *

Without further ado, here's Boy George coming at ya, with his 1982 chart-buster, Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?  Enjoy! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MoXSjjERBk 

* According to a reputable Wikipedia source, the actual Latin translation of the oath reads, "I will utterly reject harm and mischief."