1. Trump can’t close
In a topsy-turvy, hurly-burly, gooftastic conclusion to a legislative push that Republicans had billed as the climax of their seven-year-long effort to erase Barack Obama’s health care law, an afternoon House vote was canceled at the last minute.
2. Trump blames Democrats
“They own it. This is Democrat healthcare,” Donald Trump said after the failed push. He predicted the collapse of Obamacare. “I never said repeal it and replace it within 64 days,” he said. True: he said he would do it “immediately”.
3. ‘Obamacare is the law of the land’
House speaker Paul Ryan, who engineered the failed effort, said “Obamacare is the law of the land” and promised “now we’re going to move on to the rest of our agenda because we have big ambitious plans to improve people’s lives in this country”.
Video: Trump ‘pulled out every stop’
‘We just pulled it’
President Trump just called me. Still on phone.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) March 24, 2017
"We just pulled it," he tells me.
Summary
First calls from Trump — who says you can’t trust media, media is enemy — go to Washington Post’s @costareports & New York Times’ @maggieNYT
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) March 24, 2017
4. Like Picasso with his brush
Deals are my art form. Other people paint beautifully or write poetry. I like making deals, preferably big deals. That's how I get my kicks.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 29, 2014
Nobody does it better
We will immediately repeal and replace ObamaCare - and nobody can do that like me. We will save $'s and have much better healthcare!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2016
5. The stalled presidency
64 days into Trump's presidency:
— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) March 24, 2017
- travel ban held up in courts
- Obamacare repeal/replace pulled from floor
-- just 20 admin confirmations
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7. Intelligence hearing canceled for now
The Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee canceled a hearing with the former directors of national intelligence and the FBI “in attempt to choke off public info”, the committee’s top Democrat said.
...and another thing:
Hey Republicans, don't worry, that burn is covered under the Affordable Care Act
— Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) March 24, 2017
...and another thing:
Looks like the GOP released their new plan for reproductive rights. pic.twitter.com/cAKng9E54S
— Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) March 24, 2017
...and another thing:
Donald Trump heading to Capitol Hill pic.twitter.com/CkjktYjzr9
— Doug Mataconis (@dmataconis) March 24, 2017
