UPDATED: Trump Has No Shame Yet He Remains Shameless: Proof, Pudding Case Closed

Yes, I'm an A-Hole Shaped Like This – So What

SUNDAY UPDATE TO THE FOLLOWING EARLIER POST:

WASHINGTON: Highlights from Reuters/Susan Cornwell – Trump and members of his administration on Sunday urged Republican senators not to give up trying to pass a healthcare bill, after they failed last week to muster enough votes to repeal and replace parts of Obamacare.

In new tweets, Trump writes: “Don't give up Republican Senators, the World is watching: Repeal & Replace.” And as noted he refers again to: “If a new HealthCare Bill is not approved quickly, BAILOUTS for Insurance Companies and BAILOUTS for Members of Congress will end very soon!”

Meanwhile HHS Secretary Price said he would implement Obamacare because it is currently the law while he seeks to rewrite ACA implementing rules.

Then from Conway and of course on FOX: “The president will not accept those who say it’s time to move on.” She also said that Trump would decide this week whether to end the cost-sharing payments to insurance companies. But Democrats said those subsidies were not a bailout.

For example from DEM House Leader Pelosi on FOX: “This is not bailing out insurance companies – this is about having stability in the private sector in order to provide healthcare.”

White House budget director, Mulvaney says lawmakers should stay in session to get something done on healthcare even if this means postponing votes on other issues such as raising the debt ceiling (which could lead I might add to a government shutdown – and recall Trump once said a good shutdown might be needed).

Mulvaney also said Trump was seriously considering carrying out the threats in the tweets noted above referring to the approximately $8 billion in cost-sharing reduction subsidies the federal government pays to insurers to lower the price of health coverage for low-income Americans and to end the employer contribution for members of Congress and their staffs.

B/L in my view: Trump is totally unhinged, out of his league, and narrowly focused on campaign pledges and NOT sound public policy … Shame on him.

Original Post Follows

It now appears that Trump plans to just let the entire health insurance market collapse by not funding things IAW the current law.

Read this summary to see the whole story here: A few highlights:

After a series of GOP failures to pass any health care legislation this week, Trump tweeted that the plan to repeal and replace Obamacare was not dead — “unless the Republican Senators are total quitters.”

Earlier in the day Trump used Twitter to declare that Republicans “look like fools” a day after they failed to pass the so-called “skinny” health care plan, which he followed with threats to insurance companies and lawmakers.

One of his tweets in a series of tweets (now reinforced above it seems): “If a new HealthCare Bill is not approved quickly, BAILOUTS for insurance Companies and BAILOUTS for Members of Congress will end very soon.”

The Trump administration cancelled $5 million in HealthCare.gov ads that advertised the upcoming enrollment season. Now, Trump is threatening to withhold federal payments that help reduce insurance premiums — particularly for low-income people — and keep companies in the market.

DEM Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) claimed that Trump was putting his thumb on the scale and toying with the lives of millions, saying: “If the President refuses to make the cost sharing reduction payments, every expert agrees that premiums will go up and health care will be more expensive for millions of Americans. The president ought to stop playing politics with people's lives and health care, start leading and finally begin acting Presidential.”

Senate rules state that three-fifths of the Senate must agree to end the debate over a piece of legislation and move to a vote, which is known as invoking cloture.

A group of 61 senators from both parties sent a letter to Senate leaders in April that stated their opposition to eliminating the legislative filibuster. Trump said “get rid of the 60-vote rule.”

Trump continued with his rant saying: “It (60-vote rule) is killing the R Party, allows 8 Dems to control country.”

Trump added: “Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell must go to 51 Votes NOW and WIN. IT'S TIME!”

McConnell previously dismissed such demands from Trump, who said in a May 2 tweet: “Either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%" or the country would need to undergo a good 'shutdown' in September to fix mess!”

Another Trump tweet: “Democrats were laughing at R's and would dismantle the filibuster if they ever got the chance.”

My notes:

“A good shutdown?” WTF is a good shutdown vs. a bad shutdown?

“Fix the mess.” WTF? Trump created most of the mess.

As I said, the man has no shame, yet remains shameless… e.g., remember this from Trump   who said recently that he would let Obamacare die and that that he will not take any personal blame for its downfall.

So, place your bets and see who stands for right or pushes for more wrong… This whole thing ought to be a hoot.

Thanks for stopping by.