Jonathan V. Last

Instead, they're ramming through an extreme agenda that takes health care away from the working poor and borrows trillions of dollars to fund a package of tax cuts tilted to those at the top. Mainers want more health care, not less. They want a tax code where everybody pays their fair share. They want Congress to get its fiscal house in order. The bill fails on each of those fronts.

So this is one of the easiest no votes I've ever taken. I would think that would be like a warning sign to some of the front line Republicans. It's like to have somebody like Jared Golden, the most frontline of the frontline Democrats, saying this is the easiest no vote he's ever taken. And yet there doesn't seem to be any concern. It's kind of full speed ahead on this.

So this is one of the easiest no votes I've ever taken. I would think that would be like a warning sign to some of the front line Republicans. It's like to have somebody like Jared Golden, the most frontline of the frontline Democrats, saying this is the easiest no vote he's ever taken. And yet there doesn't seem to be any concern. It's kind of full speed ahead on this.

So this is one of the easiest no votes I've ever taken. I would think that would be like a warning sign to some of the front line Republicans. It's like to have somebody like Jared Golden, the most frontline of the frontline Democrats, saying this is the easiest no vote he's ever taken. And yet there doesn't seem to be any concern. It's kind of full speed ahead on this.

I don't think they're not concerned. I think they're concerned. I think they're just willing to pay the price. And in a way, you have to hand it to them. Sometimes if you really care about policy, you're willing to take political risks in order to advance something you think is important.

I don't think they're not concerned. I think they're concerned. I think they're just willing to pay the price. And in a way, you have to hand it to them. Sometimes if you really care about policy, you're willing to take political risks in order to advance something you think is important.

I don't think they're not concerned. I think they're concerned. I think they're just willing to pay the price. And in a way, you have to hand it to them. Sometimes if you really care about policy, you're willing to take political risks in order to advance something you think is important.

They think it's very, very important to throw 10 million people who are poor off their health insurance and to give wealthy people a tax cut. That is in keeping with their moral values. They're willing to pay a price for it. So you can question the values, and I do, but they're not cowards.

They think it's very, very important to throw 10 million people who are poor off their health insurance and to give wealthy people a tax cut. That is in keeping with their moral values. They're willing to pay a price for it. So you can question the values, and I do, but they're not cowards.

They think it's very, very important to throw 10 million people who are poor off their health insurance and to give wealthy people a tax cut. That is in keeping with their moral values. They're willing to pay a price for it. So you can question the values, and I do, but they're not cowards.

Is that your real view? Like you really think they – or do you think they've tricked themselves?

Is that your real view? Like you really think they – or do you think they've tricked themselves?

Is that your real view? Like you really think they – or do you think they've tricked themselves?

No, no. I don't.

No, no. I don't.

No, no. I don't.

You think that across the board, the 215 Republicans voted for this just – they have a passionate, principled commitment to throwing the working poor off their healthcare.

You think that across the board, the 215 Republicans voted for this just – they have a passionate, principled commitment to throwing the working poor off their healthcare.

You think that across the board, the 215 Republicans voted for this just – they have a passionate, principled commitment to throwing the working poor off their healthcare.

I mean – Yes, they have fought for decades on these principles. I mean, the Republican Party has been utterly rock solid, consistent on opposing economic redistribution for rich to poor for decades. And, you know, they paid a heavy price in the past and will continue to do so.