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Without John McCain, the Senate could move further to the right
Circa ^ | July 20, 2017 | Kellan Howell

Posted on 07/22/2017 12:27:13 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

One of the Senate's strongest voices will be quieter this week following Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) diagnosis with brain cancer.

The six-term Arizona Republican was in his home state recently having surgery to remove a blood clot from above his eye when doctors found a brain tumor.

McCain, 80, received an outpouring of support and well wishes from his colleagues in Washington on Thursday following news of his condition, with many saying they expected to see him back on Capitol Hill as soon as possible.

(TWEETS-AT-LINK)

McCain's absence could spell more trouble for the fate of the GOP's health care plan, which is already crumbling under a fragile vote count.

"It makes things politically a lot harder," said Michael Cohen, director of the political management program at George Washington University.

"They've got to get that extra vote and they were already having a hard time getting two votes. They've got to get three and it looks like they've already lost four, so the math doesn't really seem to work very well in their favor."

The Senate had already announced the vote on the health care bill would be delayed until McCain returned from the blood clot surgery. Now, the brain cancer diagnosis could impact the bill even further.

"There's probably a bubble of time now where there's probably no outcomes coming out of the Senate," Cohen said.

Even President Trump, who has sparred with McCain in the media, admitted to reporters earlier this week that the Senate needs McCain at this crucial point in the health care battle.

"He's a crusty voice in Washington, plus we need his vote," Trump said during a speech in the White House on Monday.

McCain has said he's eager to get back to work as soon as possible to continue hammering out a solution on health care and to pass a defense spending bill.

But his glioblastoma diagnosis is a serious one and doctors say the average survival rate, with treatment, is about 14 months.

It's the same type of cancer that led to the deaths of former Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Beau Biden, former Vice President Joe Biden's son.

Experts say if McCain leaves his Senate seat early, it could reshape the balance of the upper chamber.

McCain is known for challenging his Republican colleagues and working with lawmakers across the aisle to craft balanced legislation.

"Absent John McCain in the United States Senate, you end up with somebody who's probably more of a garden variety Republican and you end up with legislation that probably goes through a lot quicker, but you don't end up with a centrist piece of legislation or at least something that's closer to the center," Cohen said.

"I don't see another person in that seat making the same kinds of choices and holding the same kinds of conversations. John McCain is a unique person in American politics."

(TWEET-AT-LINK)

McCain's colleagues say that the former Navy pilot who was held captive in Vietnam for over five years is not one to give up easily and they don't expect him to give in to the disease without a fight.

"This disease has never had a more worthy opponent," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), one of McCain's closest friends in the Senate.


TOPICS: Arizona; Issues; Parties; U.S. Senate
KEYWORDS: mccain; obamacare; trump
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
President Trump and we have worry about Undocumented Democrats posing as Republicans in congress


41 posted on 07/22/2017 3:10:51 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Voting for Trump to be our President, made 62+ million of us into Dumb Deplorable Colluders, MAGA!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
President Trump and we have worry about Undocumented Democrats posing as Republicans in congress


42 posted on 07/22/2017 3:11:04 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Voting for Trump to be our President, made 62+ million of us into Dumb Deplorable Colluders, MAGA!)
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To: FreeReign

“You are screwing up the context creating Fake News”!

We seem to have a lot of concerned trolls trying to get a a tryout to replace Morning Joe or to go to work for the Compost!


43 posted on 07/22/2017 3:16:14 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Voting for Trump to be our President, made 62+ million of us into Dumb Deplorable Colluders, MAGA!)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

I would rather she take out flake in the primary and Douse appoints McCain’s replacement


44 posted on 07/22/2017 3:16:24 PM PDT by Jeff Vader
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

From Kellan Howell’s blog to G-d’s ears.

5.56mm


45 posted on 07/22/2017 3:20:31 PM PDT by M Kehoe
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To: Georgia Girl 2

It’s interesting politics. If I were betting, I think Doug Ducey will self appoint. As Governor, he is middle of the road.. I don’t really know how he’ll be as a Senator because I know he is, in his heart, conservative.


46 posted on 07/22/2017 3:20:56 PM PDT by Hildy
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Could?

I’d say *will* but just how far is up for grabs.


47 posted on 07/22/2017 3:34:46 PM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

She should have kept that opinion of her appointment to herself and demand his resignation so someone could be appointed that is healthy.

Then work like hell behind the scenes to get that appointment. AZ politics is very corrupt. Matter of fact, at one time considered the most corrupt in the nation.

I have a hunch that JD Hayworth might be in the mix.

Kelly made a big mistake there.


48 posted on 07/22/2017 4:07:22 PM PDT by crz
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To: crz
I have a hunch that JD Hayworth might be in the mix.

Kelly made a big mistake there.


Flake might back the appointment to keep her from challenging him in 2018. She has plenty of options.
49 posted on 07/22/2017 4:38:12 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“....recently having surgery to remove a blood clot from above his eye when doctors found a brain tumor.....”

Is this correct? They are STILL running with this blood clot meme. It makes no sense to me. When someone describes to me “above his eye” it sure doesn’t say BRAIN TUMOR! It doesn’t say “BRAIN”, it says eyebrow.

Maybe it’s just like Trayvon Martin’s Adirondack “Iced Tea” lie, when the can of Adirondack “>WATERMELON< FRUIT JUICE COCKTAIL” was placed in plain view, upon the yellow plastic sheet covering Trayvon’s dead body at the scene.

Even though it was KNOWN that night that it wasn’t tea, we couldn’t handle the fact that an AA youth likes “>Watermelon< fruit juice cocktail. AND according to his mother, his favorite meal was..... wait for it....... FRIED CHICKEN!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMzd40i8TfA 3 second video.

“You can’t handle the truth”


50 posted on 07/22/2017 4:46:18 PM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

McCain, known for “working across the aisle.”

Yes, he’s very much a trans-aisle Pol and not a cis-aisle one (to use LGBTXYZ terminology).


51 posted on 07/22/2017 4:58:47 PM PDT by SharpRightTurn (Chuck Schumer--giving pond scum everywhere a bad name.)
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To: Dr. Sivana

That is why I would like to see JD take the position-if he would, and let her rip Flake apart.

Get two very conservative people in there that way.


52 posted on 07/22/2017 5:17:13 PM PDT by crz
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