[okie01]

something on the order of single-payer, I think they’d vote against direct communism/socialism.

I suspect you're right.

Actually, I'd suspect that McConnell can hold the GOP Senators together on a single-payer vote (with the possible exception of McCain -- who simply can't be counted upon).

[xzins]

I respect Senator McCain's time in service and the pain of his imprisonment. I don't mean this in the sense of questioning his loyalty, but I do think that prison is where he learned his beliefs about compromise.

I visited Hanoi about 3 years ago as part of a mission team, and I saw his prison cell. Terrible place. Also, exactly the wrong place to learn about cooperating to see the next sunrise. Innocent compromise really can be innocent in a setting like that, because you're just trying to stay alive. We were taught in the military that you will be broken and spill your guts, but we were told to do or say something that gives the slightest hint that it's under duress.

However, you cannot apply that lesson to your beliefs in a political setting. You are NOT under duress, no matter what you might be told by the media. The very worst they can do is talk about you. Because of that, real duress is only imaginary.