The good news is that there is more support for a straight repeal than for any specific replacement. Then the replacement can be scored against doing nothing, rather than against the unsustainable plan we are (hopefully) getting rid of in a separate bill. Best of all, if the Democrats oppose all replacements, we end up with nothing, which is my top choice. Then the democrats share the “blame” for a straight repeal.
The bad news is that there was plenty of support for repeal when they knew such a vote was merely symbolic because Obama would never sign it. That's not the case now, so I can think of at least six senators who will have cold feet now.
Best of all, if the Democrats oppose all replacements, we end up with nothing, which is my top choice. Then the democrats share the “blame” for a straight repeal.
While I have been repeal and not replace all along make no mistake about it, the GOP owns health-care now and they will take the heat for no replacement. They need to make sure that the short term pain of no replacement is quickly offset by long term improvements in quality and access.