I'm still scared this will pass somehow, since it's literally being framed as this or ObamaCare Forever.
Well, by the middle of this week, this was Trump's best play. It's simple game theory; if one side is willing to compromise, and the other side is unwilling to compromise, but both sides need to get something done, the side that is unwilling to compromise will get what it wants, because the side that's willing to compromise will keep bending over to make sure the thing gets done.
tbh, it
is a good negotiating tactic once you get to this point on Trump's part, I'll give him that. My sense is that the awkward collaboration between Paul Ryan and Trump is preventing this from being effective because Ryan keeps capitulating and offering compromises. If you're going to be the uncompromising person, you have to stick to it absolutely. Budging at all shows that you're bluffing. You have to convince everyone in the negotiation (even yourself, if possible! that's what emotions are for, in part!) that you meant it heart and soul when you say it's "all or nothing". By offering any compromises and (worse yet) speculating about backup options or pulling the bill, Trump and Ryan are weakening their negotiating positions, because they're signalling that they're willing to negotiate.
