Van Jones: Only a 'Love Army' Will Conquer Trump (Rolling Stone)

[Miles Archer]

12. There are two prongs on that pitchfork

One, Ryan and McConnell see Trump as a rubber stamp for their agenda. They don't see Trump at all. They will humor him and play to his ego.

Two, "reconciliation." They are going to slide through whatever they can so that it is not subject to a full vote.

I have no doubt that, even in the current situation, we will still have "blue dog" Dems. Assuming that 100% of them will vote against the Ryan and McConnell agenda would be pure folly, based on past history.

As I have said elsewhere, there will be Republicans who will weigh "party loyalty" against the blowback of killing programs like Social Security and Medicare / Medicaid, but we shouldn't count on them, either.

Ryan and McConnell know all of this, so they are going to be seeking legislation that they can pass with a "simple majority."

Trump is already practicing sleight of hand magic tricks, such as the Carrier deal. In the campaign he promised not to mess with Social Security and Medicare. Now he's using Paul Ryan's language about "improving" it, because in Ryan's mind, if he can channel the current government funds into tax cuts for billionaires, he's "improved" it.