I think you are correct, that little will get 50, I am skeptical that nothing comes of this though. They may not get to cut enough to create their wealth care bill. But it is going to be tough for a Heller to back off now that he's voted yes. 50 votes isn't impossible for a watered down bill.
But further it is the point that the social darwin wing will get their time in the sun to tout their desire to see a modern day Sparta. And of course the social darwin voters will reward them for touting the idea that we need more people with conditions dying from them. And no, I am not speaking of all Republicans by any means. But the social darwin wing is loud, and growing, and comfortable in their gerrymandered districts.
Just a couple weeks ago there were rumors that McCain and Graham were having talks with the Democrats to try and move a bipartisan bill. This vote tends to indicate to me that McCain is not on team bipartisan. He didn't fly back to DC to start the ball rolling, and fly back to Arizona because his health depends on it, to be part of some bipartisan solution. So that leaves Graham, who frankly hasn't proven to be much of a heavyweight.
Not that it matters, no bipartisan effort can survive the House as long as the House has their child molester rule in place.
It seems likely to me that Cruz and Paul win from this, Collins and Murkowski lose. That isn't good for bipartisanship.
