During an event in Kentucky called Fancy Farm over the weekend, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell chose to focus on the bright side regarding the GOP's failure to repeal and replace Obamacare.
Don't get him wrong, he's disappointed. But, it could be worse.
"I choose not to dwell on situations where we come up a little bit short," McConnell said, according to WFPL.
"Even on the night when we came up one vote short of our dream to repeal and replace Obamacare, here’s the first thing I thought about: Feel better, Hillary Clinton could be president."
That little fact is unlikely to appease conservatives who waited for years for Republicans to make good on their promise to dismantle Obamacare. After the debacle, President Obama's legislation is as intact as ever.
I imagine conservative voters will also not be amused by McConnell calling the repealing of Obamacare the GOP's "dream." They have the White House. They have the Senate. They have the House. By all accounts, repealing Obamacare should've been a beautiful reality.
Three moderate Republicans in particular are to thank for the failure. Sens. Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK) and John McCain (AZ) all voted against the "skinny repeal" bill last week. Collins and Murkowski admitted to being especially concerned by the bill's defunding of Planned Parenthood. They are still being condemned as "traitors" all over social media.
With health care seemingly going nowhere for the moment, Congress is beginning to turn its attention toward tax reform. Well, when they get back from recess that is.