Conflict on words, deeds

Re “McCain helps, then scolds GOP,” July 26 and “Obamacare repeal bill fails in Senate,” July 27

OK, the president’s base has had its fun, pricking the more level-headed citizens of this country by helping elect, and continuing to support, a lunatic who champions its bizarre political worldview.

Perhaps now it will heed GOP Sen. John McCain's moving call for a more balanced, cooperative government — one that works for all the people.

Kendra Strozyk Cameron Park

A war hero, an American hero, came to Congress in his post-operative condition and gave an impressive speech on the right way to legislate: out in the open, with dialogue, with hearings, with discussion, with amendments.

All in a truly American, bipartisan way.

And then in a single, contradictory “yes” vote he flushed it all.

Arthur A. Fleisher II

Northridge

The “nay” votes of a few American heroes — Senators John McCain, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins — said no to those who would take away affordable healthcare from tens of millions of Americans in order to get the hundreds of billions of dollars needed to cut the taxes of the tens of thousands of the wealthiest Americans including the Trump family and friends.

Our bipartisan heritage should be retrievable now that the meanness of the right wing of the Republican Party has been exposed and defeated.

Sid Turkish Beverly Hills

The GOP never had a better idea.

None of its three “replacement” options lowered costs, boosted benefits or extended care to more Americans.

Each of them actually made everything worse.

In contrast, the Affordable Care Act must be a reasonably good piece of legislation. It needs improving, but it’s far better than anything the GOP could come up with.

For the good of the nation, the GOP now owes the American people two things: good-faith bipartisan negotiations that fix what needs fixing in the ACA so it works as intended, and removal of the obstructionist Mitch McConnell from his position of power.

Marcy Rothenberg Porter Ranch

Sen. McCain is a hero for Obamacare advocates.

However, he now has a target on his back, and has incurred the eternal wrath of Trump. All unnecessary.

He need only have stayed in Arizona a few more days, missing the vote to open debate on repeal, and ended this nightmare quietly.

He argues for collaboration yet just before the “skinny” repeal, he votes one way, then does a 180 and votes it all down.

The “maverick” need only have stayed home to achieve the same result.

David Marsh Los Angeles