Proceed with what?

The Senate’s attempt to revive the corpse of the Affordable Care Act repeal epitomizes the Republicans’ just-do-something health care strategy. A vote expected as soon as Tuesday would be on what’s known as a “motion to proceed.” What’s not known is what the Senate would be proceeding with. Apparently lacking a majority to begin debate on the Senate’s surreptitiously drafted Affordable Care Act rollback, an even meaner House version or an outright repeal, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants to open the door to all those possibilities and then some. The gambit mirrors President Trump’s determination to unravel his predecessor’s signature legislative achievement regardless of the consequences.

The Congressional Budget Office has found that all the options before the Senate would deprive tens of millions of health insurance. Moderate Republican senators such as Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia are rightly concerned about the repercussions for their vulnerable constituents, but appeasing them alienates conservatives who are committed to undoing the Obama health care law. McConnell is therefore risking a free-for-all in a bid to get 50 votes for anything.

The alternative, according to Trump, is to “let Obamacare fail.” In fact, even as the administration has repeatedly claimed the Affordable Care Act is dying, it’s taken steps to poison it by depressing enrollment and threatening subsidies. Covered California, the state’s insurance exchange, had to postpone the release of next year’s premiums due to the uncertainty in Washington.

Apparently frustrated by the Congressional Budget Office’s insistence on releasing actual facts about the Republican bills, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., has offered a bill to slash its funding and staffing. Meanwhile, Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, suggested violence against uncooperative legislators, noting that only the gender of the women opposing the bill was keeping him from going after them “Aaron Burr-style” — a reference to the onetime vice president who fatally shot Alexander Hamilton in a duel.

Trump tweeted Monday that Republican senators have another “chance to do the right thing.” That’s true. Instead of the ACA, the CBO or their colleagues, they should scrap this last-ditch effort to save a bad idea.

“Republicans have a last chance to do the right thing.” President Trump, in a tweet Monday