EJ Montini

The Arizona Republic

So, the art of the deal isn't exactly the same as the art of the bill.

When it came down to it, President Trump figured he could strong-arm members of his own party the way he may have bullied stooges in the boardroom.

Didn't happen.

The health care bill he said was great and we'd all love didn't have the votes and got pulled.

Lesson learned?

I doubt it.

I'd guess that Trump's public relations machine will attempt to spin the congressional rebuff into some kind of super secret but highly successful strategy that will never be revealed but which we all should assume has worked brilliantly.

The bottom line, however, is that with health care reform Trump made too many promises he can't keep.

The hardliners are pushing for a bill that rushes to the steep cliff of cruelty ... then jumps off.

The moderates want to keep a few of the things in Obamacare that their constituents really like and expect to keep.

During the campaign, Trump promised both sides they'd get what they want.

And they both believed him.

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Obamacare is broken, and Republicans can fix it: Column

GOP should slow down and rethink health bill: Andy Slavitt

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A wise and discerning politician would now invite everyone to the table (this actually -- HEAVENS NO! -- would include Democrats) and they would try to work something out.Trump promised that "everybody" would be covered, the care would be better and the cost would be lower.

The bill on the table provided billions in tax cuts for millionaires, left 24 million Americans with no coverage and jacked up the costs on senior citizens.

There is plenty of middle ground in a proper health care fix, but there are too many politicians clinging to the edges. And the president is not a CEO who simply gets his way. He's got to be an actual negotiator.

The art of the deal in Washington apparently is more complex than Trump expected. But it's also pretty simple.

No compromise?

No deal.

EJ Montini is a columnist for The Arizona Republic, where this piece first appeared.

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