If McCain's intent all along was to kill the measure, then he should've done so three days ago on the motion to proceed -- or better still, just stayed home in Arizona and let the GOP's effort flounder and collapse on a 50-49 vote. Instead, he arose from his sickbed, flew into town and amid great fanfare, proceeded to make a public spectacle of himself.

If there was a genuine hero on the GOP side, it was Maine's Susan Collins, who from the very moment the House bill crossed over was entirely consistent in her principled opposition throughout the Senate's entire wretchedly undemocratic process. She didn't once waver, even though the pressure on her must have been tremendous. Lisa Murkowski eventually joined her, but for the longest time Collins stood alone.

Contrast her unyielding stance with the mercurial behavior of the GOP caucus's self-aggrandizing "Maverick." Only a little over two hours before the vote, McCain let it be publicly known that he could support McConnell's bill, provided that Speaker Paul Ryan would agree to let it go to conference, and not simply allow the House to accept the Senate's amendments and send it to the White House for Trump's signature. And so, Ryan purportedly agreed to those terms -- and then McCain reneged.

Look, I'm glad McCain voted against the measure and it's now dead. But in my opinion, his bait-and-switch last night was much less about principle than it was naked personal opportunism on his part. He got exactly what he sought, a standing ovation and media adulation. And that's fine, as far as it goes. Because at the end of the day when all is said and done, that's really what John McCain has always been about -- himself.

What WILL be interesting to watch is how his Republican colleagues respond to McCain after last night's public stunt. And make no mistake about it, it was a stunt. Mitch McConnell wouldn't have allowed that bill to go to the floor for Third Reading, had he not first been assured in private that he had the requisite number of votes necessary to pass it. That's why Vice President Mike Pence had been called to the Capitol, and was waiting in the chamber to cast the expected tiebreaker.

While McConnell, Ryan, Pence and Donald Trump all clearly deserve the egg that's on their faces this morning, it would not surprise me in the slightest if they eventually seek to retaliate against McCain -- albeit quietly -- for what they likely see as his betrayal. For the other Republicans in both the House and Senate who dutifully towed the party line to support this hugely unpopular piece of legislation in the face of enormous public opposition, I can't imagine that they'll see things any differently than their leadership.

i would be surprised if the "hero" thing did not make it just a bit easier for McCain to do the right thing.

but heres the rest.  McCain was being told by AZ governor the thing would destroy the insurance market in that state.   i commented and linked about this several times.

IMO that still counts as "doing the right thing" but lets see it for what it was.

another thing.  im wondering if this was not somthing McCain discussed with other republicans who really wanted to vote no but were afraid to.

i can totally see him taking on for the team.  after all, what can they do to him.