5 Thoughts on Motion to Proceed on Debate.

1. John McCain's Do as I Say, Not as I Do: In his speech to the Senate, he implored that they return to regular order and bipartisanship. Minutes later, he voted along party lines to proceed with reconciliation which is not regular order. Go figure.
2. Senate Parliamentarian's Rule: The Senate Parliamentarian just added more woes to Republican plans to avoid regular order and 60 votes, by ruling that the portion allowing insurers to charge older people 5x more than younger people will be disallowed (under the Byrd Rule). She also ruled that the plan to allow small businesses to create associations and provide insurance across state lines will be disallowed.
3. Repeal & Replace is Dead, Long Live Skinny Order?: As a result of the Senate Parliamentarian's rulings, Repeal & Replace is dead. Thus, Mitch McConnell hatched the idea to start from scratch with a barebones bill and allow amendments to be debated and voted on. The result will most likely resemble a Repeal & Replace bill sans those portions disallowed by the parliamentarian.
4. Best Democratic Play: The standard playbook is to offer up hundreds of amendments to slow down the process, requiring either McConnell to cut short debate, put off recess, or go to recess without a vote. I think there's a better tactic. Republicans hate Planned Parenthood, birth control, and Medicaid. By opening up debate on amendments on the Senate floor, Democrats and moderate Republicans will be able to introduce explicit protections of Medicaid and birth control, and implied protections for Planned Parenthood. With all Democrats and the handful of moderate Republicans on board, they could get these provisions passed. These are poison pills. Conservative Republicans will not vote for a Skinny Order that explicitly protect Medicaid and birth control, and implied protections of Planned Parenthood.
5. It's a Mistake!: As I mentioned previously, attempting to appease their base is not the smart move. This is a deeply unpopular idea (Repeal & Replace) -- much more unpopular than the AHCA/ACA, back in 2009 and 2010 when Democrats pushed forward -- even with their own voters. Oh well, let them step on their own toes.