Althouse: Finally some attention to my suggestion that Mitt Romney is the man to fix Obamacare.

December 4, 2013

Finally some attention to my suggestion that Mitt Romney is the man to fix Obamacare.

I said it back in October.

Picked up today by Ben Domenech and Hot Air.

60 comments:

F said...: I agreed with you then (can't remember if I did so by comment or only to myself) and I agree with you now.

The question is, other than his love for the country, why would Mitt bail out Obama?

But it's a good idea -- one that would scare the hell out of Hillary.; 12/4/13, 9:33 PM
Big Mike said...: And I've agreed with you in a comment on a different thread. If Obama had decided not to run, or had lost, then if (make that when) Obamacare failed he could blame Romney's sabotage instead of his own ineptitude.; 12/4/13, 9:39 PM
AmPowerBlog said...: I noticed that! And everyone likes to be noticed, even the great blog diva Althouse!; 12/4/13, 9:42 PM
gk1 said...: This presupposes Obama thinks ACA is in trouble, but I hate to harsh your buzz he really thinks its "working". You can't fix stupid.; 12/4/13, 9:43 PM
Real American said...: some things simply can't be fixed. unfortunately, Democrats fit that description as well.; 12/4/13, 9:45 PM
PB said...: Yes, but he would say,
1. we have to stop this dead in its tracks before it does great damage,
2. we have to rethink the law to set measurable goals and objectives
3. Then create a policy that can achieve those goals at least cost.
4. then design the sytems to support it.

Democrats would never go for it.; 12/4/13, 9:48 PM
Lauderdale Vet said...: I believe that government should be there to gently regulate, encourage and mediate. When there is a problem with a business or an industry, we are supposed to be able to turn to them for help. Who do you turn to when they are the ones running the business or industry?

That's not supposed to be their role.

It can't be fixed. Even if it works, it's broken. Full repeal.

1) Fenwick-Sugden
2) Mercatus recommendations; 12/4/13, 9:51 PM
Annie said...: One side of the political spectrum want it gone. The other side does not want it 'fixed'.; 12/4/13, 9:58 PM
Conserve Liberty said...: some things simply can't be fixed. unfortunately, Democrats fit that description as well.

Dunno about that - I once had a dog fixed. Kept his pants on afterward, too.; 12/4/13, 9:59 PM
Original Mike said...: The only way to fix ObamaCare is to take it out behind the barn and shoot it.; 12/4/13, 10:10 PM
Original Mike said...: Remember the ad Obama ran that blamed Romney for a woman's cancer death? If I were Romney and Obama came to me asking for help, I'd tell him to go fuck himself.; 12/4/13, 10:21 PM
SteveR said...: Yeah there is no reason for him to do so. ACA failure doesn't rise to Love of Country status. If the dems were serious about it functioning other than as an economic power grab and single payer stepping stone, they would have brought in a competent CEO from the start. Actually working? Only by pure luck.; 12/4/13, 10:34 PM
harkin said...: Why is it so hard to understand that "love of country" means stopping Obamacare in any way possible and returning health care to free market capitalism, where it has upped quality while lowering prices for lasik and cosmetic surgery and veterinary medicine for years?; 12/4/13, 10:43 PM
Jay Vogt said...: . . . Annie said...
One side of the political spectrum want it gone. The other side does not want it 'fixed'.

BINGO.; 12/4/13, 10:48 PM
DKWalser said...: Remember the ad Obama ran that blamed Romney for a woman's cancer death? If I were Romney and Obama came to me asking for help, I'd tell him to go fuck himself.

Romney would phrase that differently, but he'd probably agree with the sentiment.; 12/4/13, 10:49 PM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: I guess no one remembers the post election Obama/Romney meeting. Any guesses as to what that could have been about?; 12/4/13, 10:58 PM
Zach said...: I disagree. For better or worse, there can be only one president at a time. Appointing someone who has run for president against the incumbent, to do the incumbent's job for him, would introduce too many schisms.

Imagine a headline a month from now "Romney: Website "Irreparable" -- Says Obamacare Must be Delayed for Two Years." Is Obama bound by Romney's judgement? Does he trust the assessment? Do Congressional Democrats accept that Obama did as much as he could? I say no on all three counts.; 12/4/13, 11:07 PM
Zach said...: Also, at this stage of the game, it's too late to change personnel, organization, or the underlying technology on the project. You're pretty much committed to implementing the existing plan with the existing people, because changing plans or people has too much overhead. (Note that Zients did *not* bring in a lot of new people -- the "tech surge" was a fizzle). Who would sign up to be a "savior" of a project that can't be saved?; 12/4/13, 11:13 PM
LilyBart said...: It doesn't need fixing. It needs ending.

This law will make most American's worse off - and it was never about healthcare, always about income redistribution. And government power, of course.; 12/4/13, 11:25 PM
chuck said...: Please, don't save the thing. It will always be deformed and inefficient. It is one of those things that needs a death panel to send it off so we don't have to suffer through its lingering death.; 12/4/13, 11:31 PM
Writ Small said...: Given what Mitt wrote about federalism, it makes little sense that he would assist a command and control scheme like Obamacare regardless of any shared roots with the Massachusetts experiment. I would be rather shocked if this idea plays out in any meaningful way.; 12/4/13, 11:48 PM
Left Bank of the Charles said...: If he can't get Mitt Romney, maybe he can get Jon Huntsman. The fix is already in.; 12/5/13, 12:07 AM
MayBee said...: America missed a fantastic opportunity by not electing Romney. We need to spend some time reflecting on that, on what went wrong, and how to change the process so we don't miss our next good chance.; 12/5/13, 12:38 AM
Wince said...: Pure unicorn dreaming.

Presumes it's salvageable.

Entering the situation would be completely no-win for Romney.; 12/5/13, 1:56 AM
rhhardin said...: Romeny would repeal it?; 12/5/13, 4:09 AM
rehajm said...: Having some inside knowledge, I'm sure if Mitt were asked he would contribute, though it's unlikely he would go for a Simpson Bowles style dog and pony show. No doubt he would insist on a level of control government would never grant him. Which is why it won't happen...; 12/5/13, 4:09 AM
rehajm said...: We don't need to insist on Mitt- the solutions are not mysterious and elusive, they're here and here. It's the decision makers we need to change.; 12/5/13, 4:16 AM
Joe Schmoe said...: Lots of people equate Mitt with the successful implementation of government-run health insurance in Massachusetts. That's not accurate.

Yes, MA does have state-run health insurance, and it happened on Romney's watch. But the legislature, 85% Demoncrat, had decided that they were doing health insurance come hell or high water, so Mitt basically fought a constant rear-guard action to make the law less socialistic and more consumer and market-friendly. He was overridden at almost every turn.

He wouldn't be given the control to fix the ACA the way he would like, so why the hell would he go through that again?; 12/5/13, 5:32 AM
rhhardin said...: "Obamacare is now offically a zombie, able to shrug off bullets, ignore knives and remain unflinching in the face of blows that would stagger any undead creature. "

Belmont Club; 12/5/13, 5:50 AM
rhhardin said...: "For Obama it’s now or never. Perhaps McCarthy is right. Whoever would want such a thing so intensely can be up to no good."

ibid

Me, often and a long time ago, women's failing corresponding to men's skepticism is foolishness. They think, "he means well."; 12/5/13, 5:53 AM
lgv said...: Former CEO of a company I worked for once said to me, "A flawed strategy, no matter how well executed, is doomed to failure."

Why would Romney try to succeed in implementing a flawed program, when he himself believes it is fatally flawed? He would need the power to change the law, which neither he nor Obama have.; 12/5/13, 6:42 AM
Joe Schmoe said...: Ann, I agree with you with a caveat. Yes, Mitt Romney is the man to save Obamacare.

Democrat voters should chew on this thought: Obama's signature legislation would've benefitted the most from having Mitt Romney elected in 2012.

Remember that the next time you want to change the world. Idea men and women are a dime a dozen. When you really want to get something done, hire someone with a proven track record of achievement.; 12/5/13, 7:03 AM
MathMom said...: If Mitt is asked to do this, I hope he gives Obama the Mormon equivalent of the middle finger: "Well, bless your heart!"; 12/5/13, 7:10 AM
Henry said...: And maybe Obama could lend his genius to being Mr. Romney's speachwriter.; 12/5/13, 7:15 AM
Henry said...: The main problem with the ACA is that it is based on wholly flawed premises. The only way to fix it is legislatively. That's not going to happen no matter how Obama pulls into the administration.; 12/5/13, 7:17 AM
Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...: The AFA is bad law, badly executed, with an undefined and unrealistic end objective.

No President can fix this and remain faithful to his Oath of Office.

Any fix must start with an involved electorate.; 12/5/13, 7:32 AM
pm317 said...: Obama would have to give up the presidency to Romney if Romney should fix it. Fair is fair.; 12/5/13, 7:40 AM
peacelovewoodstock said...: Mitt is too smart to take the job. Like agreeing to fix the Titanic after it has left port.; 12/5/13, 7:43 AM
Matt Sablan said...: "Mitt is too smart to take the job. Like agreeing to fix the Titanic after it has left port."

-- Until it hit the iceberg, the Titanic was salvageable. The question is: Has the ACA hit the iceberg?; 12/5/13, 7:46 AM
Henry said...: Jimmy wrote Like agreeing to fix the Titanic after it has left port.

Like agreeing to fix the Titanic after it hit the iceberg.; 12/5/13, 7:47 AM
Tank said...: Why not Candy Crowley.

She fixed Benghazi.; 12/5/13, 8:00 AM
Herb said...: Romney could well agree and then completely water it down, Obama's risk is that the consultant says pull the plug its so poorly designed. At a corporation if he is looking at a proposal or idea that eventually would push the company into losing money or worse bankruptcy he would tell the CEO to stop the project.; 12/5/13, 8:06 AM
Herb said...: Romney could well agree and then completely water it down, Obama's risk is that the consultant says pull the plug its so poorly designed. At a corporation if he is looking at a proposal or idea that eventually would push the company into losing money or worse bankruptcy he would tell the CEO to stop the project.; 12/5/13, 8:07 AM
DanTheMan said...: "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
Sun Tzu; 12/5/13, 8:12 AM
MadisonMan said...: I'm picturing Mitt as Dumbledore, Obama as Harry, and Obamacare as the dying Voldemort under the bench at Kings' Cross.; 12/5/13, 8:17 AM
Michael K said...: I don't see how it can be fixed. All Romney could do is to keep the name and rewrite it and the Democrats would not allow that. If the fiasco gets much worse next summer, as I expect, there might be enough votes in the next Congress to over ride a veto.; 12/5/13, 8:17 AM
iowan2 said...: I am......AGAIN........reminded that God does answer my prayers. Just not the way I asked for. Just for 10 seconds think about Romney as President Today. 66 Days after He, Romney was charged with rolling out the insurance exchange law(Please stop calling this health care!)
The Shit storm that would be all around us at this moment would dwarf Sandy. The Idiot talking heads would be providing evidence of grand conspiracy plans of sabotage.
God did answer my prayers. It is is the best interest of the country that this failed ideology is exposed for just that. A failed ideology that flawless execution will not not mask its core unworkable values.

If. Big if. Romney wanted to be president, He would, very publicly and without White House advance notice, volunteer to "fix" the problem. No outline of how he would do it, and demand the power needed to carry out the "fix".
(you'll have to agree to it, before you know what it is!)
This would serve to illustrate to the low information Voter that Democrat ideology is unworkable, and competency is more than education, it is accomplishments.

In short this is an exercise if unicorn hunting.; 12/5/13, 8:44 AM
TosaGuy said...: The part of the electorate that voted for Obama doesn't deserve the skills of Mitt Romney.; 12/5/13, 8:47 AM
TosaGuy said...: The part of the electorate that voted for Obama doesn't deserve the skills of Mitt Romney.; 12/5/13, 8:47 AM
cubanbob said...: Althouse is a believer of magical thinking. No Ann, this thing cannot be saved. Obamacare care was never about expanding healthcare 'coverage'. By its own metrics even if it worked perfectly it would still leave roughly the same number of people uninsured as it claims to insure. No this thing is a Rube Goldberg scheme to prop up a bankrupt Medicaid and Medicare without passing tax hikes. Stealth taxation is what it is.; 12/5/13, 8:50 AM
Known Unknown said...: Tank won.; 12/5/13, 9:05 AM
Henry said...: MadisonMan wrote: I'm picturing Mitt as Dumbledore, Obama as Harry, and Obamacare as the dying Voldemort under the bench at Kings' Cross.

That's brilliant.

I'm picturing the ACA as the The Raft of the Medusa. Obama is not on the raft. He went ahead on a different boat. Romney may or may not be a speck on the horizon.; 12/5/13, 9:05 AM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Obama the quasi-God couldn't do something. This means the thing cannot be done.

Obama the smartest POTUS ever couldn't accomplish something, ergo it cannot be accomplished.

This time saying the right people weren't in charge means you are racist, as Obama is Lebron baby.

If he can't do it, it can't be done.

Obama was editor of the Harvard Law School's most prestigious publication, therefore to think something could potentially be done but not by Obama shows bigotry and hatred on a scale unmatched, ever.; 12/5/13, 9:16 AM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Obama is perfect. He has led a perfect life. Perfect family.

If something he tries doesn't work, the failure is in the thing he tried, not the most-deity Obama.; 12/5/13, 9:18 AM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Perhaps Obamacare bored Obama hence He didn't apply Himself to its success. If so, again, the fault lies with not Obama, but government-sector velocities created by George fucking Goddamed rat-bastard Bush.

And the Kochs.

And Quayle can't spell potatoe you asshole.; 12/5/13, 9:24 AM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Anyone who thinks a white man can do something Obama can't is ------.; 12/5/13, 9:30 AM
lemondog said...: re: fault, not only GfGr-bB and Koch, but seems to apply to ALL Republicans....; 12/5/13, 9:42 AM
AllenS said...: Read this and then tell me if this can be "fixed".; 12/5/13, 10:09 AM
F said...: NotquiteunBuckley: You pretty much got it all. Except for lese-majeste.; 12/5/13, 10:14 AM
Anonymous said...: Hell with that. The worse, the better!; 12/6/13, 12:05 PM