Monday, October 21, 2013

"...The Best Home Run Hitters Also Strike Out The Most..."

I don't like labels.

And we're not talking those things badly glued to boxes and jars that require complete destruction of said box or jar to remove.

Although, I'm not all that jiggy with them, either.

I'm talking about political labels.

I have a fluid mind, a reasonable ability to change my way of thinking about some things and I try to listen to all, or most sides, before I make a decision.

So I don't think of myself as a this or a that.

But, for the sake of this piece, if labeled I must be, then labeled I shall be.

I am, by nature and habit, more liberal than conservative.

I am, by nature and habit, more Democrat than Republican.

I am, by birth and nature, more heterosexual than homosexual.

Way more.

All of that said, here's a thing.

Obamacare should be repealed.

And here's the why pertaining to the should.

First, best intentions aside, it has the outward appearance, after three weeks of operation, of a world class fubar.

And, as best as I can determine, not being privy to every little behind the scenes thing involved here, it seems to me that calling it a failure and going back to square one can't possibly be any more "costly" than what carrying on and trying to make a lame horse run is going to cost.

Finally, if the sole reason the Obama administration is sticking to its guns (and deductibles) is a hesitation to step up and own the fubar for what it is, then that's just a bad strategy.

And here's the why pertaining to the that's just a.

History has proven, time and time and time again, that when a President screws the pooch, inadvertently or otherwise, and finds the Oval stones to step up and own it, the result is renewed and/or increased respect for said President.

And when they try to step away from the step up, they inevitably step in it.

John F. Kennedy took the blame for the botched Bay of Pigs invasion and his popularity rating went through the roof.

Jimmy Carter took the blame for the botched Iranian hostage rescue attempt and his popularity went through the roof.

Richard Nixon tried to stonewall his participation in Watergate and it cost him the gig.

Bill Clinton tried to stonewall his preferred method of enjoying cigars and almost got impeached, stepped up and owned his "inappropriate relations" and is, today, ten times more popular than anyone within ten miles of Capitol Hill.

Unasked, this "temporarily allowing labels" American citizen offers the following opinion to the current resident at 1600.

Mr. President....from all appearances, the Affordable Health Care Act is, at best, a shabby and shoddy excuse for the kind of health care program in which most Americans believe.

Allowing the repeal of this act and, essentially, starting over would prove, not only to the political opposition and naysayers, but to the rest of the country, and the world, that when Americans make mistakes, we don't lie, deny, dodge, thrust, parry, obfuscate, parse or perjure, rather, we step up, take our hits and get it right the next time.

It has been widely reported that you believe that the Affordable Health Care Act will be your primary legacy when you leave office.

A lot of us who have no political or personal axe to grind with you believe that you, and we, deserve a much better version of that legacy.

And if it can't be done before you leave office, then let your legacy be that you were the kind of President who had the courage to say, out loud, "we were wrong...and next time, we'll get it right."

In that way, we'll know that we got it right when we twice gave you the keys to the building.




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