I've been lurking around this site for a while, and finally took the plunge.
Hi.
I live in FL but Rick Scott has given me the motivation to finally pursue graduate school out of state, so I am preparing for that while working at an ok job.
I am originally from Chicago, and plan to return eventually. I like Obama for many reasons, but that isn't what compelled me to finally write this diary.
Side Note I'm not sure how "good diaries" are written, so suggestions and constructive criticism is always welcome.
I love stand-up comedy. No, I love to laugh. So, I watch Comedy Central anytime I watch television. I'm sure everyone has seen this Colbert episode. It's a great one if you haven't. Now this just aired on CC, and I had seen it before but thought "what the hey" and watched it again.
During the interview with Rick Brookhiser, I found how he answered Colbert's questions interesting.
about Bush: too early for another Bush
about Romney: (wow "Romney" is in spell check) his "Romneycare" ruins him.
And then an idea popped in my head, and it is kind of genius if it is happening.
In no way am I claiming this idea is an original, it could have been discussed already, I haven't searched.
Rick Brookhiser claims Romney's not the frontrunner as he rightfully should be because of his healthcare legislation that looks an awfully like a prototype of "Obamacare" or ACA. And the base of the Republican party cannot vote for a man that brought "socialism" to America before it was Marxist/Nazi/Commi/Muslim/Death Panel cool. So in so many words, he's out! Which is a great thing, because at this point Romney is the only pseudo-candidate that actually appeals to independents and young people.
The ACA has also been a controversial issue among Obama's base, and I saw a microcosm of it here on DK. As I zoned out to the rest of the show, I wondered if changing that legislation from what he originally proposed on the campaign trail - single-payer - to what is today, was one of those mysterious "chess moves" I hear about when people try and explain Obama's more liberal blunders.
Propose that the Obama administration saw Romney as the clear frontrunner for 2012 since '09 (plausible). Also, healthcare was the central issue Obama talked about as a candidate. Furthermore, many cite a clause in the legislation, one that recently was moved to 2014, letting states have options to chose better healthcare plans, as a step forward to what Obama originally talked about. What if, Obama saw recreating Romney's legislation was helpful because:
a.) Kill Romney's chances for 2012, his stiffest competition.
b.) Enact a backdoor in national healthcare reform for states to adopt a single-payer.
Obama kills two birds with one stone! And since the Republicans are talking about state's rights, okay, do something better, that covers the same (i.e. single-payer) for less cost, or stick with this plan.
Clever.
Now Obama rides into 2012 with virtually no strong competition. Sure, he upset his base in the short-term,yet, he paved the way for state-enacted single-payer healthcare and crushed a strong opponent at the same time.
Granted, it is early in the year, and July will look different from now, but I think Republicans are counting on $4 gas and deficit talk to get Obama to fail and not a viable candidate, which puts the odds in Obama's favor.
Bravo, Mr. President, if this was your plan. Bravo.
