I went to hear Mitt Romney this morning in New York, and he gave what I assume is his standard stump speech. He is now emphasizing five points, which is a vast improvement on his 59-point economics plan of last year. First is to exploit America’s vast new energy resources unlocked by fracking and potential new areas now off-limits to create a large number of new, well-paying jobs, greatly improve our balance of payments, and improve our geopolitical position in the endless game of international politics.
Second is to reform the education system so as to put the interests of children ahead of the interests of teachers in order to prepare them with the skills needed in the 21st century. Third, pursue foreign trade. Fourth, cut the deficit and put the federal budget on a path towards balance. Fifth, repeal ObamaCare.
It was an impressive performance, and it made me even more optimistic about the outcome in November. That optimism is based on reasoning very similar to Professor Paul Rahe’s reasoning, although I would add Glenn Reynolds’s caveat: Don’t get cocky. Karl Rove in this morning’s Wall Street Journal thinks it will be a close election, decided by the undecided, and the Romney campaign should certainly act as though that’s the case.
John, thanks for a good posting and for your report. n nI think Americans would like to know if Mr. Romney will not only repeal ObamaCare but also that he has a plan to replace it. While ObamaCare is a disaster, and will only make health care worse, the country still suffers with an extremely high cost for medical attention, coupled with insurance being tied to jobs. These factors still need to be addressed so that Americans can feel comfortable that when we are sick, we can get competent and affordable health care. n nRepealing ObamaCare is only part of the solution. Let's not forget the other part.
I completely agree with you; we don't have a health care system as such, just an ad hoc conglomeration of half-thought out laws and policies that accrued over time. It's long ago past time to think seriously about how to construct policy to deliver the most and best health care to the maximum number of people at the best possible price.
Thank you. n nAmerica needs health care reform and we need a system that will work. It's not ObamaCare, and it may take some tweaks and tuning as we go along (what doesn't?) but the problems with cost and quality not to mention malpractice insurance and tort reform, are not going away. n nThe phrase is "repeal and replace." Let's make both events happen.
Damage control.
John, I like the new stump speech too. Be positive, then show the contrast with Obama's policy, while use his own words against him. By month end, most people will know his 5 points plan. To correct your 5th point, it's not "repeal Obamacare", but promote "free enterprise" by putting in place sound economic policy with limited regulations. One of the consequence is to "repeal obamacare", as it is a burden to small businesses.
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Dems are wrapping up their ideological gestalt into a concentrated, toxic assault on their opponent''s core personality–so that Romney's biographical identity is writ large as the played out essence of the depraved and callous indifference of the !%–they ain't doing this because it doesn't work. The antidote is not "high road" repetition of however so many bullet points if Obama is on the way to discrediting their messenger. Romney keeps thinking the "long game," supplemented if need be by surrogate/PAC roughing up of the Prez, will work as last minute deciders flip after the debates but the inflection point may already be reached by then, and be against him. Obama clearly loves talking vicious trash against Romney while Romney, in return, keeps projecting this Jack Benny well-I-never aurora of fluster. Highly problematic.