I’m not sure I agree with point 4, but to be fair the author says he’s least sure of that point. The process was ugly, at least in part because there was no “Obamacare” bill, no matter how often Tea Partiers attacked that straw man. But, having a White House bill would have been a big fat bulls eye for opponents and was a big part of the reason the Clinton reform effort failed. Obama needs to commit #2 to memory.
The rest seem dead on, as sad as they may be. In particular 3, 5, 6, 7 don’t bode well for our system of government. click through to the original piece to get the explanation for each.
FiveThirtyEight: Politics Done Right: What We Learned.
Putting the policy and its implications aside, what political lessons can we takeaway from the past year? Plenty, some of them rather disconcerting.
1. Non-incremental policy change is never easy.
2. The presidential pulpit doesn’t bully by itself.
3. Misinformation is more easily disseminated than debunked.
4. Have an Administration bill.
5. Proxying process for policy works.
6. It pays to hold out.
7. Bipartisanship is a waste of time—except as a tactical feint.
