NOW IT BEGINS – AT 8:53 A.M. ET:  After weeks of bitter politics following President Trump's inauguration, the Republicans have rolled out their first major initiative – a rewrite of Obamacare. 

The first response has been decidedly mixed.  The Democrats, of course, are completely against anything Republicans will propose, another indication of the decline of their party into adolescence.  And Republicans are split on the details of the proposed law.

There'll be plenty of negotiation.  But President Trump is now exerting executive leadership, making it clear that a repair of the current Obamacare system must happen.  From the Washington Times:

President Trump urged lawmakers Tuesday to swiftly approve a plan to repeal and replace Obamacare so he can move on to the biggest tax cut since Ronald Reagan’s presidency.

“There’s going to be no slowing down, no waiting, no more excuses by anybody,” Mr. Trump told top House Republican lawmakers at a White House meeting on the new health care legislation. “We’re going to get it done.”

After Congress tackles the health care law that was introduced in the House Monday, Mr. Trump said eagerly, “we work on the tax cut.”

The administration is planning a major tax cut for businesses and individuals by the end of this year.

“I know exactly what we’re looking at, most of us know exactly the plan,” Mr. Trump said of tax relief. “It’s going to put our country in great shape and we’re going to reduce taxes for companies and for people, and I can use the word again — massively. It’s going to be a big tax cut, the biggest since Reagan, maybe bigger than Reagan.”

Congress must complete work on the new health care law before addressing tax cuts, however. The president said Obamacare is “collapsing,” and he endorsed the new GOP plan.

COMMENT:  As a negotiator, the president knows that the current GOP plan will go through revision and compromise.  But he is doing what his predecessor failed to do.  He is creating a sense of urgency, and he is taking command.

Far better than "leading from behind."

The new health plan will now go to House committees, where the bargaining really starts.  Maybe Washington will actually get something done.

March 8,  2017