GOP chairman Michael Steele has stumbled upon the solution to one of most vexing domestic policy issues of our time — the ever-increasing cost of health care:

So if it’s a cost problem, it’s easy: Get the people in a room who have the most and the most direct impact on cost, and do the deal. Do the deal. It’s not that complicated.

Steele’s appreciation of the nuances of health care politics is reminiscent of John McCain’s strategy circa 2006 for ending the civil war in Iraq:

“One of the things I would do if I were President would be to sit the Shiites and the Sunnis down and say, ‘Stop the bullshit.’” said Mr. McCain, according to Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, an invitee, and two other guests.

Who says the GOP isn’t the party of ideas?