“Michelle certainly understands the math.”
She seems to understand how things work, too, even more than some with executive experience:
“At yesterday’s debate
> at the Reagan Library, Governors Perry and Romney spoke of using
> executive orders as a quick fix to Obamacare, which is simply not
> legal. Obamacare is federal law and cannot be overturned by
> issuing an executive order. We need to stop looking for
> temporary fixes and start working towards permanent solutions,
> and as President, I am ready to get to work, starting with
> repealing Obamacare - plainly and simply.”
As Perry said, the president could issue an executive order telling the head of HHS to give a waiver to every man, woman and child.
No repeal needed to do that.
Romney would direct DHS to grant waivers to all 50 states via executive order. Although someone from Heritage testified the waivers are unconstitutional, Nevada did get one.
Perry's said he'd sign an order that "eliminates as much of ObamaCare that I can have done with an executive order." It's entirely likely none can be but that doesn't call into question his intent. Under Perry, Texas is a member of the multi-state lawsuit against ObamaCare.
What might be done in terms of halting implementation or waivers all depends on the discretion given by Congress in the bill.