Good grief, even the weather won’t cooperate with the president. A leaked copy of the Fifth Assessment Report of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that, ”there has been a 60 percent increase in the amount of ocean covered with ice” in the past year, with some scientists now even predicting an upcoming phase of global cooling. The melting ice cap was supposed to be the final canary in the coal mine. Well, the canary is bigger and stronger than ever.

The president is struggling, but Republicans shouldn’t overplay their hand. A government shutdown over defunding Obamacare would be the Republican equivalent of the president’s Syria debacle. We are on the brink of starting something that we cannot successfully conclude. And the aftermath would be worse for Republicans, because Americans care far more about health care and economic issues than they care about Syria and foreign policy.

As I’ve said before, 2014 should be a good year for Republicans, but we have to be patient and not overreach. We shouldn’t appear shrill or pick unnecessary fights. In fact, we shouldn’t be afraid to be a little bland and maintain a low profile — if that is even possible for an American political party.