The Guvmint Shutdown

[Fat Strat]

BTW, I said earlier that I had a friend who didn't receive their survivor benefits today. Apparently, she did receive it, it was just deposited much later than normal. I guess the government is doing something right today.

And kudos to the vets who broke into the WWII memorial and to the NPS police who didn't kick them or anyone else out.

[Freed Roger]

Count me amongst those that have mixed thoughts about the reach (or lack of reach) of the ACA. Yet, it is obvious- this political game has little to do with it.

What a strange issue to be the manifestation of all the tribal anger and disputes that have been brewing in polarized politics - since the Civil War.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Count me amongst those that have mixed thoughts about the reach (or lack of reach) of the ACA. Yet, it is obvious- this political game has little to do with it.

What a strange issue to be the manifestation of all the tribal anger and disputes that have been brewing in polarized politics - since the Civil War.

Interesting you say that about the CW - reading the comments from some of the House GOP, I thought about the celebratory quotes you read about after the surrender of Fort Sumter. But maybe most people in this country are on their side and I'm a mystified Confederate. I don't know.

[pioneer98]

Is there a tangible endgame/desired result from this ploy? Besides Obamacare staying around - It's not like this is way to make the duties of the VA go away. Does this mean no more NASA? Are we going to privatize National Parks or sell them off? The EPA?

Yeah, elimination of govt programs and institutions have and continue to be talked about. But the shut down will not end them.

Govt institutions and programs (ones that were created by both Republicans and Dems) will be back in the near future, but I'm guessing it will cost taxpayers more money to have a shut down/reopen than if you just left open to begin with. So thanks for the govt waste [expletive]! All for stroking your egos & feeding your extremist constituents.

Those are all things the right wants to make go away. They'd sell the National Parks if they could, they'd eliminate Nasa, the Smithsonian, and everything else they could. They want those things gone.

The second faction of the Republican party which I do not consider the right are the moderates. They are out there, the John McCains of the world if you will. Sadly they've been playing along with the crazies to try and win elections. So in a way they are as guilty as the right. If they didn't create this monster they sure have fed it. I know Republicans who are not part of this right wing group who are ashamed of what is happening in Congress. Those are the kind of people we need in Congress, the ones who think this constant state of brinksmanship is [expletive].

The problem is that the fringe on the Right is so active that they will primary anyone who doesn't pull farther to the right...and sadly, it works because moderates don't vote in primaries hardly at all.

[TimeForGuinness]

I'm pretty sure whether you go towards the fringe on the left or right, you end up in the same place.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

I'm pretty sure whether you go towards the fringe on the left or right, you end up in the same place.

++!

[pioneer98]

I believe that “the powers that be” are the ones really behind this…but there is also something else at work. The reason Obamacare is the thing that has caused this to blow up into this huge divide is because health care was the #1 thing Obama ran on in 2008. If he had made increasing the minimum wage his #1 priority, then that would be the thing that had brought this to a head. I think this is about Obama to some extent….maybe it’s not about Obama the actual guy, but it is about what he represents. There is a ton of change happening and people don’t like change, and rightfully so in many cases because a lot of people have lost their jobs and been burned by this rapid change. From globalization to increasing minority population to fewer people attending church, young people leaving town, etc, etc. They hate all these changes and they are looking for someone to blame. The right wing media tells them Obama and his allies are to blame, and they buy into it. This happens to make a great cover for our plutocrats.

[pioneer98]

I'm pretty sure whether you go towards the fringe on the left or right, you end up in the same place.

It would be fun if Socialists started primarying Democrats for being too moderate. That would be interesting. But it never, ever, ever, never happens for some reason.

[Donnie Ebert]

This seems appropriate today:

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[heyzeus]

The Democrats had control of both houses in 2007. They passed a debt ceiling extension without any negotiation or demands. Imagine if, in 2007, the Democrats had sad "Mr. President, the only debt ceiling bill we'll pass ALSO requires you to pass the strictest gun control available and sets strict limits on carbon dioxide emissions nationwide." The president vetoes that bill, and the country would be outraged that the Democrats let their pet issues stand in the way of the continued operation (and debt payment) of the entire government.

The only difference here is the lack of broad-based national outrage.