With the president trying to deal with three wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, bitching and moaning among our allies in NATO, a nuclear crisis in Japan, unrest in Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, and Syria, an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, and a delicate situation in Egypt, now is probably not the right time for the Republicans to add a government shutdown to his list of worries. But that’s exactly what it looks like the Republicans are going to do. With budget negotiations at an impasse, it’s time for finger-pointing and name-calling.
Speaker John A. Boehner joined in with a statement that accused Democrats of lacking a fiscal plan. “If Democrats don’t have a plan, do they intend to shut down the government because they can’t agree among themselves?” he asked.
Democrats fired back, suggesting that Republicans were backtracking under pressure from House conservatives allied with the Tea Party who were opposed to any compromise with Democrats in the budget debate.
“After days of positive negotiations, with significant flexibility shown by the speaker, the House Republican leadership is back to agonizing over whether to give in to right-wing demands that they abandon any compromise on their extreme cuts,” Mr. Schumer said. “Instead of lashing out at Democrats in a knee-jerk way, we hope House Republicans will finally stand up to the Tea Party and resume the negotiations that had seemed so full of promise.”
Fortunately, Chuck Schumer is actually quite good is this kind of give and take, and he knows enough to frame this a fight between a beleaguered president and a Tea Party fringe. So, as the previous president said, “Bring It On!” Bring on the government shutdown. The Republicans will be punished for it with extreme prejudice. It’s the one silver lining in all the bad news that has been piling up lately. No one is any mood for petty bullshit. We have enough drama.
I was waiting for this. The Republicans are trying to destroy everything that FDR brought aboutr. They will go full out to do it.
They probably think they have nothing to lose.
It will cause a lot of hardship if the govt. shuts down. The problem is how long would it take to get it running again.
I am so sick of these idiots.
has a backbone. Unfortunately, that makes him a lonely man in the Democratic Party.
i’ve been saying “bring it, bitches” for some time.
bring john boner. bring your shutdown, watch what happens.
All that’s required is to ask for the status of the Republican jobs bill.
I want them to bring it too.
I’d rather it not happen. I will be harmed by it.
Many people will be harmed by a shutdown. But, then, many more people will be hurt if the Republicans have their way and permanently dismantle the social safety net. We’re doomed either way, I fear. I’m so very NOT optimistic these days in America, Inc.
It’s a tired comparison, but let’s imagine a democratic congress insisting on shutting down the government amidst an international political and economic crisis. Actually you can’t. It’s unimaginable.
I wish I could believe that the administration has the stomach for a showdown. My money is on a last minute compromise where Boehner gets 95% of what he wants.
How’s that exactly when most of the cuts agreed upon so far has been from Obama’s budget? It seems you don’t trust the admin but common sense should prevail. 95% would gutting the EPA, education and the new consumer financial agency, health care reform and other major programs that could cost Dems and Obama the next election. Common. Sense.
I’m quite stuck by the comparison of Boehner & Cantor struggling with their membership, any kind of an agenda or followthrough, their constant whining vs Obama and his team have managed to bring a consensus together with NATO for gawdsake to bring action to Libya; right, wrong, dangerous surely, but they have managed to repair relationships and remind the world of common goals.
Anymore I can’t tell if R’s are using a Charlie Sheen playbook or if he is using theirs. Either way, life is bigger with more players than Charlie Sheen and the arrogance ain’t cutting it.
Is it better that Obama stays out of this or gets involved? I honestly have no idea.