I both substantively agree with those who want a massively reduced federal government and I do not think that a short-term "shutdown" of the federal government matters much, even as it may spoil my beloved nephew's school trip to Washington. However, I think the Tea Party caucus in the House is blowing the tactics of it, and will set back the cause of smaller government by running the great risk that Republicans do not realize their full potential in the next two elections. Why? Because one cannot control the federal government with only the House either constitutionally or politically, and the narrative of the mostly liberal mainstream media will inexorably create pressure on the national party. How? By scaring the big GOP donor base sufficiently that John Boehner throws out the "Hastert rule" and passes a continuing resolution. The Democrats, of course, should give Boehner something to work with -- I can imagine any number of concessions, including a ban on all Obamacare "waivers" (which have gone to Democratic favor-seekers) even while demanding funding for it -- so that he can toss the Hastert Rule by some means other than consigning his manhood to Harry Reid's lockbox. No such face-saving concession will be forthcoming, however, because the Reid faction wants to humiliate the GOP House leadership in order to set up a 2014 majority.
...the Reid faction wants to humiliate the GOP House leadership....
ReplyDeleteObama, too. And that humiliation already is in progress: every House counteroffer was smaller than the prior, rather than simply different, while the Senate just kept repeating, "No." With the House giving ground at every turn, soon they'll be at their abject surrender point, having achieved nothing.
Republicans have a history (not unbroken, but quite strong) of folding in the clutch. Look for similar loud surrender over the debt ceiling.
It's going to be a long couple of generations. If we survive the damage done in that time.
Eric Hines
The GOP needs to win in 2014 and 2016, or it will be especially long.
ReplyDeleteOr the Tea Party caucus does. Neither group, though, seems particularly endowed with political acumen.
ReplyDeleteEric Hines
I'm thoroughly convinced that this was all theatrics relating to Obamacare; betting that the public will remember that the Republicans wanted so badly to stop or even delay Obamacare that they shut down the government, and failed because Reid and Obama refused to budge. Then Obamacare kicks in and blows up in a spectacular explosion.
ReplyDeleteWait till the IRS gets involved and starts harassing people for failing to sign up on non-functional systems. Wait till coverage kicks in for the previously uninsurable (read: expensive as hell) without a base of young and healthy enrollees to be exploited. Wait till the economy goes further into the mire because everyone in America is having to shell our hundreds of more dollars per month to buy the government's favorite product at above-market rates.
Wait till the Democrats start talking about delaying the implementation, and the Republicans refuse because, "Hey, we warned you and you ignored it. Now it's the law."
This abomination is owned top to bottom, front to back by the Democrats. It's fittingly named for Obama, that other catastrophic failure plaguing America. And I bet, thanks to the shutdown theater (with bonus harassment of WWI veterans), people will remember that when it's next time to vote. I'm sure the IRS will remind them.
- DF82