Endgame is Here: Republicans are Breaking

[RC Vikings]

We should really have an honest debate on how to divide the nation into two or three separate sovereign nations. One nation could be Federalist and the other could be nationalist. We could then see where the businesses and people settled.

Also which country had people immigrating from their country to the other after a while.

Weather would make a bigger difference than if it were nationalist or Federalist.

[SandYFan]

Weather would make a bigger difference than if it were nationalist or Federalist.

Hmm 70% taxes in California, or 5% taxes in Wisconsin?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Just learned of another impact of the shutdown. Families with tickets purchased for foreign travel but their passports will not arrive in time due to the shutdown. That would really suck.

This is going to be a disaster for the Republicans.

[VirginiaCougar]

The Economist summed up many of my feelings on all this nonsense in its latest edition:

http://www.economist.com/news/leader...ay-run-country

An excerpt to whet your appetite to read the rest of a very good editorial about our current mess:

"What can be done? In the short term, House Republicans need to get their priorities straight. They should pass a clean budget resolution without trying to refight old battles over Obamacare. They should also vote to raise the debt ceiling (or better yet, abolish it). If Obamacare really does turn out to be a flop and Republicans win the presidency and the Senate in 2016, they can repeal it through the normal legislative process.

In the longer term, America needs to tackle polarisation. The problem is especially acute in the House, because many states let politicians draw their own electoral maps. Unsurprisingly, they tend to draw ultra-safe districts for themselves. This means that a typical congressman has no fear of losing a general election but is terrified of a primary challenge. Many therefore pander to extremists on their own side rather than forging sensible centrist deals with the other. This is no way to run a country. Electoral reforms, such as letting independent commissions draw district boundaries, would not suddenly make America governable, but they would help. It is time for less cliff-hanging, and more common sense."

[TripletDaddy]

Just learned of another impact of the shutdown. Families with tickets purchased for foreign travel but their passports will not arrive in time due to the shutdown. That would really suck.

This is going to be a disaster for the Republicans.

We went four wheeling this past weekend and part of our journey took us through Cascade Springs. We stopped there so that some of the children in our group could go to the restroom. The restrooms were closed with a sign indicating that they were closed due to the government shutdown.

based on my informal observations of all the reactions, the Republicans are also losing future generations of votes, as well!

[imanihonjin]

The Economist summed up many of my feelings on all this nonsense in its latest edition:

http://www.economist.com/news/leader...ay-run-country

An excerpt to whet your appetite to read the rest of a very good editorial about our current mess:

"What can be done? In the short term, House Republicans need to get their priorities straight. They should pass a clean budget resolution without trying to refight old battles over Obamacare. They should also vote to raise the debt ceiling (or better yet, abolish it). If Obamacare really does turn out to be a flop and Republicans win the presidency and the Senate in 2016, they can repeal it through the normal legislative process.

In the longer term, America needs to tackle polarisation. The problem is especially acute in the House, because many states let politicians draw their own electoral maps. Unsurprisingly, they tend to draw ultra-safe districts for themselves. This means that a typical congressman has no fear of losing a general election but is terrified of a primary challenge. Many therefore pander to extremists on their own side rather than forging sensible centrist deals with the other. This is no way to run a country. Electoral reforms, such as letting independent commissions draw district boundaries, would not suddenly make America governable, but they would help. It is time for less cliff-hanging, and more common sense."

Aren't you the king of compromise? Why is it that when you agree with a position that a non compromising party is taking you no longer think compromise is a viable option?

[imanihonjin]

In an interesting turn of events, it looks like there is now some infighting amongst democrats and they may be breaking.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...7d8_story.html

[Commando]

I hope this shutdown lasts until at least next wednesday-- I have a case in Immigration Court that I really want a continuance on, but I have no extra lives.

[Jeff Lebowski]

The Economist summed up many of my feelings on all this nonsense in its latest edition:

http://www.economist.com/news/leader...ay-run-country

An excerpt to whet your appetite to read the rest of a very good editorial about our current mess:

"What can be done? In the short term, House Republicans need to get their priorities straight. They should pass a clean budget resolution without trying to refight old battles over Obamacare. They should also vote to raise the debt ceiling (or better yet, abolish it). If Obamacare really does turn out to be a flop and Republicans win the presidency and the Senate in 2016, they can repeal it through the normal legislative process.

In the longer term, America needs to tackle polarisation. The problem is especially acute in the House, because many states let politicians draw their own electoral maps. Unsurprisingly, they tend to draw ultra-safe districts for themselves. This means that a typical congressman has no fear of losing a general election but is terrified of a primary challenge. Many therefore pander to extremists on their own side rather than forging sensible centrist deals with the other. This is no way to run a country. Electoral reforms, such as letting independent commissions draw district boundaries, would not suddenly make America governable, but they would help. It is time for less cliff-hanging, and more common sense."

Couldn't agree more.

[calicoug]

We should really have an honest debate on how to divide the nation into two or three separate sovereign nations. One nation could be Federalist and the other could be nationalist. We could then see where the businesses and people settled.

Don't conservatives already claim that this has happened at the state level (not "federalist" v "nationalist" per se, but red v blue)? And haven't businesses and people overwhelmingly already settled in blue states? Not sure I get your point. Businesses go where people go. People go to the coasts. The coasts are largely blue states. So...

[calicoug]

The Economist summed up many of my feelings on all this nonsense in its latest edition:

http://www.economist.com/news/leader...ay-run-country

An excerpt to whet your appetite to read the rest of a very good editorial about our current mess:

"What can be done? In the short term, House Republicans need to get their priorities straight. They should pass a clean budget resolution without trying to refight old battles over Obamacare. They should also vote to raise the debt ceiling (or better yet, abolish it). If Obamacare really does turn out to be a flop and Republicans win the presidency and the Senate in 2016, they can repeal it through the normal legislative process.

In the longer term, America needs to tackle polarisation. The problem is especially acute in the House, because many states let politicians draw their own electoral maps. Unsurprisingly, they tend to draw ultra-safe districts for themselves. This means that a typical congressman has no fear of losing a general election but is terrified of a primary challenge. Many therefore pander to extremists on their own side rather than forging sensible centrist deals with the other. This is no way to run a country. Electoral reforms, such as letting independent commissions draw district boundaries, would not suddenly make America governable, but they would help. It is time for less cliff-hanging, and more common sense."

Fact.

[il Padrino Ute]

Just learned of another impact of the shutdown. Families with tickets purchased for foreign travel but their passports will not arrive in time due to the shutdown. That would really suck.

This is going to be a disaster for the Republicans.

We went four wheeling this past weekend and part of our journey took us through Cascade Springs. We stopped there so that some of the children in our group could go to the restroom. The restrooms were closed with a sign indicating that they were closed due to the government shutdown.

based on my informal observations of all the reactions, the Republicans are also losing future generations of votes, as well!

The House passed a CR to fund everything but Obamacare. Reid wouldn't even allow a vote on it in the Senate and Obama said he would not negotiate with Republicans. And you two seem to be saying the Republicans are responsible for the shutdown?

[il Padrino Ute]

Couldn't agree more.

Do you honestly agree that the debt ceiling should be abolished?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Do you honestly agree that the debt ceiling should be abolished?

Yes. It is a dumb way to stop spending as it results in the Charlie Foxtrot we are currently experiencing. Get your spending under control without destroying our credit rating and causing so much unnecessary disruption. Really stupid way to govern.

[Jeff Lebowski]

The House passed a CR to fund everything but Obamacare. Reid wouldn't even allow a vote on it in the Senate and Obama said he would not negotiate with Republicans. And you two seem to be saying the Republicans are responsible for the shutdown?

Yes. The law passed. Do your job and fund it. You want to repeal the law, go ahead use the normal legislative process. This is like a brat on the playground taking his ball and running off the field when he is losing the game.