Saturday, October 05, 2013

COMPROMISE?

I think that word does not mean what you think it means

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/cruz-we-ve-already-compromised
I guess you've got to be really, really smart to say things this stupid. Ted Cruz says that his side has already compromised. They wanted to fully repeal Obamacare but they compromised and agreed only to demand that it be defunded. . . .

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/we-are-witnessing-destruction-test-pt-barnums-philosophy-life
So Republicans have settled on their messaging, and it's this: Democrats are refusing to negotiate. We keep offering compromise after compromise, but Democrats won't listen to any of them.

Will this work? The truth of a proposition has little or nothing to do with its pyschodynamics, so I suppose it has a chance. But it certainly shows a considerable contempt for the intelligence of the voting public. . . . [read on]

 More: http://ourfuture.org/20130930/this-is-not-a-compromise
This Is Not A Compromise.

 http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/01/us-usa-fiscal-politics-analysis-idUSBRE99005Z20131001
For House Republicans, confrontation is safer than compromise

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/04/people-dont-fully-appreciate-how-committed-the-tea-party-is-to-not-compromising/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
‘People don’t fully appreciate how committed the tea party is to not compromising’

 Stupid politics

 http://www.salon.com/2013/10/04/10_remarkably_stupid_comments_from_the_right_on_the_shutdown_and_obamacare_partner/
10 remarkably stupid comments from the right on the shutdown and Obamacare

More stupid: http://prospect.org/article/daily-meme-politics-dumb-and-stupid

 John Boehner: I have no idea where this is headed, but let's stand together in going there!

 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/05/us/politics/boehner-urges-gop-unity-in-epic-battle.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
John A. Boehner began a closed-door meeting of House Republicans on Friday morning with a recitation of letters from local schoolchildren on how they deal with stress. 

A shower helps, one child counseled. So does a nap. 

But on the matter causing all the Congressional stress, the speaker offered no clue as to how he expected Congress to get out of the dead end it has found itself in, with the government shut for a fourth day and no clear path to raise the federal debt limit to avoid the nation’s first default. “We are locked in an epic battle,” the speaker told his rank and file . . .
Yes! Take a nap

 http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/asleep-wheel

Some White House wonk is quoted as saying "we're winning" on the shutdown fight, and John Boehner takes this as an excuse for one of those ridiculous faux Republican temper tantrums

 http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/10/04/speaker-boehner-accuses-democrats-of-playing-games-while-playing-games/
Speaker Boehner Accuses Democrats Of Playing Games While Playing Games

 THIS didn't bother him, though: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/10/03/rand_paul_mitch_mcconnell_caught_on_hot_mic_talking_shutdown_strategy_were_gonna_win_this.html
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) were caught by a hot mic Wednesday discussing their strategy regarding the government shutdown. Sen. Paul told McConnell "we're gonna win this, I think." . . .

 Oh, by the way . . .

 http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/10/yes-the-white-house-is-winning.html
Yes, the White House Is ‘Winning’

 Harry Reid calls Boehner a liar

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/04/1244141/-Harry-Reid-Boehner-agreed-to-clean-CR-last-month-then-reneged-because-he-s-afraid
“I know that that’s not the path he preferred,” Reid said. “I know that because we met the first week we came back in September and he told me that what he wanted was a clean CR and the $988 [billion] number. 

“We didn’t like the 988 number. We didn’t like it but we negotiated. That was our compromise,” Reid added. “The exact bill that he now refuses to let the House vote on. That was our negotiation.”

And a coward: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/harry-reid-john-boehner_n_4044324.html
 
But seriously, what the hell is going on?  The simple answer is that Boehner wants to go to conference now, with all issues on the table including funding the government and raising the debt ceiling (these would become chips for him to extract other concessions over Obamacare and spending levels). Obama says, no extortion, pass these funding bills first - which you are LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DO, and then we'll talk about these other issues

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/04/1244123/-Boehner-comes-up-with-a-new-explanation-for-why-Republicans-shut-down-the-government
[Boehner] "Listen, the issue right now is the continuing resolution to open the government, and all we're asking for is for Harry Reid to appoint conferees so we can sit down and have a conversation about bringing fairness to the American people and getting government open."

http://crooksandliars.com/richard-rj-eskow/why-democrats-should-refuse-shutd
White House messaging on the shutdown (and debt ceiling threats) has been nearly pitch-perfect. Republicans, on the other hand, have stumbled and struggled and are paying for itin the polls. Now the GOP’s trying to solve the problem it has created for itself by offering the Administration something they both seem to want . . .

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/04/fool-me-with-a-budget-commission-once-shame-on-you-fool-me-eight-times/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
Fool me with a budget commission once, shame on you. Fool me eight times …

 http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/10/let-me-explain-how-extortion-works-republicans.html
Let Me Explain How Extortion Works, Republicans

 Will a discharge petition work? (probably not)

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/04/1244190/-House-Dems-to-pursue-discharge-petition-to-force-vote-on-reopening-nbsp-government

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/house-dems-have-new-plan-reopen-government

 http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/10/04/20821264-house-dems-plan-procedural-move-to-end-shutdown

 Fix the health care web site!

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/04/wonkbook-obamacares-web-site-is-really-bad/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/obamacare-website-experiencing-technical-difficulties

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/04/for-some-shoppers-buying-obamacare-is-turning-into-a-marathon/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd

 In Fox World

 http://www.salon.com/2013/10/04/fox_and_friends_host_thinks_hispanic_colleague_grew_up_on_tacos/
Co-host Brian Kilmeade was particularly delighted, as there is no better way to celebrate National Taco Day than with resident all-things-Mexican expert meteorologist Maria Molina, who Kilmeade assumed “grew up on tacos.”

Steve Doocy scoffed at Kilmeade’s ignorance, saying, “She did not grow — she’s Colombian.” 

Alas, Molina is neither Colombian nor Mexican. “No, I did not grow up on tacos,” she explained. “I’m Nicaraguan. It’s not a Nicaraguan food.”

But Elisabeth Hasselbeck wouldn’t accept that as an answer, hypothesizing, “But if you did — if you did grow up on tacos …”

Theocracy watch

 http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/kuhner-liberalism-killing-millions-will-destroy-family-religion-and-civilization
Washington Times columnist Jeffrey Kuhner today reiterated his call for anti-Obama civil disobedience, warning that President Obama is pushing an agenda of “Christophobia” that seeks “the destruction of the family, Christian culture” and “Christian civilization” through abortion rights, same-sex marriage and secular government.
Kuhner’s entire column relies on the myth that Obamacare funds abortion and will make all Americans “pay for the abortionist’s knife” and “have the blood of innocent children on their hands.”
“It is genocide masquerading as ‘choice,’” Kuhner writes. “Liberalism is responsible for more deaths than Nazism or Soviet communism.”
- See more at: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/kuhner-liberalism-killing-millions-will-destroy-family-religion-and-civilization#sthash.hoLC5rw1.bQlX6vV4.dpuf
Washington Times columnist Jeffrey Kuhner today reiterated his call for anti-Obama civil disobedience, warning that President Obama is pushing an agenda of “Christophobia” that seeks “the destruction of the family, Christian culture” and “Christian civilization” through abortion rights, same-sex marriage and secular government.
Kuhner’s entire column relies on the myth that Obamacare funds abortion and will make all Americans “pay for the abortionist’s knife” and “have the blood of innocent children on their hands.”
“It is genocide masquerading as ‘choice,’” Kuhner writes. “Liberalism is responsible for more deaths than Nazism or Soviet communism.”
- See more at: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/kuhner-liberalism-killing-millions-will-destroy-family-religion-and-civilization#sthash.hoLC5rw1.bQlX6vV4.dpuf
Washington Times columnist Jeffrey Kuhner today reiterated his call for anti-Obama civil disobedience, warning that President Obama is pushing an agenda of “Christophobia” that seeks “the destruction of the family, Christian culture” and “Christian civilization” through abortion rights, same-sex marriage and secular government.  . . . “Liberalism is responsible for more deaths than Nazism or Soviet communism.” . . .

Bonus item: Chris Christie's solution

 http://tinyurl.com/nmpcja9
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's solution: "My approach would be, as the executive, is to call in the leaders of the Congress, the legislature, whatever you’re dealing with and say that we’re not leaving this room until we fix this problem. Because I’m the boss, I’m in charge." . . . [read on] 

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL: http://pbd.blogspot.com

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc.). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
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Friday, October 04, 2013

NOW THEY'VE DONE IT

He's angry, really angry

 http://www.dw.de/obama-blames-boehner-for-us-shutdown-on-third-inactive-day/a-17134297
"There's only one way out of this reckless and damaging Republican shutdown. Congress has to pass a budget that funds our government with no partisan strings attached," Obama said during a speech in the Washington D.C. suburbs. "Take a vote, stop this farce and end this shutdown right now."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/03/1243738/-Obama-offers-GOP-a-Grand-Bargain-Do-your-job
"You don't get to demand some ransom in exchange for keeping the government running, you don't get to demand ransom in exchange for keeping the economy running. You don't get to demand ransom for doing your most basic job."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/03/how-the-white-house-sees-the-shutdown-and-debt-ceiling-fight/
The White House has decided that they can't govern effectively if the House Republicans can keep playing Calvinball. The rules and promises Boehner makes are not their problem, they've decided. They're not going to save him.  . . . Top administration officials say that President Obama feels as strongly about this fight as he has about anything in his presidency. He believes that he will be handing his successor a fatally weakened office, and handing the American people an unacceptable risk of future financial crises, if he breaks, or even bends, in the face of Republican demands. And so the White House says that their position is simple, and it will not change: They will not negotiate over substantive policy issues until Republicans end the shutdown and raise the debt ceiling.

59% of those who OPPOSE Obamacare don't want to see the government shut down over it. 72% of people just generally hate the shutdown. This is a loser for the GOP, and it will only get worse as time goes on

 http://hotair.com/archives/2013/10/03/cbs-poll-shows-shutdown-more-unpopular-than-obamacare/

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-01/americans-by-72-oppose-shutdown-tied-to-health-care-cuts.html

Looks as if John Boehner and a few saner Republican heads are looking for a way out

http://www.salon.com/2013/10/03/republicans_finally_confronting_reality_theyre_trapped/
After struggling for weeks and weeks in stages one through four, Republicans are finally entering the final stage of grief over the death of their belief that President Obama would begin offering concessions in exchange for an increase in the debt limit.

The catalyzing event appears to have been an hour-plus-long meeting between Obama and congressional leaders at the White House on Wednesday. Senior administration officials say that if the meeting accomplished only one thing it was to convey to Republican leaders the extent of Obama’s determination not to negotiate with them over the budget until after they fund the government and increase the debt limit.. . .  [read on]

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/10/03/john-boehner-gives-away-the-game-a-bit/
Multiple reports today inform us that John Boehner is privately telling colleagues that in the end, he won’t allow default and will even let a debt ceiling hike pass with mostly Dem votes if it comes down to it. Plenty of folks are rightly skeptical about this development. But it’s not entirely without significance. . . .

 More: http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/hmmm-gop-grand-bargain-whats-that.html

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/shutdown-debt-ceiling-john-boehner
I Am Now Very Confused by John Boehner

 More from inside that Republican takedown of Ted Cruz

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/mitch-mcconnell-ted-cruz_n_4041159.html 
A group of Senate Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), railed against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) at a private luncheon on Wednesday. . .
 
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) presented a Senate Conservatives Fund printout that logged 25 Senate Republicans -- including Ayotte and McConnell -- as voting for cloture on Sunday in what the group said was supporting Obamacare, "betraying their principles" and "giving Democrats the power". .. . . When Ayotte asked whether Cruz would repudiate the Senate Conservatives Fund's attack, Cruz responded, "I will not," an attendee told Politico.

At that point, McConnell, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and others joined in lashing Cruz, leader of the anti-Obamacare showdown that spiraled into the government shutdown. "It just started a lynch mob," one senator told the Times. . . [read on]

Why the Dems should stand firm (will they?)

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/shutdown-debt-ceiling-explained
Democrats have already agreed to fund the government at Republican levels. . . . [read on]

 More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/8-reasons-democrats-shoul_b_4041309.html
8 Reasons Democrats Should Refuse a Shutdown "Grand Bargain" 

 Not an accident, a plan: GOP Congressman told donors LAST MONTH that the shutdown was coming

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/nrcc-chair-reportedly-says-gop-waged-shutdown-fight-to-placate-tea-party

 How the shutdown is perceived overseas, and how it hurts the U.S.

 http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/10/03/20803360-american-exceptionalism-for-all-the-world-to-see

 http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2013/10/_government_shutdown_the_view_from_overseas_does_not_favor_the_gop.html

 http://www.salon.com/2013/10/03/why_the_shutdown_is_terrible_for_american_interests_abroad_newscred/

 I think Kennedy has a point here

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/anthony-kennedy-court_n_4041276.html
Justice Anthony Kennedy criticized the ideological gridlock that leaves so many divisive issues to the Supreme Court, saying a "functioning democracy" would resolve them in the political arena.

"Any society that relies on nine unelected judges to resolve the most serious issues of the day is not a functioning democracy," Kennedy said Thursday at the University of Pennsylvania.

"I just don't think that a democracy is responsible if it doesn't have a political, rational, respectful, decent discourse so it can solve these problems before they come to the court."

The kind of people they are: Karl Rove protege and all-around a--hole Tim Griffin (R-AK) tweets within minutes of the Capitol Hill car chase and shooting that . . . it's all the Dems' fault

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/rep-tim-griffin-political-black-ops.html

 And another one: Texas congressman, right after voting for the shutdown, chews out a poor Park Ranger (at work, despite not being paid), as if the shutdown were HER fault. Well, just watch what happens next

 http://my.firedoglake.com/elliott/2013/10/03/rep-neugebauer-yells-at-park-ranger-for-doing-her-job/
Bonus item: Crybabies - don't miss it!
***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL: http://pbd.blogspot.com

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc.). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
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Thursday, October 03, 2013

KUM-BA-YAWN

Obama brings the party leaders over to the White House. The results are predictable

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/02/white-house-meeting-shutdown_n_4033225.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics
White House Meeting On Government Shutdown Ends Without A Deal

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/02/1243450/-Obama-challenges-Boehner-to-allow-a-vote-on-reopening-government
Obama challenges Boehner to allow a vote on reopening government

 http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/10/02/boehner_says_obama_still_wont_negotiate.html
Boehner Says Obama Still Won't Negotiate

 Another "grand bargain"? http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/10/02/20789755-dems-still-pushing-gop-to-end-shutdown

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/just-where-is-the-center-of-gravity-here

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-cancels-part-of-asia-trip-washington-braces-for-prolonged-budget-battle/2013/10/02/e035be98-2b4b-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/government-shutdown-could-merge-with-debt-ceiling-fight

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/hmmm-gop-grand-bargain-whats-that.html

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/02/john-boehner-grand-bargain_n_4033091.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics
Grand Bargain Re-Emerges, Then Dies Again 

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/02/1243434/-Republican-Senator-blocks-budget-conference-committee
Republican senator blocks budget conference committee
 Don't tell me both sides are equally to blame

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/with-shutdown-tea-party-lawmakers-see-the-culmination-of-years-of-effort-to-downsize-government/2013/10/02/3207126a-2ab3-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html?wprss=rss_politics
Tea party lawmakers see the culmination of years of effort in shutdown

 http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/10/government-shutdown-explained-in-one-quote.html
"We’re not going to be disrespected .... We have to get something out of this. And I don’t know what that even is." — Rep. Marlin Stutzman, a conservative Republican from Indiana, explains to the Washington Examiner why the House GOP won't just send a "clean" spending bill to the Senate.

Oh, by the way: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/ted-cruz-blasted-by-angry-gop-colleagues-government-shutdown-97753.html#ixzz2gbw8dxqM
Ted Cruz faced a barrage of hostile questions Wednesday from angry GOP senators, who lashed the Texas tea party freshman for helping prompt a government shutdown crisis without a strategy to end it. . . [read on!] 

Big business is starting to get nervous about the GOP crazies 

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/with-traditional-gop-allies-defecting-big-business-leaders-take-sides-with-obama

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/chart-day-wall-street-starting-get-nervous-about-debt-ceiling

 More: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/03/gop-donors-revolt-against-republican-led-government-shutdown.html
GOP Donors Revolt
The Republicans forced a government shutdown, knowing that one of the first casualties would be staffing to keep national monuments open. THEN they attacked Obama for shutting down the World War II veterans memorial, plus a bonus: an irresistible chance to posture

 http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/01/veterans-break-past-world-war-ii-memorial-barricade/
Moments earlier, a few Republican members of Congress had removed a section of the black gates that surrounded the site, allowing a line of veterans to roll past security officers, who willingly stood aside. . . . A few House Republicans were also at the memorial to disparage the government for closing off the landmark on a day that veterans were set to arrive. . . .

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rnc-offers-to-pay-to-keep-wwii-memorial-open
RNC Offers To Pay To Keep WWII Memorial Open

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/10/02/park-service-rejects-rncs-offer-to-help-reopen-wwii-memorial/?wprss=rss_politics&clsrd
Park Service rejects RNC’s offer to help reopen WWII Memorial

 More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/02/1243398/-While-Republicans-condemn-monument-closings-millions-of-less-visible-Americans-are-put-in-danger
While Republicans condemn monument closings, millions of less visible Americans are put in danger 

The state of GOP discourse: three men who want to be president

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/yep-he-s-presidential-material
Rand Paul: Obama sent more security to WWII memorial than to Benghazi.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/derp-in-the-back
Cruz, with impeccable post-World War I credentials, tries to spin Obamacare as presidential obsession driving Obama to crackdown on World War II soldiers. 
 
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/10/02/perry_says_implementing_obamacare_is_a_criminal_act.html
Perry Says Implementing Obamacare is a 'Criminal Act' 

The start-up of Obamacare: some glitches not really very surprising, given the scope of the program

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/02/obamacare-enrollment_n_4032678.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics
Obamacare Enrollment Slowly Begins As Insurance Exchanges Still Face Technical Problems 

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/obamacare-site-goes-live-with-some-glitches/2013/10/01/380a4300-2a9d-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html?wprss=rss_politics
Officials move to tackle Obamacare sign-up problems caused by unexpected high demand

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/02/1243394/-Obamacare-s-first-day-glitches-overshadowed-by-nbsp-success
Obamacare's first day glitches overshadowed by success

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/02/obamacares-biggest-problem-right-now-isnt-glitches-its-traffic/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
Obamacare’s biggest problem right now isn’t glitches. It’s traffic.

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/obamacare-rollout-normal-bugs-overloading
So Far, the Obamacare Rollout Looks Pretty Normal to Me

 More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/01/signing-up-for-obamacare-it-will-save-me-over-6000-for-that-i-would-have-waited-all-day/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
Signing up for Obamacare: ‘It will save me over $6,000. For that, I would have waited all day.’
Bonus item: Is the shutdown what James Madison had in mind?
***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL: http://pbd.blogspot.com

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc.). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
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Wednesday, October 02, 2013

YOU BROKE IT, YOU OWN IT

As the GOP learns how unpopular the govt shutdown is, moderates start looking for a way out

 http://tinyurl.com/q6rmbcg
The “Republican Shutdown”

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/public-obamacare-republican-hostage
The Public Sure Doesn't Seem to Be on the GOP's Side

 http://elections.firedoglake.com/2013/10/01/democrats-now-have-nine-point-lead-in-the-generic-ballot/
Democrats Now Have Nine Point Lead in the Generic Ballot

 http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/10/government_shutdown_is_bad_for_republicans_the_gop_s_divisions_and_fissures.html
Not only are they taking the blame, but the Republican party’s divisions, fissures, and personal animosities are taking center stage. . . [read on]

 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/02/us/politics/shutdown-debate-congress.html
Senator Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said of Democrats: “We’ve called their bluff, and they didn’t blink. At this point it would kind of strain logic to assume that going deeper into this when Republicans are likely to get the blame will benefit us more.” 

http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/the-day-after-the-government-shut-down-20131001
Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., is admitting that this fight just isn't breaking the GOP's way. When asked if he thought Obamacare would be implemented despite their efforts he said: "Ultimately that's going to happen, in my opinion. We have voted 41 times to defund it or get rid of it. If my people back home say: Oh my gosh you voted to fund Obamacare, so be it. We've lost this battle. We need to move on to the next one." Hours later, his press person called to make it clear that he "wasn't trying to be defeatist."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/10/01/are-house-republicans-looking-for-a-way-out/
Are House Republicans looking for a way out?

 The latest ploy is to pass a series of partial funding bills, paying for only those parts of govt the far right likes -- then they can say it's not "shut down" any more

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/cruz-lee-take-credit-for-house-gop-s-latest-spending-plan
Cruz And Lee Take Credit For House GOP's Latest Spending Plan

 http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/10/01/20776192-house-republicans-suggest-government-a-la-carte
Regardless, this new plan is hilarious. Republicans could pass a center-right spending bill and end the shutdown, but what they'd prefer to do is break up the federal spending bill into chunks, and slowly turn the lights on piecemeal. Staffers were referring today to "mini-CRs." . . 

 It failed: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/scratching-head

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/01/1243141/-House-Republicans-try-and-fail-with-piecemeal-spending-bills

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/deep-into-the-weeds
More on tonight's failed partial funding votes: (1) Eric Cantor said after the vote they knew the bills would fail; (2) some Dems think today's move was a stall tactic; (3) House majority whip says they'll bring the bills up for a vote again Wednesday, but under different rules where only simply majority required for passage . . .

 What next?

 http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/collision-course-continuing-resolution-debt-ceiling-congress-government-shutdown-97693.html
A harsh reality began setting into Capitol Hill on Tuesday: The U.S. government may not reopen until the two parties reach a deal to raise the national debt ceiling. . . 

 Too little, too late

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/01/1242924/-So-now-Republicans-demand-a-conference-after-blocking-it-for-past-seven-months
So now Republicans demand a conference after blocking it for past seven months

 More: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/01/democrats-may-be-obstructionists-now-but-they-have-good-reason.html 

A grim forecast: this may be the New Normal for our national politics

http://prospect.org/article/madness-will-never-end

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_10/the_insanity_is_not_temporary047128.php

More: http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/tea-party-blind-rage

 Where do the Teabaggers come from? (hint: not all from the South)

 http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/where-does-gops-suicide-caucus-live

 A little inside scuttlebutt

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/10/reid-boehner-loathing-staffers-email
Harry Reid and John Boehner Really Loathe Each Other

 Dumbasses say they hate Obamacare, but like the Affordable Care Act

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/welcome-stupid-people.html

 There, there sweetie, I'll take it from here

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rick-perry-says-wife-misspoke-about-abortion-rights
Rick Perry Suggests Wife Misspoke About Abortion Rights

 Repeatedly: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/10/rick-perry-walks-back-anitas-abortion-comments.html

 The more famous Ted Cruz gets, the more we'll be hearing from Dear Old Dad

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ted-cruz-s-dad-suggests-obama-is-a-muslim-audio
Ted Cruz's Dad Suggests Obama Is A Muslim

More: http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/crazy-cruz-dad-goes-nuts-gop-keystone
 
In Fox World

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/fox-ified
Behold Fox News' epic coverage of Day #1 of Obamacare. All the Fox tricks, tics, and tendencies in one daylong effusion . . .

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/01/1242854/-Congratulations-GOP-You-got-your-shutdown-Now-what
Congratulations, GOP! You got your shutdown. Now what? 

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/foxnews-com-rebrands-gov-t-shutdown-as-gov-t-slimdown-photo
FoxNews.com Rebrands Gov't Shutdown As Gov't 'Slimdown'

Where there's a Will: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/george-will-departs-abc-fox-639935
George Will Departs ABC for Fox News Contributor Deal

 Bonus item: Heh

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/10/01/australia-had-a-government-shutdown-once-it-ended-with-the-queen-firing-everyone-in-parliament/
Australia had a government shutdown once. In the end, the queen fired everyone in Parliament.

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL: http://pbd.blogspot.com

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc.). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
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Tuesday, October 01, 2013

THEY DID IT

The "Hastert rule" was a formula for paralysis: if John Boehner only let bills come up for a vote that a majority of his caucus supported, that created in effect a filibuster to block bills even when a majority of the House overall would support them. But now, it is even more insane. The Senate bill to fund the government would have passed the House WITH support from a majority of Republicans. Boehner still refused to allow a vote on it, now giving a MINORITY of his party a veto over the will of the whole

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/it-s-up-to-boehner
It can't be reiterated often enough: If John Boehner puts a temporary spending bill on the House floor, without any anti-Obamacare stunts in it, it would pass.

He can do it today and avoid a shutdown, or he can do it in a few days or weeks and end a shutdown. It's up to him. 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/30/1242650/-John-Boehner-on-clean-funding-bill-That-s-not-going-to-happen
John Boehner on clean funding bill: 'That's not going to happen'

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/09/30/john-boehner-doesnt-have-to-let-the-tea-party-paralyze-whole-government/
How many House Republicans would privately be okay with John Boehner allowing a clean CR to get a vote, even if they didn’t have to vote Yes on it?

In an interview with me today, Rep. Dent says he estimates over half of House Republicans could privately live with such a vote, even if it means the clean CR would end up passing with a lot of Democrats. . . 

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/30/1242707/-Inside-the-GOP-civil-war-losing-control-to-their-idiots
Just look at what a member of the Republican majority told me after House Republicans had taken another step toward confrontation. "Analysts say the Congressional GOP doesn't understand strategy," the Republican said. "I'm like, 'Congressional GOP' my ass! It's 30 idiots who can't get us to 217." . . .

 http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/09/30/how_30_house_republicans_took_control_of_their_caucus.html
How 30 House Republicans Took Control of Their Caucus

 More: http://americablog.com/2013/09/budget-deal-shutdown-looming-gop-falling-apart-seams.html
"Lemmings with suicide vests"

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/put-on-your-happy-shutdown-face
Terse, acerbic John Boehner was just on display in a middle of the night press conference that didn't seem to serve any purpose for him or his party. . . . [read on]

 This is a Republican show, pure and simple

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/01/1242834/-Abbreviated-pundit-roundup-House-Republicans-shut-down-the-federal-government
There are good pundits and there are bad pundits. Bad pundits lead with with claims that "gridlock" in Washington caused the first federal government shutdown in 17 years. They claim that the shutdown is a "pox on both your houses" type of deal, and use phrases like the White House and Congress "trading blame" or "pointing fingers" for shutting down the government.   

Good pundits write about the fact that the shutdown is the result of House Republican behavior . . .

 http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/09/house-gops-legislative-strike.html
But the decision House Republicans made in January has set the party on the course it has followed since. If you want to grasp why Republicans are careening toward a potential federal government shutdown, and possibly toward provoking a sovereign debt crisis after that, you need to understand that this is the inevitable product of a conscious party strategy. Just as Republicans responded to their 2008 defeat by moving farther right, they responded to the 2012 defeat by moving right yet again. Since they had begun from a position of total opposition to the entire Obama agenda, the newer rightward lurch took the form of trying to wrest concessions from Obama by provoking a series of crises. . . .

 http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/the-beginning-of-the-end-for-washington-20131001
The Republican Party may be splitting apart. The divide is between conservatives who want to limit government and extremists who oppose governing. . .  [read on]

The Teabaggers like to say that the shutdown is the Democrats' fault, it's Obama's fault - don't blame them. But Rachel's got the goods. These people have been talking gleefully about shutting down the government since 2010. IT WAS THE PLAN ALL ALONG

 http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26315908/#53151808

 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/30/1242666/-Republicans-were-dead-enders-then-they-re-dead-enders-now

 http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/09/public-blames-republicans-government-shutdown
Here's Why the Public Blames Republicans for an Imminent Government Shutdown

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/01/numbers-that-speak-for-themselves.html
New Quinnipiac poll out this morning.. . . And these are devastating numbers for the GOP. If their private polling is close to this, we'll see a deal soon, probably. Except that...individual right-wing members polling their own right-wing districts will see that locally, their numbers are going up! And that is the problem in a nutshell right there. 

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/09/30/20763468-2010-redistricting-yields-new-breed-of-recalcitrant-republicans
2010 redistricting yields new breed of recalcitrant Republicans

The state of affairs, in one sentence

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/30/our-governing-crisis-in-one-sentence/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd
The GOP has become an insurgent outlier in American politics — it is ideologically extreme; scornful of compromise; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition. . .  [read on]

Is fighting over government funding now better than fighting over the debt ceiling later?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/09/republicans_government_shutdown_and_debt_limit_which_fight_does_the_gop.html

 http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/09/government_shutdown_versus_the_debt_ceiling_why_hitting_the_debt_limit_is.html

 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2013/09/30/government-shutdown-might-be-the-least-bad-outcome/

 No both sides don't do it: http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/09/30/no_democrats_never_really_held_the_debt_limit_hostage.html 

Stifling a recovering economy: not an unfortunate side-effect, but part of the plan

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/30/remember-when-republicans-were-worried-about-economic-uncertainty/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein&clsrd 
Remember when Republicans were worried about ‘economic uncertainty’?

Which is it?

http://prospect.org/article/why-tea-partiers-think-theyll-win
Why the Tea Partiers Think They'll Win

 http://politicalwire.com/archives/2013/09/30/why_a_shutdown_will_be_worse_for_republicans_this_time.html
Why a Shutdown Will Be Worse for Republicans This Time

 Study after study shows that even after all this, most people don't even know what Obamacare is. This is an indictment of people's indifference and ignorance, but even more so an indictment of a news media that doesn't think it's sexy enough to spend time explaining to people. It's not that hard to do

 http://www.samefacts.com/2013/09/uncategorized/aaron-carroll-the-new-secretary-of-splainin-stuff/

 http://americablog.com/2013/09/obamacare-video-explains-awfully-well.html

 http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/chris-hayes-explains-obamacare-for-fox.html

 Some good news

 http://www.samefacts.com/2013/09/vote-casting-and-counting/holder-defends-voting-rights/
The Justice Department, stripped by the Supreme Court’s Republican caucus of its legislated power to pre-clear voting changes in states with histories of racial discrimination, still has the power to challenge discriminatory laws in court. Yesterday, Eric Holder announced that DoJ is going after North Carolina’s law – transparently designed to make voting harder . . . [read on]

 More: http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/09/30/20759056-justice-department-targets-ncs-voter-suppression-law

 Rick Perry's wife!

 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/texas-first-lady-says-abortion-could-be-a-woman-s-right-video
[Texas Gov. Rick Perry's (R) wife Anita] The Texas Tribune's Evan Smith asked Perry to expand on women's rights during their conversation at the 2013 Texas Tribune Fest . . . "That's really difficult for me, Evan, because I see it as a women's right," Perry said. "If they want to do that, that is their decision, they have to live with that decision." . . .

 No Hillary documentary from CNN

 http://lafiga.firedoglake.com/2013/09/30/cnn-cancels-hillary-clinton-doc/
"Neither political party wanted the film made….[W]hen I approached people for interviews, I discovered that nobody, and I mean nobody, was interested in helping me make this film. Not Democrats, not Republicans — and certainly nobody who works with the Clintons, wants access to the Clintons, or dreams of a position in a Hillary Clinton administration. Not even journalists who want access, which can easily be taken away. . . ."

 Not NBC either: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/09/cnn-hillary-clinton-documentary-charles-ferguson.html
Bonus item: Perfect!

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/they-did-it-for-them-they-liked-it-it.html
They did it for them. They liked it. It made them feel alive.

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL: http://pbd.blogspot.com

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc.). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
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