Government shutdown: Why many Republicans have no reason to deal

[xchrom]

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/government-shutdown-republicans-deal-97768.html?hp=t1_3



The prevailing wisdom ahead of the government shutdown was that tea party lawmakers who agitated for it would fold within a few days, once they got an earful from angry constituents and felt the sting of bad headlines. House GOP leaders called it a “touch the stove” moment for the band of Republican rebels, when ideology would finally meet reality.

But there’s another reality that explains why that thinking may well be wrong, and the country could be in for a protracted standoff: Most of the Republicans digging in have no reason to fear voters will ever punish them for it.

The vast majority of GOP lawmakers are safely ensconced in districts that, based on the voter rolls, would never think of electing a Democrat. Their bigger worry is that someone even more conservative than they are — bankrolled by a cadre of uncompromising conservative groups — might challenge them in a primary.

So from the standpoint of pure political survival, there’s every incentive to keep the government closed in what looks like a futile protest over Obamacare. The latest theory gaining currency in Congress is that it will take a potential default on the nation’s debt in a few weeks to bring the crisis to a head.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/government-shutdown-republicans-deal-97768.html#ixzz2geKU9Efm

[djean111]

1. I don't think it is just a protest over the ACA.

I think it is a test of what they can actually get away with.
Not accidental that so few can just grind the government to a halt.
Remember the original list of demands? Ryan's budget, etc.? They are after a complete takeover, not one program.

[HereSince1628]

7. I agree, a dysfunctional central government serves the interest of the masters.

Ridding the nation of pesky laws and regulations that inhibit free-rein capitalism, or the enforcement of those laws and regulations, is the goal of the activist billionaires and the bankster boyars.

That Randtopian world can't be achieved if there is a functional central government. The existing constitution with its confounded interstate commerce clause enables government meddling via enforcement of environmental, labor, financial regulation, etc. and interferes with their dream of pursuing happiness unburdened by social responsibilities.

The folks like the Kochs are not nazi's looking for an enabling law to take control. They are billionaire anarchists who want the federal government -disabled-. The view of Federalism they advocate via things like ALEC is a coalition of client states with puppet legislatures and very little central government. A central government that uses its tax laws and spending to facilitate upward distribution and concentration of wealth is sufficient.

They expect behavior that cripples the federal government from the kulaks they've financed into 40% of legislative positions in the country (by 2012 estimates).

That's pretty close to what they are getting.

[KansDem]

2. If ever a face belonged on a milk carton...

It's those four!

[pinboy3niner]

3. Not a milk carton--a Wanted poster. nt

[FSogol]

6. How about a "Not Wanted" poster instead?

[rurallib]

4. Plus thanks to Citizen's United the money will roll in

even if it is only a few people contributing to some BS PAC.
And while we are at it, let's disenfranchise the other party's voters and fix the voting machines.

Yep system rigged and ready to go.

[Volaris]

5. many yes, but not MOST.

If Boehner let's these assholes force a Constitutional Crisis down the heads of regular Americans, regular Americans will figure out REAL QUICK how the governmental debt game is played (just like nearly everyone in the country with more than two neurons wired together knows now what the reasons were for the 2008 economic collapse, and understands more about collateralized debt obligations and CD Swaps than Wall Street EVER wanted then to), and when THAT happens, the game is up; the "regular Americans" will remember that Yes Virginia, we DO IN FACT have a Right to go out in the street and disrupt traffic, and be a pain in the ass, and they can't and WON'T stop us. Chris Hedges is correct, the tinder is there, and forcing a Constitutional Crisis that has real, IMMEDIATE economic impact, and then (likely) trying to impeach a mostly popular and likable President because he tried to stop it from happening, will sure as hell count as a Lit Match.

And local cops in Riot Gear will = GASOLINE.