Question: Who won from shutting the government down last October?

[berni_mccoy]

Obama? Democrats? Republicans? The American People? No one?

Or, as an alternative question, who was punished for the government shutdown?

Now that you have answered that, ask yourself this question:

Who will gain or be punished from another shut down?

[Vincardog]

1. Who gains by guaranteeing Citi's derivatives bets? The American People? No

[AndyTiedye]

2. Government Shutdowns Help the Republicans, Always

The Republicans caused it, but the Democrats got the blame at the polls.

A lot of people believe whatever the Tee Vee tells them.

[unblock]

3. it really depends on whose fault it is and why

last time, republicans came out eager and spoiling for a shutdown, seemingly just to vent some anger.

they paid the price, politically.


this time, republicans have been much quieter and have made noises about trying to avoid a shutdown. obama could take advantage of this by getting a better deal, but only to a point. if the media were to start portraying it as a shutdown happening because obama is asking for too much, then democrats would lose politically.

[berni_mccoy]

4. The Republicans "they paid the price, politically."? Really? How exactly?

The way I see it, they did quite well in the election post-shutdown.

[unblock]

5. i'd say they won the senate in spite of, rather than because of, their shutdown behavior

media coverage and polling at the time indicated that obama won and the republicans lost.

[kelly1mm]

6. As I believe American's political memory is very short, I do not think the shutdown was a major

factor in the R's November victory. That being said, the R's played their hand well and were able to turn public perception away from them, and towards the heavy handed way the administration handled the situation - especially the very public and designed to annoy closures of roadside attractions and open air monuments.

While certainly a sideshow, one has to admit that the R's leading the WWII vets into the WWII memorial was AWESOME POLITICAL OPTICS.

[SamKnause]

7. SHUT IT DOWN !!!!!!!!!!!!

Call your Senators.

I did.