Boehner Raises the Stakes on a Government Shutdown

Good for him; I cheer him on.
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Where are the jobs anyway?

Will Obama and the Dems blink?
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I hope not…

How many people are aware of the fact that the House spends 3 weeks in session and one week at home in their district. They have a major issue to deal with…funding the government, and they’re going to take their vacation anyway. This has been nothing but a circus.

This will directly affect where I work. All but essential personnel will stay home. I’m considered essential so I’ll have to show up. What happened the last time? Me and the other shift workers showed up, the rest of the crew stayed home and when they came to an agreement all it meant was that they got paid for staying home (withour using any annual or sick leave) and we carried the load at regular pay. This kind of useless political theatrics is nothing but show. Kabuki at it’s finest.

more like Boehner lays down his busted flush. My guess is he lets the shutdown happen, in the hopes of regaining control of the caucus.
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idiots.

I feel for you, Sacred.
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I’ve noted that there have been a lot more moderates logging on for the first time to lend support to the idea that maybe the GOP isn’t doing what it was expected to do.
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Am I imagining?

Things are going to get worse before they get better:
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A black eye for the ‘pubs…

Thanks, Jay. Have you interviewed Boehner directly yet? I wonder if Boehner really wants a shutdown …as many TP’s do to get their way on cuts, no doubt?… or is just playing chicken / calling bluffs. So who is Mr. Spare Jet Engine really facing down: Obama, Senate D’s, or his own TP’s? I think he’s really fighting his own more than he’s admitting. So much for R party unity if true (heh, heh). More thoughts / tea leaves on this, Jay? Thanks.

Boehner didn’t strike me as a particularly strong leader. More of an opportunist. Which is ironic, given what is going on now; it might be that he’s fighting his own party as indicated.

Question is – can anyone actually capitalize on it for the good of the country?

Harry sounds nervous.
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The government should shut down. Shut the doors for a month, that should put how many billions back into the treasury?
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Keep paying the interest on the debt, other expenses, shut it down

Having people in office who actually believe the Big Lie is a huge problem.

As sacredh points out, a government shutdown costs money, doesn’t save money. You lose the national park entrance fees, but you still pay the rangers, eventually.

But what about the effect on business of all of the UNCERTAINTY!!!???
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They’re nothing but lying hypocrites. All of them.

newfreedom, it doesn’t work that way. Construction projects will stop but they’ll still get paid. It will take longer to finish the projects because the government oversight inspectors won’t be there. The time delays will add to the deficit as cost over-runs. No federal employees are going to lose a dime in the long run. It’s just free paid vacations for government employees. If anything, when they go back to work there will be a back-log and then we’re looking at overtime pay to catch up.

The difference between keeping a minority caucus speaking in one voice (NO!) and a majority caucus together is stark.
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Boehner will do what the TPers tell him to do.
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He’s the Speaker not the leader.

but Boehner’s refusal today to give the process any more time forces Dems, and some Senate Republicans, to either accept deeper cuts than they’d like or face a government shutdown.

So I take it this means that if a shutdown happens it will be the Democrats fault?

And not that anybody cares but the doings continue is Wi.
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“A Wisconsin state senator says the 14 Democratic lawmakers who are boycotting a vote on a controversial anti-union bill have left the state.
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Sen. Jon Erpenbach says the group wants to force negotiations over the Republican-backed bill, which would strip most public employees of their collective-bargaining rights.
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Erpenbach told The Associated Press that he and his colleagues had left Wisconsin, but he would not say where.”
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They aren’t with me. Really.
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http://www.startribune.com/local/116399599.html

While in other news. Depressing unemployment figures.
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http://www.gallup.com/poll/146147/Gallup-Finds-Unemployment-Mid-February.aspx
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When does all this stimulus spending kick in? Has it been two + years yet?

Oops I spoke too soon. Carney just came out and said gleefully…..The Stimulus has been a success!!!
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Ahhhh…..sorry, not really.

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http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/02/17/whs_jay_carney_stimulus_goals_have_been_met.html
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When questioned that the unemployment rate really hasn’t moved much (before the gallup report), Carney’s reply…
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“A reporter asked Carney why unemployment is at 9% and not 7%, the percentage projected if the stimulus worked. Carney dismissed the question. “We’ve said repeatedly that we don’t want to relitigate the battles of the past,” Carney told the reporter.

Pass a damn resolution or something that truly does shut it all down, including bureaucrat wages and such. That will get someone’s attention real quick.

The main thing a shutdown will accomplish is to show that the Tea Baggers don’t have a f**king clue as to how things actually work. All of their rhetoric plays out fine for getting elected but after you’re elected you actually have to make things work. Need some govenment permits? Sorry, nobody in the offices to process them. Need to file for Social Security? Sorry, nobody there to process the forms.
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The last time the republicans shut down the government they paid for it in the next election. Thanks idiots for never learning your lessons.

Anyone remember Locutus of Borg?

Not here either… and I could use the company.

Inside the Village everything is the Democrats’ fault. At least, nothing is the fault of lying, traitorous Republicans, even their own lying and betrayal of the country’s interests.

And it seems the shortfall was a scheme to get to the worker rights fight. What a guy.
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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/wisconsin-gov-walker-ginned-up-budget-shortfall-to-undercut-worker-rights.php

“Pass a damn resolution or something that truly does shut it all down, including bureaucrat wages and such. That will get someone’s attention real quick.”
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Excuse me. You want us to pass a resolution that helps the other party do something we want to avoid in the first place? Do you expect Obama not to use his veto for something that neither he nor the other democrats want? Sorry, but you folks are on your own and helping you burn us isn’t all that appealing. You folks want to shut the government down, then by all means shut it down. Just don’t expect us to go along with you or try to lessen the political fallout that’s sure to follow. Shut it down and see how well it goes over with the moderates and independents.

“When does all this stimulus spending kick in? Has it been two + years yet?”
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Yup. Two years of traitorous Republicans obstructing the government and dragging down the economy to advance their own political power. You must be so proud.

That perpetual silence when asked “how will you enact your proposals after elected without causing severe damage to the country, your state or your constituents” should have been a dead give-away.

All I can remember was “ooooohhh, you liberals are gonna be sorry when we win”.
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Turns out, they were “spot on” about that. They just forgot to include the rest of the electorate in that claim.

So when will the great Obama ‘bipartisan’ fold happen? Big speech, will it be a reach around or are we just meant to be left feeling violated and taking it for the good of America. I know, it’s cynical, but Obama and the democrats didn’t accomplish anything until they first bent over pointing at the tramp stamp for directions.

afguy, we’re pretty much split down the middle at work between democrats and republicans, but when a couple of the conservative guys at work read Boehner’s little quip about federal employees losing their jobs and him saying “So be it”, it went over like a lead balloon with them. I’ve got so much seniority that I’m safe no matter what. One of the other guys said that if some of the guys that can retire should just go so that they’d be safe, I told them to go f**k themselves. They voted for people that want to cut their jobs and then expect us to retire before we want to? They can kiss my ass.

Which part of “BROKE” do the libs and the Dems not understand? Although it’s clear from this forum that many of them don’t really understand much. They just keep chanting their mantras and hoping that reality goes away..

Unerstand, sacred. The politics of “personal greed” has never been a uniting force. Reagan’s 2nd term campaign motto never did set well with me.
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Those that you mentioned will turn on each other as soon as the situation gets a little more “personal”.

Here’s hoping they do force a shutdown, and it gets blamed on the Tea Partiers.
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That way we can get rid of all of them come 2012. Would be a nice boost to Obama if folks vote en-mass to get rid of the TPs who shut down the government.
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At the same time, gotta doubt this is what Boehner wants. What’s the end-game here? Is he really that weak that he needs to go to the ultimate extreme to get his caucus to listen to him?

Boner’s not in real control of any of this… he’s just hoping for a lull where he can get an opportunity to “spin” events to make it look like he IS “managing” events, and not just holding on for dear life…

I could have retired last June when I hit 55 but I think that’s just too early to retire. If my health holds out I want to work until I’m 60 but if I still feel that I can carry my weight then, I’ll continue even though I’ll be maxed out on retirement. This is the only job I’ve ever had and I like it. Sometimes working outside in really bad weather is a b!tch but it beats being stuck behind a desk. I think the chances are pretty good that two of our reliable republican voters at work are having serious doubts about who is putting the butter on their bread.

I think the chances are pretty good that two of our reliable republican voters at work are having serious doubts about who is putting the butter on their bread.
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Hope springs eternal, then. THAT’s when they’ll change, NOT because of discussion or logic, but because reality hit THEM in their wallets.
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As long as it’s YOUR wallet, meh…

His ability to exude fake tears on command ought to clue you in that the guy is an opportunist. He gambled by taking the seat and because taking it was such a risk. He thinks he’s positioning himself for something better.
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The obvious problem with this plan is that once an opportunist is in charge he doesn’t do much guiding. He’ll pretend he’s in the middle and then jump whichever way makes him look best. Which I guess is politics in general, but in this case take it a bit further than you normally would.

At some point, I do think the “Original Constructionists” among us, those who believe in every man for himself, will suddenly “remember” why it was the Founders included that bit about the “general welfare”.
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Just hope the roads and highways don’t have to begin to revert to undrivable forests or fields of weeds before they do…

THIS part of broke:
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Raise taxes. Period. I’ll be willing to pay $5000 instead of my usual $2000 (maybe more, if it requires it) if those greedmongers (some high income taxpayers) agree to kick in to get rid of the problem

Exactly

When they gave him the droopy eyed look and he did the whole carve all physical appearances of human emotions out of his face they installed cry-o-matic 2000. It seems to be a defective unit because he do blubber up about almost anything. Like last time he ran out of toiletpaper. It was a mess said one of his 50 aids. One roll was too hard (belonged to Barnie Franks) and the other too soft (Obama). One made him cry because of the pain and the other one made him cry because it was so gentle.

If I recall correctly, the last time that the Republicans forced a shut down it ended up going badly for them. In what way is the situation different this time such that they would want to force one again?

I am not asking to be snarky, I just don’t see the difference? Is there any light you can shed on this, JNS?

You’re referring of course to the 2% of the richest Americans that are paying 50% of the taxes. Yeah, they’re getting off too easy!

When are you going to understand

1) “BROKE”

and

2) “YOUR CLASS WARFARE ARGUEMENTS ARE JUST LIBERAL MANTRA”???

See? Liberals really don’t understand much.

They are probably hoping Fox News backs them up and that the Tea Party will help them swing it as a positive…
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I mean lets be honest here. This isn’t the same field it was. Liberals are next to gone. Who is left defend the middle class?

As far as Boehner goes–
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insert Einstein’s attributed definition of ‘insanity’ here______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nice foot-stamping, awab, but do you feel any sympathy from me?
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No?
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Good. Your instincts are correct: There is absolutely none!
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I can’t really afford that much in taxes, but I’ll gladly pay it.
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As for the “hardship” suffered by the highest incomes, don’t make me laugh…

Which part of “BROKE” do the libs and the Dems not understand?

The same part bond traders understand, while they price American debt at negative real rates of interest.
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The market says the US is not in the least bit broke.
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You do believe in the market, don’t you?

My wife the Trekker would….

The republicans are setting themselves up for a fall.
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The “cut $100 billion” pledge is all well and good until people realize that it won’t happen via party-approved cuts– the people want and often need the services on the chopping block and it will cost jobs, therefore, it is impractical for their reps to make the cuts. Meanwhile, better ways to significantly cut spending –stop building multi-billion dollar infrastructure in Afghanistan; no billion-dollar-jets, no cold-war-relic weapons, no nuclear triad– are unacceptable to the party’s hierarchy.
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If they haven’t realized already, the last election showed that voters won’t stand for symbolic votes, back-tracking, blaming the other guys, planned concessions, business as usual. Obama and the Dems won ’08 via an energized liberal vote and a tarnished opposition– and subsequently lost all momentum when those supporters felt abandoned and stayed home.
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Similarly, the Rs are buoyed now by an energized conservative movement and tarnished opposition. Recent events, however, indicate that the republicans are ready to repeat the dems’ mistakes.

“Tea Baggers?” Oh that is so dang funny. Did you think of that yourself? You must be so proud of how it helps fuel intelligent discussions. Grow up.

rocco, the first time that I ever heard the term Tea Bagger was from a member of the Tea Party being interviewed on tv. That is how he described himself and other members of the movement. There were several other protesters there dressed like the Founding Fathers and one was carrying a sign with a picture of Obama on it that had a Hitler mustache. My reaction was very similar to yours. They should stop with the silly theatrics and grow up.
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In case you’re wondering, I do think of them as half-witted clowns that don’t have a clue.

So let me see if I understand this, you’d prefer to have the economy further disintegrate, just so voters will eject Tea Partiers and Republicans in 2012? Cause that’s what you just said. Your inference is that political points are more important to you, (and so many other commenters here,) than 9% of Americans not having a job.

Is it possible that you and your ilk have lost some perspective on what really matters? Maybe it’s just me, but a little less cynicism and a little more intelligence seems to be in order.

Sacred, I just think the whole political climate has gotten out of hand, and these comment sections are a reflection of it. Too many people have become extremist ideologues and in my opinion lost sight of what is truly important. Epithets and ad hominems seem to be more important than compromise and building consensus.

If I lived on high ground, but my neighbor, having chosen to build his in the flood plain despite my warnings, now found himself under three feet of water, this would not be the best time to lecture and make fun of him for not thinking like I do. This would be a good time for me to come alongside him, and help get his family to safety, and then help muck out the mud and water once the flooding recedes. Is it not the same for the state of our country today?

Somewhere in our political dialogue we’ve lost sight of what the goal should be, and our country is suffering mightily because of it. As citizens, we need to encourage our politicians to seek consensus, even when it means compromising a little. It’s to the country’s loss that self-interest rules the day.

‘So let me see if I understand this, you’d prefer to have the economy further disintegrate, just so voters will eject Tea Partiers and Republicans in 2012?’
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You appear to have forgotten why this is coming about. It is a manufactured crisis concocted by the republicans. Democrats want to keep the government running while a deal is worked out. The gopers are taking the entire country hostage and threatening to do damage to it if they don’t get their way.From JNS’s post above:

Democrats had been counting on a temporary extension of current funding while a deal is negotiated for the rest of the year, but Boehner’s refusal today to give the process any more time forces Dems, and some Senate Republicans, to either accept deeper cuts than they’d like or face a government shutdown.

“If I lived on high ground, but my neighbor, having chosen to build his in the flood plain despite my warnings, now found himself under three feet of water, this would not be the best time to lecture and make fun of him for not thinking like I do. This would be a good time for me to come alongside him, and help get his family to safety, and then help muck out the mud and water once the flooding recedes. Is it not the same for the state of our country today?”
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rocco, it’s strangely appropriate that you would use this as an example. I’ve worked on several dams for over 35 years and lived in the flood plain myself for almost 20 years. I’ve either lived through or worked through more floods than I care to remember. I’ve cleaned up more mud and debris than you can imagine and worked around the clock several times. I’ve also had to work triple shifts while my own home was being flooded (rented thank God). I completely agree that political discourse has gotten completely out of control.
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Reaching out a helping hand only works if both sides wish for things to work out and are willing to work together. The Tea Party seems to take great pride in claiming that they will refuse to compromise. I don’t respect that at all. They don’t want co-operation, they want capitulation by the other side. They treat members of their own party (republican, not Tea Party) as adversaries if they don’t go along with them. If they aren’t willing to meet members of their own party as equals and compromise with them, what chance is there for them to work alongside democrats with vastly different ideas of what is best for the country?
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I don’t see a government shut down as anything other than disasterous. It’s going to wind up costing the taxpayers a ton. Government employees are still going to get full pay regardless of whether they go to work or not. There is going to be delays in all federal programs and private contractors working on government contracts, cost over-runs, lost productivity, lost services and the feds will still give all the lost wages right back to federal employees, contractors and anyone else with a government contract. It’s theatrics. Pure and simple. I’m not going to lose a dime. The people I work with that would have to stay home aren’t going to lose a dime. They’re going to get their money.
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Who is going to lose out? The taxpayers and the public. Why do the Tea Party representatives have to do this? It’s just to prove a political point and fulfill a campaign pledge. They could pass a continuing resolution for funding but that would be compromising and working with the other party.

As an aside, since only essential personnel are going to be going into work (me for instance) and there isn’t going to be a daylight crew to fill in if one of us shift workers gets sick because they won’t have been designated as essential personnel, I’ll get OT pay when we finally do get paid. There won’t be anyone in the offices to do the paperwork to get non-essential personnel designated as essential. Instead of me making my regular $30/hr I’ll be getting $45/hr for OT.
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I want to do my job. I only want to get paid what I’m supposed to get paid. I don’t want a free paid vacation and I don’t want river commerce to be slowed down. This entire area depends a great deal on fuel, raw materials and other commodities shipped by barge. It’s going to have a negative economic impact. People are going to be p!ssed off. The last time the republicans shut down the government it backfired on them. I expect the same thing to happen again if they do it.

Senators are pushing a bill to not pay Congress and the President if the government shuts down. They have always been paid whether anyone else was or not. I also hope that the shutdown includes their cafeterias and gym and starts with Treasury’s computers that run their paychecks as wekll as Social Security and Medicare checks followed by FAA, TSA, and Amtrak. Let’s see how the House members who are living in their offices like it with no pay, no food in close, no gym to clean up and no way to get home. Join the real world!

Boehrner was elected by a small percentage of the people of the US and bu none of us to be the leader but if he can’t lead, then get the hell out of the way. Obviously he is running to get in front of their parade because “he is da leader”.

“So let me see if I understand this, you’d prefer to have the economy further disintegrate, just so voters will eject Tea Partiers and Republicans in 2012? Cause that’s what you just said. Your inference is that political points are more important to you, (and so many other commenters here,) than 9% of Americans not having a job.

Is it possible that you and your ilk have lost some perspective on what really matters? Maybe it’s just me, but a little less cynicism and a little more intelligence seems to be in order.”
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We’re not the ones wanting to shut everything down. Who wants to damage the economy? Maybe you need to examine the very words cynicism and more intelligence.
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Obama’s the one who bent over to add to the deficit via continued tax cuts – while the GOP threatened to halt any agenda until that was done, including unemployment benefits. In other words; we want our money, but screw fixing the mess.
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So how many measures have GOP laid out to increase economic growth? None. They were against every single bill to increase job growth as a minority and they’re doing the ‘flag burning’ routine where they pick a item and make some theatre around it.
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And we’re the ones that is somehow holding back progress?
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That’s why rigthwingers comes across as such unreal. They don’t analyse the data, they simply repeat what someone else tells them, usually someone from hate radio or TV.
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I rather be that cynical and do the right thing, than pretend that GOP have any answer other than what’s good for their tribe.