There are 200 Democrats in the House of Representatives, and it is clear that more than 18 Republican moderate conservatives in the House are ready to end the government shutdown, nearing the end of its first week, undermining economic recovery and putting the security of the US itself in danger.
All that has to be done is for a discharge petition on opening up the government to be introduced and gain 218 votes, and the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, MUST call for a vote, and the stalemate would end.
And the same applies for the need to raise the debt limit, that a small number of responsible Republicans, willing to do the right thing, but endangering their seats, join with Democrats to force a vote to overcome the reckless, anarchistic Tea Party radicals, who have no concern over anything, but undermining government, which they hate with a passion.
It is time for these responsible Republicans, who are disgusted with what their party has become, and knowing its future as a serious opposition is in danger, to work with Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats to resolve this crisis, and repudiate the irresponsible stand of Speaker Boehner.
And by so doing, Boehner avoids blame from the far right, and would be likely to keep his Speakership, for all that it is worth, which is not much at all, with his loss of stature and prestige as a serious leader of Congress!
The aim must be to insure his defeat for his House seat in 2014, just as Democratic Speaker Tom Foley lost his seat in Washington State in 1994!
Mike Papantonio substituted for Ed Schultz on the latter’s talk-radio program last Friday [Oct. 4, 2013]. Papantonio did a good job of recognizing the reason for the shutdown:
“controlled anarchy.”
It has nothing to do with anything Congress is doing. The House. The budget. “ObamaCare.”
I think too many either kid themselves or are truly naïve. The two major parties get major donations to fund their election campaigns. The Koch brothers, and their allies, are behind the Republican Party (which along with the “Tea Party” are one in the same) to further enrich themselves (“the haves”) and further decimate others (“the have-nots”).
If major corporations, Wall Street, and some of the Koch allies (but without Charles and David) were to either switch from the Republican to the Democratic party, or instruct their owned politicians specifically from the Republican party, to end this shutdown … the shutdown will come to an end.
Professor,
Perhaps the GOP can restore funding so that Faux News can get aid to hire a reporter who doesn’t use parody sites to report the “news”. A whole new interpretation of “We report, you decide”. ; )
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/06/fox-news-anna-kooiman-obama-parody_n_4053994.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
It is amazing how many morons there are at Fox News Channel, who make fools of themselves regularly!
Professor,
I have to share this column if not just for the photos:
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/lupica-washington-pols-wwe-wrestlers-article-1.1478102
Lupica is a long time sports columnist for the paper who has been given one day a week as an ad hoc general columnist with a focus on political issues.
Thanks, Paul!