Go ahead, shut it down!

[Jackpine Radical]

Would a Government Shutdown Really Be All That Bad for Republicans? Yes
Conservatives now argue that the political consequences of stopping funding have been overstated. Survivors of the last major closure beg to differ.
Molly Ball Sep 18 2013, 12:55 PM E

Go ahead, shut it down! That's the new cheer from the conservatives pushing to defund Obamacare. To their lily-livered compatriots who worry that the Senate will reject the defunding gambit, resulting in a shutdown when the federal government runs out of money at the end of this month, they claim that wouldn't actually be so bad: Americans, they say, would cheer the Republicans for sticking to their principles and opposing the unpopular health-care legislation.

It's a case increasingly being made by activists on the right, who cite polling data and a revisionist view of the 1995 government shutdown. But under close scrutiny, the claims don't hold up.

The contention that Americans would cheer a shutdown rests on a new Rasmussen Reports poll that supposedly shows a majority of Americans favor shutting down the government to defund Obamacare. It was emailed to me by a conservative activist, Scott Hogenson, who wrote, "RE: Obamacare and the prospect of a government shutdown. Seems a majority of Americans would be okay with that."

Rasmussen isn’t a very reliable pollster -- in last year’s presidential election, the company’s polls consistently overestimated Mitt Romney’s chances. But leaving that aside, the poll doesn’t quite show that the public wants defund or nothing. The pollster asked, “Would you rather have Congress avoid a government shutdown by authorizing spending for the health care law at existing levels or would you rather have a partial government shutdown until Democrats and Republicans agree on what spending for that law to cut?,” and 51 percent picked the second option, which suggests a partial trimming of health-care spending. Another recent poll by a respected Republican pollster found that a large majority of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, oppose “shutting down the government as a way to defund the president’s health care law.”

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/09/would-a-government-shutdown-really-be-all-that-bad-for-republicans-yes/279790/

[The Magistrate]

1. indeed, Sir: I Like Seeing An Opponent Lunge Himself Into A Tumble

[Jackpine Radical]

2. But of course one must regret the pain that this will cause many of our fellow-citizens.

If any foreign power came up with a way to do this much damage to the nation, it would be regarded as an act of terror.

[The Magistrate]

5. Calculation And Gallows Humor, Sir, Do Run Away With Me At Times

There would be real suffering inflicted on many. If it comes, we must hope those it comes to will rally to act against the traitors who hurt them, and see to it no Republican holds any office of trust in these United States.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Without Galgenhumor, none of us would make it through these times.

Without calculation, we have no defenses.

I was in no way impugning your comment, merely reflecting on the realities.

[The Magistrate]

8. Understood, My Friend

The only relief is the possibility some good might come of the evil done.

[sendero]

19. How else are people..

... going to learn to stop voting for fucktards?

I hope they do shut it down, this country apparently still needs a wake-up call, a 5 year depression just hasn't done it.

[backscatter712]

13. Eggs and omelets.

The Republicans are determined to take this one to the mat, and if we don't, 30 million people will continue to suffer from lack of health care that could have been helped by the ACA.

So yeah. I'm for taking it to the mat, damn the consequences. The Republicans WILL lose this one if we stand our ground.

[11 Bravo]

4. I would like to see some of them tumble off a fucking cliff, Sir.

But you are more polite than am I.

[lastlib]

3. Please proceed, Speaker!

Find out how much the American people like it.

[furious]

7. Anybody remember the last time the repubs shutdownt he govt.?

They got their behinds handed to them, so I say, please proceed repubs.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Indeed they did.

That was when Newt the Grinch won his name.

[furious]

10. Unintendended consequences.

He sure didn't see that one coming, he really thought the people would back him up.
Wrong assumption.

[Jackpine Radical]

11. "High on believing."

Just like today's dingbat teabaggers.

[furious]

14. Or just "high".

Yeah, I think I'll go with that. LOL.

[Jackpine Radical]

15. Nah. I been high

and I never got this crazy.

[furious]

16. True dat.

I've been so blasted and never been that nutty.
So I'll revise my comment and say that he was and still is, just an a**hole.

[backscatter712]

12. I'm game. Let's see which party gets lynched first when the shutdown really takes hold.

Hint: It won't be the Democrats...

[nolabear]

17. No! I gotta catch a plane on Oct. 2nd!

If they shut it down they don't get to go home first, right?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

18. "Rasmussen isn’t a very reliable pollster"

Polls are bullshit.

[wandy]

20. What hostage will the republicans take next.............

Let's face this. If the threat of shutdown can end ACA what will be next.
Medicare?
Social Security?
Will they threaten to 'shut down the gubberment' unless laws are passed that allow only property owners to vote?

It may be painful. The republican bluff must be called now!
If we back down it won't be the last of their demands, but it may prove to be the least.

[1000words]

21. Shutting down the government means American citizens will suffer (more)

All in the name of scoring political points? I expect it from Republicans ...

[Jackpine Radical]

22. See posts 1-8 above.