The Guardian: Government shutdown: two theories for Republican behaviour

[dennis4868]

With Barack Obama and John Boehner in budget deadlock, shutdown looms. Here's why the GOP is pushing so hard

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The GOP knows that if the economy keeps improving and unemployment is down to 8% by election time, their chances in 2012 are fairly slim. Now, I hasten to note that that is a big if, so who knows? But everyone understands this.

A shutdown affects the economy immediately and directly. Hundreds of thousands of people in the public sector aren't working and therefore aren't spending. Hundreds of thousands more in the private sector who depend almost entirely, or at least largely, on government contracts for their livelihoods are out of luck. This is everyone from GM to pencil manufacturers. A huge swath of the economy just closes. If the shutdown lasts long enough, layoffs come along. Two bad months slow the tender momentum that now exists.

The entire editorial is here....http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2011/apr/06/government-shutdown-federal-budget

[Nancy Waterman]

1. This should be a Democratic talking point!

Put the damn GOP on the defensive. Their policies directly hurt the country!! And it sure seems like it is on purpose since it is hard to believe anyone can be that stupid. As always, I wonder if they are that stupid or as malevolent and conniving as they seem.

Talking point: The GOP is trying to weaken the economy so they can win the 2012 election.

[dennis4868]

2. "hard to believe anyone can be that stupid"

Most voters are stupid or uninformed (thank you FOX News and the rest of the media and some blogs out there).....