Let’s not equivocate. The blame for the government shutdown in a few days, and the even more dire economic shutdown by the middle of October – like global in scope – is on the shoulders of the Republicans in general and the Tea Party Republicans specifically.
The mainstream media will tell you that both parties are to blame. That is perhaps 15% true. The 15% relates to Obama’s poor bargaining skills and Democrats in general being unwilling to go all out fighting the demagoguery of the GOP. A full 85% — if not much more – goes to the Republicans for their self-interest over national interest, their supporting role of bastardization of democracy.
Boehner is not a Tea Party Republican but he is a moderate without balls. He will not risk his weak Speakership against some 70-80 Tea Partiers and the Tea Party movement which has carried out the threat of a primary challenge to incumbents not radical enough – for the House that’s every two years. Incidentally, his Speaker position is weak because he is an indecisive and ineffective Republican leader – leader in name only.
Most media and most reasonable partisans know that the crazies must have their way and know that Boehner lacks the gumption to lead, for example, allow a vote in the House on the Senate budget, not having a Republican majority but having a full House majority for it. He could most likely avoid a government shutdown.
Many will say they hope the shutdown occurs (with no hope to avoid it) so that the resulting voter venom will deter the Tea Party Republicans – and Boehner following their lead – from later defaulting on our loans. The latter economic apocalypse would be anathema for the global economy. No one – no party — has been ignorant enough or vengeful enough to actually force a loan default, so the guess is that it would be worse than the 2008 Wall-Street-induced economic collapse, which voters deterred with a bank bailout.
After all, the full faith and credit of the United States would collapse, bringing down other economies that are tied to us.
Just remember that some 85% of the blame lies with the extortionist, obstructionist Republicans.
