Image Source: Democraticunderground.com
American Government Hostage Crisis officially begins as Republicans shut down the U.S. government as promised.
By Andy Cohen
Congratulations America! Judging by the results of the 2010 and 2012 Congressional elections that put Republicans in charge of the House of Representatives, you got just exactly what you wanted……and what you deserve.
There really isn’t any other logical conclusion. The government shutdown of 2013, commenced at 9 pm Pacific time last night, was inevitable. It was no secret that a government shutdown was the goal all along since the day John Boehner took the gavel as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. It’s not like we weren’t warned……repeatedly.
Congressional Republicans are celebrating today, for they’ve achieved at least half of what they’ve set out to do, and they are a mere two-and-a-half weeks away from achieving their ultimate goal: Completely sabotaging the American economy in its entirety by defaulting on the country’s debt. You see, America must fail for Republicans to succeed.
This is the mission of the “American Taliban:” To destroy our system of governance and institute a system whereby the ultimate power resides in private hands. ENRON FOR PRESIDENT!!!
Republicans in general—and the Tea Party in particular—so abhor the very idea of government that in their minds the only good government is no government. They “love” the Founders, and they “love” the Constitution, but they hate the government that the Constitution and the Founders established.
Over the past few weeks leading up to today we’ve heard from Republicans how it’s Democrats and President Obama that wanted to shut down the government, and we’ll continue to hear that in the days ahead as long as the government remains closed for business. It is their claim that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Obama “refuse to negotiate” over the Affordable Care Act—an “act” that is no longer an act, it’s the law. We’re also going to hear the punditocracy claim a pox on both houses, assigning responsibility to both sides for the mess we’re in.
The funny thing is, it was never the Democrats who have been giddily calling for a government shutdown.
In September 2010, just before the midterm elections, Republican Congressman Lynn Westmoreland gleefully exclaimed that should the Republicans win a majority in the House (Dems were the majority from 2006 to 2010) it was their intent to “do it again” just like 1995. “This is what we’re going to do. If the government shuts down, we want you with us!” Westmoreland said to enthusiastic applause.
“We will do what we have to do to shut down the government if we have to,” said former Republican Rep. Joe Walsh. “Most people in my district say ‘shut it down,’” he later said to Fox News.
“I don’t think it would hurt one bit” if the government shut down, said former Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul when asked about a government shutdown.
“Even if it means, say, showing how serious we are, okay, government’s gonna have to shut down,” said Texas Republican Rep. Louis Gohmert.
“I say SHUT IT DOWN!” said former GOP Rep. and newly minted governor of Indiana Mike Pence to cheers of “CUT IT OR SHUT IT! CUT IT OR SHUT IT!” from the crowd. (h/t “Rachel Maddow Show“)
“This is exactly what we hoped for,” said Michele Bachmann on the eve of the shutdown. “We’re excited. We’re UNITED!”
Since the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives in January 2011, not a single piece of significant legislation has been passed. Not one. Instead, they’ve been focused on undermining women’s rights and denying access to contraception; combating ACORN—an organization that no longer exists; undermining efforts to develop more reliable sources of renewable energy; passing budget bills that end Medicare as we know it; and voting 43 times to repeal “Obamacare,” ignoring the fact that the Affordable Care Act is the ironclad law of the land, passed by Congress, signed into law by the President, and upheld as constitutional by the most radically conservative Supreme Court in our history, all so that they can deny health coverage to the tens of millions of Americans who don’t have it and cannot get it. Because, you know, “FREEDOM!” (to get sick and die).
Compare that to the first two years of the Obama presidency, where Democrats had majorities in both the House and Senate: Congress passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; it rescued the auto industry, which is thriving and producing record profits today; it ended “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”; passed Wall St. reform; credit card reform; student loan reform (removing private banks that had until then profited on the backs of student for doing literally nothing from the equation); an expansion of the G.I. Bill; Hate Crimes Act; 9/11 First Responders Bill; ratified the new START Treaty; passed the stimulus bill; and on and on and on.
The sole purpose for the existence of the modern Republican Party is to ensure that government does not and cannot function. They set out to shut down the government for the sake of shutting down the government simply because they don’t like government. It is an act of deliberate sabotage. There are no stated goals. Oh, sure, they use “Obamacare” as their purpose for being, but in actuality they know there’s nothing they can do to undo the law of the land as long as Democrats control the Senate and the White House.
Laughably, House Republicans are now placing blame on the Senate, where Reid has refused to assign conferees to negotiate on a last second budget bill hastily put together last night as the clock ticked down to zero hour, pointing to that as proof that the Democrats are the ones responsible for putting hundreds of thousands of American federal workers out of work and out of a paycheck. Yet a year ago it was Republicans who repeatedly accused Senate Democrats of stalling on the budget because the upper chamber had not passed a budget bill of their own. Six months ago the Senate called John Boehner’s bluff and passed a budget. For six months it was the House of Representatives—led by Republicans—that refused to send representatives to a conference committee. And now they’re crying foul?
This is what happens when we place a party in power whose sole purpose for being is to undermine government in order to do real damage to real people’s lives. There should no longer be any doubt about why the United States is no longer the “greatest country in the world.” Exhibit ‘A’: The Republican Party, who has bowed down to the American Taliban, AKA the Tea Party, and who has abdicated all responsibility as a governing party.
Oh, and by the way: As of today, Obamacare is officially and fully open for business.
Andy Cohen
Latest posts by Andy Cohen (see all)
- Aztecs Fall to 13 in AP, Coaches Poll After UNM Loss. Time to Panic Yet? - February 25, 2014
- The Carl DeMaio as Moderate Fallacy - February 18, 2014
- Faulconer Victory Brings Back Business as Usual - February 12, 2014
We don’t deserve or want a minority group of extremist, reactionary insurrectionists who do not believe in democracy to break the government. They break it, they should be required to pay for it.
Agree to disagree. “We” sent them there, and now we have to own the consequences.
Elections, after all, have consequences, and they won their respective races. And until Democrats can run and win in Congressional races across the country and not just in California, this is what we get, and what we deserve.
Seriously though, I’m starting to warm to the idea of the 8th largest economy in the entire world seceding so as not to have to deal with this nonsense.
Well, it does say CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC on our state flag…Beware The Bear!!
Who is “we”, Andy? It is only certain rabid conservative districts that elect these Tea Party Republicans – mainly in the South. They want to secede too. That’s why they hate the Federal government and want to shut it down. The net effect is quasi-secession in that regional and state governments are going to become increasingly important by default. There is no “we”; there is only a few different “I”s.
Oh I’m not so sure. I come across MANY tea types right here in SD who have a very emotional and deep hatred for the ACA and all who support it. The worst of them are happy about the fact that the less fortunate are suffering. Some right here in Hillcrest of all places.
Is the sole purpose of the Republican Party to bamboozle Obama now? In the process, they’re making every last American dance for their dinner (and healthcare.) http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2012/10/bamboozling-obama.html
We’re screwed. That’s for sure, whether we deserve it or not. No silver lining on this one .
One more thing: Today’s Republicans view it as their job to actually shut down the government. This is a problem.
In the end, the question will be: shall we let the GOP survive as an American political party, or has it slipped into dotage? To me the party is blinkered, dysfunctional, and neo-Confederate, and it deserves to be dissolved.
Umm…sorry to ruin the secessionist, group-think party here, but what part of balance of power do the commenters to this story not understand. Dysfunction is a necessary evil to prevent a group of people who THINK they know what’s best for the rest of us from imposing their will. It’s called democracy, and if a temporary shutdown of the government is necessary to force self-righteous politicians to the negotiating table, then so be it. The real problem is the mantra, expressed so eloquently in the comments here: ” My way or the highway.”
What’s happening here is not “democracy,” and it’s not even a representative democracy. It’s a small group of militants hijacking the government for…..no one really knows why. Because they hate the idea of a black president who won two elections convincingly?
Because of the Tea Party caucus–and ONLY because of the Tea Party caucus–Congress in its entirety is completely dysfunctional. Our government has accomplished exactly NOTHING since Republicans took over the House in 2011, except to slow down our economic recovery, make life harder for the poor, and attempt to take away rights from women and prevent those who do not have it from getting affordable health care.
The sole purpose for the existence of the modern Republican Party is to ensure that government does not and cannot function. They hate government, so they are there to make sure it doesn’t work. That’s their idea of “fixing” government. They don’t want fix what’s wrong, they want it to disappear altogether. It is deliberate and systematic sabotage, and the deliberate and systematic undermining of our national economy. And no one–not even the Teabaggers–can identify the end game, except perhaps installing Charles and David Koch as Supreme Dear Leaders. Kim Jong Il would be so pleased!
The Teahadists “want their country back.” Back from what?
So, you’re saying that a group of Americans, because you disagree with their political beliefs, have no right to use every means legally and non-violently available to them to fight for their ideas? I don’t agree with them either, but I will vehemently defend their right to do what they’re doing. In fact, I admire their willingness to sacrifice their political futures by doing it. Remember, similar tactics have been used historically by people you agree with. It’s why we’re able to debate openly in a forum like this.
Mr. Dobbs, keep in mind that the Tea Party and the GOP feel threatened by people like yourself, members of the other party or independents who say,”I don’t agree with them, either.” But they don’t need you to pledge to “vehemently defend their right to do what they’re doing,” son. They have most of the money and, obviously, don’t give a damn about what you say.
But after hearing your concern for the welfare of these radical know-nothings, I do wonder if you think the federal government should exist, and that the Democrats have brought it down with their policies. Is that what you believe? Come on, tell us what you think of the federal government, pretty please.
First, Bob, I’m not your son, and you don’t need to condescend to win a debate…if your ideas are able to stand on their own. You’re right though, I tend to separate myself from all, right or left, who practice name-calling and hyperbole to win an argument, a tactic pervasive in both major, political parties, and apparently, yourself.
Second, it is the commenters to Mr. Cohen’s column who suggested secession as a solution to separating Califronia from the federal government. That attitude has a familiar ring to it. Oh yeah…Texas.
Sorry for that little bit of condescension; it wasn’t right or good.
But let me ask again, now that you’ve cooled off: Do you think the Demos brought on the shutdown, and is a part of you glad to see the Demos embarrassed, and are you hoping that the Demos will be damaged?
Huh?
The better question is why are you okay with it? It’s tantamount to screaming “FIRE!” in a crowded movie theater. Not applicable to 1st Amendment rights.
They are deliberately doing damage to millions of real people’s lives and threatening to bring down the U.S. economy over a battle they’ve already (convincingly) lost. The Affordable Care Act is the LAW, upheld by the Supreme Court. Barack Obama was reelected President of the United States convincingly in November 2012 in a race that placed Obamacare front and center as a major campaign issue.
Time to move on and allow the business of country to carry on. But they will not allow that to happen unless the Democrats agree to completely undo the most significant legislation of our generation; the most significant since Medicare.
They’re not just sacrificing their careers, they’re sacrificing other people’s livelihoods. They’re nothing but a bunch of chicken shit cowards and fuck everyone who agrees with them. The other real cowards were members of the GOP who were too scarred to stand up to the more extreme of the GOP because they were scarred of losing their jobs.
Yes, ACA is the law! You’re right! Barack Obama is President. However, the Democratic Party does not control the House of Representatives because a majority of citizens from the vast heartland do not agree with some of our shared values.
And, laws can be changed. If not, then the current debt limit, quickly approaching, could not be raised. I predict that before this is all over, both laws, the ACA and debt limit, will change. It’s called negotiation, and it’s the beauty of our system, which is brilliantly designed to exact a price on politicians who stray too far from the center of the political spectrum.
I’m old enough to remember when Ronald Reagan was President, and the Left constantly complained about the “tyranny of the majority.” It humors me that the Right is using the same argument now. Even though history repeats itself, the overall effect is to keep the ship called America turning thankfully slower than those currently in power would have it turn. If a small percentage of Americans have to sacrifice some temporary inconvenience to insure this, then so be it.
Steven- over a half million more citizens voted for Democrats in the House than for Republicans. Because of Republican gerrymandering, the popular vote i.e. “the majority of citizens from the vast heartland” did not result in a Democratic majority.
The Republicans are not negotiating–they are standing atop history screaming “Stop!” a la Buckley.
Correction, Anna: Democratic Congressional candidates received 1.4 million more votes than did Republican candidates. Republicans lost seats in both the House and the Senate. Gerrymandering and voter suppression laws helped preserve a Republican majority in the House.
Republicans Win Congress as Democrats Get Most Votes
So, Democrat-majority states like California and New York don’t gerrymander? Voter suppression? Oh, come on. My black friends in states with voter ID laws are embarrassed to hear that argument. As one of my friends has said, “It’s offensive to me that patronizing white people still think that black people are too stupid to know that if they’re legally able to vote, they can.”
Travelling a lot away from the coasts, and even inland California, I hear and read a totally different editorial on the state of our nation than I do on the coasts. Democrats in Nebraska would be called Republicans here. To attribute those elected to the House to anything other than a reflection of the values of their constituency is a display of ignorance about the values of people in the heartland.
No, California does not gerrymander by state law. All Congressional, State Senate, and Assembly districts must be drawn as equally and fairly without regard to party affiliation by a non-partisan, independent redistricting commission. It’s called Prop 20. You can read about it here: California Prop 20, Congressional Redistricting (2010)
Prop 20 is a political ruse, as are many ballot initiatives, which means nothing when it comes to voting districts. All you have to do is look at a map of districts drawn in the name of “equal representation.” In Cali, with its super-majority of Democrats, it’s currently irrelevant.
Steven- readers see through your “real America” pitch (Does not include California and New York!).
Sarah Palin rolled that one out six years ago. There weren’t enough Real Americans to elect McCain/Palin to office or Romney/Ryan.
Wow, Anna, it’s amazing that you know what I’m thinking. Perhaps you wouldn’t mind helping me with the California Lottery tonight. We could share the pot and leave the country, that is, the Republic of California. Kidding aside, you sound a little insecure and defensive when you respond that way.
BTW, I have lived all over the United States and have been fortunate to travel the world. I have yet to meet any individual, group or government which has cornered the market on the only way to live. There is good and bad no matter where you go. But, unfortunately, there are a lot people all over the world who think that their way IS the only way and are willing to do whatever it takes to impose their will on others.
Fortunately, here, we have a republic with a balance of power which denies you, me or any other individual or group from successfully imposing their will unchallenged. When some people see dysfunction, I see a healthy balance of power.
This struggle has gone on far longer than the American Experiment, and to use the false equivalency that both parties are equally guilty is to take sides. “Government doesn’t work. Vote for me and let me prove it.”
Well, the ACA is the law of the land, but watch how fast it could change if Republicans win control of the House, the Senate AND the Presidency with a filibuster-proof Senate. For American democracy to work there needs to be a certain spirit of goodwill among all parties. What the Tea Party is demonstrating right now is that a determined faction can throw a monkey wrench into the gears of government and bring it down. What the Founding Fathers put together cannot withstand that. That is at least one of the flaws in the American system of government. And if there is a continuing lack of good will, the US government will collapse entirely having given way to a right wing coup.
That’s hyperbolic, John. This country has survived a depression (which made the so-called great recession look like a missed breakfast) countless wars, including two world wars, and a civil war that killed over 20 percent of the population. Do you really think that we won’t survive a 2-day, or even 2-month slimdown of the federal government?
Also, neither side is eligible for a congeniality award.