The Briefing Room
General Category => Politics/Government => Topic started by: mystery-ak on August 27, 2014, 08:43:37 pm
-
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=479EC716-3B4E-4F6D-95D7-9AC288B276CC (http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=479EC716-3B4E-4F6D-95D7-9AC288B276CC)
Dems paint GOP as shutdown party
By: Burgess Everett
August 27, 2014 03:42 PM EDT
Democrats hear only one thing when Republicans talk about fighting President Barack Obama’s immigration agenda or GOP plans for controlling Congress: government shutdown.
In fundraising requests, media appearances and conference calls, Democrats are painting Republicans as the “shutdown party” just in time for the midterm elections that coincidentally hit right after the one-year anniversary of last year’s October shutdown.
Democrats hope this emerging strategy persuades voters that if Republicans win both the House and Senate in November, there will be more unpopular shutdowns and Obama will have to fight hard against the GOP to simply preserve the policy legacy of his first six years in office.
The Democratic argument is based on history — the narrative, which Republicans deny, that they intend to impeach Obama and that’s why they sued him over his executive actions on Obamacare. More recently, Democrats contend Republican opposition to imminent unilateral action by the president on immigration could lead to a shutdown of the government.
Of course, the Democratic strategy is less overt — White House press secretary Josh Earnest said on Wednesday it’d be a “shame” if the government shuts down over immigration. But Democrats are giddily presenting the possibility of a replay of last year’s shutdown, which hurt Republicans politically, hoping to nationalize Senate races and present a Democratic Senate as essential to keeping the government running.
The shutdown talk is being stoked after recent comments by prominent Senate Republicans like Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida that predicted a confrontational stance toward Obama on spending bills if either the GOP takes the Senate or the president announces new changes to immigration policy.
McConnell “repeatedly threatened to shut down the government unless Republicans get exactly what they want,” said Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) on Wednesday. Rubio, she added, wants to “essentially bludgeon the president into submission over immigration policy.”
“Republican leaders, once again, prefer to threaten another government shutdown over advancing essential legislation,” said Drew Hammill, a spokesman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Not so fast, GOP aides said Wednesday. Republicans responded just as they did when confronted with impeachment talk in July after passing the House’s lawsuit against Obama: This is all about Democrats’ political priorities, not GOP policy.
“Democrats have decided to promote the idea of a government shutdown at every possible opportunity,” said John Ashbrook, a spokesman for McConnell. The shutdown rhetoric “says far more about their failed campaign strategy than it does about how Republicans would approach their responsibilities as a majority party.”
“The only people talking about shutting down the government are partisan extremists like Debbie Wasserman Schultz who are looking for a way to raise money and divert attention from the failed presidency of Barack Obama,” said Alex Conant, a spokesman for Rubio.
In an interview with POLITICO this month, McConnell said he’d “guarantee” that a future GOP Senate would attach policy riders to spending bills, daring Obama to veto them. Two months earlier, according to The Nation, McConnell made similar promises to conservative donors.
But McConnell also has predicted little drama this September, when he believes Congress will swiftly avert a shutdown and return home for the midterm elections.
But Democrats touted only one thing: McConnell is “senator shutdown,” as Democratic opponent Alison Lundergan Grimes put it in Owensboro, Kentucky, on Tuesday. A campaign source said that’s likely just the beginning of Grimes’ shutdown talk.
Should they take the Senate in November, Republicans vow to pass appropriations bills in “regular order” next year, funding the government far in advance of government shutdown deadlines that typically fall on Sept. 30. And Ashbrook noted that McConnell never raised the possibility of a shutdown in the POLITICO interview.
Democrats have tagged Rubio, a prominent immigration reformer and possible 2016 presidential candidate, as part of the shutdown crowd for signing onto last year’s strategy to oppose spending bills that funded Obamacare. They also cite his opposition to any further executive action on immigration by Obama — and remarks he made this week that hypothesized how the GOP might respond to Obama’s unilateral order.
Rubio told conservative website Breitbart that if Obama moves on an executive order that could allow millions of undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States, Republicans may tie a vote on overturning that action to a must-pass spending bill in September. Democrats swiftly moved to attack Rubio after his comments, linking immigration hardliner Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) to Rubio after King said on Wednesday that executive immigration action would alter “the dynamic of any continuing resolution.”
Conant said Rubio has no desire for a shutdown.
“All Sen. Rubio has called for is for Sen. Reid to allow votes on Republican solutions to the immigration catastrophe our nation faces,” he said. “The only thing Sen. Rubio wants to shut down is Harry Reid’s tenure as majority leader by winning a Republican majority this November.”
Of course, the shutdown game goes both ways. Republicans maintain that a shutdown is most likely to happen if Democrats tie a spending bill to the Export-Import Bank’s reauthorization. Senate Democrats are weighing attaching Ex-Im to this fall’s funding bill, but no final strategic decision has been made.
-
Oh God... here we go...
-
Like we didn't see this coming.
-
Like we didn't see this coming.
I'm going to have to echo this sentiment. I hope nobody is surprised by this.
-
Of course they will. But Republicans need to show what the White House did in response to the sequestration, like shutting down WH tours, closing off monuments, running people out of national park hotels, closing gates on military installations. There's plenty of videos to put some nice political ads together. And of course, when they got their publicity by the MSM to blame the GOP, suddenly it all seemed to fade away.
The RNC needs to look at what the Dems will use this fall and take it to them earlier rather than later. Quit playing defense. That's what the Dems should be doing.
-
Expected fall-out from Ted Cruz's boneheaded shutdown last October. It will probably cost GOP candidates 3-4 points from LIV moderates in swing states. Hopefully the margins are large enough that this tactic doesn't work for the Dems.
What Cruz did was dumb at the time, and it's even more dumb looking back at it as we head toward the stretch run for the midterms.
-
Expected fall-out from Ted Cruz's boneheaded shutdown last October. It will probably cost GOP candidates 3-4 points from LIV moderates in swing states. Hopefully the margins are large enough that this tactic doesn't work for the Dems.
What Cruz did was dumb at the time, and it's even more dumb looking back at it as we head toward the stretch run for the midterms.
Just like a good GOPer. Blame Cruz. He is one Senator who has no real power by himself, but he makes a good scapegoat whenever the GOPe needs someone to blame for their failings.
-
Of course they will. But Republicans need to show what the White House did in response to the sequestration, like shutting down WH tours, closing off monuments, running people out of national park hotels, closing gates on military installations. There's plenty of videos to put some nice political ads together. And of course, when they got their publicity by the MSM to blame the GOP, suddenly it all seemed to fade away.
The RNC needs to look at what the Dems will use this fall and take it to them earlier rather than later. Quit playing defense. That's what the Dems should be doing.
No offense, but this would be the worst move the GOP could make. Let the Dems rant about Cruz's shutdown, and have the present-day GOP talk about ObamaCare, Obama's failures, and tie every single Dem they can to being an Obama lackey. Running on what happened last October would be a stupid move, but then again, this is the GOP, so maybe you're onto something.
-
Just like a good GOPer. Blame Cruz. He is one Senator who has no real power by himself, but he makes a good scapegoat whenever the GOPe needs someone to blame for their failings.
Blame for the shutdown falls directly on Ted Cruz and a few House members. It was a losing strategy, and there is no reason for the GOP in general to revisit it. I'm not a "GOPer," either, whatever that is supposed to mean. I'm a political realist who wants as many people on the "R" side of the aisle as possible. If that means I vote for a socially conservative Tea Party candidate over a Dem, I vote for the Tea Party guy. If that means I vote for a fiscally moderate GOPe candidate over a Dem, I vote for the GOPe candidate.
-
No offense, but this would be the worst move the GOP could make. Let the Dems rant about Cruz's shutdown, and have the present-day GOP talk about ObamaCare, Obama's failures, and tie every single Dem they can to being an Obama lackey. Running on what happened last October would be a stupid move, but then again, this is the GOP, so maybe you're onto something.
If you want to shake up the Democrats remind everybody about Obama's complete inaction after we found out that the NSA has been spying on us. The president has control over the NSA and could have legitimately done something to stop it, but instead he shrugged it off until everybody forgot about it. That sparked more anger from moderates and the left towards Obama than anything else he has done to date.
-
If you want to shake up the Democrats remind everybody about Obama's complete inaction after the we found out that the NSA has been spying on us. The president has control over the NSA and could have legitimately done something to stop it, but instead he shrugged it off until everybody forgot about it. That sparked more anger from moderates and the left towards Obama than anything else he has done to date.
Yep. Pointing out Obama's and the Dems' failures is a great political strategy. Running ads about how the Park Service was shut down when a few members of the GOP threw a temper tantrum; not a great political strategy.
-
If the GOP bites on this ridiculous shutdown bait, then it will deserve to lose an opportunity to take the Senate and lose seats in the House.
I'm surprised Mitch McConnell, who was so adamant against the shutdown last year, thinks results will be different if he does it.
-
Yep. Pointing out Obama's and the Dems' failures is a great political strategy. Running ads about how the Park Service was shut down when a few members of the GOP threw a temper tantrum; not a great political strategy.
I of course, disagree. Beat the Dems to the punch. In 2012, the GOP was behind the curve. This time they don't have to be. Understanding the few points the opposition will use this fall gives the GOP opportunities to not only fight back on them, but hit first. In 2012 the Republicans were almost entirely on the defensive, and Romney's futile defense against all the silly charges against him didn't help. In politics the charge carries much more weight than the defense.
The Dems no doubt will talk about how the Repubs shut down the government. In fact they did not. Obama did, and he picked and chose which areas to hit. The government continued to function because anything the WH decided was important continued. BTW, it wasn't just the Park Service.
And hit the Dems on the slow growth, businesses moving out of the Country, Obamacare. And yes, point out that in the end Cruz was right about it (regardless). Talk about the scandals, and how the Dems played their roles. There's plenty of domestic issues the Republicans can use. And they can go back 8 years, because the Dems ran Congress from 2007 through 2010. Use it all, be aware of the Dem strategies, and shoot first.
-
Tell you what, I don't care who wins in November. Seriously. I don't care.
If you care, and I'm sure you don't, I'll tell you why. Republicans could win 100 Senate seats, and 435 House seats and little would change. Do Republicans cut spending? No. Would they repeal Obamacare? No. Would they reign in Obama's EO's, some, maybe, but not much.
I lean right, but am not a hardcore. The GOPe types see this, and immediately flame me as a Tea Party whacko. Fine. Try to win without me.
-
Tell you what, I don't care who wins in November. Seriously. I don't care.
If you care, and I'm sure you don't, I'll tell you why. Republicans could win 100 Senate seats, and 435 House seats and little would change. Do Republicans cut spending? No. Would they repeal Obamacare? No. Would they reign in Obama's EO's, some, maybe, but not much.
I lean right, but am not a hardcore. The GOPe types see this, and immediately flame me as a Tea Party whacko. Fine. Try to win without me.
Well, good. You don't care, and you can't be bothered with anything other than superficial msm headlines. That's nice. It takes a lot less effort than trying to learn what powers Congress really has, and how they might exercise them. Bloviating is easier and more rewarding for you, I see.
Why not make it very easy - just skip voting?
-
Well, good. You don't care, and you can't be bothered with anything other than superficial msm headlines. That's nice. It takes a lot less effort than trying to learn what powers Congress really has, and how they might exercise them. Bloviating is easier and more rewarding for you, I see.
Why not make it very easy - just skip voting?
Yeah, I completely don't understand... that's the ticket. Makes you feel better? Superior even? Enjoy that.
Republicans are unwilling to use any powers they obtain. When was the last time the GOP cut spending? When did they last shrink government?
-
Yeah, I completely don't understand... that's the ticket. Makes you feel better? Superior even? Enjoy that.
Republicans are unwilling to use any powers they obtain. When was the last time the GOP cut spending? When did they last shrink government?
Right. You don't understand. When was the last time the GOP had the power to cut spending or shrink gov't?
-
Right. You don't understand. When was the last time the GOP had the power to cut spending or shrink gov't?
Do you remember GWB's first term? You're awfully ignorant for someone so condescending. I guess that's the GOPe M.O. to a tee?
-
Do you remember GWB's first term? You're awfully ignorant for someone so condescending. I guess that's the GOPe M.O. to a tee?
Hmm, wasn't there something we refer to as 9/11 that happened then? Maybe you forget that little incident, but many of us thought responding to it did take priority over most other issues.
-
Hmm, wasn't there something we refer to as 9/11 that happened then? Maybe you forget that little incident, but many of us thought responding to it did take priority over most other issues.
Yep, they spent that whole first year preparing then, didn't they?
And to go back a little further, how about that contract on America?
Enjoy your walk in the wilderness.
-
Yep, they spent that whole first year preparing then, didn't they?
And to go back a little further, how about that contract on America?
Enjoy your walk in the wilderness.
Preparing??? Whole year? Why don't you read a little something about what happened that day, and then we can talk about reality.
-
Preparing??? Whole year? Why don't you read a little something about what happened that day, and then we can talk about reality.
Sarcasm... it's lost on people who are too emotional, or incapable.
In other words, there was a year without that attack. What was accomplished? And we blame 9/11 for all of GWB's spending and governing?
This is going no where. Attack away, it's what the GOPe does best.
-
Just like a good GOPer. Blame Cruz. He is one Senator who has no real power by himself, but he makes a good scapegoat whenever the GOPe needs someone to blame for their failings.
I agree Senator Cruz has no real power by himself, but Cruz promoted the shutdown. Boehner and McConnell let it happen. McConnell will not let it happen again.
It's over. It was a mistake and sometimes you have to make a mistake to learn. I believe the party learned a lesson from it. We all (RINO and Tea Party) know the rats want a shutdown. We need a new play.
The GOP must convince voters of our righteousness before we act. After the last shutdown we now know the silent majority did not stand up against, SCOTUS upheld, Obamacare just because a dozen Senators really hated it much more than an average Republican.
First the voters needed to feel the effects of Obamacare. Now the voters have felt the effects for a year. It was long and hard, but only the tip of Obamacare's muscle has penetrated the everyday lives of many voters. There are many more potent assaults on the voters coming, and more voters will feel like they got the shaft from Obamacare in the coming years.
We, having voted a bazillion times to kill Obamacare, are very well positioned to exploit the misery Obamacare has wrought.
That is my scapegoat until it dies. Obamacare causes global warming and income disparity too.
-
Sarcasm... it's lost on people who are too emotional, or incapable.
In other words, there was a year without that attack. What was accomplished? And we blame 9/11 for all of GWB's spending and governing?
This is going no where. Attack away, it's what the GOPe does best.
A year without that attack? You really don't know when GWB took office or when 9/11 happened? There's probably no point in asking whether you know anything about when Congress is in session or what it takes to begin a new admin. Or what a President can do without Congress.
Get educated - it helps a lot.
-
Sarcasm... it's lost on people who are too emotional, or incapable.
In other words, there was a year without that attack. What was accomplished? And we blame 9/11 for all of GWB's spending and governing?
This is going no where. Attack away, it's what the GOPe does best.
Bush took office the third week in Jan. He got off to a slow start because the election was contested to the SCOTUS and Clinton was such a vindictive bastard he took off the 'W's on all the keyboards when he should have been briefing his replacement or killing Bin Laden. Turncoat Sen Jeffords jumped ship in June(giving the rats control of the Senate) but Bush still got the first of many taxcuts passed that month (Thank you President Bush) 9/11 happened in September.
-
A year without that attack? You really don't know when GWB took office or when 9/11 happened? There's probably no point in asking whether you know anything about when Congress is in session or what it takes to begin a new admin. Or what a President can do without Congress.
Get educated - it helps a lot.
You keep baiting.
GWB, elected in November 2000. Sworn in January 2001. Congress goes into session in January 2001, a Republican controlled Congress. IF Republicans had an agenda, it could have been well on it's way by September 2001.
I notice you conveniently ignore the rest of GWB's term, as if 9/11, while major, accounts for his whole tenure. We won't mention an unfunded expansion of Medicare, (part D).
And you ignored the contract on America.
Now, my mistake is conversing with someone dug in, and selective. While you repeatedly try to find new ways to tell me I'm stupid, I'll respond by saying I'm at least as informed as most Americans. And as a far right Tea Partier, or maybe I'm right leaning, depends on which of you GOPe types are attacking me, I'll tell the GOPe to get stuffed.
-
You keep baiting.
GWB, elected in November 2000. Sworn in January 2001. Congress goes into session in January 2001, a Republican controlled Congress. IF Republicans had an agenda, it could have been well on it's way by September 2001.
I notice you conveniently ignore the rest of GWB's term, as if 9/11, while major, accounts for his whole tenure. We won't mention an unfunded expansion of Medicare, (part D).
And you ignored the contract on America.
Now, my mistake is conversing with someone dug in, and selective. While you repeatedly try to find new ways to tell me I'm stupid, I'll respond by saying I'm at least as informed as most Americans. And as a far right Tea Partier, or maybe I'm right leaning, depends on which of you GOPe types are attacking me, I'll tell the GOPe to get stuffed.
Onceler gave you some good information. Did you read that?
And the Contract with America was in 1994, during the Clinton admin. It had nothing to do with Bush.
I never said you were stupid, but I am afraid that many Americans are even less informed than you are. That's scary, indeed. And it's even worse if you don't even know whether you are a Tea Partier or just right leaning. Maybe you're leftist, since you post more from feelings than from knowledge.
-
Tell you what, I don't care who wins in November. Seriously. I don't care.
If you care, and I'm sure you don't, I'll tell you why. Republicans could win 100 Senate seats, and 435 House seats and little would change. Do Republicans cut spending? No. Would they repeal Obamacare? No. Would they reign in Obama's EO's, some, maybe, but not much.
I lean right, but am not a hardcore. The GOPe types see this, and immediately flame me as a Tea Party whacko. Fine. Try to win without me.
Great. You're a quitter. No need to post here anymore for you, right?
-
And you ignored the contract on America.
Whose contract on America? Or, did you mean Newt's Contract with America in 1994, when Clinton was president. Be gone, troll.
-
Great. You're a quitter. No need to post here anymore for you, right?
Relic recognizing an internal problem that plagues both parties does not make him a quitter. I'm pretty disappointed by the amount of hostility towards him for his point of view. A lot of what he's saying does have merit, and I feel that that is why so many are quick to jump down his throat. I also believe that the parties have been polarized, and that neither are fighting for the good of the people.
-
Great. You're a quitter. No need to post here anymore for you, right?
I won't tell you what to do, and you don't tell me. Because if you're interested, I have a suggestion.
-
Great. You're a quitter. No need to post here anymore for you, right?
I think a good 70% of the time Relic and I don't agree. It's fine, we're both adults about it, got a gentleman's agreement not to hassle each other in threads we know we are going to disagree on.
Might want to try that. Wisdom can come from the strangest places. Type out a full refutation - then erase it without sending.