Welcome to October! For those readers who generally hate the Federal Government, congratulations. It was shut down last night at midnight eastern time, because Congress failed to fund it.
Now the blame game begins, and it does not look too good for the Republicans.
In a poll conducted here at The Western Word (TWW), I asked, “If the Federal Government shuts down, whom do you blame for causing it?”
It was not even close; 32% said the Tea Party was to blame, and 32% said the Republicans were to blame (So, 64% thought those leaning to the right were to blame). The Democrats were blamed by 12%, President Obama was blamed by 8%, and 16% said “everyone” was to blame.
Thanks to all those who participated.
The supporters of the GOP were out in force yesterday providing their “facts” about the government shutdown on TV, radio, and through the internet – and appeared to be getting some of their instructions from Rush Limbaugh. The GOP has historically had problems getting their message out, and this past week has been more of the same.
It was a complete strategy fail by the GOP, and like they were in TWW’s poll, they are losing the public relations battle.
Quinnipiac University released the results of their poll this morning (Tuesday) showing that “American voters disapprove 74 – 17 percent of the job Republicans in Congress are doing, their lowest score ever, and disapprove 60 – 32 percent of the job Democrats are doing.”
The three words, “lowest score ever” spells doom for the Republicans.
For those of us who follow politics closely, it’s easy to see what happened: The GOP has been taken over by the Tea Party and the moderate voices within the party have been silenced. The Tea Party members convinced Speaker of the House John Boehner to tie the defunding of Obamacare to funding the rest of the government.
The Tea Party members pushed Boehner to the edge of the cliff and they all jumped.
The Democrats would not budge (nor should they). The Democrats control the U.S. Senate and the White House. The Republicans control the U.S. House. That, my friends, is democracy at work.
For those who have forgotten, “Obamacare” passed in the U.S. Senate in December 2009 with a 60-39 vote. Obamacare passed the U.S. House in March 2010 by a 219-212 vote. It was signed into law by the President. It was challenged in the Supreme Court and upheld. Obamacare should not be tied to funding the rest of the government. The main force behind Obamacare (President Obama) was re-elected after the law was passed. He easily beat Republican Mitt Romney who wanted to do away with Obamacare.
There are glitches in the law (most laws have some glitches and need corrections), which all members of congress should address. When addressing the glitches, they should not be tied to funding the rest of the government, period.
Also, the Quinnipiac University poll found, “American voters oppose 72 – 22 percent Congress shutting down the federal government to block implementation of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.” The poll also found “Voters also oppose 64 – 27 percent blocking an increase in the nation’s debt ceiling as a way to stop Obamacare.”
The bottom line is that the U.S. House should pass a continuing resolution to fund the government until at least January 2015 – there should be no strings attached.
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