First, there is no way that the democrat propagandists in the MSM would put out anything but glowing reports of the Obama HellCare. It. Just. Wouldn't. Happen. So get over the shutdown pushing it off the front pages.
Thanks for a thorough and thoughtful response. I'll let you and wasp69 debate this first point. Only time will tell how this will play out in the media.
Second, the republican party is in trouble because it doesn't listen to its base. Remember the million plus voters that stayed home in 2012?
Those of us on the left (the Democratic Party's base) think the mainstream party doesn't listen to us, either. Oddly enough, it appears the Republican Party is actually listening to its base now, in a way I haven't seen in the recent past. That, in fact, may be part of the Republican Party's problem. It's so afraid of its base that the national party
must fight the ACA by any means possible, including shutting down the government.
Third, the choices were give Obama everything he wants or finally taking a stand to excite the public.
That's interesting. I was unaware that some conservatives see this issue in such stark terms. Thanks for that insight.
Fourth, I see this as the sequester. 0 and the evil democrat elites will be out hysterically yelling at how bad things will be and then pffft.
Fifth, and this is important, most people will continue on as if nothing happened. That will creep in that the federal government doesn't need to be so big.
I don't understand your fourth point, but the fifth one I see, and the government shutdown will, I think, test how much the American people want various government services. I think it's good to remind people how much they actually do want various government services, and the shutdown will serve as a useful reminder, but, if you're right, and we discover that various government employees/services are neither wanted nor needed, we will have a golden opportunity to fire/retrain said employees and eliminate wasteful programs. Not sure this is a good idea in this economic climate, but you could be right, and we may see a public outcry for less government, but I doubt it.
Sixth, between his failure to keep government open AND the complete failure of the cACA exchanges in one day will demonstrate how over their heads Obama and his merry band of idiots truly are.
That, or the ACA will prove to be popular and wildly successful and the shutdown will be blamed on Republicans. Hard to say, really, but if you're right, then I see your point. That would be good for the Republican Party, presumably.
Seventh, this is not 95 and Obama ain't no Billy Jeff.
Democrats are banking on the notion that this shutdown will have the same results as the 1995 shutdown, but you're right to say that BO is not BC. How that difference will play out remains to be seen. I am on record as naming BC the best Republican President since Eisenhower, but BO is giving him a run for his money (from my perspective).
Eighth, builds momentum for the debt limit battle where Obama and the entire democrat senate caucus voted NO in 2006.
The debt limit battle will be the real test, agreed. It's just not cool to muck with the full faith and credit of the United States. I suspect our business leaders will reign the Republican Party in on this one, but they'll pressure Democrats too, and we may see some compromise.
Is this some kind of slam dunk win? No. Do the republicans come out of it better than the alternative? Yes. The only thing that can really screw the republicans in if the rinos get together and cut off their nose despite their faces for spite.
I very much appreciate your sharing your perspective on this. Thanks.
-Laelth