[ansarigf]

The is really ALL they've got? Shutdown the government and subpoena everyone?

TPM:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...eo.php?ref=fpa

Republican pollster Dick Morris told conservative political activists that newly elected Republicans should shut down the government next year. Morris said the party must elect lawmakers who will stand up and say "No" to President Obama's requests for more government spending and predicted a repeat of how Republicans forced a shutdown under President Clinton after they won control of Congress.

"There's going to be a government shutdown, just like in '95 and '96 but we're going to win it this time and I'll be fightin' on your side," Morris said at the Americans for Prosperity Foundation Conference on Friday in Washington.

Now, that's not exactly campaign trail material, but it's a fascinating glimpse into what Republicans may put into action should they win back control of Congress. Morris' suggestions, memes and talking points frequently end up in GOP campaign materials, so we'll be keeping a close eye on this one to see if Republicans will back up his promise for a government shutdown.

It's also quite interesting given that Morris was a Clinton campaign operative in 1995 and 1996 when the Republicans forced a showdown over government spending. (A gamble which, of course, didn't help them much politically. Clinton was able to win reelection in part by running against the GOP's obstruction.)

[maxfieldj1]

Best news I've heard in a long, long time.

Nothing would be better for America than to shut down the Fed govt. When we get the GOP House (and maybe even Senate) we can block everything he does for the next two years. That may just be what it takes to get business back to investing again---knowing no new tax hikes and/or regulations are coming. Then their confidence may come back.

[acceraStoof]

Best news I've heard in a long, long time.

Nothing would be better for America than to shut down the Fed govt. When we get the GOP House (and maybe even Senate) we can block everything he does for the next two years. That may just be what it takes to get business back to investing again---knowing no new tax hikes and/or regulations are coming. Then their confidence may come back.

And this is how Clinton won his 2nd term. Newt was going to run Clinton outta town. American got tired of the no and shutting everything down. They re-elected Clinton. See a pattern here? I do.

[attractiveweb]

The right-wing can only take this game so far. Remember that the core base of the extreme right is aging white people, a constituency that is shrinking. 2008 was in large part the product of Latinos, black voters and young voters heading to the polls.

Those three groups will be growing as the older, conservative white voting bloc dies off, and unless the GOP manages to reverse some of the damage they've done in their relationships with the Latino community, the black community and the overwhelmingly liberal young voter community, they may only have a couple of presidential voting cycles left where they can be competitive at all.

[TZids16I]

Shut down the government? The Party of No becomes the Party of Hell No. Just what every American wants is for the government to fail. Yep, the GOP has a great game plan there.

[Colorostikse]

Best news I've heard in a long, long time.

Nothing would be better for America than to shut down the Fed govt. When we get the GOP House (and maybe even Senate) we can block everything he does for the next two years. That may just be what it takes to get business back to investing again---knowing no new tax hikes and/or regulations are coming. Then their confidence may come back.

Just more proof of how morally and intellectually bankrupt you and the rest of the right wing have become.

Are you all completely incapable of coming up with even one positive idea?

(I know...stupid question)

[2CNWXAqN]

If they don't win enough support in the Senate or the House this November, all talk about a shutdown will be moot. Nice to see Morris jumping that gun, when the option to filibuster might not even be there. If that's the case, let them sit back and do nothing.

Onlyn Morris, and Reg, seem to take these victories for granted right now...

[Yyaqyped]

I get that there are those like Regis/Sidewinder who would like to wake up in an episode of Bonanza and whose contempt for urban society, education, technology and the amorphous "elite" who have college degrees and work at desks straps big blinders to their faces.

But that's a small and extreme minority. The fact is, much of what makes the workday happen across America is dependent on the people and infrastructure enabled and supported by various levels of government.

A shutdown of the federal government would, first off, put hundreds of thousands of employees and contractors across the country out of work. The effect of that sudden surge in unemployment would be felt in thousands of small businesses who rely on those government employees as customers.

Not to mention the millions of people who would be waiting for things like Social Security checks that aren't coming and Medicare payments that aren't coming.

Shutting down the government accomplishes only one thing, and that's a childish, fleeting moment of "King of the Mountain" at the expense of a lot of pain to millions of people. It's hostage-taking at a slightly more palatable temperature than someone who uses a gun to take them.

And hostage situations never end well for the assailant. Consider the political aftermath of the 1995 shutdown. As MissAugust pointed out, Clinton and Gore sailed to re-election in 2006.

If Republicans would really like to ensure a second Obama term, there are much better ways to go about it.