Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) says the short-term continuing resolution proposed by the House — that keeps the government open for one week but provides funding for the Defense Department through September 30 — is a “non-starter” in the Senate. Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and Steny Hoyer (D., Md.) plan to mount a “strong” opposition in the House.
And President Obama pledges to veto the bill, calling it a “distraction.”
In a “Statement of Administration Policy,” the White House said that it will veto the one-week measure if it passes in Congress, saying that the stopgap measure is “a distraction” from a long-term solution to the budget impasse.
“This bill is a distraction from the real work that would bring us closer to a reasonable compromise for funding the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011 and avert a disruptive Federal Government shutdown that would put the Nation’s economic recovery in jeopardy,” the statement reads.
The statement noted that the administration would accept a “clean” short-term measure (one that does not change the status quo of the past short-term funding bill) while negotiations continue, but, if presented with the GOP-led one-week measure, “the President will veto it.”
More here.
Obama must have polling data that indicates a shutdown will damage the GOP more than himself and the Dems. It was always folly for Conservatives to believe that a shutdown would insure to our benefit. I think that Boehner will have little option but to cave; the longer this goes on, the more damage to the GOP.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe real distraction is Obama's theatrics in pretending he is even interested in a long-term solution to the budget mess his administration created. The entire game of short-term resolutions being played by both sides is also a distraction. Let's draw a line in the sand. Shut the government down and call the Left's bluff. The country won't collapse any faster than it already is, and it may get better.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLooks like shutdown is what the Democrats want, and if the country blames the Republicans, then so be it. because it's too stupid too worry about.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJRapp: been there, done that. Time to man up and try something new. Why is it only the GOP who caves? Why is it only the Dems who stand their ground and win? It may have something to do with guts.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJRapp is right on. A shutdown will hurt the Republicans. Period. Full stop. They would be insane to let it happen.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse@JRrapp - "Obama must have polling data..."
Who needs polling data when you have your own army of media propagandists that will eagerly push any narrative you want?
There's no way Obama loses this fight. Welcome to Amerika.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIs it just me, or has there been a vast increase in the number of concern trolls popping up in the NRO comments threads?
Oh well, it was bound to happen eventually. I, for one, welcome our sock-puppet faux-RINO comrades.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseFunny, the republicans always claim to know the media is biased but everyone is always afraid of them and believe whatever they write. This isn't 1995, the internet is much bigger news source, the rep side will get out this time. Let Obami veto the bill, he is the one shutting the goverment down. Instead of giving in, how about some of you get some backbone and tell the repubs you have their back and not sit on your behind and let the media and dems win, again.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe CR with full military funding and only one minor rider is a brilliant move by the House GOP.
Reid and Obama have put every Democrat on record that they don't care about our troops in combat.
The Democrats obviously care more about slaughtering babies in DC than funding our military. Fine. Let them take that message to the American people.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePolitco reports that Boehner's new number is $39B. The Dems are at $34-$35B. It's hard to believe that the Speaker and the Dems won't bridge the difference and hammer out a compromise before Friday night.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOne of the things the youngest Lieutenant or Corporal learns in the military is "Take Care of Your Troops." No excuses. Obama, having only contempt for the military, never learned that. By not approving this Obama is unworthy of the title, Commander in Chief. This is just downright contemptible. The Republicans need to say to hell with the polls and stand firm.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCall me a hopeless optimist, but I think Boehner has played this exactly right. If he can get a 1 week CR through the House, there is NO WAY the Senate Dems vote against something that keeps soldiers' paychecks coming. Too many of them have to run for re-election in reddish states next year. That leaves it to the president to veto a CR passed with moderate Dem votes. That's as good a set of optics going into a shutdown as Republicans could hope for. Personally, I don't think the president will actually follow through on his veto threat.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis should be a PR bonanza for the GOP. But, being the Stupid Party, they will inevitably screw it up.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe GOP needs to repeat everything they talk about the budget that this issue was created when the Democrats did not put together a budget last year as they are constitutional obligated to do.
The average citizen doesn't pay attention to these kind of details, so my guess is that anyone polled doesn't realize the Democrats never did their job, and the GOP is still cleaning up that mess. Obama never hesitates to blame the deficit and other woes on Bush - well, two can play that game.
Lay ALL of this firmly at the feet of the Democrats.
Sadly, though, once again we're seeing the lack of a "killer instinct" on the part of the GOP. Harry Reid doesn't think twice about telling bald-faced lies because he's desperate to maintain some shred of power. Why can't the GOP fight just as passionately, especially when the truth is firmly on their side?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis is brilliant.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI guess our president has enough distractions (what with golf, and brackets, and campaigning, etc. etc.).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJosh: You are exactly right that such a measure might pass in the Senate. Which is why Reid will never let it come up for a vote. All the while going on camera complaining that the Republicans have no ideas.
(The new replacement for the Gotcha is just plain weird.)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe problem is that with the vast bulk of the media in their pockets, it will be very easy for Democrats and Obama to demagogue any shutdown.
The media is already presenting stories about National Parks that will be shut down, cancer research that will be suspended, etc.
If there is a shutdown, the next day, there will most assuredly be sob stories on every network news program of children not being able to get into the Smithsonian, of people in Federally funded medical studies not being able to get their medications, and of foreign tourists locked out of National Parks. If there is no military salary fix, there will be stories that will show wives of servicemen in Iraq and Afghanistan who don't know how they'll be able to put food on the table or pay the rent.
Every story will ignore Obama and Reid's part in the shutdown, and will blame Boehner and the TEA Party. Prominent Dems will be featured, while high-level Republicans will get scant airtime.
The print media will also back Obama.
It won't matter that Rush, Beck, Ingraham, Hannity, O'Reilly, etc. will rightly place the blame on the Dems for their lack of compassion and leadership. The absolute imbalance in reporting will overwhelm their efforts.
If riders are the issue, then ditch them now, but readdress them in the 2012 budget. Do what the Dems do and bury the defunding of Planned Parenthood, NPR and the EPA during the conference process.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt will be entertaining to watch the liberal media spin these facts: (1) The Commander-in-Chief of Americans troops involved in three separate military actions describes the troop funding bill as a distraction and pledges to veto it and (2) Democrats reject GOP funding resolution to delay a government shut down for a week because a shutdown will be politically advantageous to Democrats.
Rasmussen's polling numbers released today don't favor Democrats on the shutdown issue, so this might not work out the way they intend it to. On the other hand, the President and Congressional Democrats might be making one more attempt to convince the often weak-kneed GOP to give in and have no intention of doing what they're threatening to do.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJen Rubin is optimistic. External Link
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