There seems to be a growing consensus, particularly among GOP senators, that House Republicans should accept whatever spending deal is on the table — rumored to be in the $37-39 billion range — even if that means a final package that does not include a policy rider restricting funds to Planned Parenthood, and dig in for the larger spending fights to come over the debt limit and Paul Ryan’s 2012 budget.
Sen Tom Coburn (R., Okla.): “It’s pretty unrealistic to think with this president that you’re going to get a lot of riders…That’s number one. Number two is, what’s the greatest moral dilemma of our day? Abortion certainly is a big one, but if we don’t address all these other financial issues that are going to cripple those that are with us, we’ll be making a mistake.”
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R., Ga.): Said GOP should drop riders for now and move on, a shutdown would be “absolutely crazy.”
Sen. Mark Kirk (R., Ill.): “Democrats should give on spending proposals because we need more discipline and Republicans should give on the the extraneous policy riders so that government does not shut down.”
Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.): “We need to get past this year’s budget, and move onto the more serious discussion of our nation’s long-term fiscal health.”
Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.): “It is my sincere hope that the leaders of both parties will be able to reach a fiscally responsible compromise soon so we can continue to address the nation’s pressing issues — from private sector job creation and rising gas prices to approving a sustainable budget for the upcoming fiscal year.”
A few prominent conservatives have also weighed in on this side of the debate:
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R., Minn.): “I am ready for a big fight that will change the arc of history. The current fight in Washington is not that fight.”
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: “Nobody’s more pro-life than me. Nobody…But as much as I want to see Planned Parenthood defunded, as much as I want to see NPR lose their funding, the reality is the president and the Senate are never gonna go along with that. So win the deal you can win and live to fight another day.”
All are wrong. Hold your ground or we will never ger close to Paul Ryan's budget.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYet these same wonderful politicians want us to be gullible enough to believe they'll be able to cut trillions of dollars from next year's budget when they can't even live up to THEIR PROMISE to cut billions this year.
Got it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTrust them, next time it will be different.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOh, nevermind, those Dems are just too tough. Let's kiss behind like always and see what happens.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIncredible. Absolutely incredible. I wish someone could explain to me in a reasonable, rational way how making whatever compromise the Democrats and the Administration deem "ok" to be a way to set up and win the next, larger budget battle. The GOP will not control the Senate or the WH at year's end. They will be in no stronger position then than they are now. If they can't win or relatively "small" cuts (as compared to the larger ones entailed in the Ryan proposal, etc. then how on earth are they going to be in a stronger position then?
SO how is capitulating to the Democratic nonsense and irresponsibility NOW going to enable us to win the much harder fight later in the year?
It seems with so many Republicans and conservatives becoming weak-kneed now.... it only enables Democrats to paint fiscal hawks/limited governments types as EXTREME (at a time when it seems most people aren't buying the argument).... And the kicker, they get to use other Republican "leaders" to reinforce the talking point that Tea Partiers, etc. are EXTREME.
Once again, we get to see politicians snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. (I know, overused expression but I'm at a loss for something better right now.)
It's sad, because if you can't sell the message now... I just don't know how you really think you'll do it better at year's end. (again, when we still won't control the Senate or the WH). Someone explain the logic to me?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMust wait until 11:59pm. Fox has their shutdown clock running at tenths of a second now. If we can get under an hour it might go to hundreths of a second before "armagedon" (defined as when national parks and the cherry blossom festival are closed). Maybe an official's review will be needed to see if the appropriation passed before time expired.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf we can't win the fight to cut spending on things like Planned Parenthood or NPR, then what spending cuts do Republican leaders think they will win? Of course their line of reasoning will lead to no meaningful spending cuts which is basically what this fight is about already.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCowards! They run from the first fight, they'll run every time. Obama calls your bluff you stinking good for nothings. Huckabee and Bachmann already going for the middle ground, a ground that does not exist.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAs much as I wouldn't mind the drama of a government shut down, if the democrats really are offering 78 billion in cuts, we should just pass such a bill in the House without the riders. If Harry Reid's Senate doesn't pass it or Obama vetos it, we can make the democrats look bad. 78 is greater than 66, so that makes me happy. If it passes, we declare victory and move along to the real fight.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSeriously, is a giant, earth-destroying meteor going to hit D.C. tonight and wipe out Western Democracy if the government shuts down for a few days? I'm guessing all of the animals at Yellowstone will still be doing their "business" in the woods tonight regardless of what Congress decides.
If the GOP blinks now, they can kiss their "big fight" goodbye.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseUsed Italian Army Rifles...only dropped once.
Any Government official, such as Johnny Issacson, who thinks a government shutdown would be "absolutely crazy" or "tragic" has way to high an opinion of government. The people can survive without a government; Government can't survive without the people.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's the 11th hour, the weaseling hour and the RINO's, pseudoconservatives and beltway insiders are again afoot.
Why, they are even bringing out the big gun...Karl Rove, the architect of Bush's big spending...to tell us Tea Party types to shut up.
They really do like that beltway swag, don't they all?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYeah, sure. How does the next battle look? Seems if you can't even follow through on an issue that most people support - not using tax dollars for abortion funding - your not going to be faring much better with the "larger" spending cuts in the future.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhy should we be the ones to blink?
Let them get off their high horse and agree with the House.
The Senate has not done a darn thing since the Fall.
Republican leadership should not - repeat - should not cave.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOtherwise the Democrats will do this to us over and over again.
Once again, CAPTCHA COMES THROUGH FOR ME:
"Forget This"!
I said when Mike Pence was considering a presidential run that the time was ripe for a Member of the House of Representatives to run for President.
In a backwards fashion, big mouth Michelle Bachmann, who clearly doesn't know much about our Revolution, proved me right.
Of course, along with the worthless "Rockefeller" Aristocrats parading around in the Senate.
The House GOP is the ONLY body doing the People's Business.
Ergo, a member of that tribunal not named Bachmann stands a GREAT chance to win the nomination, and the general.
"Let's fight next time."
As my mom always used to say to me, when I tried to delay my chores:
"LATER NEVER COMES WITH YOU! NOW, I SAID!"
h/t to madisonian's mommy!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe shutdown is probably terrible optics given media bias. But it reveals the spenders' priorities in ways otherwise unspoken. Scarcity and deadlines reveal choices not explicitly made for generations.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI can see the 'art of the possible" argument for taking the deal and moving on to the 2012 budget fight. But I'm glad there are people like the previous posters keeping up the pressure from the right.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat a cave. And in the next budget battle I'm sure the Dems will be all the more willing /sarcasm.
If not now, when?
Those GOP'ers are why they'll find their majority short lived....
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMark Kirk receives campaign cash from Planned Parenthood, so of course he wants to keep it funded. He we go again, capitulation is on the horizon, and once again NRO is the house organ for GOP Capitulation.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseStand and deliver, GOP. Do not concede to their demands.
The government has shut down before and we survived. While I don't want it to, I also don't want to fold to Democtrat demands.
I want the government to shutdown and every single American who reads to know it was due to the Democrats not wanting to save this country's economy and national debt, over infanticide special interests (see: Kermit Gosness, legal abortion "doctor" where Planned Parenthood $$ supported). In the eyes of liberal Democrats, abortion outweighs national security and paying our troops.
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