The Government Shutdown Countdown Lowdown MEGATHREAD

[derspiess]

Depends on the results

Here's their take on the current imbroglio: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=1958

Without clicking the link, I'm figuring you wouldn't post something that's good news for the GOP, and therefore it's all partisan shillery.

Okay, I clicked it.  Confirmed

[Valmy]

When I saw the fallout and that all essential workers and programs would continue to be paid/funded, I had to wonder: shouldn't everything the government does be essential, and shouldn't it not be doing anything beyond that?

Probably...though I would have to see a list of what is considered 'essential' and what isn't.

[lustindarkness]

When I saw the fallout and that all essential workers and programs would continue to be paid/funded, I had to wonder: shouldn't everything the government does be essential, and shouldn't it not be doing anything beyond that?

Probably...though I would have to see a list of what is considered 'essential' and what isn't.

I am essential.

[Valmy]

I am essential.

You are probably not, but you are politically embarrasing to not pay

[lustindarkness]

I am essential.

You are probably not, but you are politically embarrasing to not pay

I'll take it.

[Admiral Yi]

Without clicking the link, I'm figuring you wouldn't post something that's good news for the GOP, and therefore it's all partisan shillery.

Okay, I clicked it.  Confirmed

Honest question: do you think the current situation is going to help or hurt Republicans?

[derspiess]

Without clicking the link, I'm figuring you wouldn't post something that's good news for the GOP, and therefore it's all partisan shillery.

Okay, I clicked it.  Confirmed

Honest question: do you think the current situation is going to help or hurt Republicans?

As I mentioned 4 pages ago ( ) it will probably work against them.  But they're kind of damned if they do, damned if they don't here.

[Admiral Yi]

Why damned if they don't?

Or do, whichever one is closing the gubmint.

[derspiess]

Why damned if they don't?

Or do, whichever one is closing the gubmint.

If they had let Obamacare funding go through without a fight, they'd have pissed off a lot of their base and would have had their fingerprints on Obamacare (they voted to fund it!) later on when the ill-effects become even more pronounced.

[Admiral Yi]

If they had let Obamacare funding go through without a fight, they'd have pissed off a lot of their base and would have had their fingerprints on Obamacare (they voted to fund it!) later on when the ill-effects become even more pronounced.

One kook who stays home from the polls in protest is one vote lost.  One swing voter who switches his vote is two votes lost.

[merithyn]

If they had let Obamacare funding go through without a fight, they'd have pissed off a lot of their base and would have had their fingerprints on Obamacare (they voted to fund it!) later on when the ill-effects become even more pronounced.

Why are you just ignoring the fact that most people don't want Obamacare repealed?

[Admiral Yi]

He's not.

[derspiess]

If they had let Obamacare funding go through without a fight, they'd have pissed off a lot of their base and would have had their fingerprints on Obamacare (they voted to fund it!) later on when the ill-effects become even more pronounced.

Why are you just ignoring the fact that most people don't want Obamacare repealed?

See, that cuts both ways.  It's fair to say most people don't want Obamacare repealed, but it's just as accurate to say most people don't want Obamacare implemented as it was written.

[derspiess]

If they had let Obamacare funding go through without a fight, they'd have pissed off a lot of their base and would have had their fingerprints on Obamacare (they voted to fund it!) later on when the ill-effects become even more pronounced.

One kook who stays home from the polls in protest is one vote lost.  One swing voter who switches his vote is two votes lost.

Sure.  Swing voters sometimes stay home as well, though.

[Jacob]

One kook who stays home from the polls in protest is one vote lost.  One swing voter who switches his vote is two votes lost.

The theory I've seen advanced on the more leftists side of the spectrum is that the lucrative think-tank, PAC, and Conservative media circuit combined with heavily gerrymandered safe seats where the only risk is a primary challenge from the right, the incentives for most GOP representatives are to continue the rightward drift and ignore swing voters.

What do you think? Does it make sense or not?