America won three, possibly four big things

America won three, possibly four big things

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Right off the bat we won the ability to mop up Republicans in the next election. They've been so discredited through this process that it is now impossible to anyone to deny that the Republican ARE the problem.  Democrats from Maine to Maui simply need to run ads saying "My opponent is a Republican!"  to score damaging points for the foreseeable future. The next win was NOT taking a weak economy and driving it over a cliff for shits and giggles. It would seem self-evident that NOT ruining the economy would be a win for everyone, but teabags are already lamenting the big missed opportunity they had to really fuck everyone over - but good. The third thing America won is more accurate picture of the resolve of President Barack Obama.
One Day More Open Thread (Day 16)

One Day More Open Thread (Day 16)

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A hostage crisis can end very badly, but when they end peacefully with no bloodshed, with no harm to the hostages, what normally happens at the end is that the hostage takers are forced to their knees with their hands up, and then they are ordered to lay down with their hands behind their back, which are then cuffed. The criminal is then violently jerked to his feet and frogmarched out to the police car. We Americans, as victims of a crime, are not going to get that closure.
The Underlying Strength of the American Conservative Movement

The Underlying Strength of the American Conservative Movement

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The strength and durability of American conservatism rests in its simplicity. Scientists have demonstrated that the simpleminded favor conservatism, and that the conservative mind deals only in stark binary choices eschewing nuance. But beyond the brain chemistry that pre-wires them to absurd reduction, conservative simplicity manifests itself in a clarity of operating principles. Conservatives agree on some basic things and work hard to try and turn their beliefs into policy.
Well, it’s over. The White Flag has been raised.

Well, it’s over. The White Flag has been raised.

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Speaker Boehner has been defeated. More importantly, the Teabagger Traitors have been defeated. As you may know by now, Speaker Boehner, early this morning, gathered his caucus, had Representative Southerland, who in a prior life, I swear to God, was a Undertaker in a Funeral Home, sing the Christian funeral hymn 'Amazing Grace,' all three verses of it, and then told them, per Robert Costa of the National Review, that he would rather throw a grenade than catch one. And so he tried desperately to craft a bill that will attract all Republican votes. Various add-ons and poison pills were bantered about all day, but in the end, the Boehner House Bill did not have the votes, and the bill, which was never really introduced, was pulled. So now, Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell have resumed their negotiations, and according to MSNBC per a Senate Democratic source, a debt and budget deal that will avert default and reopen the government is "imminent."
President Obama Must Save the Republic From Enemies, Domestic

President Obama Must Save the Republic From Enemies, Domestic

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I've long held the position that Republicans are after nothing other than chaos, and a wrecked economy so that they could claim that the economy failed during a Democratic Presidency. The ACA fight is a pretext. Economist say that most pernicious and long term effects of a default are already being felt in a steep erosion of trust in American bonds as a safe haven. As Delaware Dem has pointed out here, the country is under attack. Given that reality, President Obama will be forced to do something that he doesn't want to do. ...
Prescient GOP Autopsy Pedicted Current GOP Dysfunction

Prescient GOP Autopsy Pedicted Current GOP Dysfunction

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The Republican Autopsy Report (only released last March and already more forgotten than the great works of King Ozymandias) predicted all of the childish bullshit and GOP assholery we are now experiencing.  While at the time the outreach portions of the report grabbed the headlines, the report also warned against the "King Making" powers of independent expenditure groups.
Outside groups now play an expanded role affecting federal races and, in some ways, overshadow state parties in primary and general elections. As a result, this environment has caused a splintered Congress with little party cohesion so that gridlock and polarization grow as the political parties lose their ability to rally their elected officeholders around a set of coherent governing policies.
Republican Shutdown and Default Apocalypse Open Thread, Day 15: The Final Chapter?

Republican Shutdown and Default Apocalypse Open Thread, Day 15: The Final Chapter?

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The Republican Shutdown and associated tantrums have entered its third week. Day 15. As of this moment, we are 60 hours from a Republican Debt Default (the end of the day, or 11:59:59 on Thursday, October 17, being the deadline). We are at the verge of a Senate deal. We are also hearing this morning that the House GOP may vote tonight on its own bill, which I think is dead in the Senate and which I think will actually fail in the House (since no Dems will vote for it, and many of the Teabaggers will not like it). The contours of that deal are as inside, as well as what I think of it...
Late Night Video — Eric Cantor Has Control of the House CR

Late Night Video — Eric Cantor Has Control of the House CR

Interesting, yes? The House GOP quietly passed a rule change on October 1 that changes the House rules from letting any member of the House bring forward a bill with amendments WITHOUT the amendments; to only Eric Cantor can bring ask for a vote on a bill with controversial amendments WITHOUT the amendments. Go that? Apparently they went to this length of changing the rules so that they could continue to control their caucus -- even when they would weaken as the government shutdown persisted. Contrast that with Harry Reid hanging on to the filibuster. The GOP loudly has been wringing its hands and warning that changing the filibuster rules would be a "nuclear event" in the Senate. But here we have the House GOP going so far as to making certain that their guys face all of the damage being done to them -- and they made this rule change while no one was looking. No reason to come to any accommodation with these fools any time soon, I'm thinking. If they want to burn down the house, make sure they are firmly locked in it. This is Chris Val Hollen on the House floor showing how the new rule works (a little over 5 minutes):
Dear Tipsters – I owe you a beer.

Dear Tipsters – I owe you a beer.

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This is a shout out of thanks to all of our tipsters. Sometimes they go right up and you get instant gratification and sometimes they sit and percolate for a while. Sometimes we ignore them because we don't want to give the jerks in question (gun nuts) the notoriety that are looking for. Sometimes we ignore them because we are lazy or not interested. That doesn't mean that we don't love our tipsters, so keep 'em coming! And if we ever cross paths, say - "Hey I sent you that tip that one time." and I'll say, "Hey let me buy you a beer." then I'll put that beer on Delaware Dem's tab - because what am I, made of money?
Vance Phillips continues to prove that It pays to be a good old boy in a good old boy’s network

Vance Phillips continues to prove that It pays to be a good old boy in a good old boy’s network

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Here is some less than surprising news:
A judge ordered attorneys for the woman who brought a sexual assault case against Sussex County Councilman Vance Phillips to keep medical and financial documents confidential, including records that show he (sic - nice one NJ!) was a crime victim. Attorneys for Katelynn Dunlap, who filed a civil lawsuit against Phillips seeking unspecified damages, had opposed the secrecy measure as unnecessary for a personal injury case and suggested it was an effort to silence her or make the litigation more difficult for her. During the hour-long hearing, that neither Phillips nor Dunlap attended, both sides accused the other of trying the case in the press.