I flew into Washington yesterday and rarely have I found the place so desolate. Elizabeth Warren said the shutdown and potential default had distracted attention from all the important things that the nations capital ought to be doing. But even before the shutdown little was being done. Perhaps this bloodletting is necessary in order to reduce the influence of the radical right. The good news is House Republicans, under growing pressure, are close to agreeing to increase the Treasury Department’s authority to borrow money through Nov. 22, without holding hostage the Affordable Care Act. The bad news is theyre still refusing to reopen the government. And theyre demanding that before they make any move the President first agree to significant reductions in projected Medicare and Medicaid spending. The President says he wont agree to any reductions unless Republicans agree to raise revenues by curbing tax breaks for corporations and wealthy individuals. In other words, the standoff continues but the pressure on Republicans continues to build: Business leaders are in open revolt against them. And a new Gallup poll shows the public is, too. The Republican Party is now viewed favorably by only 28% of Americans, down from 38% in September -- the lowest favorable rating measured for either party since Gallup began asking this question in 1992. (The Democratic Party is viewed favorably by 43%, down four percentage points from last month.) This is the Republicans shutdown and it will be the Republicans default, and fault -- and the public knows it. President and Harry Reid deserve credit for holding firm. They must continue to do so.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Oct 2013 11:16:00 +0000
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