[82 Card]

[quote author=ColoradoTree link=topic=14611.msg156636#msg156636 date=1455647492]
I think the problem is that for one of the two major parties, a functioning and efficient federal government isn't nearly as important as it is to the other.  This is why Democrats will be at a disadvantage in any government shutdown fight, because a shutdown is catastrophic to a Democratic view of government (as a potential force for good in people's lives, as shutdowns mean that various programs Democrats find important stop helping people) but somewhat in service of a Republican view of government (as a restriction on individual liberty through onerous regulations and omnipresence in American lives), particularly since the military remains functioning during shutdowns. 

Thus, a neutered federal government isn't a bug to many Republicans--it's a feature.

I don't think that's true.  I think Democrats welcome the prospect of a government shutdown to show what mean, bad people the Republicans are.  Didn't get your SS check?  Republican fault.  Long lines/shut down at the fill-in-the-blank government supported organization?  Republican fault. 

It's so, so, so easy to blame the Republicans during shut down time.
[/quote]

Every time a bill needed to be passed, the Republicans would come up with demands that they knew no Democratic president could agree to. The Democrats refusal to just roll over and give up everything they had accomplished in the last century for a temporary reprieve from Republican created crises does not make a shutdown a Democratic plot.

The Republicans have been intent on not making any deals. This is illustrated by the medical insurance brouhaha.  The Republicans didn't like Hilary Care and came back with the Heritage plan. Obama figures that the right wing plan is better than nothing and adopts the Heritage Plan, which then becomes proof that Obama is a communist and not interested in consensus. The Democrats could agree to everything on the Republicans' agenda and it would not be enough.

[82 Card]

[quote author=ColoradoTree link=topic=14611.msg156636#msg156636 date=1455647492]
I think the problem is that for one of the two major parties, a functioning and efficient federal government isn't nearly as important as it is to the other.  This is why Democrats will be at a disadvantage in any government shutdown fight, because a shutdown is catastrophic to a Democratic view of government (as a potential force for good in people's lives, as shutdowns mean that various programs Democrats find important stop helping people) but somewhat in service of a Republican view of government (as a restriction on individual liberty through onerous regulations and omnipresence in American lives), particularly since the military remains functioning during shutdowns. 

Thus, a neutered federal government isn't a bug to many Republicans--it's a feature.

I don't think that's true.  I think Democrats welcome the prospect of a government shutdown to show what mean, bad people the Republicans are.  Didn't get your SS check?  Republican fault.  Long lines/shut down at the fill-in-the-blank government supported organization?  Republican fault. 

It's so, so, so easy to blame the Republicans during shut down time.
[/quote]

Every time a bill needed to be passed, the Republicans would come up with demands that they knew no Democratic president could agree to. The Democrats refusal to just roll over and give up everything they had accomplished in the last century for a temporary reprieve from Republican created crises does not make a shutdown a Democratic plot.

The Republicans have been intent on not making any deals. This is illustrated by the medical insurance brouhaha.  The Republicans didn't like Hilary Care and came back with the Heritage plan. Obama figures that the right wing plan is better than nothing and adopts the Heritage Plan, which then becomes proof that Obama is a communist and not interested in consensus. The Democrats could agree to everything on the Republicans' agenda and it would not be enough.