Another Government Shutdown?

The White House Blog ^ | September 10, 2010 | Dan Pfeiffer

[Gil4]

Another Government Shutdown? Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on September 10, 2010 at 10:33 PM EDT Today the President once again discussed his proposals to boost America’s economic recovery – from rebuilding America’s roads and bridges, to giving businesses incentives to invest, to help for small business. If one sat back and tried to think of the most bipartisan idea the President could possibly propose to boost job creation, it would probably be providing tax breaks for small businesses, and yet even this has been blocked by the partisan Republican minority from even coming up for an up-or-down vote for months.

But for any who thought that blocking even such common sense measures was the limit of how far Republicans in Congress could go in putting partisanship ahead of getting Americans back to work, the Vice Chairman of the House Republicans’ campaign committee (the NRCC) was across town making clear that they were prepared to go much further. While the President was laying out bipartisan solutions to continue creating jobs, this Republican Congressman was rallying his political base in favor of his preferred solution – simply shutting the government down altogether:

Speaking to hundreds of activists gathered at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington for the Faith and Freedom Conference, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) urged the audience to stand with House Republicans when they go toe-to-toe with President Barack Obama.

Westmoreland said his caucus – presuming it takes control of the House come November – aims to pass spending bills that Obama is likely to veto. He predicted Republicans would not be able to override such a veto, creating a standoff that could cause Congress to grind to a halt.

“If the government shuts down, we want you with us,” he said.

The congressman recalled a similar shutdown that took place in 1995, when Newt Gingrich – also a speaker at the conference – was serving as House speaker.

This is far from the first time shutting down the government has been put forth by prominent conservatives. Newt Gingrich himself has been urging Republicans to follow the strategy laid out above, and Fox News correspondent Dick Morris recently gave a speech in which he said: "There's going to be a government shutdown just like in '95 and '96, but we're going to win it this time."

We have already heard the head of the same NRCC say “we need to go back to the exact same agenda” they supported during the past 10 years on the economy. And we have heard the House Republican Leader John Boehner promise to push for repeal of Wall Street Reform, allowing huge banks to go right back to the reckless gambling with our economy that led to the crisis the President is leading America out of.

While the President is offering a vision about how to move the country forward and help middle class Americans and small business owners, Republicans in Congress are busy telling partisans and Republican party activists to get prepared for the same stalemate and gridlock they brought the last time they were in charge. The President, like most Americans, is open to hearing new ideas to create jobs and boost the recovery from anybody in any party – unfortunately Americans are not hearing those ideas from Republicans in Congress.

Dan Pfeiffer is White House Communications Director

[Gil4]

I bet Republicans would at least pass a budget. I also bet the R's would cave just like they did in '95, which was the beginning of the end of the '94 revolution.

[Founding Father]

You are correct on both points. Funny you never hear Newt talk about tucking tail and running.

[Brilliant]

Maybe if the Dems would let the GOP lawmakers read the bills before they vote, the GOP would not block them.

[screaminsunshine]

There will be continuing resolutions. And I hope gridlock. People will realize once again that Republicans can not make Socialism work any better than Democrats.

[Lurker]

Funny you never hear Newt talk about tucking tail and running.

If Newt hadn't been so busying screwing his Washington mistress he might have actually been able to counter Clintons BS.

[RightWingConspirator]

More of the “blame Bush, the Republicans, the neighbor’s dog”—anybody but the incompetent fool, Zerobama, for the problems that the administration has gotten our country into.

[C210N]

How about just shutting part of the federal government down. I’m talking about carefully, word-by-word, going thru Article 1, Section 8, and then not funding anything not thereby covered. And no fancy schmancy interpretations of “general welfare” all you’ze smartypant ‘rats.

[Fzob]

I have long been a firm believer is the positive power of government gird-lock.

When the government does nothing Americans seem to prosper.

[jacquej]

Excellent idea!

Don’t you wish the pubis had the stones to stand up and make your idea a BIG issue? Might actually frighten the donkeys in the streets!

[conservativepoet]

Look what the democrat controlled congress has become. It’s become so dysfunctional and narcissistic that it can’t tell the difference between radical Islam vs Sarah Palin. It can’t tell the difference between dangerous debt limits and the way toward surplus. Everything the democrats touch turns into rot. Why in the world would you want more of that? So please understand I would be very happy to see this egotistical juggernaut shutdown and leave the common man alone.

[November 2010]

Difference between 1994-95 and now is the interenet and FOX. There isn’t automatic media support for the Democratic line of horse puckey.

[November 2010]

And talk radio beyond “just” Limbaugh.

[Gil4]

“More of the ‘blame Bush...”

Ain’t that the truth. It’s pretty funny that the ‘rats are warning about a government shutdown. If I believed that the R’s actually had the guts to do it, I might even write a check to the RNC.

[depressed in 06]

Shut the government down, people would discover how little they need of it.

[Iron Munro]

"the President once again discussed his proposals to boost America’s economic recovery – from rebuilding America’s roads and bridges"

He already pulled this BAIT & SWITCH on us two years ago.
What happened to the first $900 billion that he said would be used to rebuild America's infrastructure?

Remarks of President-elect Barack Obama Radio Address Friday, Nov. 21st, 2008

I have already directed my economic team to come up with an Economic Recovery Plan that will mean 2.5 million more jobs by January of 2011 – a plan big enough to meet the challenges we face that I intend to sign soon after taking office. We’ll be working out the details in the weeks ahead, but it will be a two-year, nationwide effort to jumpstart job creation in America and lay the foundation for a strong and growing economy.

We’ll put people back to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges, modernizing schools that are failing our children, and building wind farms and solar panels; fuel-efficient cars and the alternative energy technologies that can free us from our dependence on foreign oil and keep our economy competitive in the years ahead.

Obama Offers Highlights of His Economic Stimulus Plan

Obama said he will push Congress to enact legislation that he said would "help save or create" 2.5 million jobs, "while rebuilding our infrastructure, improving our schools, reducing our dependence on oil, and saving billions of dollars."

The plan, as outlined by Obama, includes:

-- The largest investment in roads and bridges "since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s." Responding to concerns that new transportation money might be caught up in red tape at the state level, Obama said states must quickly invest in road and bridge construction and repair -- or lose the federal dollars.

-- The "most sweeping" program to upgrade and rehabilitate the nation's schools by repairing buildings, installing energy-efficient systems and buying new computers for the classrooms. The idea, he said, is to create "21st-century schools."

[Cobra64]

.

[Dapper 26]

What pathetic BS. Dems have the numbers to pass anything anytime they want. However, they know “someone” is taking down names and numbers and Michelle Bachman is cranking up the subpoena press.

[FlyingEagle]

I heard Democrat Gene Green speak at lunch on Thursday in Houston - he said this will be the only priority in the session between now and election, and that it is unlikely a bill will be approved, so the lame duck session will have to deal with it.

[LonePalm]

Yes, please.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[4Liberty]

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN? YAY!