I have pondered, questioned, and quizzed this same topic for a week now. All I get back from the Senators is gobbledygook of course - and all I get from FReepers is sarcastic one-liners [albeit good ones] about 0bama and his band of losers... but never anything of substance. It seems that nobody really can answer this question.
The closest this article came was to assert that the Senators in question did not want to be seen as shutting it down. This is actually the most logical of the “explanations I’ve come across [with one very major problem though.]
If the Senate never gets to vote on the bill purely b/c of no cloture, then it would indeed be very clear that the Senate Rs did indeed prevent the senate from even voting to keep the gov open. This line of thought does not judge the value of such strategy - just makes it clear that the Senate Rs would be nailed for being responsible. Even I get that.
The major problem I have with resolving this as the major component of opposition is that despite my continual quest for information, this never came out. Not from the Senators I was able to ask, not from anyone.
Maybe it’s just that I understand the big picture better now - but just damn why didn’t the Senators just say this? That’s why I doubt it as a major force.
After all, if no cloture then when would Senators get to go on record in support or opposition to 0bamacare? They wouldn’t. But the gov’t would shut down unless the House soon followed up with separate component bills funding pieces. Everyone would vote on those and if they didn’t pass, THAT would be the D’s fault - and this should have been the strategy from the get-go.
And that should be the strategy now.
Not many of us put principle ahead of our livelihoods, and arrogant senators, drunk with power are rarely among such people.
Obama controls the DNC and DSCC.
Not a single senate rat voted against Obamacare because it would be political suicide to lose campaign funding support. Go along with Obama, and campaign funds will flow. Oppose Him and expect to be primaried.
To whom are senators accountable? The people of their states? As this week’s showdown over Obamacare funding illustrates, rat senators, who know that Obamacare is strangling our economy and destroying health services, will continue to support the man who controls the campaign funds that will get them reelected.
Isn’t democracy grand?