Strong opposition to government shutdown includes Republicans

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0lEC83V2A79xkVQM6KPeTuMoH7yptqV9ycaeBIMLdZIGcL5GQYbcRzYT6FmphqKEq6465-tdHBWE1jy0e5h-irq6-BYaT1lKUpOFabX6SVFRXD67qceeJevIaoe7Qw6EtNDH8quWmFWp/s1600/Elephants,+fighting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0lEC83V2A79xkVQM6KPeTuMoH7yptqV9ycaeBIMLdZIGcL5GQYbcRzYT6FmphqKEq6465-tdHBWE1jy0e5h-irq6-BYaT1lKUpOFabX6SVFRXD67qceeJevIaoe7Qw6EtNDH8quWmFWp/s400/Elephants,+fighting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The first paragraph of Byron York's article in the <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/gop-poll-finds-strong-opposition-to-government-shutdown/article/2534580"><i>Washington Examiner</i></a> says it all:<br /><blockquote>"A new poll done for Republican members of Congress has found huge public opposition, and solid opposition among Republicans, to the idea of shutting down the government over the issue of funding Obamacare."</blockquote>An overwhelming 71 percent of Americans do not want a repeat of 1995 when Republicans shut down the government for three weeks. Even 61 percent of <i>Republican women</i> don't want to see Republicans go through with such a plan.<br /><br />For those who were not paying attention in 1995 when the GOP <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/30/voters-blamed-gop-for-1995-shutdown_n_842769.html">shut down the government</a>, it wasn't pretty. Google it. Or listen to the voices of experiences who have been there and done that, like Senator Saxby Chambliss, 69, and Joe Scarborough who was a congressman at the time.<br /><br />Now a poll, commissioned by Republicans, is confirming that a shutdown will not bode well for the GOP. Will those "show horses" of the U.S. Senate, as the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/01/opinion/collins-politics-of-a-screeching-halt.html?_r=1&"><i>New York Times</i></a> called Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Cruz of Texas, and Marco Rubio of Florida, continue to push for it?<br /><br />Byron York, like others, can look at this poll and read the tea leaves:<br /><blockquote>"But there is no doubt defunding advocates anticipate a possible shutdown; their hope is to persuade the public to blame President Obama, and not Republicans, for it. The new numbers suggest they will have a lot of persuading to do."</blockquote>It brings to mind once again American philosopher George Santayana's much-quoted belief, "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." Hopefully, GOP leadership and experienced voices will be able to stop the proposed fallacy.

Barack Obama Byron York George Santayana Marco Rubio New York Times Rand Paul Republicans Ted Cruz U.S. Congress Washington Examiner Strong opposition to government shutdown includes Republicans

The first paragraph of Byron York's article in the Washington Examiner says it all:"A new poll done for Republican members of Congress has found huge public opposition, and solid opposition among Republicans, to the idea of shutting down the governme…

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NY Times on GOP shutdown threat: 'Politics of a Screeching Halt'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0lEC83V2A79xkVQM6KPeTuMoH7yptqV9ycaeBIMLdZIGcL5GQYbcRzYT6FmphqKEq6465-tdHBWE1jy0e5h-irq6-BYaT1lKUpOFabX6SVFRXD67qceeJevIaoe7Qw6EtNDH8quWmFWp/s1600/Elephants,+fighting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0lEC83V2A79xkVQM6KPeTuMoH7yptqV9ycaeBIMLdZIGcL5GQYbcRzYT6FmphqKEq6465-tdHBWE1jy0e5h-irq6-BYaT1lKUpOFabX6SVFRXD67qceeJevIaoe7Qw6EtNDH8quWmFWp/s400/Elephants,+fighting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/01/opinion/collins-politics-of-a-screeching-halt.html?_r=0">New York Times Op-Ed columnist</a> Gail Collins does not mince words: <br /><blockquote>Right now, the show horses of the United States Senate are Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida. All preparing for a 2016 presidential bid. All making visits to Iowa. They’re the new faces of the Republican Party. Really, really new. The three of them have an average age of 45 and an average tenure in Washington of 1.9 years.</blockquote>Whatever happened to learning one job before moving to the next step?<br /><br />Republicans are alarmed, as the editorial notes:<br /><blockquote>And all three are currently in the news for their efforts to get Republicans to promise not to vote to fund the government this fall unless the president cancels Obamacare.<br /><br />"I think it’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard," said Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, speaking on behalf of a large number of Republicans who regard the idea of shutting down the government with horror and who are never going to be mentioned in a Quinnipiac presidential poll. </blockquote>For those who were not paying attention in 1995 when Republicans <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/30/voters-blamed-gop-for-1995-shutdown_n_842769.html">shut down the government</a>, it wasn't pretty. Google it. Or listen to the voices of experiences who have been there and done that, like Senator Saxby Chambliss, 69. On Wednesday's <a href="http://video.msnbc.msn.com/morning-joe/52629486/"><i>Morning Joe</i> on MSNBC</a>, Chambliss gave a dire reminder.<br /><br />“We’ve been down that road,” he said. “We shut down the government ...and we got our butts kicked over shutting down the government.” <br /><br />That's an understatement. It took years to regain the confidence of the American people who blamed Republicans for the shutdown. Indeed, <a href="http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/07/31/saxby-chambliss-good-hustle-tea-party-but-government-shutdowns-dont-work/"><i>Morning Joe</i></a> host Joe Scarborough was a Florida Congressman during the 1995 shutdown. He learned from that experience and called the current  threat "one of the stupidest arguments he's heard in two decades":<br /><blockquote>“We’ve got a president that’s gonna celebrate Republicans making the same mistake back when we shut down the government and basically re-elected Bill Clinton,” Scarborough said.</blockquote>The new breed of Republicans could learn from the experience and wisdom of those who have walked before them. But listening to Cruz, that doesn't seem likely:<br /><blockquote>“The sort of cocktail chatter wisdom that ‘Oh, the shutdown was a disaster for Republicans’ is not borne out by the data,” Cruz said.</blockquote>Meanwhile, the other side of the political aisle is watching this unfold, as Collins writes: <br /><blockquote>The Democrats are sort of horrified and sort of enthralled by the whole drama.<br /><br />“Give a call to Newt Gingrich. He’ll return your phone calls. Ask him how it worked,” suggested Majority Leader Harry Reid. </blockquote>It brings to mind American philosopher George Santayana's much-quoted belief,<i></i> "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it."

Bill Clinton Gail Collins George Santayana Harry Reid Joe Scarborough Marco Rubio Morning Joe New York Times Rand Paul Richard Burr Saxby Chambliss Ted Cruz U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Senate NY Times on GOP shutdown threat: 'Politics of a Screeching Halt'

New York Times Op-Ed columnist Gail Collins does not mince words: Right now, the show horses of the United States Senate are Rand Paul of Kentucky, Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida. All preparing for a 2016 presidential bid. All making …

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Va Dems circle wagons ... Va Republicans join in circular firing squad

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzu6mx_OP-aLZIZi7Ucyom47Zw-LDmp_2YgIElcYCyPc7Si7jGyYwuPbY7epVwA-z9Tck9k2KUuUMK8rKhVVm-qDU8QqbblpuxnMQ5A1Do1fszC1tXWH4sf5Hcd_GEmnWM5fXj2bOqxOT/s1600/2009+McD,+Bolling,+Cooch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzu6mx_OP-aLZIZi7Ucyom47Zw-LDmp_2YgIElcYCyPc7Si7jGyYwuPbY7epVwA-z9Tck9k2KUuUMK8rKhVVm-qDU8QqbblpuxnMQ5A1Do1fszC1tXWH4sf5Hcd_GEmnWM5fXj2bOqxOT/s400/2009+McD,+Bolling,+Cooch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Attacking Republicans seems to be the sport of the day, not only by Democrats, but also within the Republican Party. Recently, Marco Rubio and Chris Christie were attacked by the right wing of the GOP for not being conservative enough on their policies about immigration and other issues. Now add Bob McDonnell to that list.<br /><br />Conservative bloggers like <a href="http://bearingdrift.com/2013/07/10/on-conservativsm-vs-access/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bearingdrift+%28Bearing+Drift%29" target="_blank">Willie Deutsch at Bearing Drift</a> have joined with Democratic bloggers in the mindless act of becoming participants in attacking the Virginia Republican Governor. What should be more disconcerting is the effect this circular firing squad will have on GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli who has also been <a href="http://www.c-ville.com/cuccinelli-mcdonnell-and-the-star-scientific-scandal-that-just-keeps-growing/#.Ud68GW2kNRw" target="_blank">caught up in the controversy with his own issue of unreported gifts</a> from Star Scientific and Jonnie Williams. When the far right is done with Bob McDonnell, will they then turn their guns on Cuccinelli?<br /><br />In the words of <i>Richmond Times-Dispatch</i> political writer <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/jeff-schapiro/schapiro-even-mcdonnell-s-friends-bracing-for-the-worst/article_245b13e4-371b-54cc-ab69-08165cdc980b.html">Jeff Schapiro</a>, "... all Democrats have to do is watch a great Republican tradition: cannibalism."<br /><br />The hemorrhaging needs to stop.<br /><br />Interestingly enough, in the shadows away from this controversy stands Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. The far right had its fair share of attacking him earlier this year by calling him a RINO and questioning his conservative credentials. In hindsight, perhaps Bolling did the wisest thing by stepping aside in this toxic environment. Meanwhile, as Jim Hoeft  <a href="http://vapolitics.us/2013/07/bollings-office-says-business-as-usual/" target="_blank">reported,</a> it's business as usual in the LG's office as he goes about the job of working for the people of Virginia.<br /><br />The LG is also on the minds of the editorial board at Charlottesville's <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/opinion/editorials/bolling-in-shadows-as-mcdonnell-s-star-plunges/article_8311a3ea-e9c3-11e2-833f-0019bb30f31a.html" target="_blank"><i>Daily Progress</i></a>, wondering <i>what if</i> concerning Bolling's aborted campaign for Governor. Noting the issues surrounding the Governor, the <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/opinion/editorials/bolling-in-shadows-as-mcdonnell-s-star-plunges/article_8311a3ea-e9c3-11e2-833f-0019bb30f31a.html" target="_blank">Daily Progress</a> wrote:<br /><blockquote>“Much of this has occurred on center stage during a summer that was supposed to have belonged to Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a better man who stands in the shadows, cast there by a party that failed him and failed Virginia.<br /><br />Undercut by state GOP leaders whose political IQ’s can only be measured in minuses, Bolling was thrown to the side by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a man with more baggage than Samsonite.<br /><br />Rather than hold a primary to allow voters to select the next Republican candidate for governor, party string-pullers conducted the rough equivalent of a meeting in a smoke-filled room, holding a convention to hand Cuccinelli the nomination. <br /><br />Bolling could have taken his shot in 2009 — surely, he wishes now that he had — but he agreed to stand aside to unify the party, paving the path to McDonnell’s sweeping victory. The idea was that Bolling would wait his turn until 2013.<br /><br />Then along came Cuccinelli. One wonders how strongly the capital’s most powerful Republican stood for the friend who helped him win election. There are apparent prices to be paid for McDonnell’s friendship. Williams is Exhibit A, evidently.<br /><br />That has stirred rumblings about McDonnell’s possible early departure from Richmond. A conservative blogger claimed over the weekend that two sources told him the governor was preparing to resign in a plea deal to avoid ethics charges. McDonnell’s staff quickly denied the rumor.<br /><br />It’s a sign of how deep the governor is in his own mess. Were he to be forced out, moving Bolling into the mansion, Virginia would be served in the interim by a leader superior to the alternatives being offered up for the fall. Perhaps Bolling might gain fuel enough for a write-in run.<br /><br />That might be a dream, but it is far pleasanter than the nightmare now being lived out in the state’s highest office.</blockquote>What the far right's circular firing squad is doing is driving people like Laura Lennox of Richmond to<a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/your-opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article_2d1648dc-9440-5bf3-968b-678c444fd32a.html" target="_blank"> consider a write-in vote for Bill Bolling</a> while others have <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Write-in-Bill-Bolling-for-Virginia-Governor-2013/599114856787021?hc_location=timeline" target="_blank">taken to Facebook.</a><br /><br />The loser in all this is the Republican Party, both statewide and nationally. Maybe we all need to reconsider the 11th commandment often quoted by Ronald Reagan: Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.

Bill Bolling Bob McDonnell Chris Christie Daily Progress facebook Jim Hoeft Lynn R. Mitchell Marco Rubio Virginia Politics On Demand write-in campaign Va Dems circle wagons ... Va Republicans join in circular firing squad

Attacking Republicans seems to be the sport of the day, not only by Democrats, but also within the Republican Party. Recently, Marco Rubio and Chris Christie were attacked by the right wing of the GOP for not being conservative enough on their polici…

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Shenandoah Valley Tea Party Patriots call Marco Rubio 'Benedict Arnold' of the GOP

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXNsEL67DwWFNjzM5sTqUgHAQmA3J8-S4W5600CAiY7ohaPcU7ledEscAI5_zTQ1DOYpqbQIvVi0tvUyTV5GkvK4UNAWhHsGCR99dsXPAh4FUZ0jjZNppN0A-6l_VcHgQ4j1pw-Q5ogNg/s1600/Don't+Tread+On+Me+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXNsEL67DwWFNjzM5sTqUgHAQmA3J8-S4W5600CAiY7ohaPcU7ledEscAI5_zTQ1DOYpqbQIvVi0tvUyTV5GkvK4UNAWhHsGCR99dsXPAh4FUZ0jjZNppN0A-6l_VcHgQ4j1pw-Q5ogNg/s1600/Don't+Tread+On+Me+flag.jpg" /></a></div><br />What a difference between 2010 and 2013. Remember when Florida Senator <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/03/AR2010110308200.html">Marco Rubio was the tea party darling</a>?<br /><br />On Monday, the Shenandoah Valley Tea Party Patriots sent an email urging members to contact senators to vote against the immigration bill but something startling was in the email: they considered Marco Rubio a "Benedict Arnold." <br /><br />Now that Senator Rubio is working to find a pragmatic, bipartisan compromise to the extremely complicated issue of immigration, the tea partiers who loved him have turned on him.<br /><br />Here is the email from this group that declares itself, "Guardians of the Republic, Keepers of Liberty." At the bottom is their revelation about Senator Rubio: <br /><blockquote>To the Men and Women of Virginia<br />From The Shenandoah Valley Tea Party<br /><br />A decisive debate will soon begin -- a debate which will determine the fate of this great nation. The opening words of the debate will be spoken in the United States Senate.<br /><br />And, the name of the debate is Amnesty -- Amnesty for 20 million illegal aliens and amnesty for 40 million of their relatives. Should the forces supporting Amnesty win the debate, 25% of the population of United States will be citizens from third world countries with little or no understanding of the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. America will be ruled by a one-party government which will be socialist and authoritarian.<br /><br />The Shenandoah Valley Tea Party urges you to fight the forces supporting Amnesty with the most powerful tool available to you – your telephone, wielded with passion and purpose.<br /><br />Raise your telephone and raise you voice to the Senators in Washington.<br /><br />In 2006, when Amnesty legislation was debated, the Bill was defeated because Americans across the country besieged Washington with telephone calls. Amnesty was defeated with the telephone then. Amnesty can be defeated with the telephone now.<br /><br />Men and women of Virginia: This is your country. Will you defend it?<br /><br />Notes for calling: 1) Emails have little influence as many Congressman have their staffs delete emails without reading them. 2) Some Senators will turn off their incoming calls, sending callers to a voicemail box, which is then emptied without listening to the messages. 3) Call the Washington offices first. If the telephones are turned off, then call the regional offices. The telephone numbers are found on the Senators’ websites. Google by name and look under “Contact Us”. 4) Fax’s usually go through with no delay. 5) Be tenacious. 6) Contact your own Senators, and other Senators who should be encouraged to vote against Schumer’s Immigration Bill.<br /><br />Listed below are some, but not all, of the Senators who you should call. Forward this email to everyone you know.<br /><br />Republicans who are up for re-election next year<br /><br />Lamar Alexander (Tennessee) (202) 224-4944<br />Saxby Chambliss (Georgia) (202) 224-3521<br />Thad Cochran (Mississippi) (202) 224-5054<br />Susan Collins (Maine) (202) 224-2523<br />John Cornyn (Texas) (202) 224-2934<br />Mike Enzi (Wyoming) (202) 224-3424<br />Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) (202) 224-5972<br />James Inhofe (Oklahoma) (202) 224-4721<br />Mike Johanns (Nebraska) (202) 224-4224<br />Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) (202) 224-2541<br />Jim Risch (Idaho) (202) 224-2752<br />Pat Roberts (Kansas) (202) 224-4774<br />Jeff Sessions (Alabama) (202) 224-4124<br /><br />Virginia’s Senators<br />Tim Kaine (Virginia) (202) 224-4024<br />Mark Warner (Virginia) (202) 224-2023<br /><br />The Benedict Arnold of the Republican Party<br />Marco Rubio (Florida) (202) 224-3041</blockquote>The tea party, the group that started four years ago as individual, independent thinkers following their own consciences, now walks lock-step with the people who make the decisions for them. Those people have now decided Senator Rubio is a traitor.

amnesty Don't Tread On Me flag group think immigration lock-step Marco Rubio Shenandoah Valley Tea Party Patriots Shenandoah Valley Tea Party Patriots call Marco Rubio 'Benedict Arnold' of the GOP

What a difference between 2010 and 2013. Remember when Florida Senator Marco Rubio was the tea party darling?On Monday, the Shenandoah Valley Tea Party Patriots sent an email urging members to contact senators to vote against the immigration bill but…

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