It’s Easier to Blame Congress:
Whereas the 1995 shutdowns involved presidential vetoes, a 2011 version could result from Congressional failure to send the president a continuing resolution in the first place. The blame will thus fall on Capitol Hill instead of the White House. True, Democrats control the Senate and would arguably share responsibility for a deadlock. But as was the case 16 years ago, a gifted communicator sits in the White House and sets the tone for his fellow Democrats. Together, they will point the finger at the G.O.P. If the Republicans are as splintered as they were in 1995, they will again lose the war of perceptions.
RTWT.
“gifted communicator sits in the WH”? really?
Yea “gifted communicator” my ass.
“The great thing to be done now, is to do nothing, but wait for the good consequence of their divisions and mistakes”
The advice given to William of Orange in 1685 by George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax (1633 – 1695), author of “The Character of a Trimmer”.
I don’t think of Obama as a good, let alone great, communicator. Clinton was good but there are none in this clown show.
It would be very helpful to establish the scenarios under which partial shutdowns will happen. Even inserting the word “partial” is an improvement on the current public conversation. So here are three.
1. The House does not propose funding for an organization. It dies. That’s the House’s fault
2. The House proposes to fund an organization at a certain level. The Senate doesn’t like it, passes an alternative and they cannot agree. That’s the shared responsibility of the House and the Senate
3. The House and the Senate agree to a funding level but the President vetoes. Override fails. That’s the fault of the President and his veto supporters.
I think that overwhelming majorities of the public would agree with the blame apportionment above. But that needs to be done via polling.
The tea party could be enormously useful here in establishing these mini narratives of blame apportionment.
I think we’re going to end up at scenario 3 which means that Democrats supporting the President have a heavier need of fog, dissembling, and spin. They should be denied that.
I had said in a comment on Part 1 that the MSM is resorting to complete fabrications to support its narrative. Here are some current examples:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/02/028459.php
http://althouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/heres-latest-evidence-that-nothing-has.html
The GOP has to deal with the fact that the MSM will not merely blantantly lie, but will outright contend in print and on the air that GOP office-holders, candidates and public figures said things they did not say. I would not be surprised if they start altering videos of GOP candidates, etc., in the same fashion.