Government Shutdown: Better Hedge the Bet

 

It is a beautiful day outside in Washington today. Only the horrible commuter traffic blemished the sunshine and the gentle cool breeze. That is, or course, on the outside. Inside there are families grieving on the unexplainable events yesterday at the Navy Yard. I cannot nor will I ever understand where such evil comes from.

Inside today also the leaders of the county are grappling with pending financial events which if not properly addressed will have very big political and economic consequences. Continuing funding of the government past September 30 and the raising of the debt ceiling have to be resolved one way or the other.

Leading the charge of positive action from behind is, of course, President Obama who spent a good amount of time yesterday berating and calling out his opposition. Absolutely amazing. After such a great feckless performance in foreign policy on Syria, the President reverts back to what he does best—name calling, pointing fingers and blaming others. He is just not going to negotiate. Well, so be it.

Over in the House, the Leadership is trying to deal with a gaggle of conservatives Captain Queggs. Speaker Boehner should bring in some more merlot to deal with his own guys. Solutions are nowhere to be found. Scalps on the belt is the order of the day, take no prisoners.

What to do about funding the massively unpopular Affordable Health Care Act? What level to fund the government? (The Senate and House are very far apart in theory) and for how long? What about the sequester effective on January 1.

No one and I mean knows one can answer these questions. It may be some legislative magician will come up with something. It may be just a test on who blinks first. It may be the patient must get sicker before healing can begin. It could be some politicians will gladly hoist themselves on their own preverbal petard. How much is left in the Presidential clout tank?

At this point, things look bleak for a quick solution. Liberals have been able to continue try to shuck the blame on the conservatives. Strange due to the fact the liberals control 2/3 of the government. What they really mean, is Republicans are irrational because they are not doing what they want them to do, not falling in line. They actually have other ideas, concerns. How dare they?

In any event, I would hedge my bets that it is all going to be fine soon. It may be fifty-fifty the government shuts down for a bit. Not the end of the world, I would say. Probably bad politics. However, I would say the Republicans will not go quietly into the night without getting some thing in return, just do not know nor do they know what that is.