Congressional Tea Party talks about the American Government Shutdown: "It's exactly what we wanted!"

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**Maddermax**

From the Washington Post:

While much of official Washington on Saturday somberly faced the likelihood of a government shutdown, the most conservative members of the House sported a different expression.

They were smiling.

“We’re very excited,” said Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.). “It’s exactly what we wanted, and we got it.”

On Saturday, conservatives rallied House Republicans around a plan to fund the government but delay the Affordable Care Act, President Obama’s signature health-care law, for a year. It was rejected within hours by Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), making it unlikely that Congress has the time to find common ground before a midnight Monday deadline.

So, for a day at least, conservatives had forestalled the expected outcome: GOP leaders giving in on the health-care law to avoid a shutdown. Conservatives said the imminent death of the bill and the possibility of a shutdown were overshadowed by angry constituents who demanded that the law, commonly known as Obamacare, be stopped.

“It’s wonderful,” said Rep. John Abney Culberson (R-Tex.), clapping his hands to emphasize the point. “We’re 100 percent united!”

.......

On Saturday, Huelskamp said the latest spending fight “is a culmination of doing what we said we were going to do.”

“Mark Twain once said, do the right thing and it will gratify some people and astonish the rest,” he said. “America’s been a little astonished by us doing the right thing in the last few days here in the House.”

Huelskamp said Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) had talked to his GOP colleagues about the political damage Republicans suffered during similar shutdowns in the mid-1990s.

“He has an opinion,” he said. “It’s an opinion based on experience in the last century.”

Bachmann insisted that the GOP would ultimately be rewarded for standing firm. “People will be very grateful,” she said.

Thoughts?

**Jihadin**

We’re very excited,” said Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.). “It’s exactly what we wanted, and we got it.”

Didn't know she spoke for all the Republicans.......

**Kilkrazy**

They would say that, wouldn't they.

They're hardly going to say they've been stupid and obstructive.

**Maddermax**

Jihadin wrote:
We’re very excited,” said Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.). “It’s exactly what we wanted, and we got it.”

Didn't know she spoke for all the Republicans.......

There's a rather large swathe of Republicans who've been itching for this to happen, of course, but I can change it to Tea Partiers if you like. I suppose the other republicans are just following them, rather than being gleeful about the shut-down.

**Easy E**

Michelle Bachmann doesn't speak for the R's, she speaks for the Tea Party Caucus and she isn't even up for re-election.

She is more likely running for FOX news guest.

**Fafnir**

Why is it that whenever I hear a Tea Partier talk, I can't help but imagine them masturbating?

**Seaward**

Fafnir wrote:
Why is it that whenever I hear a Tea Partier talk, I can't help but imagine them masturbating?

Projection?

**motyak**

Fafnir wrote:
Why is it that whenever I hear a Tea Partier talk, I can't help but imagine them masturbating?

You should probably see a counsellor of some kind then...

edit: dammit I like Seaward's response better, because it works in several ways

**SickSix**

I am actually a little surprised that Boehner didn't capitulate at the last second.

I found it hilarious people are calling house Republicans obstructionists when they are the only ones passing plans and trying to compromise.

**skyth**

SickSix wrote:
I found it hilarious people are calling house Republicans obstructionists when they are the only ones passing plans and trying to compromise.

Maybe because that is what they are. This is not something that you play political games with. Plus, they are not compromising. They are offering absolutely nothing that the other side is looking for. They are just throwing a temper tantrum until they get their way.

Here's a nice article explaining it. http://billmoyers.com/2013/09/30/shutdown-imminent-how-he-said-she-said-reporting-helped-bring-us-to-the-brink/

**Ouze**

SickSix wrote:
I am actually a little surprised that Boehner didn't capitulate at the last second.

I found it hilarious people are calling house Republicans obstructionists when they are the only ones passing plans and trying to compromise.

"Give me a million dollars or I'll blow up your house"

-No

"Give me half a million dollars, or I'll blow up your house"

-No

"Why won't you compromise?"

-Sebster

**PhantomViper**

SickSix wrote:
I am actually a little surprised that Boehner didn't capitulate at the last second.

I found it hilarious people are calling house Republicans obstructionists when they are the only ones passing plans and trying to compromise.

Taking hostages and making demands is "compromising" now?

I'm a dirty foreigner, and so I don't have a horse on this race one way or the other, but how can Americans really believe this spiel that the Republicans are stating?

They won't pass the budget unless a completely unrelated law that has already been passed is changed / taken down? And people are really believing that this is the Republicans trying to compromise?

What is next? The Democrats won't raise the debt ceiling unless the 2nd amendment is stricken from the constitution? This is a completely irresponsible way to make politics, not to mention of running a country!

**Seaward**

It'll be nice to have you guys on record like this.

**Frazzled**

Fafnir wrote:
Why is it that whenever I hear a Tea Partier talk, I can't help but imagine them masturbating?

Why is it whenever I see a Canadian post like this, I can't help imagine there's a Tim Horton's without a cashier?

**Ouze**

Fafnir wrote:
Why is it that whenever I hear a Tea Partier talk, I can't help but imagine them masturbating?

This went to a weird place.

**ironicsilence**

Its hard to fully blame the GOP for the shut down, the clowns in the house ran on the platform that they will remove obamacare by any means, and they got elected for that. I blame all the people that re-elected / elected the anti-obamacare sect of the GOP

**gorgon**

ironicsilence wrote:
Its hard to fully blame the GOP for the shut down, the clowns in the house ran on the platform that they will remove obamacare by any means, and they got elected for that. I blame all the people that re-elected / elected the anti-obamacare sect of the GOP

Ta-da. And there it is. When you elect based on ability to "give those Dems/Republicans hell," you get representatives who don't govern.

I just want them to govern.

GOVERN.

**SickSix**

All you people do understand why this is even a problem right?

BECAUSE THE DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED SENATE HASNT PASSED A BUDGET IN 5 YEARS!

**whembly**

ironicsilence wrote:
Its hard to fully blame the GOP for the shut down, the clowns in the house ran on the platform that they will remove obamacare by any means, and they got elected for that. I blame all the people that re-elected / elected the anti-obamacare sect of the GOP

Stop talking sense man! Back to the front!

Everyone else...

What was so bad about that last CR the House passed?

1) Individual Mandate delayed for one year... exactly the same as what Obama did for Big Business.
2) Forced the Congress Critters and appointed officials into the SAME exchange with the same subsidies calculus as normal citizen (the Vitter Amendment).
3) Finally, fully fund the rest of government w/o the usual Republican cry to reduce spending.

What was so bad and ridiculous about this?

**PhantomViper**

whembly wrote:
ironicsilence wrote:
Its hard to fully blame the GOP for the shut down, the clowns in the house ran on the platform that they will remove obamacare by any means, and they got elected for that. I blame all the people that re-elected / elected the anti-obamacare sect of the GOP

Stop talking sense man! Back to the front!

Everyone else...

What was so bad about that last CR the House passed?

1) Individual Mandate delayed for one year... exactly the same as what Obama did for Big Business.
2) Forced the Congress Critters and appointed officials into the SAME exchange with the same subsidies calculus as normal citizen (the Vitter Amendment).
3) Finally, fully fund the rest of government w/o the usual Republican cry to reduce spending.

What was so bad and ridiculous about this?

None of those things had anything to do with the actual budget?

**whembly**

SickSix wrote:
All you people do understand why this is even a problem right?

BECAUSE THE DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED SENATE HASNT PASSED A BUDGET IN 5 YEARS!

Well... to be technical, the Senate did pass "a budget" in March of '13. It was a crock of gak... sure and would've never made it to the House because the Senate had no desire to negotiate. *shrug* Give credit when due...

But, yeah, you're right about prior to that...

**ironicsilence**

SickSix wrote:
All you people do understand why this is even a problem right?

BECAUSE THE DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED SENATE HASNT PASSED A BUDGET IN 5 YEARS!

i would point to the fact that congress in general hasnt done anything other then finger point and cry like children since obama got into office. Not to mention the fact that the President wants nothing to do with the speaker of the house. john boehner is the defacto leader of the GOP and as the speaker of the house needs to have a better relationship with the President, they have always hated each other and as a result we get a worthless congress

**whembly**

PhantomViper wrote:
whembly wrote:
ironicsilence wrote:
Its hard to fully blame the GOP for the shut down, the clowns in the house ran on the platform that they will remove obamacare by any means, and they got elected for that. I blame all the people that re-elected / elected the anti-obamacare sect of the GOP

Stop talking sense man! Back to the front!

Everyone else...

What was so bad about that last CR the House passed?

1) Individual Mandate delayed for one year... exactly the same as what Obama did for Big Business.
2) Forced the Congress Critters and appointed officials into the SAME exchange with the same subsidies calculus as normal citizen (the Vitter Amendment).
3) Finally, fully fund the rest of government w/o the usual Republican cry to reduce spending.

What was so bad and ridiculous about this?

None of those things had anything to do with the actual budget?

That's not what I'm asking...

The house PASSED numerous budgets... Reid/Senate refused to take it up for vote.

All that's left is to pass Continuing Resolutions... which is essentially, fund the government based on last year's spending levels + adj increase. The kicker is that both parties, since the dawn of time, will introduce policy changes... and here we are.

So... again... what's wrong with it?

Automatically Appended Next Post:

ironicsilence wrote:
SickSix wrote:
All you people do understand why this is even a problem right?

BECAUSE THE DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED SENATE HASNT PASSED A BUDGET IN 5 YEARS!

i would point to the fact that congress in general hasnt done anything other then finger point and cry like children since obama got into office. Not to mention the fact that the President wants nothing to do with the speaker of the house. john boehner is the defacto leader of the GOP and as the speaker of the house needs to have a better relationship with the President, they have always hated each other and as a result we get a worthless congress

Uh... that's normal. Sad... but normal.

Did ya forget the Bush/Cinton years already? o.O

**gorgon**

Ouze wrote:
Fafnir wrote:
Why is it that whenever I hear a Tea Partier talk, I can't help but imagine them masturbating?

This went to a weird place.

Yeah.

Personally, I picture someone socially awkward with a facial tic or some other odd personal habit. Something not unlike the classic game store gamer, albeit with better hygiene.

I know plenty of normal, well-adjusted Republicans...but not any bonafide Tea Partiers. The only place I see them is when I spy an extremely odd, yet racially homogeneous bunch of people waving flags and anti-Obama signs at the corner of some random intersection.

**PhantomViper**

whembly wrote:

That's not what I'm asking...

The house PASSED numerous budgets... Reid/Senate refused to take it up for vote.

All that's left is to pass Continuing Resolutions... which is essentially, fund the government based on last year's spending levels + adj increase. The kicker is that both parties, since the dawn of time, will introduce policy changes... and here we are.

So... again... what's wrong with it?

To my foreigner eyes, that is exactly what is wrong with it. They are risking damage to the country and certainly causing duress to several hundred thousand American families because they wan't changes to something that isn't actually related to this CR...

**Kilkrazy**

ironicsilence wrote:
Its hard to fully blame the GOP for the shut down, the clowns in the house ran on the platform that they will remove obamacare by any means, and they got elected for that. I blame all the people that re-elected / elected the anti-obamacare sect of the GOP

See Paul Krugman's blog.

I know he is a filthy liberal but please look at the last line.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/30/opinion/krugman-rebels-without-a-clue.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

**Forar**

A brief shutdown (according to what I've read, they're usually only a couple of days long, the longest to date was 3 weeks) is unlikely to be the end of the world.

But if the GOP keeps playing chicken with the debt ceiling...

**ironicsilence**

the bush clinton congresses were about a 1000% more productive then this congress. Pretty sure if you look at congress for the last 20 years you wont see any that have passed fewer bills then have been passed in the last 5 years

**Kilkrazy**

How does the government get opened up again?

Does the Tea Party or the Democratic Party have to cave in?

**ironicsilence**

Forar wrote:
A brief shutdown (according to what I've read, they're usually only a couple of days long, the longest to date was 3 weeks) is unlikely to be the end of the world.

But if the GOP keeps playing chicken with the debt ceiling...

if by playing chicken you mean refusing to increase the debt ceiling without a reduction in spending or something that looks like a balanced budget