Incoherent Policy

A front page story reveals that the strategy to shut down the government was designed by David Koch (Koch Brothers), Edwin Meese III and leaders of more than 36 conservative groups.  They absolutely want to shut down ObamaCare and advocate using government shutdown and not making timely payments (default) as reasonable strategies.  Saying NO to such undemocratic means is the only reasonable path for the Democrats to take.  There can be no compromise with such precedent.  ObamaCare passed as a separate law and should be discussed as a separate law.  The creditworthiness of the US is not negotiable.

Then an inside story reveals Jeff Epperson, seller of confederate flags outside a civil war battlefield, and a flag flying member of the Tea Party.  He should live in New Hampshire because he flies a "Don't Tread On Me" flag.  I feel like that towards members of the Tea Party, and I am sure the Democrats and moderate Republicans in New Hampshire agree with me.  Anyway, if his Congressman caves on the shutdown without a change in ObamaCare, he is going to vote for a more conservative candidate in the next GOP Primary, even though his current Congressman is Tom Graves, a designer of the shutdown the government if we don't defund ObamaCare plan. Mr. Epperson is not a clear thinker about the democratic process.

Then another story reveals that GOP Congressman are busy blasting out emails saying they funded the National Institute of Health ("Science is a gift"), the Defense Department and SNAP, while not funding  other stuff.  Not to mention the 407-0 vote to pay government workers for doing nothing.  That is what Conservatives say happens with welfare and food stamps, and they want to change that.  Well, they could start by bring the paid, but non-working, Federal Employees back to work!

I see no coherency in the GOP and it is very hard to negotiate with an incoherent opposition.  Until the Tea Party is cut loose from the Budget Discussions, there can be no Grand Bargain.  Let's hope we get there before the government runs out of money in late October.

The Same Idea said Better

And for those who don't want to click on the Link, I paste the opening below:

"Suppose President Obama announced:

Unless Republicans agree to my proposal for gun control, I will use my authority as commander in chief to scuttle one aircraft carrier a week in the bottom of the ocean.

I invite Republican leaders to come to the White House and negotiate a deal to preserve our military strength. I hope Republicans will work with me to prevent the loss of our carrier fleet.

If the Republicans refuse to negotiate, I will be compelled to begin by scuttling the U.S.S. George Washington in the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench, with 80 aircraft on board.

In that situation, we would all agree that Obama had gone nuts. Whatever his beefs with Republicans, it would be an inexcusable betrayal to try to get his way by destroying our national assets. That would be an abuse of power and the worst kind of blackmail."