Blinkmanship
21st September 2013
Paul Mirengoff has it right, I think.
As John noted last night, congressional Republicans are moving toward a showdown with President Obama over defunding Obamacare. The House is poised to pass a continuing resolution that funds government operations beyond September, but does not include Obamacare. The Senate will pass a CR that funds Obamacare.
After that, it’s a question of who blinks first, and whether the blink will occur before or after a government shutdown. Call it a “blinksmanship.”
This crap happens all the time, and it’s usually the Republicans who cave.
An extended shutdown would, in all likelihood, tank the economy.
As to blame, it would, of course, be shared primarily between Obama and House Republicans. More blame would likely fall on Republicans. They, after all, will be the ones who disturbed a status quo that won’t look so bad when government services aren’t forthcoming and the economy takes a hit.
Moreover, Obama doesn’t have to face voters again. House Republicans have a rendezvous with the electorate next year.
That’s why I expect that Boehner and company will be the ones to blink, and do so pretty quickly.