Turns out, sadly, that I was right in viewing the well publicized 'budget negotiations' as phony political theater with a predetermined denouement.
The closing scene, which was staged last night, was no surprise. President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had made it clear that they would welcome a government shutdown if they didn't get what they wanted. On the other hand, Speaker of the House John Boehner clearly was terrified at the thought of, and prepared to do whatever was necessary to avoid a shutdown.
One can imagine the backstage 'negotiations' that took place in this context. Mr. Boehner must have been sweating and pleading for a sop -- something that would enable him to claim to his party's supporters that he had fought hard and achieved everything possible for them rather than being seen as being dragged in chains behind a chariot bearing the triumphant Democrat leaders.
Thus Mr. Boehner emerged with a spending cut that Lee Rodgers here accurately describes as saving a few drops of water in an ocean of over-spending, and trying to convince the rubes that the little pile of peas that he has saved really is a big pile of peas. Obama and Reid won continued funding of Obamacare, continued funding of the nation's largest abortion providing organization, continued funding of almost all of their other odious innovations and programs, and an unscathed spending culture.
The unhappy fact is that the Republican leadership, notwithstanding what its members say, is a tower of jello with no core values or principles. They stand for nothing. The GOP has become the GOPPPP -- the Gutless Old Posturing, Preening, and Pretending Party.
As Obama and his sycophantic lefttrickle press joyously were proclaiming as they came out this morning it's business as usual today.
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