Democrats: Revoke the Bush Tax Cuts or We’ll Shut Down the Government

How’s that for turning the tables?  Or maybe the Democrats could demand:  “De-fund the Pentagon and the Drug Enforcement Agency or We Won’t Raise the Debt Limit.”  “Democrats are willing to keep the government running, just as soon as the PATRIOT Act is eliminated.”

Two can play this game.  The House won’t always be controlled by Republicans.

If the shoe was on the other foot, would we still be getting all these “neutral” headlines about “Both parties are blaming each other” and “Lots of finger pointing from both sides.”

President Obama is absolutely right to refuse ANY negotiations “with a gun held to the head of the American people,” as he described it.  As soon as the GOP teahadists un-strap the bombs from their chests, we’ll talk.

And it’s imperative that the Democrats not agree to any of the Republicans’ piecemeal overtures, no matter how tempting or politically appealing.  “If you’ll sign this one little agreement, a disabled homeless veteran can take his grandson, who has cancer, to Yosemite National Park for one last visit.  Pleeeeease?!?!?!?!?”

NO.

As soon as the Democrats agree to one single heart-wrenching exception to the government shutdown, the floodgates will be open.  It’ll be the end of the day-to-day legislative process as we know it.  There’ll be absolutely zero incentive to write out complex bills with big words, pore over details, bicker over the wording, reach across the aisle, make tentative agreements, etc.  Why bother with all of that boring drivel when it’s so much easier to just govern by extortion?  Blackmail?

Can’t achieve your agenda through the legislative process?  No problem.  Just wait ‘til the federal government is about to run out of money, or we need to raise the debt limit, or we need emergency disaster relief after a hurricane.  Ready?  Write down the exact details of your wettest wetdream, strap on the explosives, and spew out your demands.

“De-Fund the Homeland Security Department!”  “Eliminate the minimum wage and suspend all workplace safety regulations!”  “Eliminate ALL funding for the Environmental Protection Agency!”

Or America gets it.