The Tea Party, Not Democrats or Republicans, Is the Problem

The Daily Beast's Politics Beast ^ | October 21, 2013 | Jon Favreau

[2ndDivisionVet]

So now that our government is open and able to pay its bills, what soon-to-be-forgotten lessons have we learned from this sorry fiasco?

Perhaps most important is the reminder that political temper tantrums in Washington exact a toll that goes far beyond unfavorable headlines and worse-than-dog-poo poll numbers. This decision hurt people. Some families couldn’t pay their bills. Others had nowhere safe to send their children while they worked. Poor women lost vouchers that helped buy food and formula for their newborns. Cancer treatments were put on hold for patients who didn’t have much time to waste.

All told, the shutdown and flirtation with default cost America north of $20 billion. The countries that weren’t busy mocking us were frightened by our behavior, wondering if the world’s wealthiest nation would become the world’s deadbeat nation, taking everyone else down with us in a global collapse worse than 2008.

And for what? For what purpose was this pain and humiliation inflicted upon the American people?

Yes, you, Rep. Marlin Stutzman from Indiana. Do you have an answer?

“We’re not going to be disrespected. We have to get something out of this. And I don’t know what that even is.”

Oh.

Which brings me to the second shutdown lesson. As a country, we may never get a more revealing, disturbing look at the true source of Washington’s dysfunction than we did over the last few weeks. Together, we endured a 21-hour non-filibuster speech from White Castle enthusiast Ted Cruz that was so devoid of self-awareness I’m not even sure he knew he was giving it. We saw Sarah Palin come all the way back from the small town of Irrelevancy, Alaska, to lead the charge against an open-air memorial that was blocked by a 3-foot barricade.....

[IFly4Him]

And yet, somehow, this small minority of Tea Party House members, who represent less than one half of one legislative body in one branch of government, has been given enormous influence over the national agenda—a situation without precedent in American political history. It’s insanity.

Jon, the Constitution gives this small minority the enormous influence to slow down the insanity that is the modern Federal Government. The process appears broken because we've made a habit of ignoring the very process our Founders brought forth for the General Welfare. No, the Tea Party is not the problem - nor is any group working within our system to legitimately influence policy. The problem is we are too lazy to honor the self restraint required by the one binding consensus we really have as a nation - Our Constitution

[BookmanTheJanitor]

yes...by all means....the status quo is the best path (rolling eyes)

[Brooklyn Attitude]

“If hyperinflation ever occurs these people should be held directly responsible.”

They won’t be. The media will tell them who to blame, over and over until is firmly set in the minds of the masses. They already hate the Tea party and conservatives. They are told they are crazy, radicals, stupid, terrorists, etc. Many so-called Repubs AGREE with this and say so. Who do think will get blamed? Who will the mob come after when told the enemy needs to be destroyed?

[RichInOC]

Jon, I still say Barry only hired you because he thought he was getting the Jon Favreau who wrote “Swingers” and he only kept you on because, of course, Teh Awesome never makes mistakes.

[central_va]

Is “paying” your bills with a new credit card really “paying” your bills, or does the situation need a new name?

[darkangel82]

I am sorry that this guy is only a year older than me. A pity so many of this generation are idiots.

[Jacquerie]

Reading closely, Favreau clearly views our rulers as one mass, where there is no separation or enumeration of powers. In his happy land, there is no opposition to the state, there is a benevolent El Presidente whose will is law.

The corruption is of the very fundamentals of our system, not just rats and ‘Bam.

Elections will not change that. In fact, elections will increasingly serve to condone a lawless state.

[Billthedrill]

This decision hurt people.

Damn, Jonny. Wet the bed much?

[Slyfox]

The truth is that without the conservative opposition to the Marxist takeover of our system of government, Obama and all of his particularly gruesome toadies would roll through America like any other dictator of the 20th Century.

And anyone who thinks otherwise ought to be considered a traitor in every sense of the word.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Thanks for making me feel old. I had already been in the Army three years when he was born and you’re even younger?

[eclecticEel]

All told, the shutdown and flirtation with default cost America north of $20 billion

Which is less than nothing compared to what Obamacare is going to cost.

[manc]

The radical left want all drugs legal, homosexuality in your face, millions upon millions on welfare, and open borders maybe they’ll get that very soon seeing as the RINO’[s have no balls to fight and the left are making laws up while ignoring u=others laws as they go along , and of course with the support of the media.

Or maybe some states will actually take a stand and tell the Feds to get out as they will go it alone.

I know which state I would be in or move to .

[TurboZamboni]

Obamanomics has hurt more people than any gubmint slowdown ever will.

[Fair Paul]

So the party that promotes liberty is the problem. I understand.

[kcvl]

Jon Favreau is the former chief speechwriter for President Obama

[2ndDivisionVet]

As I noted at #3.

[peeps36]

Obama’s butt boy forgot to say the words, with borrowed money. Now that the government is open it can borrow and print money to pay bills we can't afford. Butt boy's lover has borrowed over $6.5 trillion in 4 years. That's more then every other president in American history combined. But it's the Tea Party who is bad for wanting a balanced budget. It's not pole smokers like Jon and Berry who are spending us into bankruptcy.

[Mr. Peabody]

The shutdown was a paid vactation that lasted for 10 days.

If we don’t stop it, Obamacare will last the rest of our lives. People have lost their jobs and their health insurance because of this law. It is already causing shortages. It is an albatross around the neck of the American economy.

There has been no recovery, there are 20 million people out of work and he bleats about 17% of the government shutting down.

[olezip]

Together, we endured a 21-hour non-filibuster speech from White Castle enthusiast Ted Cruz that was so devoid of self-awareness I’m not even sure he knew he was giving it.

Does the writer convey any understanding at all of the concerns and issues of millions and millions of Americans?

The Affordable Care Act was passed by Democrats, some unwillingly, if not many. The complex, convoluted, and contradictory law was not read or digested by the legislative body, was blindly passed into law, and continues to be blindly supported by Democrats in spite of the overwhelming evidence that it is a disaster.

The Democrats know that the passage of the Affordable Care Act was contentious and characterized by coercion, bribes, threats, and promises to many Democrats. Few, if any, read or fully understood what was in the law. Now, as Pelosi, says it is opening like a flower so we can all see how the economy and health industry are being destroyed.

President Obama himself has unilaterally delayed portions of the bill.

The Main Stream Media have their heads in the sand. Administration officials are tight lipped about its "IPO" problems. Problems the administration has had three years to solve. The MSM has failed to tally the damage to jobs, citizens, and the economy produced by an unworkable, unfair, and ineffective law.

The MSM and the writer of the article have failed to identify the scores of Democrats would like the law gone. They continue the blame game and name calling. We all wonder why?

[Mike Darancette]

They are quaking in their boots down in the “Tea Party world Control Center” bunker.