Who do you blame more for the shutdown?

[free my dawg]

Rethuglicans (D)

More answers include the Tea Party, Ted Cruz, and the fact that Republicans have yet to get past the first stage of grief.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

If I could choose both parties I would choose that, but Obama and his colleagues don't want to negotiate on anything when it comes to debt ceiling, he said it clear and loud. In the late 1990's, I would have blamed the republicans because Clinton actually cared about making things work in bipartisan ways, even if it was tough. Because of that I'm Lean Obama/Democrats (R).

Don't be a goddamn idiot.

[H. Ross Peron]

The Republicans obviously. Hopefully Inks and Matt get comfortable with their new red avatars.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

But, but...the tiny blue Michigans... 

I'll be back to my usual blue avatar when this whole thing's over.  Until then, my support is with the sane party.

If you wait until the GOP returns to sanity, it'll be some years before you sport a blue avatar again.

[morgieb]

Hate to be a douche, but people voting Obama are either hacks or trolls.

Of course it's certain elements of the Republican party. Disgusting that they can control the party that much.

[Oakvale]

The Republican Party is evidently controlled by psychotic maniacs and has lost all claim to legitimacy.

[Lambsbread]

Anyone not blaming the Republicans right now needs to get their head checked.

[windjammer]

Republicas. Shutting government because of Obamacare: stupid and irresponsible.

[Vosem]

Republicans, but it's not like I'll be changing my partisan affiliation because of this.

[afleitch]

The Republicans obviously.

The wonderful thing about a shutdown is that it reminds people, particularly sections of the ignorant poor (whose ignorance is often fanned by the GOP) of how important the federal government actually is to their daily lives.

Over the past decade the GOP has decamped from the ‘small government’ ethos that once argued for a balanced approach to federal government, state government, funding and growth to a position that seems to be nothing more than out and out hatred for government simply functioning. That attitude also seems to pervade positions taken by the court as well. People say that the GOP has a dislike for minority interests however recently it’s apparent that they are a minority in hatred of the majority. Public support and electoral vindication of ‘Obamacare’ has swamped them, same goes for women’s bodies, gay rights, immigration, education. The GOP takes the minority position on nearly every salient public issue of the day. It no longer rests on the political spectrum at all and is now a conspiracy driven machine. The truth is it’s the internet that did it. The GOP’s grassroots are conspiracy theorists; they are birthers, they are the poor who think Mexicans want to swamp the country, they are the people who think the Muslim Brotherhood have infiltrated the government, the people who think that women can shut down a pregnancy, that climate change isn’t happening, that science is dangerous, that atheists hate America, that teaching children the age of the earth is unconstitutional and that gays are the worst group of people in America. They are the people who boo gay servicemen. They are the Christian right and the Paultards and every ideology of that nature that exists on a diet of conspiracy or if that’s not their thing, create a version of ‘reality’ that meets their needs.

It was etched on their faces on election night; the entire Romney campaign just didn’t know never mind didn’t accept what was actually happening out there. These people have Palin, and Cruz and Beck and Fox and WND and Unskewed Polls and a whole wealth of internet resources to back them up. Reality is nothing more than an inconvenience. The problem for any moderates in the GOP is that these people are now conditioned to think that way. If it means driving the GOP off an electoral cliff they will do it.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

As usual Affie, brilliantly put.

[TNF]

Grand Old Plutocrats of course.

[7,052,770]

Democrats:  "Neither party wants to shut the government down, so let's just a budget that prevents that -- no tricks, gimmicks, or preconditions"

Republicans: "We agree that the government shouldn't shut down, but in order to vote that way, Obama must destroy his defining law, even though he was just re-elected campaigning on it"

You tell me.

[Earthling]

The Republicans obviously.

The wonderful thing about a shutdown is that it reminds people, particularly sections of the ignorant poor (whose ignorance is often fanned by the GOP) of how important the federal government actually is to their daily lives.

Over the past decade the GOP has decamped from the ‘small government’ ethos that once argued for a balanced approach to federal government, state government, funding and growth to a position that seems to be nothing more than out and out hatred for government simply functioning. That attitude also seems to pervade positions taken by the court as well. People say that the GOP has a dislike for minority interests however recently it’s apparent that they are a minority in hatred of the majority. Public support and electoral vindication of ‘Obamacare’ has swamped them, same goes for women’s bodies, gay rights, immigration, education. The GOP takes the minority position on nearly every salient public issue of the day. It no longer rests on the political spectrum at all and is now a conspiracy driven machine. The truth is it’s the internet that did it. The GOP’s grassroots are conspiracy theorists; they are birthers, they are the poor who think Mexicans want to swamp the country, they are the people who think the Muslim Brotherhood have infiltrated the government, the people who think that women can shut down a pregnancy, that climate change isn’t happening, that science is dangerous, that atheists hate America, that teaching children the age of the earth is unconstitutional and that gays are the worst group of people in America. They are the people who boo gay servicemen. They are the Christian right and the Paultards and every ideology of that nature that exists on a diet of conspiracy or if that’s not their thing, create a version of ‘reality’ that meets their needs.

It was etched on their faces on election night; the entire Romney campaign just didn’t know never mind didn’t accept what was actually happening out there. These people have Palin, and Cruz and Beck and Fox and WND and Unskewed Polls and a whole wealth of internet resources to back them up. Reality is nothing more than an inconvenience. The problem for any moderates in the GOP is that these people are now conditioned to think that way. If it means driving the GOP off an electoral cliff they will do it.

Very good opinion. And a valid one.

What will the sane Republicans who are looking towards 2016 do? Christie, Jeb Bush, Huntsman all have to become the standardbearer for the party in order to become President. But the party is so toxic that the (R) behind their name might drive away a lot of voters in the most important states. Winning the Presidency as a Republican becomes more and more difficult if the conservatives within the party keep on pushing the party (and the country) closer and closer to the edge of destruction.

[Nichlemn]

Both parties. Both parties could have stopped the shutdown by acquiescing to the demands of the other, and both refused. The only way to say the GOP solely is to say that it's patently unreasonable to want to repeal Obamacare. Most people here are citing the 2012 election as some kind of mandate for Obamacare as a reason for this. But as John Sides (no right-winger) points out, elections in general don't really produce "mandates", let alone 2012.

[Earthling]

What the Republicans are doing is unreasonable. The battle of health care reform was lost by the Republicans many times. In the voting booth (twice), in the negotiations (they did not want to negotiate), in Congress and in the courts.

The demands of the Republicans are unreasonable and that is why they are to blame. Why would Obama agree to destroy his biggest achievement? No sane person would expect him to do that.

[Maxwell]

The Republicans obviously.

The wonderful thing about a shutdown is that it reminds people, particularly sections of the ignorant poor (whose ignorance is often fanned by the GOP) of how important the federal government actually is to their daily lives.

Over the past decade the GOP has decamped from the ‘small government’ ethos that once argued for a balanced approach to federal government, state government, funding and growth to a position that seems to be nothing more than out and out hatred for government simply functioning. That attitude also seems to pervade positions taken by the court as well. People say that the GOP has a dislike for minority interests however recently it’s apparent that they are a minority in hatred of the majority. Public support and electoral vindication of ‘Obamacare’ has swamped them, same goes for women’s bodies, gay rights, immigration, education. The GOP takes the minority position on nearly every salient public issue of the day. It no longer rests on the political spectrum at all and is now a conspiracy driven machine. The truth is it’s the internet that did it. The GOP’s grassroots are conspiracy theorists; they are birthers, they are the poor who think Mexicans want to swamp the country, they are the people who think the Muslim Brotherhood have infiltrated the government, the people who think that women can shut down a pregnancy, that climate change isn’t happening, that science is dangerous, that atheists hate America, that teaching children the age of the earth is unconstitutional and that gays are the worst group of people in America. They are the people who boo gay servicemen. They are the Christian right and the Paultards and every ideology of that nature that exists on a diet of conspiracy or if that’s not their thing, create a version of ‘reality’ that meets their needs.

It was etched on their faces on election night; the entire Romney campaign just didn’t know never mind didn’t accept what was actually happening out there. These people have Palin, and Cruz and Beck and Fox and WND and Unskewed Polls and a whole wealth of internet resources to back them up. Reality is nothing more than an inconvenience. The problem for any moderates in the GOP is that these people are now conditioned to think that way. If it means driving the GOP off an electoral cliff they will do it.

Very good opinion. And a valid one.

What will the sane Republicans who are looking towards 2016 do? Christie, Jeb Bush, Huntsman all have to become the standardbearer for the party in order to become President. But the party is so toxic that the (R) behind their name might drive away a lot of voters in the most important states. Winning the Presidency as a Republican becomes more and more difficult if the conservatives within the party keep on pushing the party (and the country) closer and closer to the edge of destruction.

I'm tired of hearing about how Jeb Bush is a "sane Republican". He changed the only position that people care about hearing from him to find some sort of sembalance of moving to the base. The GOP needs someone, anyone, who is willing to stand on principle against the kooks, not another freaking Romney. Maybe that's Christie, maybe that's Huntsman, but I have very little hope.

[Mordecai]

Republicans.

[Earthling]

The Republicans obviously.

The wonderful thing about a shutdown is that it reminds people, particularly sections of the ignorant poor (whose ignorance is often fanned by the GOP) of how important the federal government actually is to their daily lives.

Over the past decade the GOP has decamped from the ‘small government’ ethos that once argued for a balanced approach to federal government, state government, funding and growth to a position that seems to be nothing more than out and out hatred for government simply functioning. That attitude also seems to pervade positions taken by the court as well. People say that the GOP has a dislike for minority interests however recently it’s apparent that they are a minority in hatred of the majority. Public support and electoral vindication of ‘Obamacare’ has swamped them, same goes for women’s bodies, gay rights, immigration, education. The GOP takes the minority position on nearly every salient public issue of the day. It no longer rests on the political spectrum at all and is now a conspiracy driven machine. The truth is it’s the internet that did it. The GOP’s grassroots are conspiracy theorists; they are birthers, they are the poor who think Mexicans want to swamp the country, they are the people who think the Muslim Brotherhood have infiltrated the government, the people who think that women can shut down a pregnancy, that climate change isn’t happening, that science is dangerous, that atheists hate America, that teaching children the age of the earth is unconstitutional and that gays are the worst group of people in America. They are the people who boo gay servicemen. They are the Christian right and the Paultards and every ideology of that nature that exists on a diet of conspiracy or if that’s not their thing, create a version of ‘reality’ that meets their needs.

It was etched on their faces on election night; the entire Romney campaign just didn’t know never mind didn’t accept what was actually happening out there. These people have Palin, and Cruz and Beck and Fox and WND and Unskewed Polls and a whole wealth of internet resources to back them up. Reality is nothing more than an inconvenience. The problem for any moderates in the GOP is that these people are now conditioned to think that way. If it means driving the GOP off an electoral cliff they will do it.

Very good opinion. And a valid one.

What will the sane Republicans who are looking towards 2016 do? Christie, Jeb Bush, Huntsman all have to become the standardbearer for the party in order to become President. But the party is so toxic that the (R) behind their name might drive away a lot of voters in the most important states. Winning the Presidency as a Republican becomes more and more difficult if the conservatives within the party keep on pushing the party (and the country) closer and closer to the edge of destruction.

I'm tired of hearing about how Jeb Bush is a "sane Republican". He changed the only position that people care about hearing from him to find some sort of sembalance of moving to the base. The GOP needs someone, anyone, who is willing to stand on principle against the kooks, not another freaking Romney. Maybe that's Christie, maybe that's Huntsman, but I have very little hope.

I doubt Jeb Bush would act in the same way as many Republicans are acting now. Bush is very conservative but not nuts. Not like Steve King or Ted Cruz.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

memphis, you're so cute with your "terrorist" talk.  Who is a greater terrorist - Boehner who wouldn't budge once, or Tip Oneill, who shut the gummit down 3 years in a row (1981, 1982, and 1983)

Yeah, OMGZ PUBZ ARE TERRORIZTS1111!!!

[The Free North]

Both parties are to blame of course.

Democrats for passing a bill that will destroy our healthcare, and Republicans for being republicans

[Hash]

Republicans, obviously. This is almost like asking "who is responsible for the German invasion of Poland?"

[Sopranos Republican]

But, but...the tiny blue Michigans... 

I'll be back to my usual blue avatar when this whole thing's over.  Until then, my support is with the sane party.

If you wait until the GOP returns to sanity, it'll be some years before you sport a blue avatar again.

Yes, but in order to return to sanity, the GOP needs people who aren't batsh bonkers.

[Torie]

Van Hollen in the House Dem's presser late last night nailed it. The Pubs should have been negotiating with the Dems over a budget since last March. That was the way to hash this all out. I am not saying the result would have been any different, but the Pubs were cowards not to do the heavy lifting of negotiation, exposing fissures in their caucus, and their fear that the Dems would roll them and win the public opinion battle. Politicians have a courage gap, and this is but another example.

[The Mikado]

I don't see how the answer couldn't be the Republicans.  Even though it'd kill his career from a primary challenger, Boehner needs to just bite the bullet and put a clean resolution before the House.  The Hastert Rule is the dumbest procedural rule of our generation and it's literal legislative poison.