One of the most bizarrely naïve expressions of hope in the aftermath of the 2013 US Government Shutdown Fiasco has been a variant of ‘perhaps the Republican Party’s extremist faction will learn from this crushing public relations defeat–as evinced by opinion polls and the public statements of their fellow party members–and not engage in similar brinkmanship again.’Continue reading “Groundhog Day: The US Government Shutdown Version”
Tag Archives: Affordable Care Act
Ross Douthat the Slippery
Ross Douthat is a very slippery customer. There is just no getting around it. It’s this slipperiness, no doubt, that earns him the appellation of being a ‘thoughtful conservative’ i.e., not a foaming-at-the-mouth wingnut. His latest Op-Ed is a classic instance of this well-greased slipperiness. It is ostensibly a critique of Republican tactics in theContinue reading “Ross Douthat the Slippery”
The US Government Shutdown: Party Like It’s 1995
America awoke this morning to find its government shut down, thanks to Congress’ failure to pass a funding bill. Eight hundred thousand federal workers–including my wife, a staff attorney at the National Labor Relations Board–will be furloughed today. (My wife will go in for the first four hours to carry out an orderly shutdown ofContinue reading “The US Government Shutdown: Party Like It’s 1995”
Samir Chopra 