re: #86 Feline Fearless Leader

Oh, so he actually learned something from the government shutdown he led while Speaker of the House. Color me surprised.
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The 1995-1996 shutdown was a very different animal from the 2013 shutdown. Newt had firm control of the House GOP in 95-96 and he had a good idea about what he wanted (though he didn’t get a lot of it). The Republicans also controlled the Senate, which made their hand somewhat stronger. Lastly and most crucially, the 95-96 shutdown was about policy differences first and foremost, with a secondary concern about electoral politics.

By contrast, the 2013 shutdown was forced on the House leadership by a restive party base and Tea Party caucus that is unwilling to be tamed and more concerned with remaining ‘pure’ than accomplishing anything. Moreover, the 2013 shutdown was first and foremost about rage directed at Barack Obama, with Obamacare mostly being an outlet for that rage.