… The shutdown debate has demonstrated, yet again, that in an era of polarization, Americans are living in parallel political universes. Democrats, led by President Obama, complain that the House GOP is holding federal operations hostage by refusing to accept that the ACA is the settled law of the land. […] Read more »
Americans not happy about shutdown; more blame GOP
On day three of the partial government shutdown, a new CBS News poll reveals that a large majority of Americans disapprove of the shutdown and more are blaming Republicans than President Obama and the Democrats for it. Fully 72 percent of Americans disapprove of shutting down the federal government over […] Read more »
The Loss of U.S. Pre-eminence
… Today’s optimists are those who think the current partial government shutdown will allow the Republican Party to work out some internal issues — and actually make a showdown over the debt less likely. Perhaps the political base will be satisfied by a demonstration of dissatisfaction against carrying out the […] Read more »
The Politics of the Shutdown
Tuesday, Oct. 1 represented perhaps the best day for Democrats in the U.S. House this cycle. At midnight, the federal government shut down, an event that Democrats believe will greatly damage their Republican adversaries. At this point, it’s hard to see how Republicans ultimately come out of this battle looking […] Read more »
The roots of the shutdown fight
… Members of Congress are highly sensitive to public opinion, but the voters they care about most are in their constituents, which are often far more extreme than national-level public opinion. As Roe told NPR’s Melissa Block when asked about polls showing the public blaming Republicans for a potential shutdown, “I […] Read more »
Majority says raise debt ceiling
Surveys indicate that most Americans didn’t think shutting down the government in an attempt to dismantle the new health care law was a good idea. They apparently feel the same way about blocking an increase in the nation’s debt ceiling to stop Obamacare, according to a new national poll released […] Read more »