I've listened to you and a number of other people all week, talking about the reasons you have for voting for and against various options. Talking, and talking, and talking, and getting shriller and more disjointed as you go on. Stop.
I do not care if President Obama is refusing to negotiate with you. I do not care that you can justify your actions. I do not care that the President can invoke the 14th Amendment and save the day, whoever controls which body of Congress. I do not particularly care which party you belong to.
Do I have your attention? Good. This will be short.
If you vote to defund or shut down the government, or if you vote against the increase of the debt limit, I will consider you a traitor.
I do not care that there may be mitigating circumstances. I do not care that the courts may not agree. I do not care that the process of impeachment for offenses against your oath and your country is slow, and convoluted, and likely to produce no tangible result. That you are sure you can cast such a vote with impunity does not make you less of a traitor in my eyes, only a more cowardly one.
Do I extend this accusation to all those who have argued for and funded your vote? No. They may well deserve it, but, in the end, it is you who have sworn to uphold the Constitution, not them. Your decision, your name on the list of Yeas or Nays. Your everlasting honor or dishonor. And I will not forget.
Thank you for listening.