Yeah! I love it!
There was another diary on that was on the Recommended tab that maybe suggested we shouldn't be high-fiving about this, that maybe instead of being encouraged and fired up that we should instead squabble about past battles over issues we've disagreed about.
Forget that. I'm fired up. I'm singin' "Weeeeee are the Chaaaaaampions, my friiiiieeeeeeennnnd..."
Obama and the White House are standing strong.
"He will not pay ransom in exchange for the Republicans in the House doing their job," said spokesman Jay Carney.
From the same article, John Boehner is feeling the heat.
"I would hope the president would look at this as an opportunity and a good faith effort on our part to move halfway, halfway to what he's demanded, in order to have these conversations begin," Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters after presenting the plan to rank-and-file GOP lawmakers.
Oh, now you want to make a few concessions, Boehner? You gonna cry? Forget it. Shut up and do your job and freaking govern, Mr. Speaker.
Republican governors are feeling the heat too, as the Tea Party Temper Tantrum hurts their states' economies.
Governors in at least four states - Utah, South Dakota, Arizona and Colorado - have asked for authority to reopen national parks within their borders because of the economic impact of the closures.
Bolded governors are Republicans. And they're worried.
And Democrats in Congress are staying strong, too.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, following a 90 minute meeting with Obama, appeared to throw cold water on the plan. Asked whether Democrats would negotiate with Republicans with the government shuttered, he declared, "Not going to happen."
Yeah! Give 'em hell, Harry!
"Cause weeeeee'll keeeeeeeep on fiiiiiiiiiiiighting till the eeeeeennnd....."
Democrats for once are standing united.
Grayson:
"The government shutdown is a mark upon the dignity of the House, and the House should be willing to pass a clean continuing resolution to end it," he said.
And:
"If we are to be called obstructionists, practicers of partisan petulance, if we are to be called an establishment that is rotten to the core, if we are leaving Americans wondering why there is so much poison in the system, then surely our dignity as a body has been diminished. If we’re accused of willingly provoking crises that suspend public services and decrease economic growth, then surely our dignity as a body has been diminished."
Pelosi, rallying with laid-off public workers:
"We, the Democrats in the House of Representatives, have been willing... Have been willing to give them 200 votes to open up government. Give us the vote."
Senator Warren, warning about GOP plans to take us to default.
"The idea that we can somehow renege on our debts without paying a huge price is a fantasy,"
"This is no time to act out dangerous fantasies.”
I could go on and on, looking up quotes from Democrats. They are standing firm. I am inspired by their resolve displayed so far. As I see it, I don't see a lot of signs of cracking.
Let's not forget the collateral damage in all this though. Furloughed public workers are bearing the brunt of this GOP hissyfit. Critical scientific research in Antarctica and labs everyhwere else won't get done. Let's remember the sacrifices and difficult times they are enduring as we go forward.
But forward is the only direction to go. We're barreling towards default like a 13-foot -tall 18-wheeler barreling toward an 11-foot-tall bridge deck at highway speed. But Dems aren't giving in. They're finally fighting. They're finally standing up to those extremists who don't give a damn about the welfare of Americans and who are willing to flush our country down the toilet.
Give 'em hell, Dems. Enough is enough.
I think those of us following this owe it to them to stay united too. Some of you may have some bad feelings related to fights over criticisms about Obama, or NSA spying, or Occupy Wall Street, or other stuff.
Fuhgeddaboutit.
That shit is neither here nor there. It means nothing now. This fight we are engaged in now against economic hostage takers is more important than any of that crap. We are fighting for our very democracy right now. The people spoke in 2012 and the will of the voters must be done.
If a small extremist bloc succeeds in superseding the right of Americans to choose our own destiny, our American system of democracy is in serious trouble. The Dems are hanging tough, and I'm gonna write my Democratic congressman and thank him.
Let's concentrate on what really matters right now.