"I don't think the typical American has any idea how drastic a mistake the country made last week."

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_11/026525.php

MAYBE THEY DON'T MIND BEING SEEN AS 'A BUNCH OF YAHOOS'.... About a month ago, Eric Cantor (R-Va.), soon to be the House Majority Leader, was asked if we're likely to see a replay of the partisan showdown that led Newt Gingrich to shut down the government (twice) after the 1994 midterms.

Cantor replied, "No. I don't think the country needs or wants a shutdown." He added that when it comes to pursuing their agenda, Republicans "have to be careful" or they'll be "seen as a bunch of yahoos."

It seemed at least somewhat reassuring. Cantor is a powerful and influential GOP leader, and if he recognizes the foolishness of such radicalism, maybe it'll be less likely to happen.

That, however, was before the election. Note the evident shift in Cantor's rhetoric yesterday.

In an interview with Fox News Sunday this morning, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), the #2 Republican in the House, threatened to take the nation's economy hostage if President Obama does not comply with House GOPers' as yet undefined demands. When asked if he would take a government shutdown on forcing the United States to default on its debt off the table, Cantor responded that it would somehow be President Obama's fault if House Republicans press this agenda.

Chris Wallace asked a straightforward question: "Are you willing to say right now we're not going to let the country go into default, and we won't allow a government shutdown?" A month ago, Cantor's response was direct and sensible.

Yesterday, he dodged the question, saying only the president is "as responsible as any in terms of running this government."

In other words, Cantor, like some of his colleagues, want to start laying the groundwork for his party's recklessness.

Also note the specifics of the question -- Wallace wasn't asking about health care or taxes; he wanted to know if Cantor would at least rule out letting the United States go into default. The incoming House Majority Leader wouldn't even answer that one.

For all the talk about Republicans preparing to reassure markets and add some certainty to the economic outlook, the incoming GOP majority is implicitly threatening to cause a global economic catastrophe, threatening the full faith and credit of the United States, unless Democrats give in to their demands.

I don't think the typical American has any idea how drastic a mistake the country made last week.

—Steve Benen

[Ninga]

1. "Low information voters" plus a loss in the numbers who actually voted, are huge

factors in the results.

:banghead:

[Joanne98]

2. They have no idea.

[elocs]

3. I wonder, who exactly is the typical American?

Democrats too often believe that the "typical" American, the "average" voter is persuaded by facts and by reasoned argument. Many millions are not. They are moved by their emotions and perception of how things are, even if that perception is wrong. Democrats need to learn for those many millions that perception is everything and in order to succeed they need to be able to successfully shape that perception.

[babylonsister]

4. I agree, and Democrats were pretty awful at that this past

election cycle. Hopefully they learned something.

[bdamomma]

5. I think Americans after this last election

are going to be jumping into the fire, republicans are not going to change anything except pushing for the extended tax cuts for the rich and protecting Wall Street, and probably wanting to terminate Social Security. It will be like hell again.

[Bitwit1234]

6. The people who voted for republicans ARE

fox viewers and they listen to Rush. No way no how are they going to change their mind. Beck adds to the mix. fox knows exactly what it is doing when it spews it's lies and made up crap about the Obama administration and the Democrats.

[justiceischeap]

7. My 80+ yr old neighbor is an avid Faux News watcher

And when we talked about the election, he was more concerned about that business in Oklahoma (The Sharia law crap) than anything else. It really shows what points Faux news hammers on when someone living in MD is concerned about things going on in OK.

[impik]

8. The typical American is a stupid ignorant

[Whisp]

10. sad truth

and the powers that be relie on the ignorant.

some here too, which is supersad.

[bigwillq]

13. ..stupid ignorant

what?

A stupid ignorant what? :shrug:

[ampad]

9. I think a small percentage understand

exactly what is going to happen and hoping for it as well.

[StarburstClock]

11. At least 1/2 do and the others want change regardless of government consequences

I agree that there are a hardcore group of proud-to-be-stupid people in America however they are not the majority. Most Americans wanted universal health care, an end to corrupt wars, war criminals and financial criminals held accountable and jobs. The democratic administration is correct in its rhetoric, says the right things to "fix" the economy but they don't actually do any of it. Nothing will change until a system of justice and enforced regulation is aggressively reinstated and most Americans know it. Therefore, voters felt they had nothing to lose as corruption isn't going anywhere under the current system so they voted for a change. The same thing happened 2 years ago.

If a politician ever addresses high level corruption in the U.S. then the U.S. will move forward, if not then we'll remain a worldwide joke and a blatant system of cronyism.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

12. It is damned near an Idiocracy.

I have to admit, the ability to govern with participatory democracy is extremely inhibited by the blind stupidity inherent in the GOP party.

[Scurrilous]

14. K & R

:thumbsup:

[travelingtypist]

15. They can't be reasonable now.

What, and start behaving like responsible adults? Ideological purity and the policy of No is more important than actually governing, as we all will soon find out. And those GOPers who try to actually govern will the thrown out on their collective asses by the Koch-powered Tea Party.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Got your canned goods?

[ashleyforachange]

16. Am I the only one...

that notices that a alarming number of Republican Congressmen continue to say that Obama needs to comply with the demands, make laws for the average people, and so on?

Last time I checked, Congress is the only branch that can make laws. Sure, Obama can use the power of veto but Congress can go around his veto and pass the law anyway. Congress or the Legislature Branch makes the law, the Executive Branch executes the Law, and last but not least the Judicial Branch interprets the law. Now there are ways called checks and balances and veto power but ultimately after all those options Congress can still pass a law to make it permanent. The courts can issue injunctions all they want cause those are only temporary as the executive orders are temporary too.

So htf is Obama suppose to comply with their demands if those idiots have control of the house? All they have to do is pass a bill, then it goes to the Senate. The Senate rules are so fracked up that it will pass there too. They makes changes if need be so that the House and Senate have identical bills. At that point it shipped to Obama who can sign, veto, let it pass without signature, or pocket veto. Yet the vetoes are tricky cause then a fight breaks out, the SC can come in and say something like he has to sign or threats of impeachment whatever. But Congress does have ways around the veto power like submit a lot of very large bills to the president only to know he wont be able to sign it in time.

[babylonsister]

17. No, you're not the only one...

GOP threats of shutdown = EXTORTION

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9512181

And welcome to DU!