In light of his track record, it is not surprising that Tea Party Republicans in the House have closed down the federal government as a way to extort concessions from him.
But if President Obama caves again and gives them concessions they want this time, then he will thereby encourage them to be just as unreasonable the next time around, which will be the upcoming vote on the deficit limit.
But if President Obama miraculously does not cave in and a give them concessions, what, if anything, could lead to a resolution of the impasse and the re-opening of the federal government?
A resolution of the impasse could come if enough Republicans in the House split from their Tea Party comrades and voted to fund the federal government. However, thus far, many Republicans in the House have placated their Tea Party comrades out of fear of drawing the wrath of the Tea Party down upon themselves -- for example, by inciting a Tea Party challenger to run against them in 2014. (Working middle-age white men are over-represented in the Tea Party demographic.)
From the standpoint of Tea Party Republicans in the House, their closing down federal government is a preview of their likely anarchist approach to the upcoming deficit limit vote. They want their fellow Americans to know that they do not like big government.
However, apart from safely gerrymandered Republican congressional districts, Republicans should consider how the anarchist tactics of the Tea Party are going to impress their fellow Americans, especially independents, when it comes time to vote in other electoral contests in 2014 and 2016.
Even though Tea Party Republicans thus far have succeeded in striking fear of the wrath of the Tea Party in their fellow Republicans, their fellow Republicans should think about the fear their anarchist approaches can strike in voters in 2014 and 2016.
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