Top Headline Comments 8-1-13

Happy Thursday.

Yesterday's Pew poll sorta kinda blew my mind. I think the best conclusion we could make is that Republicans don't know what they want.

Sen. Cruz continues to demonstrate his firm grasp of negotiating tactics. After challenging Democrats to agree to defund Obamacare or force a government shutdown, he goes and says that a shutdown isn't really a bad thing at all. He seems a little unclear on the concept of leverage. Y'see, to get the Democrats to defund Obamacare, the idea is to present their only other alternative as completely unacceptable. Suggesting that the other alternative is no big deal defeats the whole exercise.

Oh, and the CRS, responding to a research request from Sen. Coburn, has reported that Obamacare would continue to be law and continue to be funded during a government shutdown.

So, let's recap. A shutdown is "a misnomer," says Cruz. And even if the Democrats call Cruz's apparent bluff, the actual shutdown itself wouldn't defund Obamacare. So why are we going through this charade?

Cruz has to be aware that a shutdown is unpopular with voters. By contrast, delaying Obamacare is extraordinarily popular -- even with Democrats. My modest proposal: let's do that. . . until we've got the Senate seats to repeal it.

posted by Gabriel Malor at 07:12 AM

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