As We all Agree Government Shutdown is a Bad Thing Will We Avoid it?

     Certainly a number of Republican Senators agree that it's something to be avoided and that it would certainly be bad for the country as well as hurt their party. There seems to be a good chance of the Senate Republicans cooperating with Senate Dems on a budget which will then again put Boehner on the hot seat. 

     http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2013/07/was-last-weeks-reid-mccain-filibuster.html

     http://diaryofarepublicanhater.blogspot.com/2013/07/another-senate-republican-unimpressed.html

     The fact that the Republicans allowed the Senate transpiration bill to the floor is a very good sign:

      "A bipartisan road map to avoiding a government shutdown is emerging that involves Senate Republicans partnering with Democrats and the White House to corner the House GOP to continue the current funding levels until a broader budget accord is reached."

     "For it to succeed, the plan will require a handful of Senate Republicans to side with Democrats to break a filibuster and pass annual spending legislation making its way through the upper chamber. That part of the plan is already in motion — although some obstacles remain. If and when it passes, those close to the process say, the Senate and White House would have to stand firm against the House GOP’s strategy to slash domestic and poverty programs to protect the Pentagon in the hope that House Republican leaders would eventually give in and accept the framework as the Sept. 30 debt limit deadline approaches."

     "The big question is whether united pressure from Democrats and some Senate Republicans will be enough to force the House GOP’s hand. Given the last three years of budget brinksmanship, it’s not clear whether the House GOP will blink, although there are few tell-tale signs that some House Republicans are tiring of the politically damaging standoffs."

      "The plan is already in motion. Six of the 14 Republican senators on the Appropriations Committee voted with Democrats for legislation to reauthorize transportation, housing and urban development programs. Several of them strongly criticized the House GOP approach. And in an important test vote, 19 Republicans voted with all Democrats to 73-26 to advance that measure on the Senate floor late last week."

    “I would ask, have members actually reviewed what is in the House transportation and housing bill?” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) at recent Appropriations Committee hearing, bashing House GOP-backed cuts. “Are we to be just a rubber stamp for the House?”

     http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/07/how-to-avoid-a-government-shutdown.php?ref=fpb

     The White House has already warned the House the House GOP against trying to get rid of the military cuts in the sequester with more domestic cuts. There was a report last week that the White House was considering  vetoing a deal that didn't replace the sequester; however, the White House is now distancing itself from that:

     “[W]e would veto the bills that cut below the sequester or try to fix the defense sequester at the expense of non-defense,” a senior White House official told TPM. But the aide dismissed as “total speculation” and “off base” a report that the White House was planning on vetoing any government funding bill that didn’t eliminate sequestration."

     Another point of optimism is that at least some House Republicans see that threatening a government shutdown or a debt ceiling default is a non-starter-and not the proper way to get rid of laws that have been passed that you don't like:

     "The Senate is currently on a collision course with the House, but House GOP leaders are signaling their awareness that a government shutdown would damage them politically. They’re working to quash a gambit by conservatives to force a government shutdown if Obamacare isn’t defunded. Facing enough pressure, Republicans leaders may similarly decide not to force a shutdown to protect the Pentagon — a strategy that is already showing signs of wear and tear."

     “Shutting down the government is a suicidal political tactic,” Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), a deputy majority whip, said Monday on MSNBC. “Now I think the big fight — the real leverage here for Republicans is the sequester. That’s a matter of law. … I think that’s where the real fight will be but again, at the end of the day, defaulting on our obligations or shutting down the government to me are not viable political options.”

      As Harry Reid says, any Republican who thinks this could be a good idea should talk to Newt Gingrich.

      http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/harry-reid-newt-gingrich-government-shutdown-94870.html?hp=f1