Last Call For Shutdown Countdown

If Republicans really believe this Rasmussen poll is accurate, then by all means, let's see what happens when you shut down the government and take the blame for it.

Just 20% of Likely U.S. Voters believe a partial shutdown of the federal government would be good for economy, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Fifty-six percent (56%) say such a shutdown would be bad for the economy, even though payments for things like Social Security, Medicare and unemployment would continue. Sixteen percent (16%) think it would have no impact. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

But 58% favor a federal budget that cuts spending, while only 16% prefer one that increases spending. Twenty-one percent (21%) support a budget that keeps spending levels about the same. 

This helps explain why 53% would rather have a partial government shutdown until Democrats and Republicans can agree on what spending to cut. Thirty-seven percent (37%) would prefer instead that Congress avoid a shutdown by authorizing spending at existing levels as the president has proposed.

Some conservative Republicans in both the House and Senate are refusing to approve a budget unless it slows or stops funding for the health care law, but the president and most congressional Democrats are adamantly opposed to any such cuts. However, 51% of voters favor having a partial government shutdown until Democrats and Republicans agree on what spending for the health care law to cut. Forty percent (40%) would rather avoid a government shutdown by authorizing spending for the health care law at existing levels.

Go for it.  I'm sure a government shutdown will help ensure a Romney win in 2012, guys.

In Which Zandar Answers Your Burning Questions

Piers Morgan asks a question about yesterday's Navy Yard shootings:

I'm absolutely sick of these endless bloody mass shootings in America. You promised action after Sandy Hook @BarackObama - where is it?
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 16, 2013

Ask Congress.  You're a reporter.  Find the hell out, douchebag.

Orange Julius About To Get Pulped?

While Syria and Russia and debt ceiling and Obamacare and budget showdown were all happening, I missed this little tidbit on House Speaker John Boehner:

The Federal Election Commission is examining whether dozens of political action committees and individuals contributed more than the legally allowed amount to House Speaker John Boehner during last year's election cycle.

Letters the Federal Election Committee sent Monday to Friends of John Boehner indicated that donors including coal, energy, and gambling interests, exceeded contribution limits to Boehner's committee by more than $150,000.

Among the groups that were allegedly overgenerous to Boehner were Coalpac and Minepac, which represent the mining industry, as well as political committees representing the Exelon, Constellation and Luminant power companies, and the Ceasars and Penn National gambling enterprises.

"Although the commission may take further legal action concerning the acceptance of excessive contributions, your prompt action to refund the excessive amount will be taken into consideration," the letters say.

Coal, energy and casinos?  All three big, big business in Ohio with major coal fields and plants, new fracking digs, and new casinos now up in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincy?  And they all donated more than was allowed to Orange Julius, you say?

Why, it's almost like the guy is up to no good.

Last year Friends of John Boehner sucked up $348,000 and Boehner used the money to buy loyalty from incumbents and Republican candidates with $4,000 checks. Last year he gave out 54 of those $4,000 checks (+ $6,000 to failed neo-fascist Jesse Kelly in Arizona). Like Kelly, dozens of the contributions Boehner made with the sleazy money were given to losing candidates, most of whom were judged too extreme by the voters. Boehner's losers included Adam Hasner (FL), Mia Love (UT), Robert Dold (IL), David Rouzer (NC), Charlie Bass (NH), Randy Altshuler (NY), Joe Coors (CO), Matt Doheny (NY), Joe Walsh (IL), Bobby Schilling (IL), Jonathan Paton (AZ), Lee Ivey Anderson (GA), Nan Hayworth (NY), Chip Cravaack (MN), Tony Strickland (CA), Richard Tisei (MA), Brian Bilbray (CA), Ann Marie Buerkle (NY), Allen West (FL), Ricky Gill (CA), Brendan Doherty (RI), Martha McSally (AZ), Steve Obsitnik (CT), Dick Snuffer (WV), and Frank Guinta (NH). But many who accepted the tainted checks are still in Congress-- and still upholding Boehner's shaky hold on the Speakership. Among the current Members of Congress who have not returned their $4,000 checks are a dozen crooked congressmen who are fighting uphill battles to stay in Congress:

• Michael "Mikey Suits" Grimm (R-Mafia)
• Jeff Denham (R-CA)
• David Valadao (R-CA)
• Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
• Joe Heck (R-NV)
• Lou Barletta (R-PA)
• Sean Duffy (R-WI)
• John Kline (R-MN)
• Patrick Meehan (R-PA)
• Tom Latham (R-IA)
• Mike Coffman (R-CO)
• Gary Miller (R-CA)

 So if you were wondering what the reason was behind the whisper campaign that Boehner may be stepping aside as Speaker at the end of 2014, it may be because he doesn't have a choice.  Boehner may have been caught red-handed shuffling dirty cash around to keep his position, and there may be a lot of fallout to go with it.

We'll keep an eye on this one.

StupidiNews!

• Some 13 dead, including suspected gunman Aaron Alexis, another 8 wounded in yesterday morning's shooting rampage at the Washington DC Naval Yard.
• New figures from the CDC estimate 23,000 Americans die each year from untreated drug-resistant infections, with another 14,000 from related infections.
• UN weapons inspectors have confirmed that sarin gas was used in last month's deadly attack outside Damascus, Syria, and "overwhelming evidence" that military surface-to-air rockets delivered it.
• Eurozone region car sales in August hit a record low, bringing yearly totals down to the smallest since records began to be kept in 1990.
• Scientists are working on squeezing electricity out of municipal wastewater with "microbial batteries" that run on bacteria.