Will wonders never cease! The New York Times and I agree that a federal government shutdown wouldn't be so bad. Of course our reasons differ a tad -- the Times thinks it should be done to send a message to "reckless" Republicans who are trying to make "devastating" cuts in the federal budget that would "do enormous damage" to many needed programs:
Mr. Biden and the Senate should make it clear to the freshman House members who are really driving their chamber's position that they will not permit reckless cuts this year. Then let the freshmen explain to an angry public why they closed the government's doors to score ideological points.
As Ed Morrisey notes:
In other words, Biden and Reid should refuse to discuss any further cuts, and should shut down the government rather than reduce overall government spending by a grand whopping total of 1.6% and put a minuscule 3.8% dent in a $1.6 trillion deficit. Then when the shutdown occurs, the Times recommends that Biden and Reid let House freshman explain that the Democrats refused to touch 98.4% of federal spending and think that a $1.6 trillion deficit is so good that they're willing to shut down the government to keep it intact.
Yeah, that's a good strategy. Let's see how that works out.
