Those moderate, supposedly responsible Republicans who have said that they would vote for a clean CR or a discharge petition to reopen the government (and essentially go against Boehner and The Extremists) are just another myth, like unicorns.
Several of them have talked a good game over the past few days, probably to appeal to mainstream America (where disapproval of how their party is handling this fiasco is clocking in at 73%). Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY) admitted that a clean budget bill could pass with around 150 Republican votes, but only if it were a secret ballot.
Every one of these politicians, including the Speaker, are terrified of the 80 or so tea party extremists — who represent only 18% of the country in gerrymandered districts — because of their wealthy benefactors. So forget Republican “leadership” and serving the “will of the people” or even “serving the country” – Party Before Country is the guiding theme here.
So how will they handle it when we reach the debt ceiling next week? Just like they handled the shutdown: vote in lockstep with the party, then complain a little in public to make it seem like the GOP still retains some sanity or courage.
