US Government Shutdown 2011: Republican Politicians Show Willingness to Screw United States

April 8th, 2011 by Zachary Shahan

A potential government shutdown is all the news right now, as it should be. The U.S. government could grind to a screeching halt due to Congress’ inability to agree on a budget. But many of the news agencies covering this possible shutdown are painting the picture much too evenly. (i.e. “Is it the Democrats? Is it the Republicans? Who’s causing this potential disaster?…”)

The answer is pretty clear. Take a look at this quote from 2010 by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.”

Yes, that is their goal, that has been their goal from before Obama stepped into office and they are willing to go to all lengths to make Obama look like a failure. They are willing to hold the U.S. hostage in order to make Obama seem like a failure (they did it on the tax cut extensions, they are doing it again now, and they do it continuously on critical climate change and clean energy legislation).

Science… who cares?

Collapse of U.S. economy… who cares?

China creams us in the #1 economic category of the future (cleantech)… who cares?

Unlivable climate… who cares?

Clean air and clean water… who cares?

All we want is for Big Oil and Big Coal to make a little more money and for Obama to be a one-term President.

I don’t think for a second that this is what most Republicans want. But I do think it is very clear this is what Republican politicians want. And as long as TV commercials and radio ads can convince people to vote for them, we are going to be in a tight spot….

More: Government Shutdown 2011: See How Much Republican Politicians Are Willing to Screw the U.S.?

Photo via kevindooley

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Tags: government shutdown, government shutdown 2011, united stated government shutdown 2011, united states government shutdown, united states politics, us government shutdown, us government shutdown 2011, us politics

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

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john

American media is screwed; just looking at the comments you can see how clueless americans are. All they care about is deficit because that is the big message coming from the deficit party who preaches fiscal responsibility but hasn’t practiced it for a century. The marketing wins over the truth and it controls the media message as well. What is really going on is a big sell out of what is left of American assets; its going down and one way to take it is to grab everything you can and run. The true patriots don’t need to trumpet their patriotism; its the fakes who do that.
LouG

All opposition parties want and work to make the President a one term or failure president. The Dems wanted it for Bush, the GOP for Obama etc. The USA is out of money. My grandchildren deserve better than to be paying for my excesses. I am green and fiscal responsible. Take in more, spend less.
- john
  
  Most on either side are not harming millions of citizens just to harm the opposition president. Despite the hype to the contrary.
  
  On some things they do and the GOP has been going too far on too many things without regard for the nation; they’ve got too many hateful wingnuts in power and that is why its gotten worse on their side than usual. The two parties are not the same even if on big issues both fail to take on powerful corporate interests (at least the dems talk about it, the republicans practically worship mammon in the open… no wonder they are cloaked in religion… we don’t even know what blasphemy is anymore…)
  
  Now some in the GOP drink the cool aid; which is a result in the propaganda working too well over the years– now they have true believers getting into office so the guys like Newt who winked while they said idiotic things to the crowds have to contend with the people they suckered who (mostly) can see he isn’t a sincere true believer when one standing next to them providing contrast.
  
  Your children will pay with a lower quality of life than you and the generation after that… probably down to 3rd world status… actually lower since the “3rd world” has been going up in most stats getting rather close to us while still remaining “3rd world.” Its not just about the debt and we’ve already been going down– average wages have been going down since at least the 70s; taxes are largely based upon wages… and the rich pay a lower % and so do the corps– the money has been migrating upwards (a classic historical trend of mankind) and the top doesn’t pay taxes so the gov has less money. Spending is just 1 side of the problem… which BTW, a lot of that spending goes to the top who bribe their way into the system.
- Phamvinv1997
  
  dear louG
Mdim

What part of “there isn’t any more money to borrow” you do not get. Let me spell it for you D-E-F-I-C-I-T. (look it up in the dictionary)
That is the reason people are saying enough is enough, not because of some idiotic conspiracy theory against Obama. People like you, that cannot stop spending money that they do not have, that is the main reason the dollar is collapsing and we are in this economic mess. You cannot spend more money than what you bring in. I wonder how you handle your own personal budget.
Fhwinter

Balance is important in everything especially progress. The ultimate screwing is what my kids and their kids are getting. Our government wastes so much it is beyond the ability of most of us to comprehend! Republicans suck. Democrats suck even more. Why has Brazil been able to develop all sorts of alternate energy and we haven’t? Corruption is the only answer I can think of. The corruption is so much a part of the system that I don’t know how we will ever fix it. Voting them all out is our only chance. At least the present Republicans took the hint and are making a small step in the right financial direction. I am unsubscribing because of your skewed political views. I have enjoyed your blog otherwise.
- john
  
  Clueless. The republicans are the problem; the rich have been stealing more money than has ever been stolen in history and have all you suckers distracted with the deficit they were instrumental in creating. You blame the victims (poor, old, sick, non-rich) — its no surprise that the same people who fell for blaming the women for being raped fall for similar arguments — the only counter to this has been not educating these people (who are thick) but cultural conditioning (memorizing) the correct answer and shaming those who get it wrong. While it has brought the rape issue into reality its not the solution because the same idiotic “thinking” continues in other areas.
  
  How stupid can people get?? Republicans force a tax cut at 70+ billion and then want to cut spending by only 60 billion yet the stupid people think they are cutting the deficit and because the cuts are silly people will notice them and feel like they are sacrificing when the reality is the debt is just getting bigger. Trickle down didn’t work but it continues because the rich are running things and after the democrats lose more funding (dead unions) they will become more republican – which the plan of smart unpatriotic republicans; turn your ‘enemy’ into a variation of yourself. There already is little difference between them.
Dave

what a crock of Oumgbma crap
- Phamvinv1997
  
  dear dave. I agree with you alot. I have a friend who will be on the streets because of this goverment shutdown. Obama is crap, and the government doesn’t give a rats ass about us.