John S. Wilson and I are having a back and forth on The Loop 21, regarding the effects of a GOP takeover in November.  Basically, he is arguing that the GOP will restrain themselves and not propose anything too crazy in order to prevent damage to their prospects in 2012.  

Unfortunately, I have no such hope or faith in the GOP.  And as Rachel Maddow has chronicled extensively on her show the most extreme elements of the GOP control things now and in my view they can not be trusted to govern. 

 First, off our back and forth has been outlined in fours up to this point because of the format of Wilson’s original article “Four reasons a GOP takeover isn’t such a bad thing.”  In response to his latest piece, “Democrat losses in the midterms may equal more problems for the GOP,”, although Wilson does offer rebuttals to 3 of my 4 arguments, he leaves one out: The government shutdowns of 1995-1996.  I’m not sure if this was a concession that I did indeed make a valid point or whether Wilson isn’t aware that many of his own rebuttals need to include the government shutdown in order for his analysis to be complete and most importantly that RNC Chairman Michael Steele was asked about another government shutdown yesterday and here is what he said:  

To explain how the government shutdown and the de-funding of legislation such as the health reform and financial reform bills are intrinsically tied together I recommend reading an article that Steve Kornacki recently published at Salon.com that takes a look back at the circumstances surrounding the government shutdown that occurred right around Christmas time in 1995.  It should be noted that Kornacki wrote the article in response to recent comments made on the right by first by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrinch, Alaska Republican Senate Candidate Joe Miller, influential blogger and CNN contributor Erick Erickson, and now by Michael Steele, that the GOP is excited to force another government shutdown if the midterm elections turn out anything like the Republican Revolution of 1994.  

While the government shutdowns ended up being a political loser for the GOP, what matters is that they do not see it that way today as they aren’t exactly known for remembering modern political history accurately.  It also should be noted that the more extremist elements of the GOP for all intents and purposes are controlling the Republican party of 2010 (please name a winning primary candidate endorsed by Mitch McConnell…don’t worry I’ll wait!).  With a party listening to Sarah Palin and fawning over candidates like Rand Paul, Christine O’Donnell, and Sharron Angle I don’t think it is a stretch for me to say that this incarnation of the Republican party just might be stupid enough to pull that the government shutdown stunt in 2011 (and that’s just in the Senate).  With a fight over the omnibus spending bill on the horizon during the lame duck session after the midterm elections another government shutdown is looking like a real possibility.

Also, just to provide a few quick  rebuttals to some of the points made in Wilson’s piece, I will give 5 dollars to the first person who can name the party and the president that was “elected” in the election immediately following Clinton’s impeachment?  With regards to his claim that the GOP would NEVER hold hearings on the birth certificate I would like to point out that they have already drafted and proposed legislation as members of the minority dealing with the birth certificate.  Am I supposed to believe that once the Tea Party votes them into power they aren’t going to push that agenda even further?  Seriously?

Related posts:

1. Anyone Who Isn’t Against A GOP Takeover In November Needs To Read A History Book
2. NYT: Tea Party Supporters Doing Fine, (still) Angry
3. Why Should Blacks vote GOP? Steele Says “No Good Reason.”
4. [BP Crisis] Presidential Power or Lack Thereof
5. [POLI] The Arizona Racist Trifecta