Avoiding a Shutdown

Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader, is holding extensive discussions to avoid a government shutdown over the upcoming "continuing resolution" to fund the government.  The issue -- funding planned parenthood. McConnell's plan is to force Obama to veto the bill which contains defunding planned parenthood.  Then, after the veto, the President wins as the "continuing resolution" provides the funding to continue on.  Net effect -- zero.

Somehow this constitutes a legislative priority for McConnell -- a totally empty gesture.  Obama will be delighted to provide the veto.  Obama certainly has made no effort to hide his support for planned parenthood, so the veto would provide voters with absolutely no new information.

So, what is the point?

The point is to appease Republican voters who would like a Republican dominated Congress to show some backbone.  That's obviously not going to happen.

Instead, more taxpayer money will be wasted by McConnell and the Republican leadership trying to convince their base that empty gestures have meaning.

But, empty gestures have no meaning.  Obama has made complete fools of the Republican leadership.  McConnell has no more belief in free markets than the President.

Empty gestures are not worthy of anyone's time.   A Senate majority is no different than a Senate minority.  That is all that McConnell is proving.

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