This article talks about the different approaches Republican leaders are taking in response to the current government shutdown. Many, such as Sn. Marco Rubio of Florida, are trying to associate themselves with Ted Cruz and the Tea Party faction of the Republican Party. Others, like Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, are trying to stay out of the problems currently associated with Washington.
I think this article points out an important trend in politics today. Republican leaders, especially in Congress, are too concerned with pleasing the extreme members who have come to control their party. While millions of workers are furloughed and the government shutdown is negatively affecting the lives of Americans, many Republican leaders seem to be more focused on party politics and reelection than helping the people that they claim to represent.
Monday, October 14, 2013
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No one should be using this shutdown to position themselves for presidential candidacy. What they should be doing is working on getting the shutdown resolved. It has gone on for too long and it seems as though some do not care to see it resolved. "Republicans and Democrats don't sit down and have a discussion enough." Why is this? Today especially, this seems like it should be happening all day every day. If the two groups never collaborate how will they ever be able to come to a general consensus. If two groups never practice coming to a compromise, they will never know how to when it is actually important. Like right about now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ian that it is wrong for anyone to use a government shutdown to position themselves for a presidential election, but I also wonder how effective this strategy will even be. I seriously doubt that anyone heavily involved in perpetuating a government shutdown would be elected as president. I don't even think that they would receive the Republican presidential nomination. Members of the tea party are supportive of Cruz's actions, but many republicans are not (the article mentions Chris Christie), and so I don't know why anyone thinking strategically would willingly "hitch their wagon" to a man who doesn't even have the full support of his own party.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting article. Sort of going off of what Ian said, these politicians should not be using a government shutdown to start preparing for a presidential election. While it is true that politics are for personal gain, we elect these politicians hoping that they will change our lives for the better. How is preparing for a presidential election 3 years away going to help what is going wrong right now? These politicians are not making our lives any easier by doing this; they need to sit down together (both parties, and not have a big joke about it like Rand Paul's failed attempt (at least give him credit for trying)) and work this shutdown out, not prolong it and plan for a presidential election that most people aren't even thinking about at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThe baffling thing about U.S politics today to me is how much focus is put into gaining support and tactics for reelection. Even with the pressure of the government shutdown, these politicians are concentrating on gaining support through this crisis more than solving it (on a side note, I especially like the parallel that the article makes about Cruz with Obamacare and the Salem witch trials.) Especially now with the growth of media in recent decades, there seems to be more focus on this. It's evident just in the article how these politicians direct their attention to using the media to their advantage. Like how Christie is telling the whole twitter world about his multitude of accomplishments. In my opinion, and I would hope many agree, both Republicans and Democrats need to turn their attentions to the problems, not on gaining attention through the problems.
ReplyDeleteThis just proves that it's all just one big competition to all of them. It's all about winning the elections and then not doing anything after you win them. Everyone seems way too concerened with angering their own party and getting shunned. Because of this nobody speaks their mind and instead just say what their party wants them to say. The only exception to this seems to be Chris Christie, but he's not even in congress.
ReplyDeleteAnd while many people are left without work during this shutdown, politicians are working on trying to get re-elected instead of trying to reach an agreement to end the shutdown. It's all just for self-gain unfortunately.
This article is very thought provoking and a great discussion topic for anyone who enjoys to talk politics. It shows the political dysfunction that now plagues both parties in even making the simplest of policy decisions. The most baffling part for myself is that throughout this Shutdown, many politicians from both parties of the House and the Senate, (G.O.P or not), have shown only the need to act in ways that benefit themselves. Bipartisanship isn't part of the tactics for either of the parties, even while a great show of brinkmanship is taking place before them. Some politicians have taken this chance to separate themselves from the happenings of Washington, but it seems that others have taken this as a chance to bring themselves right into what is happening trying to quote, "out-Cruz Cruz", getting their names into the media and the public helping with their efforts to place their bids for the 2016 election.
ReplyDeleteThis article reminds me a lot of Mike Lofgren's view of elections in his book. He stated how expensive it is for someone to run for president and how long the campaigns go on for, which is something this article agrees with. I understand that the two political parties don't get along at all (as proved in this article). The thing I don't get is how politicians haven't realized that they can't just campaign their lives away and then expect to not have to follow through with anything they say. It's all basically a game to them of who's seen with who at what event and none of it really has to do with improving the country. Even now, with all that is going on within the government, elections are all they seem to care about. If I were in Congress, I would feel guilty enough to put aside the drama of it all and work on a solution that will undoubtedly affect the entire country.
ReplyDeleteThough sad, it's really interesting to watch this happen. Lofgren talked about the push to radicalism that often happens in elections, and you can really see that here. To me, at least, it doesn't seem like some of these possible candidates are at Senator Cruz's level of stubbornness and admiration for Dr. Seuss. They're being pushed more and more to the right,, something that is not safe...and I can't really think of solutions! Maybe some reforms in the election process that would allow the public to pick the candidates for the primary. Or maybe just more pragmatic representatives.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ian. I am wondering why these politicians are focusing on the next election when this issue should be their main priority. If I were a politician I would be trying to help resolve the problem that is affecting the people who could vote for me. I am also confused as to why the Republicans would be aligning themselves with Cruz. Cruz is a little bit on the radical side of the Republican party. Most voters seem to be moderate so I would want to align myself with the moderate side of the Republican party.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Ian. Politicians don't understand that in order for them to solve problems, they have to meet with the opposing party and compromise. I was watching the news and the press showed clips of President Obama and John Boehner talking about the government shutdown. Both men blamed each other for the lack in progress they were having with ending the shutdown. It reminded me of a a fight between two teenage girls. Both men talked to each other through a neutral friend (in this case, the media). It's pathetic that two grown men could not meet and talk face to face to resolve an issue that not only affected them, but the entire country.
ReplyDeleteI think it is discouraging that the Senators are posturing for the 2016 election now instead of focusing on the important issues currently at hand in Washington. I think Senator Rubio and the others who are aligning themselves with Ted Cruz and the tea party Republicans are misinformed if they believe there is enough widespread support among the Republican party to gain a nomination. I think more moderate Republicans like Governor Christie who are making a positive impact in their state and who are supporting the more moderate views are far more likely to get a Republican nomination in 2016.
ReplyDeleteSo sad how our entire political system has become completely controlled by extremists. Our system started out from much more moderate roots, but the tea party extremists have been slowly and surely gaining power, and now more and more politicians are pledging their allegiances to the tea party because, sadly that is where they see our system going.
ReplyDeleteI think that members of our government should be embarrassed for not putting all of their attention into solving the government shutdown and avoiding a debt default that would have been devastating. Our political officials should represent the best interests of their constituents and work to make our country a good place to live in, not worry about elections taking place years from now.
ReplyDeleteI found this article interesting, in that, both bipartisan and partisan views amongst the republican party were represented.I also found it ironic that a potential presidential candidate (Mr. Rubio) was doing more following than leading as of late. Personally, i would prefer my president to lead people and not just jump onto bandwagons and allow others to do his thinking. I was very disappointed, but not surprised when honesty was persecuted in washington( Gov. Jindal).
ReplyDeleteIt's disheartening that some of the people who represent our country are so radical and solely concerned with gaining more power in politics. Ted Cruz is a perfect example of someone who is now popular in the media, but for all the wrong reasons. Any member of Congress who is trying associate themselves with Cruz is making a crucial mistake, and honestly manipulating their credibility and appearance. The Tea Party is a scary fraction of the government which is sadly gaining power. If members of Congress were being wise, they would associate with Christie, who is more moderate, and as we know, the majority of Americans consider themselves to be moderate and are more likely to vote for a less extreme candidate.
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ReplyDeleteAs if the government shutdown weren't enough of a sign that our government is broken, we see that our Republican leaders used it to make personal gains. These gains aren't for an election that is near. Instead, it is for the presidential election. The one that is four years away. Although the government has since reopened, I am truly disappointed that some of our elected officials used their time on establishing their reputation instead of focusing on the federal government that was out of order.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bob. It is embarrassing that our politicians are so focused on a future election rather than the current issues in our government, in this case the government shut down. These people are elected to do what is in the best interest of the people, yet they aren't focused on fixing the issues. This is a perfect example of politicians acting in their own self interest.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bob. It is embarrassing that our politicians are so focused on a future election rather than the current issues in our government, in this case the government shut down. These people are elected to do what is in the best interest of the people, yet they aren't focused on fixing the issues. This is a perfect example of politicians acting in their own self interest.
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