Wrong Battle ... Wrong Weapon

The Republicans are fighting on poor ground with poor tactics.  They will lose badly and damage the nation.

At Gettysburg, Lee chose the wrong ground and the wrong weapon.  He had a delusional faith in the power of his men, and had little respect for the Yankee men.  Thus misguided, he chose to attack heavily defended positions uphill over poor ground on Day 2 at the Devil's Den and Little Round Top.  He lost.  On Day 3 he ordered Pickett's Charge, a perfectly idiotic attack over a mile over open ground uphill.  Even if the charge had broken the Federal lines, those men were unsupported and there was no follow-thru.  Lee's only hope was a panic by Federal troops.  That didn't happen and was delusional.

The Republicans have cast aside their honor and integrity to draft the bond and noteholders of American debt into their fight with Obama over spending.  Yet debt represents money lent to cover PAST spending, not future spending.  They risk the credit and honor of the United States of America for their "game".  Do they offer a shared sacrifice?

No.  Have they offered a 20% cut in Congressional pay?  No.  Have they offered a cut in pay and benefits for the bloated Federal workforce and the doubly bloated government contractors?  No.  Instead, they want the creditors of America to be their human shield.

What cowards!

Last month, Minnesota and the California Republicans showed the way.  Fight spending by shutting down the government - shut off the SPENDING.  In the Spring, instead, the Congressional Republicans past a stopgap budget.  This October 1, they could refuse to pass appropriations for real spending without a budget deal.  That would be using the right weapon in the right battle.  The Minnesota and California events proved those tactics are a winner.

The Congressional Republican leaders and their Tea Party fire-eaters are being fools, as was Lee at Gettysburg.  If they persist in this delusion of glory, they will cause immense damage to their cause.  Just like Lee did almost 150 years ago.

Go around to the right and fight on good ground.  Pass a debt limit increase and prepare to shut the Federal government down on October 1.  That's good ground and the public will support it this time.

Word of the Day

"Dudgeon" - noun [$10]
Dudgeon means a feeling of offense, resentment; 'in high dudgeon' means very angry or angrily.
Sentence:  America's creditors will permanently have much dudgeon if used as a human shield in an internal political fight.