If you accept my premise that false equivalence is the main weapon Republicans have in their government shutdown ambivalence, then the morning headlines fingered by Think Progress‘ Rebecca Leber represent the voices of weapons dealers:

1) WaPo:

In shutdown blame game, Democrats and Republicans united: It’s the other side’s fault

2) TIME:

Shutdown: Obama and Republicans Trade Blame as Deadline is Crossed

3) Fox:

Partial shutdown begins: Can Congress, White House Compromise?

4) MLive:

Reactions to government shutdown: Is it “wanton destruction” by Republicans or a lack of compromise from Democrats?

5) USAToday

House, Senate parry on “Obamacare” as shutdown imminent

Maybe such headlines reflect laziness and ignorance rather than silent partisanship, but they are more effective instruments for the GOP position than the fieriest Ted Cruz speech.

Ed Kilgore

Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.