So it now appears the government shutdown and debt default threat will continue at least through the weekend and probably into next week (though there may be a bipartisan impetus to show some renewed progress before markets open on Monday). We’ll know a lot more by tomorrow as the various parties to the dispute assemble to reformulate strategy.
Here are some remainders of the day:
* White House rejects the House GOP proposal for a short-term deal linked to mandatory budget negotiations, which may indicate a decision to rely on the Senate to work out something more durable. Jay Carney’s rhetoric in announcing the no-deal was notably conciliatory.
* One signal of possible “Senate strategy:” White House informed Senate Republicans that the medical device tax is not essential to the Affordable Care Act, which may make it available as a trophy for GOPers in agreeing to a long-term debt limit increase and CR.
* As other senators fish about for trophies to claim in the fiscal discussions, Pat Roberts basically says, “Bring me the head of Kathleen Sebelius.” The HHS secretary, of course, is former governor of Roberts’ state of Kansas.
* In his moonlighting debut at WaPo’s Plum Line, our own Ryan Cooper writes about the government shutdown effects that involve not merely inconvenience, but real damage.
* At Ten Miles Square, Progressive Policy Institute senior fellow Raymond Smith discusses a parallel to the current fiscal crisis a little more recent than either the English Civil War or the Clinton-Gingrich throwdown: Belgium’s 2010-2011 political crisis.
And in non-political news:
* Stocks continue to climb as hope springs eternal on Wall Street.
Martin Longman–a.k.a., The BooMan of Booman Tribune–will be handling what could be a very lively weekend shift here at PA.
To close the day, here’s one more version of “Crossroad Blues,” from one of my perennial favorite musicians, Ry Cooder.
Selah.
