Will the government shut down?

Wondering what all you fellow politically astute people think will happen in a week and a half...

THe Left is counting on a repeat of 95..not happening.

This is a diff Nation....

I think a shutdown is a very real possibility. From what I've read, the Senate Democrats seem to be opposed to any cuts in 2011 and want to maintain the status quo. And they don't seem to be willing to budge. The Republican gains in Congress were clearly based on a mandate to reduce spending/the deficit. It would be suicide with the base for the Republicans to cave and allow the status quo to exist for another year.

Democrats seem to be counting on the Republicans caving because they fear a repeat of 95. But I just read an interesting article. We keep hearing how disasterous the government shutdown was for the Republicans in '95, but the Republicans only lost 9 seats in the House in the '96 elections and gained two seats in the Senate. Dole lost the Presidential election, but frankly that had nothing to do with the shutdown and a whole lot to do with Bob Dole. In fact, I'd argue that the losses in the House could be explained more by having a lackluster Presidential candidate and less by the '95 government shutdown.

My only question is, if they shut down do I get to pro rate my taxes?

No, idea. All rationality says no. But, on the other hand, these Republicans seem delighted with the prospect of doing long term damage to our fragile economy.

Who cares? It's increasingly obvious the country is on the fast track to collapse. Nothing these people disagree about and are devoting so much time and energy to actually matters.

It will pathetic to see them scramble to blame each other for the shut down if it happens...