Who Is Running the Republican Party?

As the government shutdown closes out its 13th day, the question every American should be asking these days is, “Who is running the Republican Party?” Does anyoe really know?

House Speaker John Boehner R-OH AP

Last Sunday, while speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) blatantly refused to bring up any debt ceiling vote.  He clearly stated, “We are not going to pass a clean debt limit increase.” 

Is the Speaker of the House, the voice of the GOP on Capitol Hill?

 Sen. Ted Cruz R-TX
AP

Per the ranting of Ted Cruz (R-TX), the government shutdown was tied to the attempted repeal of the “Affordable Care Act.” This however has not been boding very well for the Republican Party.  It would appear, shutting down the government is not the pivotal backbreaker the Tea Party expected it would be.  

In the meantime, Senator Cruz is being shunned by many, including members of the Republican Party.   However on Friday, while speaking at the “Values Voter Summit” in a Washington, D.C. hotel, the junior senator was met by heroic cheers only to be heckled moments later on immigration issues.  

Does Senator Cruz speak for the right wing and is he helping or hurting the Grand Old Party?

Only two things are certain about this shutdown, first it is self-inflicted and second, America is outraged about it.  Maybe it was the World War II vets that visited the monuments on the Mall in the opening days of the shutdown, only to be denied access to the WWII Memorial.  Or maybe after congress partially funded the government, sadly they did not realize that funding the defense department did not automatically fund death benefits for our fallen military. Maybe it’s the loss of services for no apparent reason to all Americans dependent upon their government.  

Americans are speaking out, from private citizen making donations to temporarily fund various federal operations to the CEO of Starbucks gathering signatures on a petition, demanding the end of the shutdown and addressing the debt ceiling issue.  Whatever the case, the expressed displeasure and shame of the people is being demonstrated in various forms.  It is also reflected in various polls.  And the polls say, the Republicans are taking it in the shorts.

By Wednesday, at the urging of Koch Industries and the Heritage Foundation, the GOP seemed to be altering their stance. Stating the failure to approve a debt ceiling increase would be a disaster, Koch Industries suggested House Republicans should present a clean six-week debt ceiling extension that does not include a plan to fund the government.

David Koch           AP

At a press conference Thursday morning, House GOP leadership did just that, announcing their “new strategy.” This is one day after Heritage Action CEO Michael Needham admitted the group will “give the speaker some flex on a short-term debt limit increase,” in order to extend the shutdown over Obama care. On Wednesday, Koch officials increased the pressure with a letter for inquiring members who “have asked what our position is on this issue” that claims the conservative billionaires never supported withholding federal government funds over Obama care.  Both groups, who are the driving force during this debt ceiling and shutdown fiasco, are responsible for putting Tea Party members in Congress.  

So are the Heritage Foundation and Koch Industries actually running the Republican Party?  Should corporations be determining public policy?  Is that what the founding fathers intended; to allow financiers to shape the future of this country?  Is that a Democracy?

Thursday afternoon President Obama extended an invitation to all of the republican members of the House.  The leadership responded, only select members would be in attendance.  It is alleged this

small group came prepared to address the debt ceiling with a temporary measure.  In the “new strategy,” the GOP proposed funding a 6 weeks temporary partial fix.  This would theoretically postpone this debt ceiling issue until approximately Thanksgiving and the Holiday shopping season. 

House GOP members visit the White
House for discussions.                 AP

Unfortunately, this did not address the government shutdown.
President Obama has remained absolutely willing to discuss and negotiate any issues, but not while under threat.  In other words, he will not discuss anything before the government is funded and returned to work. After the meeting, it remained uncertain whether any headway had been made.  However the fact that members did not exit the meeting and promptly find themselves in front of news cameras spoke volumes.

Paul Ryan the voice of
the GOP?               AP

On Friday President Obama again extended invitations to all House Republicans. That afternoon, buses transporting the entire republican body of the House arrived at the White House.   From a laymen’s perspective, the President wasn’t content to just speak with the leadership.  Perhaps, that’s because no one seems able to speak for the entire party, however former

vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan seemed to emerge as the voice of reason for the Republican Party.  Is Paul Ryan the messiah of the GOP?

After the West Wing meeting, while no resolution could be clearly identified, but both parties reported progress had been made.  The very mere fact the President and House Republican were finally talking was viewed as very favorable.  The Dow Jones Indicator (DJI) reflected an optimistic outlook as we observed a rise in stock prices.

On Saturday, it became evident President Obama was sticking to his guns, he was standing firm.  While he is talking, he is not negotiating, at least not while the government is stalled.  The conservatives on the other hand appear poised to fold, as Senate Republicans are posturing to undermine House Republicans.  The Grand Old Party in the House appears to be crumbling before our very eyes.  Is this the end of the Republican Party?  Will the Republicans go the route of the Federalist, Whig and Libertarian Parties, effectively into extinction?  Perhaps, it time to revamp the political party system.

On this Sunday's morning Washingtonian talk shows, all seem to agree with 4 days remaining before the debt ceiling deadline, a resolution to this national mess is within sight.  Polls across America indicate, if possible all members of the house would be voted out of office and replaced.  Americans are fed up in the wake of this national embarrassment.  I for one remain optimistic.

I’m not hatin, I’m jus sayin…