Dear Mister Speaker:
First off, congratulations are in order. In the over two centuries of this illustrious republic's history, there has NEVER been a time where a petulant minority of an electorally- defeated party as been allowed to override the needs and desires of the American people to have their government provide the essential services needed on a daily basis.
But, of course, THAT is the real issue, isn't it? The Tea Party acolytes who have been allowed to infect the House have NOT come to govern by rational discussion and compromise.
No - like their abrasive mouthpieces that we see on the news occasionally, their ENTIRE purpose in Washington is to obstruct the proper function of our government, so they can then pooint to it and say "See! It doesn't work!" Well, of course it won't work if they insist on pouring sand into the gas tank of democracy.
And congratulations to you, sir - by your spineless refusal to stand up to these petulant children, you have allowed Congressional representatives of likely less than 10% of the nation's population to SHUT DOWN the government for the rest of us.
This is NOT government "FOR the people" this is government AGAINST the people - except for the small percentage of Tea Party radicals who seem to think that being an American Insurgent is somehow a noble calling.
I called your office to leave you a message, and was frankly astounded to hear your selections for music on hold - Do you HONESTLY think that by playing a sappy collection of overblown patriotic music to your constituents on hold that you will magically mesmerize us into thinking that your efforts are somehow patriotic?
Sir, if you think that, you are even MORE delusional than I believed you to be.
An overwhelming percentage of us DO NOT AGREE with your craven capitulation to your party's lunatic fringe, and we disagree with the wholesale mayhem your shutdown action has caused nationwide. This Republican-driven governmental shutdown is NOT a "slimdown" - it's a cessation of many essential and helpful services, cause SPECIFICALLY because you are afraid of losing your job, and consequently are kow-towing to the Tea Party.
So here's some advice from "We, the People" - man up, put on your big-boy pants, and stop kissing the butts of the small but insane fringe segment of your party who are committed to destroying our government, not perpetuating it.
Tell the Tea Party to go pound sand, and MAYBE you may rescue the careers of a few Republican lawmakers in 2014.
I guarantee you this: adamantly refusing to restart the government will NOT win you the White House or the Senate in 2014, and it WILL cost you the House. And the GOP will wander in the political wilderness for several decades, perhaps longer, if the historical lesson of the 1996 shutdown is any guide.
so - do you really want your legacy to read "John Boehner - he destroyed the Republican Party in 2013"?
If I were in your place, I'd be happier to just retire being known as "Worst. Speaker. Ever, but at the 11th hour, saved the nation from financial default".
Still, you ain't gonna ever be on Mount Rushmore...
Cease this insanity while you have a shred of a chance left to redeem your sorry-ass legacy.
P.S. You already have the health of many cancer-stricken kids on your conscience, as their only hope of survival was the experimental therapies offered by the NIH, which you have now shut down. I wouldn't want to be YOU and have to explain WHY some of those kids died because YOU needed to prove a political point!
