I'm trying to think of ways past the current gov't shutdown. Sort of outright capitulation by Boehner and the R's in the house I don't see how it ends well for anyone-- although I am certain it will be the baggers and the republican party that bears the most marks from the fight.
Nonetheless, as progressives, we probably ought not to spend too much time savoring the self-inflicted agony of the right wing. The shutdown matters, it hurts people, families, the economy, and-- let's face it-- our image as a country as viewed from abroad.
Now, as I understand it, the discharge petition can be used to bring a bill to the house floor for a vote despite the leadership's refusal to do so. All reports I've read of the most recent kerfuffle say that the senate returned a clean CR bill to the house.
Is it still "there"? If so, could it's status be upgraded from "tabled" to active? If not, might there be an opportunity in the ping-pong match of CR bills between house and senate that the opportunity to place a clean CR up for a majority vote via discharge petition? It would surely pass and am just as certain that the dems would be accused of some manner of criminal behavior.
But if it could be done and end this clusterfu&k of a government we have been subjected to, I'm all for it. Any ideas re: plausibility?