The cracks are getting deeper and deeper between Congressional Republicans in both chambers. In the Senate, a simple request turned into a Republican-on-Republican floor fight Thursday when Sen. Harry Reid attempted to get unanimous consent from the Senate to move up the voting on the continuing resolution and its amendments so that the House could get the bill back Thursday night or early Friday. This move would give the House enough time to respond to hopefully get an agreement that would not let the government shut down.
Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-TX) puppy dog, Mike Lee (R-UT), objected, insisting that the votes have to happen Friday. That in turn brought out a clearly frustrated Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) who accused Lee and his buddy Cruz of delaying the vote and jamming the House purely for the purpose of grandstanding.
"It's my understanding again, relative to this vote tonight happening tomorrow instead, is that my two colleagues, who I respect, have sent out e-mails around the world and turned this into a show possibly, and, therefore, they want people around the world to watch maybe them and others on the Senate floor. And that is taking priority over getting legislation back to the House so they can take action before the country's government shuts down and, by the way, causing them possibly to put in place again some other good policies."
Then Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) jumped into the debate, bemoaning Republican tactics, which caused Corker to stress to Durbin and anyone else who would listen that it was two, just two, Republicans who were trying to delay this vote. And the GOP civil war is engaged:
Club for Growth: "Senator Corker effectively became a Democrat just now on the Senate floor."
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— @TPM
Meanwhile, it's still not GOP paradise on the House side of Capitol Hill. House Speaker John Boehner threw every
wingnut dream into his debt ceiling hostage bill, but even with all that, he can't get the votes he needs for it. He's
had to postpone the vote. It's deja vu all over again. "John Boehner Yanks Debt Ceiling Bill, House Vote Postponed." That's dated
July 28, 2011.
And the government runs out of funding at midnight, Monday. But don't mind us, GOP, we'll just be over here gathering up our emergency supplies (which includes a lot of popcorn).
Stand with Daily Kos and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in denouncing Republicans who would completely shut down the government just to destroy Obamacare.