Think Progress has an excellent post showing how the media is working to promote the Cruz/Boehner spin by blaming Dems and Republicans equally (or, in the case of Fox, Congress and the White House, suggesting that Congress is united behind Cruz/Boehner):
1) WaPo:
In shutdown blame game, Democrats and Republicans united: It’s the other side’s fault
2) TIME:
Shutdown: Obama and Republicans Trade Blame as Deadline is Crossed
3) Fox News:
House Republicans in last ditch effort to avert shutdown, Reid says GOP "playing games"
4) Fox News:
Partial shutdown begins: Can Congress, White House Compromise?
5) MLive:
Reactions to government shutdown: Is it “wanton destruction” by Republicans or a lack of compromise from Democrats?
6) USAToday
House, Senate parry on “Obamacare” as shutdown imminent
Of course, FoxNews feeds bullshit to their ignorant viewers, but some of the rest of the media is working it for Cruz/Boehner by trying to blame the victim for not aceding to the wishes of the extortionist. If you give in to the wishes of the economic terrorists, they won't blow up the economy. So "you're both at fault," exclaims the media.
Ed Kilgore at the Washington Monthly
If you accept my premise that false equivalence is the main weapon Republicans have in their government shutdown ambivalence, then the morning headlines fingered by Think Progress’ Rebecca Leber represent the voices of weapons dealers:
snip
Maybe such headlines reflect laziness and ignorance rather than silent partisanship, but they are more effective instruments for the GOP position than the fieriest Ted Cruz speech.
But early polls show that Americans are not buying the tradmed spin:
Based on CNN and ABC/Washington Post polls, Americans blame House Republicans over Senate Democrats for the shutdown crisis.
Think Progress
Same with Quinnipiac:
And on that score, today’s new Quinnipiac poll should set off alarm bells.
It finds that 58 percent of Americans, including 58 percent of independents, oppose Congress defunding Obamacare. Seventy two percent, and 74 percent of independents, oppose shutting down major activities of the government to stop the health law. On the debt limit, 64 percent oppose not raising it to block the law. All of this is in spite of plurality disapproval of Obamacare. Dems have opened a nine point lead in the generic House matchup, 43-34.
snip
It finds that despite under-water approval ratings, 54 percent say Obama is “honest and trustworthy”; 54 percent say he cares about people’s needs and problems; and he leads Republicans on handling the middle class by 51-38. While 50 percent say Obama isn’t doing enough to compromise with Republicans, 68 percent say Republicans aren’t doing enough to compromise with Obama. This may be the most important finding:
Which comes closer to your point of view; there is gridlock in Washington mainly because President Obama lacks the personal skills to convince leaders of Cnogress to work together, or there is gridlock in Washington mainly because Republicans in Congress are determined to block any President Obama initiative:
Obama lacks skills: 33
Republicans block 55
The Plum Line
Just another reason why tradmed is dying. People have learned to tune them out. How often do you read Time Magazine?
This is extortion by House Republicans, economic terrorism. Use word of mouth, facebook, and blogs. Spread the word.