Obama must be sweating really badly right about now, knowing that he is the one who is about to push the economy to a worse place. Recession / depression?
Once again the Republicans are as helpful as tits on a bull. The shutdown will cost around 150 million per day. Let's just say it. The problem with the US is the do-nothing, obstructive, ignorant, spend-crazy, republicans.
He doesn't care. I am quite sure he and Harry Reid believe the republicans will fold. Certainly many republicans are dying to fold, but Boehner could risk his Speakership if he goes along. For the dems, they see this as win-win. Already they have divided the republicans into warring camps. If there is a shutdown, the media will blame extremist republicans. If there is no shutdown, Obama has pissed all over Ted Cruz. Of course, McCain and his crowd wouldn't mind seeing Cruz getting taken down a couple of notches. No doubt they'll be doing all they can to undermine him.
I think there's value in keeping the difference between "mainstream" reps, and the tea party, in mind.