Actually, to be fair, this Congress is a lot like other Congresses. The House passes all sorts of wacky ideas, and they go to die an ignoble death in the Senate. But then, that's the way it's kind of set up, I guess. Pelosi passed like 400 bills that Harry Reid never got around to, for instance, and that was Dem v. Dem....

I don't believe you have any quotes from top Dems though, "hoping" for a shutdown, unless you define that term awfully liberally (pun intended).

-CW

That is a fairly novel interpretation, but I can't refute it. Constitutional crises are actually built in to the whole constitutional setup. There are vague overlaps, and often times it just takes some chutzpah from one branch or another to set a precedent. I'm reminded of Andy Jackson's question as to what army the Supreme Court was going to use to enforce their decision against him....

As for the presidential thing, as far as I can see, they can have it both ways, kind of. Congress could cut off the power to write a paycheck to the president, but whenever the money started flowing again I think by the Constitution they'd owe him all his back pay.

As for the XXVIIth Amendment, it would be interesting to see whether Congress is even allowed to cut their own pay off...

Like I said, there are plenty of crises built in...

Heh.

-CW

Top Democrats are on record as hoping for a shut down as well...

Michale.....

Wow. You've just got to admire the chutzpah. Who could be for the government shutdown? Not us. You see, we tried to pass a law to prevent it. What's in the law? Nevermind that. Nothing to see here folks. Look away.

By the way ... wouldn't this proposed law have to pass the Senate? And be signed by the President? :)

Kur-azy
-David

This GOP Congress is as do-nothing as the last Congress was...

But, at least the GOP seems to be operating under the DO NO HARM mantra....

So far...

Or perhaps Democrats should make a very vocal push to get the "I'm Just A Bill" video (from the Schoolhouse Rock era) back on the public airwaves.

"Oh how I hope and pray that I will, but today I am still just a bill"

The sad thing is THAT is from memory! :D

Michale.....

"While that bit about cutting off congressional paychecks is something virtually everyone can support"

Yay, let's make members of Congress even more dependent on money from special interests. But according to the WaPo item it applies to the president too, and that's unconstitutional.

"The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected"
Article II section 1