Republicans are no heroes: Column
In the course of back-to-back confrontations over funding the government and raising the debt ceiling, the conservative base has become intoxicated with visions of glorious martyrdom.
On the eve of the federal shutdown, as House Republicans agreed to insist on defunding Obamacare as the price of keeping the government open, Rep. John Culberson of Texas rallied his colleagues by invoking the doomed heroes of United Flight 93. Declaring that the moment somehow reminded him of Sept. 11, the congressman cheered his colleagues with the words: "Let's roll!"
Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas likes to cite Braveheart to inspire his followers, urging beleaguered conservatives to "Hold! Hold! Hold!" against the on-rushing enemy in the spirit of Mel Gibson's version of 13th century Scottish warrior William Wallace.
Every day during the crisis, excited callers to my radio show draw parallels between today's GOP stalwarts and the doughty band who fought to the last man at the Alamo or the 300 Spartans who perished at Thermopylae in 480 B.C. Is it merely coincidence, I've been asked, that the number of Republicans in today's House and Senate comes to a combined total of just about 300? (Actually, 278 — but close enough).
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/10/08/republicans-gop-obamacare-ted-cruz-column/2948293/
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