Um, this has more to do with 20+ years of Third Way Dems appeasing real crazies,

[joshcryer]

27. The House Democrats hated the tax cut extension.

They had no choice to pass it because the Senate Republicans promised to filibuster endlessly and there were millions of people awaiting unemployment checks, and the alternate minimum tax was about to go up on 21 million working class individuals.

The fact of the matter is Obama had only one budget passed, every subsequent budget has been extorted in the form of a "continuing resolution."

Obama and the Democrats have had to deal with the filibustering:



This President and the Democratic Party is most obstructed in history.

And guess what? When this is not recognized, from the start, when this isn't appreciated, the Republican narrative gets pushed that the Democrats are no better, that they're big compromisers, and indeed, that they should compromise. Just look at the Republicans wanting the Democrats to come to the table over the current issue. There have been DUers who have seriously suggested that the Democrats go to conference, and laughably, push something like Single Payer. Except that would be negotiating, and there is no need to negotiate now. The country is doing better economically (not great, but nothing like before at the end of a recession).

The Democrats are falling on their sword here in order not to blink. WIC, Head Start, EEOC, DOL, it's all fucking going to shit. Thousands of federal workers, thousands of contractors and service sector people, they're all being hurt big time due to this shutdown. It is not a joke. The poorest are going to hurt the worst.

And guess what? The Republicans will blame the Democrats in the next election for it! They'll point fingers, they'll say the Democrats are the root of all the problems. And guess what? Some "First-Wayers" will peddle that narrative.