The repugs don't want to pay the troops, they want to make sure the MERCENARIES GET PAID!

[Pryderi]

They want XE/Blackwater et. al to get paid so they can keep the donations flowing to their party.

[LetTimmySmoke]

1. If we have a shutdown, Obama should declare a national emergency

And use his emergency powers to order that the treasury release funds to the DoD for troop pay. Issue an order as CiC that troop pay will continue in spite of the shutdown, citing a security exigency.

[Donnachaidh]

6. I'd go along with that, as long as it's just military families

Have one good friend who understands the situation of who is causing this - and another (also military) who evidently gets their info from Cap'n Oxycontin and Fox. Guess who is blowing a royal gasket and flipping out?

[NavyDem]

2. Gov't contractors

Are also going to go without pay should the government shut down. I'm one of them, and if a budget doesn't pass by midnight, I do not go to work on Monday.

As much as I'd like to agree with you, XE/Blackwater are no more essential than combat troops in the combat zone.

[Initech]

3. WTF.

[sarcasmo]

4. Mercenaries have better lobbyists than the troops.

[BobbyBoring]

5. That they do

and they have NO BUSINESS being in war zones.

[FiveGoodMen]

8. Mercs are the private armies the rich will use against us

if class warfare goes from cold to hot.

That's what Blackwater is really for.

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. They want Blackwater to replace the National Guard and the US military.

Just like they want the rest of their businesses to replace other government-regulated infrastructure.