The Washington Playbook

 

 

"Those that think they have seen this movie before, probably have..."

Happy New Year everyone! Those who have worked with or for the government know that the GFY is often times more important than the end of the Julian calendar. What is the GFY you ask? The Government Fiscal Year, and it happens every year on October 1st. As sure as the Gophers lose when they start playing real football teams, the second best bet in Minnesota is financial disagreement in Washington. Baring a miracle tantamount to the parting of the Red Sea, we are headed for "shut down city" at midnight on Monday.

Understand this first - not too many people on either side of the aisle are unhappy about this. Everybody has a "playbook" describing how this could develop to their advantage. For example, during the last election, dozens upon dozens of Conservatives won with the pledge of coming to Washington to stop ObamaCare. As of right now, it is stopped - along with many other things, as there is no Continuing Resolution (CR) or budget going forward.

The Democrats, most particularly the President, are almost drooling thinking on how this might play out. Since the Administration holds the purse stings on what stays open and what shuts down, there will be as much pain as possible given to as many as practical. Rather than offering a helping hand or soothing voice, the Left will be shrill in putting the blame squarely on the Tea Party Right. In fact, our "good friend" Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), has already pulled that obscene term ("Tea Baggers") out of the Democratic closet. A pornographic term this vile is never acceptable be used by a standing member of the Senate, from either party.

Back to the playbook for the Left. Pain is inflicted. Blame is placed squarely on the Republicans. Unhappy voters will remember the pain of the shutdown and vote in high numbers for loyal Democrats who will unseat these "troublesome" Republicans. Once Speaker Nancy is back in power, Nancy, Harry and the President will finish up the total transformation of our country with sweeping climate control legislation. The top one percent will be taxed at rates similar to pre-Reagan days and our economy will operate similar to the Euro zone. American will have become Greece, with Washington acting like Athens.

Here is the truth behind partial government shut downs. For the most part, you will not even notice it. Sure there will be some areas that inconvenience people - however, the Administration could fill in those gaps should they desire. For the most part, it will be 40% of government workers who on Tuesday morning, will go to work and find out they are not "essential". Mail will be delivered, government checks will go out and the clock will tick. The President will shut down the Washington exhibits and the National Parks. Boo ho - vacation time is over anyhow.

What we will see on Tuesday will be the dress rehearsal for what we could see on October 17th when we reach (once again) the limitations of the debt ceiling. The President is predicting financial Armageddon if the House does not agree to raise the ceiling. It could be a mess and this one could hurt. However, there are a growing number of people in the country who are willing to take some pain to get out debt under control. I am one of them.

So, as they say in the Navy, stand by for stormy seas with a rough chop. October promises to be a stormy and turbulent month. Hopefully, just like the calm after a thunderstorm, November will be peaceful with many of these pesky financial issues resolved.