Is history repeating itself? Is the GOP following the Whigs?

[Beskar]

"KISS" is actually a very good principle in theory. However, in power sharing arguments, it comes more complicated as getting rid of the democratic function of a government would keep it a 'lot more simple'.

But I think it comes down to having 'Independent Systems' working in a co-operation with each-other, rather than a large sprawling mass of government. Having the Post Office, NHS Police, Armed Forces and others play a separate part outside the main sphere.

[Xiahou]

"KISS" is actually a very good principle in theory. However, in power sharing arguments, it comes more complicated as getting rid of the democratic function of a government would keep it a 'lot more simple'.

True. But the "democratic function" was one of the original design requirements. So government would not be fit for purpose without that feature.

[Pannonian]

Boehner Hoping To Remain Leader Of Republican Parties

[Lemur]

Good (but incomplete) advice from NRO (boils down to "nihilism ain't attractive, and winning elections is maybe as important as ideological purity")

There is no alternative to seeking to expand the conservative base beyond its present inadequate numbers and to win the votes of people who aren’t yet conservatives or are not yet conservatives on all issues. The defunders often said that those who predicted their failure were “defeatists.” Yet it is they who have given in to despair. They are the ones who entertain the ideas that everything has gotten worse; that the last few decades of conservative thought and action have been for nothing; that engagement in politics as traditionally conceived is hopeless; that government programs, once begun, must corrupt the citizenry so that they can never be ended or reformed; that the country will soon be past the point of regeneration, if it is not there already.

Effective political movements create the conditions for their own success. Conservatism has not done enough of that, but when it has prospered it has never been moved by despair. The apocalyptic style of politics holds that the future of the country is at stake. That is true, which is why conservatives need to get to the work of persuading and electioneering — and drop the fantasy of a shortcut.

[ICantSpellDawg]

Which do you think voters will find to be a more irritating situation - higher health plan payments out of their pockets; which they will blame on Democrats, or the etherial impact of 2 weeks of lightweight shutdown?

To be honest, If you were to have asked 3 weeks ago, the ACA was the ethereal threat while the shutdown was pressing in the minds of voters (even though they felt no direct effect). The President has taken a legitimacy hit with this roll out. The emperor has shown that he is the embodiment of hype. I couldn't have expected a more awful proof that the guy is garbage and everything he has said about what to expect is bullshit. But here he is, failing entirely in a way that his enemies could have never even hoped to injure his legitimacy - and yet here we are, with bills that the voters can take with them into the polling place in frustration. The "affordable" care act being shown to be the political BS.

Maybe it will magically get better before the mid-terms.