By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Senate Democrats have blocked the Republican Party’s government funding legislation for the 12th time, as Republicans remain five votes short of the required 60. Democrats are using this “leverage” to push Republicans to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies, which Republicans insist will only be considered after the government reopens. This has led to a hardened resolve among Democrats, and Republicans are running out of solutions, as the deadline to fund the government approaches.
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The GOP expected Democrats to relent on the shutdown by now. That isn’t happening. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Republican strategy to pressure Democrats into submission isn’t working as planned. The assumption seems to have been that the Democrats would eventually buckle under the pressure of a prolonged government shutdown, perhaps due to public outcry or internal political calculations. However, what we’re witnessing is a display of unexpected resilience. Democrats are, so far, standing firm.
The GOP’s approach, from what I gather, seems predicated on the belief that Democrats would ultimately be forced to compromise. Perhaps they anticipated that the weight of the shutdown, with its associated inconveniences and economic impacts, would be too much for the Democrats to bear. The expectation might have been that the Democrats would be portrayed as obstructionist, or that their constituents would grow weary of the stalemate and demand a resolution. The Republicans, it would seem, were banking on the Democrats’ willingness to avoid further disruption.
Instead, the Democrats are playing a different game. They see an opportunity to push back against what they perceive as an authoritarian agenda. They view this shutdown as a chance to highlight the consequences of Republican policies and to underscore the importance of defending key social programs and democratic values. The situation has become a test of wills, with each side apparently determined to outlast the other. This determination shows a willingness from the Democratic party to not back down and make the GOP realize that they aren’t backing down from the issues at hand.
The Democrats’ strategy appears to involve a mixture of holding the line and making the Republicans own the shutdown. They’re emphasizing that the GOP controls both the House and, previously, the Presidency, and thus has the power to end the impasse. They’re letting the public see the tangible effects of the shutdown, such as disruptions to government services and potential economic hardship. The longer this goes on, the more damage it causes to the public. They know that this will put Republicans in a bad light.
This is a high-stakes gamble for both parties. The Republicans risk being blamed for the shutdown and for the negative consequences that it entails. The Democrats, on the other hand, risk being perceived as uncooperative and responsible for the disruptions. The longer the shutdown continues, the more difficult it will be for either side to claim victory.
The unexpected tenacity of the Democrats throws a wrench into the Republican playbook. Their ability to weather the storm and hold their ground is a testament to their conviction and strategic acumen. The GOP is now forced to reassess their approach and consider alternative strategies. The longer this goes on, the more this looks like a battle of attrition.
The underlying motivations of both parties are complex. For the Democrats, it’s about preserving crucial programs, maintaining the integrity of the Affordable Care Act and making a stand against what they see as an increasingly authoritarian political climate. For the Republicans, it’s about pushing their agenda, consolidating power, and possibly seeking to dismantle or limit programs they oppose. The two sides’ divergent goals make a compromise difficult, if not impossible.
The question now is how long both sides can maintain their current positions. Will the Republicans be able to come up with a workable plan? Will the Democrats hold their ground? Or will the political and economic costs of the shutdown become too great for either side to bear? The outcome of this struggle will likely have far-reaching implications, not only for the specific issues at stake but also for the future of American politics.
It’s clear that the GOP’s initial assumption – that the Democrats would quickly cave – has proven incorrect. This is a game of political brinkmanship, and the Democrats have shown a surprising willingness to play it to its full extent. The outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the Republicans’ strategy needs a serious rethink.