memeorandum: The House GOP's Legislative Strike (Jonathan Chait/New York Magazine)

11:15 AM ET, October 1, 2013

Top Items:

Ashley Killough / CNN:

Durbin: Medical device tax repeal could be ‘on the table’ — Washington (CNN) - A repeal of the medical device tax may be a point of compromise between the House and Senate as the two houses of Congress work to end the government shutdown, the number two Democrat in the Senate said Tuesday.

Discussion: Politico, ABC News, Daily Kos and Red Alert Politics

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:

The House GOP's Legislative Strike — In January, demoralized House Republicans retreated to Williamsburg, Virginia, to plot out their legislative strategy for President Obama's second term. Conservatives were angry that their leaders had been unable to stop the expiration of the Bush tax cuts …

Discussion: Post Politics, Associated Press, DownWithTyranny!, The Daily Banter, Truthout Stories, Prairie Weather and The Huffington Post

Dana Milbank / Washington Post:

In Congress, a not-so-brief case of delusion over government shutdown — I almost shut down the government. — As I waited outside a meeting of the House Republican caucus in the Capitol basement Monday afternoon, I put down my briefcase next to a flowerpot and walked around the corner to catch lawmakers as they exited.

Discussion: The Raw Story and Balloon Juice

Joe Nocera / New York Times:

Those Banana Republicans — They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Why is it that the Republicans in Congress seem so determined to prove this maxim? — Let's start with the Affordable Care Act, a k a Obamacare.

Discussion: National Review, The Verge, Daily Kos, The Daily Banter and The Hinterland Gazette

Jonathan Strong / National Review:

Moderates Revolt Over CR — For almost three years, the story in the House has been about Speaker John Boehner's restive right flank causing him problems. But Republican moderates have apparently had enough. — In what is by far their boldest stand since the GOP took control of the House in 2010 …

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Yahoo! News, Talking Points Memo, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Crooks and Liars, Balloon Juice and Politico

Pete Kasperowicz / The Hill:
House GOP seeks conference with Senate Dems on shutdown

Discussion: Firedoglake, americanthinker.com and The Reaction

Manu Raju / Politico:
GOP braces for shutdown fallout

Discussion: CNN, The Hill and Outside the Beltway

Byron York / Washington Examiner:
How 30 House Republicans are forcing the Obamacare fight

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, NationalJournal.com, Washington Wire, Crooks and Liars, The Huffington Post, Slate, Wall Street Journal, msnbc.com, The Week, Washington Free Beacon, ThinkProgress, Daily Kos, Hot Air, Red Alert Politics, Taegan Goddard's …, The Hill and National Review

Ashley Parker / New York Times:
Conservatives With a Cause: 'We're Right'

Discussion: Politico, The Hairpin, Wall Street Journal and WJLA-TV

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Reid rejects House Republicans' offer to appoint funding conferees (Video)

Discussion: Daily Kos, Booman Tribune and New York Times

Jonathan Strong / National Review:
Moderate Threat Fizzles

Discussion: Balloon Juice

Alexandra Jaffe / Ballot Box: House Dems hitting House GOP with robocalls on shutdown

Pete Kasperowicz / The Hill:
Two hours before deadline, Senate rejects latest House funding bill

Discussion: CNN and Outside the Beltway

Steven Lubet / Salon:

GOP's most shameful shutdown moment — There are many candidates, but comparing Obamacare to the Fugitive Slave Act reveals much — and may take the prize — Republicans in the House of Representatives have shut down the United States government - and are threatening to throw the nation into default …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland and The Moderate Voice

CNN:

CNN Poll: Will Obamacare help you? — Less than one in five Americans say their families will be better off under the new health care law, according to a new poll. — But a CNN/ORC International survey released Tuesday morning also indicates a majority say the Affordable Care Act …

Discussion: The Other McCain

Mackenzie Weinger / Politico:

President Obama: Expect months of ‘glitches’ — President Barack Obama on Monday said he “absolutely” expects glitches and problems with Obamacare as enrollment kicks off Tuesday. — But even with the inevitable complications and issues that accompany the new health insurance exchanges …

Discussion: Pirate's Cove

CNN:
Sen. Durbin: “It's conceivable” …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo and National Review

Rebecca Shabad / The Hill:
Less than one in five say ObamaCare will help

Discussion: The Right Scoop

Meredith Shiner / The World's Greatest …:

Democrats Mull Divulging Emails With Boehner Staff as Shutdown Fight Gets Personal — Reid's office is considering leaking emails between his chief of staff, David Krone, above, and Boehner's chief. (CQ Roll Call File Photo) — Senate Democrats are considering leaking a series …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, The Plum Line, No More Mister Nice Blog and Roll Call

Stephen Dinan / Washington Times:
Government shutdown begins as gridlocked Congress gives up

Discussion: Scared Monkeys, The Hill, CNN, WND and Weasel Zippers

Russell Berman / The Hill:
Government shuts down as lawmakers miss funding deadline

Discussion: NPR

Igor Bobic / Talking Points Memo:
Cruz Offers To Donate Salary To Charity If ‘Reid Forces’ Shutdown

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland

Catalina Camia / USA Today:
5 things to know today about the government shutdown

Discussion: ThinkProgress, PolicyMic, NBCNews, Planet Washington, Washington Free Beacon, The Reaction and NPR

James Fallows / The Atlantic Online:

Why This Is Not Just ‘Washington Breakdown,’ in 3 Graphs (and 1 Story) — Tea Party members say they are expressing the public's will. Gee, if only there were some way to judge popular sentiment in a democracy. — From the Washington Post this morning:

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, Shakesville, Connecting.the.Dots, The Frying Pan, The Moderate Voice and Washington Post

Jennifer Corbett Dooren / Washington Wire:

Some State Exchanges Delayed Until Afternoon — Some states running their own health-insurance exchanges are having delays Tuesday morning, the first day of enrollment under the Affordable Care Act. — Minnesota's health insurance exchange, MNsure, won't be able to open until Tuesday afternoon …

Discussion: Wonkblog, Hit & Run and Washington Free Beacon

Noam N. Levey / Los Angeles Times:

Full steam ahead for Obama healthcare law — Brushing aside GOP opponents and the threat of a federal shutdown, Obama urges Americans to start checking out new health insurance plans. — Volunteers explain the new healthcare law at an event in Oakland. The Obama administration …

Discussion: Taegan Goddard's …

Misstripleem / Twitchy:

Surprise! Obamacare health insurance exchange websites don't work; HealthCare.gov a total mess — No need to shut it down. The Obamacare health insurance exchange websites don't work. … Who will be blamed for this mess? … [Update] — Welcome to HealthCare.gov!

Discussion: National Review, Althouse and The Lonely Conservative

Mackenzie Weinger / Politico:

Rand Paul: Open the government — Sen. Rand Paul on Tuesday said he would support a short-term funding measure “to keep the government open while we negotiate.” — “I think what we could do is pass a very short term, maybe not six weeks, but what about one week, so we could negotiate over a week …

Discussion: The Right Scoop and National Review

Tal Kopan / Politico:

‘Boss’ Chris Christie: How I'd solve it — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says the shutdown in Washington can be blamed on everybody, but it is especially a failure of leadership on the part of the president. — “No matter where the partisanship is, the failure is in people not bringing people together to get it done.

Discussion: Hot Air and The Hill

Darius Dixon / Politico:

FERC nominee bows out — President Barack Obama's nominee to lead FERC announced Tuesday that he had pulled his name from consideration in the face of mounting opposition from coal supporters and a stalemate in a crucial Senate committee. — The fall of the former Colorado utility regulator Ron Binz …

Discussion: E2-Wire and Washington Free Beacon

Tom Kludt / Talking Points Memo:

‘House Of Turds’: NY Daily News Mocks Boehner As Shutdown Arrives (PHOTO) — A prominent New York City tabloid marked the first government shutdown since 1996 on Tuesday with a cover that parodies a hit political drama and mocks House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH).

Discussion: Paul Krugman and Mediaite

James Hohmann / Politico:

Ted Cruz's dad rips RINOs, Obamacare — Ted Cruz's father, Rafael, ripped into the 25 “Republican in name only” senators who broke with his son's budget brinksmanship, endorsing primary challenges against them, during a speech Friday night in Colorado. — The Republican senator's dad …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo and CNN

Maggie Haberman / Politico:

Cory Booker goes negative vs. Steve Lonegan — Democrat Cory Booker is launching his first negative spot today against Republican rival Steve Lonegan in the New Jersey special election for U.S. Senate, calling his rival “too extreme” for the state. — The spot comes two weeks out from the Oct. 16 special election.

Discussion: CNN