Political Washington operates best when at least half the voters are scared shirtless about something or other: Acid rain, global warming, a default by Greece, default, global cooling, not going into Syria, going into Syria, fluoride in the water, or, until recently, the existence of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) who, for some, went from obstructionist to statesman almost overnight.

In partisan neighborhoods of D.C., suburban Maryland and Virginia, parents warn naughty children that if they don’t shape up Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) or Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) might show up for dinner. Or they might be forced to attend a summer camp run by the National Rifle Association or the American Civil Liberties Union. Whichever hurts most.

Some kind of crises, it seems, is what makes the world go round, at least Inside The Beltway.

For months, Washington’s political and media establishment has been warning about a pending government shutdown. Like the 16-day fiasco we had in 2013.

Innocent voters, readers and TV watchers were told the shutdown was darn-near-inevitable either because appropriations hadn’t (still haven’t) been approved. Or government would bog down because of the debt ceiling crisis. Either way, federal workers were about to be toast and your vacation to the nearest national park, forest, cave or lake might be off.

Then the shutdown bogeyman (woman, person?) went away.

Almost overnight, after months of duck-and-cover drills, the threat of a shutdown went away. People were told there was a version of political-peace-in-our-time — or at least for two years.

Now after a respite of less than 10 days, shutdown talk is back. Monday’s Washington Post warned that all the triggers that could set off a shutdown are still out there, cocked and ready to go.

Emily in the other Washington writes:

“Why is the mainstream media ignoring the potential for a government shutdown with all the other appropriations bills that still have to pass? Does it have to do with keeping advertisers happy for the holiday season or do they just not understand government and the budgeting process? Thank you.”

Paul In San Diego sees it differently:

“The ebb and flow of the news cycle is fascinating. Scare then reassure, scare, reassure. We are always on the brink, then at the last minute we are given a reprive. D C, as I think you have said before, is truly Hollywood On The Potomac. What gives?”

        Read more: Mike Causey

So, are you putting off or cutting back on Christmas shopping because shutdown fears?

Nearly Useless Factoid

By Michael O’Connell

On Nov. 3, 1955, the Captain Kangaroo show starring Bob Keeshan debuts on CBS. It went on to become the longest running children’s program on network TV.

Source: This Day Trivia

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