Ramesh Ponnuru of the plan to defund Obamacare in a recent posting in Bloomberg.  He is telling Republicans to “drop” the plan to defund Obamacare, because he believes it will backfire.

There are times when cynicism gets the better of me about the Republican party, but I have no doubt about the American people, and I sometimes wonder if Ramesh writes his columns with informed experience or simply chooses the path of least resistance as a lifestyle choice.

None of this is going to be easy, but what the American people do not need is one more Princeton elitist National Review capitulation expert to point out that there are more Democrats in the Senate than Republicans.  No shit, Sherlock.

Ponnuru writes:

The chance that Democrats would go along — would give up on their signature legislative initiative of the last decade soon after having won the presidential election and gained Senate and House seats — approaches zero percent. So if Republicans stay firm in this demand, the result will be either a government shutdown or a partial shutdown combined with a debt default.

The first sentence is opinion that does not take into account the near-daily revision of the ACA, nor does it consider the key-Democratic constituencies that have recently objected to the law’s implementation.  Ignoring the pleas to stop Obamacare coming from Unions is an oversight that I’m not sure was intentional on Ponnuru’s part, but it is significant.

When it comes to the battle of wills, Republicans often won’t.  But, given the height of discontent, the highest numbers against the law, and the highest numbers who want it to wither unfunded, Republicans have a chance to rally their fractured base.

The right framing of the debate can happen, now that we have articulate Republican Senators who garner massive media attention to put pressure on Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans who flip off their base.  Never forget that Cap and Trade was stopped in the Democratic-led Senate proving they do listen to their core constituencies.

So, let us stop this attitude that the numbers aren’t on our side.  The argument is largely superficial.

For once, allow the Republican party to represent the will of the American people.

As for the second sentence in the above excerpt, let Obama shut down the government, and risk default.

Ponnuru goes on to write that there are five reasons why Republicans would be blamed for the inevitable shutdown.

First, Republicans are less popular than the Democrats and thus all else equal will lose partisan finger-pointing contests. Second, the executive has natural advantages over a group of legislators in a crisis atmosphere. Third, people will be naturally inclined to assume that the more anti-government party must be responsible. Fourth, some Republicans will say that government shutdowns or defaults are just what the country needs, and those quotes will affect the image of all Republicans. And fifth, the news media will surely side with the Democrats.

Number one, let’s discuss why Republicans are less popular than Democrats.  It is, without question, because of their surrender-monkey tendencies.

To consider Ramesh’s second point, one would have to forget that British might did not win the Revolutionary war.

His third point is very telling.  Mr. Ponnuru must believe most people paying attention to politics in an off-election year are rooting for more government control.  The opposite is true, and just like we told the Republicans in the House during the ’11 battle, they have the chance to unify their ranks, at least for one issue, and it is a huge issue.  Besides that, in previous shutdowns, the Republicans were bashed in the press, but it did not lead to massive losses, it led to more seats in the Senate, which we desperately need.

Number four on Ponnuru’s list is troubling.  When has a Republican ever said that a shutdown and default is what the country needs?  It won’t hurt the country as much as allowing Obamacare to march on will, but stating that fact is not the same as saying the country ‘needs’ a shutdown and a default.  I find his rhetoric here lacking in thoughtful consideration.

The fifth point about the media being the tank for the Democrats is a big ol’ freaking duh.  But, a successful counter to the media is a vocal and articulate united Conservative mantra coming from both houses and the people of the States.

The rest of Ponnuru’s piece is an, “on the one hand we have five fingers and on the other, the sky is dark at night,” argument.  Meaning, that he wants to concede some points that de-funders have, but states predictions based upon previous reactions to Republican cave-ins.  The Republican party has not taken a real stand on crippling Obamacare, so his arguments and predictions are based on jack.

The capitulant Ponnuru finishes his lackluster opinion with this:

The repeal of Obamacare is a worthy and potentially popular cause, …

And you almost want to make him stop right there and say, “and we Republicans are on the side of what is right for the country.”  But instead he says,

but it won’t be accomplished through sheer willpower.

To which I rebut, “How the hell would you know?”

As for how we get these squish Republicans to see the light, I suggest letting the Oklahomans take care of Coburn and Cole, and let the Kentuckians take care of McConnell, and let every last Republican and Democrat know the will of the people through the power of direct contact, leaving no doubt as to what they are expected to do.

Enough of this giving in before trying routine that Ponnuru and others have become experts at.