Dear Mr. President:
I write this the day after a faction of the Republican Party shut down the government, a faction that has struck such fear into the historical Republican Party that they dare not call a straight up vote on a continuing resolution to fund the government.
The resolution would pass, but voting alongside Democrats—formerly known as “governing”---is now a ticket to a primary challenge, which is a lot of grief even if the challenge is beaten.
You, Mr. President, have taken the position that surely Congress will put the good of the country ahead of partisan squabbles. You have taken this position repeatedly, and repeatedly Congress has neglected to govern.
Their idea of horse trading is that they have a horse and you have a horse and you should give them your horse.
You are the President of the United States and so you cannot broadcast negativity. I get that. The debt ceiling, however, is a much bigger deal than shutting down the government.