In conversations and email exchanges in the past few days — none of it for attribution and some of it completely off the record — GOP aides on both sides of the issue have expressed deep suspicion of the other side’s motives.
“Conservative Republicans believe leadership will cave to Obama because conservative Republicans are not stupid,” said one GOP aide. “Leadership is bound and determined to never have a funding fight on executive amnesty.”
“Ask them what their backup plan is after the government shuts down,” said another GOP aide, referring to the forces who want action now. “They don’t have one. They know their plan is a dead-end strategy, but they don’t care. All they care about is making themselves look good to the Heritage Action/purity-for-profit crowd.”
And so on. And this is after McConnell’s promise that the new Senate majority will take action. “We’re considering a variety of options,” McConnell said Nov. 20. “But make no mistake. When the newly elected representatives of the people take their seats, they will act.”
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