CLINTON SAYS, REPUBLICANS '' ARE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH OUR ECONOMY'' OVER POTENTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

 Former President Bill Clinton may not think that the impending government shut down is a big deal, but many people would disagree (not just federal workers needing the paycheck).
According to the Hill, Clinton stated that although a potential shutdown might hurt the Republicans in congress, he didn't think it would be nearly as "traumatic" to the economy as it was when it happened during his term in the 90's, thanks to actions put in place after the previous shutdown.  But if Democrats offer a reasonable budget and the Republicans turn it down, the GOP is likely going to shoulder the blame.  Especially, Clinton adds, if the Republicans refuse to raise the debt ceiling to accomplish a compromise.

"If the Republicans want to refuse to raise the debt limit, they are playing Russian roulette with our economy," he said.
But is a compromise in the wings?  One big fear held by many is that Speaker of the House John Boehner has lost control over the rabid right of his party, with the Tea Partiers more convinced than ever that making a deal is not an option.  Democrats are telling the Speaker he needs to "gain control" over the Tea Party caucus in order to prove his effectiveness as the party leader, a quest that is easier said than done.

Getting every Republican on the same page is especially important for Boehner as he is attempting to push for a budget solution that has the support of every Republican in the House -- and only the Republicans.  According to the Washington Post, Boehner isn't even trying to bring in the "dozens of easily attainable Democratic votes [that] could help carry the budget bill to victory."

Even if a deal does get struck, the wrangling is far from over.  Tomorrow, Republican Paul Ryan announces the rollout of the GOP plan for 2012 -- an extraordinarily ambitious plan to cut $4 trillion in spending in the next ten years.  Will the first budget even be settled before the 2012 budget battle begins?

And if there is no deal, and the government shuts down Friday night at midnight, what happens then?  Both parties will be pointing fingers at each other, with Democrats claiming the Republicans were unwilling to compromise, and Republicans claiming the Democrats planned a shutdown all along to make the GOP look bad.  Workwise, all "essential" employees would stay on, although the definition of essential seems to be up for debate.  The Washington Post writes:

According to the government's official guidance on shutdown planning, agencies should continue any functions providing for national security, critical foreign relations and the safety of life and property.

In other words, global U.S. military operations would continue, air-traffic controllers would watch the skies and Transportation Security Administration officers would still screen air passengers. Veterans Affairs doctors and nurses would report for duty, as would U.S. Border Patrol agents, federal prison guards, any Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel needed for disaster assistance and security guards protecting federal facilities.

With the growth of government contracting and the wider use of technology, however, an untold number of contractors providing information-technology support and other services might also be instructed to stay on the job.