Essay/Commentary: "The Hastert Rule and the Government Shutdown of 2013"

Essay/Commentary:  "The Hastert Rule and the Government Shutdown of 2013"

          Elected scoundrel Speaker of the  House John Boehner (R Ohio)  is using an arcane rule known as  "the Hastert Rule" named after former G.O.P. Speaker Dennis Hastert to ensure that the government ramains closed for the immediate future.  This notorious rule also referred to as  "the majority of the majority rule" (also used by former Speaker Newt Gingrich when he temporarily shut down the government in the Clinton era) is a bullying tactic commonly used by Republican Speakers of the House to refuse to allow a vote unless the majority of the party in power supports the bill. It is also used to punish maverick representatives who go against the Speaker's rule, as well as those of the minority party.  I guess Mr. Boehner is between a rock and a hard place. He either has to stand firm with his My Way or the Highway demand to delay or destroy ObamaCare , or he will lose his position as Speaker to someone who may possibly be worse, such as an unyielding arch-Conservative or a TEA Party nutjob similar to  Michelle Bachman or Sarah Palin. I wouldn't bet on it happening, but hopefully Speaker Boehner will put the solvency of our economy and international reputation ahead of self-interest and ignore the Hastert Rule to fully reopen the government; no strings attached.