Stunning News Item Slips by AP's Editors: 'Government Shutdown' Doesn't Shut Down Much of Anything

I've never heard of the Associated Press' Andrew Taylor and -- based on his article from yesterday -- we may never hear from him again.

Social Security checks would still go out. Troops would remain at their posts. Furloughed federal workers probably would get paid, though not until later. And virtually every essential government agency, like the FBI, the Border Patrol and the Coast Guard, would remain open.

That's the little-known truth about a government shutdown. The government doesn't shut down.

...The air traffic control system, food inspection, Medicare, veterans' health care and many other essential government programs would run as usual. The Social Security Administration would not only send out benefits but would continue to take applications. The Postal Service, which is self-funded, would keep delivering the mail. Federal courts would remain open...

...from a practical perspective, shutdowns usually aren't that big a deal. They happened every year when Jimmy Carter was president, averaging 11 days each. During President Reagan's two terms, there were six shutdowns, typically of just one or two days apiece. Deals got cut. Everybody moved on.

Attention, GOP leaders: let President Obama shut the government down.

If they can't cut spending, it's going to shut down soon anyhow -- when the whole freaking system collapses. And that's not my opinion - that's TurboTax Tim Geithner's take.

Let. Obama. Shut. It. Down.


Hat tip: Mark Levin.