Quote of the Day

"We’ve lost the CR battle."
-- Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL)

So, let me see if I have this right.  Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) went all kablooey to the press when it was reported that someone in the White House was quoted as saying, "We're winning."  Mr. Boehner ranted that, "This is not a game!" 

Given that I have read about any explosion by the Speaker towards his Republican college, apparently it's okay to see "We've lost," but not all right to say, "We're winning."

Far be it me to suggest that no other Republicans than Dennis Ross have been saying in public or private that their side of the aisle is "winning" or "losing,  Or that Mr. Boehner would have exploded had the person in the White House said, "We're losing."  (I suspect he'd have been okay with that.)

Further, I would suggest that saying "We're winning" does not remotely inherently mean you're referring to winning
"a game."  Rather, you might likely mean you believe you are winning the debate.  Or the favor of public opinion.  Or, as Mr. Ross states, the "battle," which is quite a few steps up from a game.

In the end, John Boehner is correct.  This is not a game.  He's just wrong in where he intentionally misplaced his anger.  After all, there are losers.  At the moment, that's pretty much the American public.  Anyone who can help end this government shutdown -- and I include the participation of both parties, which is the only way this can end -- will help win.  It might be a Pyrhic victory, but that tops an ongoing defeat.

That said, Election Day, 2014, might bring other winners and losers...