Government Reopens, Republicans Try to Rebound From Defeat

Federal workers lifted the signs off shuttered federal buildings this morning as the government reopened after a 16-day shutdown. 

The news of the shutdown's end came late Wednesday night after the political standoff ended minutes before the midnight deadline when the government's ability to borrow money would have been cut off, sending the country into default. The Republicans conceded, agreeing to finance the government until January 15 and raise the debt ceiling through February, The New York Times reports. The Senate passed the legislation, then the House followed suit. 

The end of the government shutdown sent thousands of furloughed federal workers back to work, and pay will be reinstated to the thousands of workers who worked through the shutdown without pay. 

After a bitter fight, the Republicans solemnly ended their intransigence, conceding despite their continued opposition to President Obama's healthcare law. Although the Senate Republicans tried to move forward, many in the House were determined to eventually win their battle. 

"I'm not prepared to suggest that this has been a complete loss," Rep. Cynthia M. Lummis, R-Wyo., told reporters.

"We fought the good fight," said Speaker of the House John Boehner. 

Republicans have been experiencing a number of legislative losses, leaving Speaker Boehner effectively powerless to the Senate Democratic majority. House Republicans have instead been taking center stage, but have been failing to dismantle what they consider to be an overreaching government. 

Despite the loss, the conservatives in the House are pleased with Boehner's performance. "We know he tends not to want to pursue tough battles," said Rep. John Fleming, R-La. "I think he's migrated more toward us. We are appreciative of that."

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who had his own version of a filibuster and came up with the plan to defund Obama's health care law, did not seem too bruised by the legislative beating. When he came out of the meeting with Senate Republicans, in which there was widespread support to end the standoff he was one of the main causes of, he did not seem crestfallen. 

"Unfortunately, the Washington establishment is failing to listen to the American people," Cruz told the Times. "Had Senate Republicans united and supported House Republicans, the outcome of this would have been very, very different, and I wish that had happened."

He later went to the Senate floor to condemn the bill. "This deal embodies everything about the Washington establishment that frustrates the American people," he said.

There was an unusual amount of fanfare for the end of the standoff by both parties. The American public--and federal workers-- were not cheering along with the Congress members after the frustrating shutdown. 

At a House hearing of the Natural Resources Committee to discuss why national parks and monuments were closed during the shutdown, Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Ore., said,  "Normally I begin these hearings by thanking Republicans for holding them," he said. "You know that's not appropriate today. We are having a hearing that is at best nonsensical."

The congressional standoff and subsequent shutdown has hurt Republicans' national standing and undermined their ability win concessions from Democrats. 

"If you look back in time and evaluate the last couple of weeks, it should be titled 'The Time of Great Lost Opportunity,'" said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who is against the Affordable Care Act. 

"It has been the best two weeks for the Democratic Party in recent times because they were out of the spotlight and didn't have to showcase their ideas," Graham added.

The already ailing Republican Party has appeared obdurate and uncompromising, deepening many Americans' loss of faith in federal legislative powers, and the GOP in particular. Republicans are unsure how to move on from the defeat. Some Republicans are unsure why their Republican colleagues inflicted so much damage to the nation as well as to the party. 

"Someone would have to explain that to me," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. "I knew how it was going to end," he added.

"I'm trying to forget it," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in disbelief that her colleagues refused to give up a futile battle. "Here we are. Here we are. We predicted it. Nobody wanted it to be this way."

At first, the Republicans had much of the public on its side regarding controlling the nation's debt, but their focus on the health care law overshadowed all other causes. 

"We managed to divide ourselves on something we were unified on, over a goal that wasn't achievable," said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. "The president probably had the worst August and early September any president could have had. And we managed to change the topic."

Heading into the 2014 congressional elections, it is crucial that the Republicans decide whether they will get back to their main economic focus or continue to fight a battle against the health care law, which the public--and many Republicans now know--is a fruitless battle. Many Republicans believe that the party needs to shift its priorities back to reducing the deficit and changing the convoluted tax code. 

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., said, "We can all take a deep breath and basically refocus."