“[T]his direct assault on our democracy is entirely the Republicans’ handiwork. Never before has one party insisted that a law of the land be altered or repealed or it shuts the government and refuses to honor the nation’s full faith and credit. The assault is being led by an extremist faction of Republicans that hates the United States government. It is being fueled by Fox News and right-wing yell radio, exploiting the anger and economic insecurities of many Americans. And bankrolling it are a handful of billionaires, led by Charles and David Koch, who have made most of their fortune in hydrocarbons, and who will do whatever it takes to reduce the power of the federal government to tax and regulate.

“Obama and the Democrats cannot back down. We must stand up to this extremism and extortion.” — Robert Reich

[hat tip to Fred Reiner]