Republican arsonists

By Michael J.W. Stickings

You've heard, perhaps, that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Well:

President Obama on Friday implored House Republicans to fund the government, criticizing them for threatening "to burn the house down simply because you haven't gotten 100 percent of your way."

In comments from the White House press briefing room, Obama reiterated he would not negotiate on the debt ceiling or relent to GOP demands to delay or defund his healthcare law in exchange for funding the government. 

"My message to Congress is this: Do not shut down the government. Do not shut down the economy. Pass a budget on time. Pay our bills on time," Obama said.

Easier said than done when you're dealing with the right-wing extremists who control the Republican Party.

Internal divisions are bad enough. What the hell are you supposed to do when one of its two main occupants wants to burn down the whole fucking thing?