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7 liberal overreactions to the government shutdown
The government shutdown has furloughed 800,000 federal employees, shuttered national parks, and caused businesses to worry that the United States will default on its debt if this drags on past mid-October.
It has also inspired its fair share of hyperbole. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) invoked Nazi Germany to criticize Republicans who didn't want to shut down the government to delay or defund ObamaCare, a law Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) called "the most dangerous piece of legislation ever passed in Congress."
But the doomsaying hasn't been limited to Republicans. Here is a look at the some of the colorful language Democrats have been using to describe the government shutdown:
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"The only phrase that describes it is political terrorism. Nice global economy you get there. It'd be a shame if we had to destroy it. We have a list of demands. If you don't meet them all by our deadline, we'll blow up the global economy."
"It's dangerous. It's very dangerous. I believe, Mr. President, we are at one of the most dangerous points in our history right now: Every bit as dangerous as the breakup of the Union before the Civil War."
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"We continue to be willing to debate these issues in a calm and rational atmosphere. But the American people will not be extorted by Tea Party anarchists."
"But for many of them, I call them legislative arsonists. They're there to burn down what we should be building up in terms of investments and education and scientific research and all that it is that make our country great and competitive."
Keith Wagstaff is a staff writer at TheWeek.com covering politics and current events. He has previously written for such publications as TIME, Details, VICE, and the Village Voice.
