Fruits of Republican Folly  The Republicans badly damaged
themselves with their contrived government shutdown and debt
crisis, but it remains for the Democrats to drive home their
advantage. Will they?  Based on the cost to the Republican brand
and the pressure from corporate elites not to harm the economy,
the days of shutdowns and games with the debt are probably over
for the foreseeable future. If the Tea Party faction tries to
repeat these maneuvers, House Speaker John Boehner would likely
permit a free vote again, and enough Republicans would vote with
Democrats to keep the government open.  The Republicans seem
hopelessly split between a Tea Party faction that relishes
governing crises and a more mannered corporate faction that
kills government softly. But the GOP is still one party when it
comes to destroying government as a constructive force in the
economy and society.  Since Barack Obama took office, the two
Republican factions have complemented each other in a successful
“good cop, bad cop” effort