NO DEAL YET – AT 8:20 P.M. ET:  We are less than four hours away from a potential government shutdown, with dire warnings from the Dems that all worthy people will DIE right after midnight, and women will DIE even more, unless an agreement satisfactory to the left is arrived at.

Republicans are keeping cool in the face of unbelievable smears and wild-eyed exaggerations.  Democratic Representative Louise Slaughter (an appropriate name) of New York solemnly announced today that Republicans were elected to Congress in 2010 to kill women.  Yes, as I recall, that was part of the GOP platform last year. 

And, of course, Jesse Jackson, striving to get back the spotlight stolen by Barack Obama, has announced that the budget battle is just like the Civil War.  No doubt Ken Burns will make a miniseries about this, too.  I can't wait for the theme music. 

And Nancy Pelosi, last year's queen of the May, or May Day queen, or whatever it is?  She was in Boston giving a speech today.  I think Congress should dock her salary for taking an excursion with a government shutdown only hours away.  But who are we to question her cultural priorities, and Boston is so dear to the liberal left.

We'll keep watching, and I'm guessing they'll have a deal, whereupon the president will take the credit.  And the press will give it to him.

April 8, 2011