One thing that IS like the 1990s... if the Republicans force government "shutdown," THEY will take blame

I commented below that Robert Reich is right that the White House is taking the analogy between the present situation and Bill Clinton in '94-'95 too seriously, since there are significant differences that mean that "moving to the Center," and siding with the Republicans on budget cuts is precisely the wrong thing to do, both in terms of policy and politics.

But one thing I think IS similar to that time is that if the Republicans are dumb enough to go ahead with a "government shutdown," it is they and not the Democrats in Congress or the President, who will be blamed by the majority of the electorate.