Zelizer : GOP battles reoccur regularly , and each time seems worse . Democratic have used the weapon of a shutdown to cripple Republicans presidents , he says . Julian Zelizer : Even after the backlash helped President Bill Clinton regain his political standing , which had plummeted after the 1994 election , the GOP continued to insist on spending cuts through the remainder of Clinton 's term , leaving him little opportunity to do much more than to try and curtail their demands . When a tactic such as threatening to veto debt limit increase is used , it becomes the new normal . He says some in GOP are outraged , and now is a good time to talk about reforming budget process .
Zelizer : GOP battles reoccur regularly , and each time seems worse . Democratic have used the weapon of a shutdown to cripple Republicans presidents , he says . Julian Zelizer : When a tactic such as threatening to veto debt limit increase is used , it becomes the new normal . He says some in GOP are outraged , and now is a good time to talk about reforming budget process .