As a heavily unpopular partial
government shutdown sails along for a second week, many of the
Republican insurgents who helped will it into existence are
weathering the unfavorable poll numbers by reminding themselves
that the popular narrative about last great shutdown hurting the
GOP is a “myth,” an idea not limited to conservative circles.

But, as Reason Editor in Chief Matt Welch writes, any
full reading of the Newt Gingrich/Bill Clinton showdown and its
aftermath should take into account not only the 1996 midterm
elections, but the post-’96 GOP purge of libertarian
ideas. 

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