President Barack Obama's speech before the White House press corps on Monday did little to sway Republican politicians and pundits.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, did, however, praise Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for allowing a vote to continue paying the military even if the government shuts down.
Appearing on
CNN's "The Situation Room," Cruz suggested passing several "narrowly focused" continuing resolutions on each of the items President Barack Obama listed in his White House speech before the White House press corps earlier in the day. One resolution could guarantee that border patrol agents will be paid, another could see that national parks remain open, he said.
Host Wolf Blitzer asked if it would be possible to pass so many bills before midnight. Cruz said Congress could prioritize to ensure that areas that would have the biggest impact on people be passed by the shutdown deadline.
Dr. Ben Carson had another idea, telling
Fox News Channel's Neil Cavuto that Republicans in the House of Representatives should say they'll fund Obamacare, but no one will be exempted.
"Either you delay it for everybody, or you make everybody swallow the medicine," Carson said.
White House Spokesman Jay Carney said the Republicans tying funding for Obamacare to the budget resolution would be like President Barack Obama saying he would sign a budget if it included background checks at gun shows, something he's fought for and lost.
"But he's not doing that," Carney told CNN. "He's not attaching any conditions."
Columnist Charles Krauthammer said the crisis came at a perfect time for Obama, embattled by
sinking poll numbers and a perceived weakness in foreign affairs.
"The Democrats have been praying, the non-atheists among them, for this kind of redemption," he said on
Fox News Channel's "Special Report." Obama "played it well," warning of the closing of parks and national monuments.
"I can assure you that the press are going to have cameras outside the Statue of Liberty, and you're going to have little tots weeping outside tomorrow because they aren't allowed in," Krauthammer said.