Good analysis by Ezra Klein in the changing shape of the Republican hostage negotiations. And the polls that show vast American disapproval don’t mean a thing to the economic terrorists.

So much for following the will of the people. What’s odder about the shutdown, though, is that Republicans have also abandoned their core policy demand. They’ve largely stopped talking about Obamacare. They’re begging simply for negotiations. Their latest plan, in fact, is for another budget commission:

The GOP’s play, announced by Cantor at the meeting, is to push for a bicameral commission that brought comparisons to the “supercommittee” from the 2011 Budget Control Act.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Paul Ryan articulates the emerging strategy. “To break the deadlock, both sides should agree to common-sense reforms of the country’s entitlement programs and tax code,” he writes. The word “Obamacare” never appears in the piece. Nor does any other reference to the president’s health-care law.

Simply put: The Republicans want tax breaks for the rich and ruination of the governor’s safety net — Social Security and Medicare. Then they’ll give you THEIR government back. Extremist Tom Cotton will be leading the way, with wingman Tiny Tim Griffin at his shoulder. (Did you notice that the D-G seemed to confirm this morning what I’ve suspected all along: Griffin has no intention of voting to reopen government except on is terms.)

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UPDATE: Yep, here comes the assault on “entitlements,” otherwise known as earned necessities for life of American citizens. CNN says:

House Republicans will propose a temporary increase in the debt ceiling to allow for negotiations on larger deficit reduction issues, House Speaker John Boehner said today.

Boehner welcomed a meeting with President Obama planned for later today, saying he hoped it would be a substantive discussion on measures to reduce the nation’s deficit, but adding that he didn’t want to set any preconditions.