Tim Pawlenty is asking Republicans to abrogate the budget deal that Obama, Reid and Boehner crafted. Doing this would cause a shutdown, possibly cause an economic crisis, weaken Boehner’s tenuous hold on his caucus by having them refuse to stand by his deal and sabotage Boehner’s ability to bargain with Reid and Obama. Genius! Pawlenty is following the lead of Rush Limbaugh and other right-wingers who wanted to press for more cuts and shut down the government. Like many other Republicans in the present field, Pawlenty is running in the FOX primary. That someone would be so irresponsible would be a serious presidential contender is a scary thought.

This comes to mind:

I am reminded of Martha Coakley, declaring during the US Senate primary campaign that she would vote against the health care reform bill unless the ban on funding abortions was removed. Michael Capuano — who actually had to cast a vote in the House — was flabbergasted that she would blow up the entire bill at the end of such a long, difficult negotiation. But I would argue that Democratic primary votes saw her as standing firm on their side of a divide, and the exchange helped her win the primary.

That’s David Bernstein, who contrasts this behavior with Romney’s conduct w.r.t. New START. But there are parallels with Pawlenty too. Just great, the Republican field is full of Coakleys. Republicans better hope it turns out better for them than it did for her.