Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Why wouldn't Speaker John Boehner put a "clean resolution" to end the government shutdown up for a vote in the House? Because it would pass with Democrats and moderate Republicans.

Rather than do that and keep government functioning, he is holding the country hostage to achieve an ideological pipe dream.

The Tea Party will lose this battle; the only question is how much damage Boehner will let it inflict before he allows a vote.

Rich Nessler

We have a party that is fighting for middle-class Americans, and it is usually blamed for everything; folks blame "those horrible Tea Party" people. Neither Democrats nor Republicans like us Tea Partyers because we are mostly independents. You know, that silent faction that isn't silent anymore.

Kathy Long Wuest

As a voting registered Republican, I think the GOP has lost its marbles. The Tea Party boat needs to be dry-docked. We need real tax and spending reform, not grandstanding at the expense of the American people.

Ted Wilke

Watching Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, take on the establishment is a real kick! One reason he has developed a following is that many of us out here in fly-over land feel like what we think and believe has been thoroughly trashed by the national news media and the politically correct police. At least Cruz is a voice that demands to be heard. Good for him. We needed to have this debate.

Mary Mackenzie

Letter to the editor:

As a Republican, I feel the House made a major mistake in forcing a government shutdown, although I support all the reasons members cited for not coming to an agreement.

This one issue, the fight over Obamacare, may be just what the Democrats needed to possibly retake the House next November.

In most cases, I agree with everything the Tea Party stands for. But in this case, allowing a shutdown was not smart. Yes, we may have won a battle, but in the long term we may lose the war. I hope I am wrong, but perhaps we did exactly what the Democrats wanted us to do.

Joe Pasquarello; Medford, N.J.