Maybe Americans are finally fed up with the nation’s dependence on the government, which has come into focus during the now budget-month-long showdown in Washington.

Given that Republicans control both chambers of Congress and the White House, it’s remarkable they have been merely nicked in terms of political popularity during this standoff.

Americans blame the GOP only slightly more than Democrats for the dysfunction. As of a week ago, Americans’ view of Republicans in Congress had improved, rising five points from July to last week, according to an Oct. 22 Quinnipiac poll.

That’s a win if only because traditional political wisdom says Republicans should be losing steam at this point in a midterm cycle.

Looming immediately, however, is a pause in November in the distribution of be

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