Is the tea party, as you suggest, holding House Speaker John Boehner hostage ("Senate OKs bill to avert shutdown," Sept. 27)? If so, you should also point out who is holding the Democrats and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hostage.
Last time I checked, it takes two sides to agree. If the tea party is preventing Mr. Boehner from agreeing to Mr. Reid's terms, then who is preventing Mr. Reid from agreeing to Mr. Boehner's terms? Whoever that person is, they're every bit as responsible for the impasse.
Fred Pasek, Frederick