Ted Cruz seizes the obvious talking-point opportunity:

Why is President Obama threatening to shut down govt to shove Obamacare down Americans' throats? #DefundObamacare http://t.co/Eo6lJbmyFT

— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) September 19, 2013

All Republicans need to do now is get the “defund” CR through the Senate somehow and onto O’s desk for the veto.

“The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.J. Res. 59, making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2014 and for other purposes, because it advances a narrow ideological agenda that threatens our economy and the interests of the middle class,” the Office of Management and Budget said in the statement.

“The Resolution would defund the Affordable Care Act, denying millions of hard-working middle class families the security of affordable health coverage.

“If the President were presented with H.J. Res. 59, he would veto the bill.”

That last sentence was underlined and was the stronger version of a veto threat rather than the typical one that his advisers “would recommend” a veto.

Mike Lee wants conservatives to rally around the idea of forcing Reid to hold an up-or-down vote on the House “defund” bill, which means he thinks he can at least get close to 51 with the help of red-state Democrats. Can he? Pryor and Manchin are conceivably “no” votes on O-Care; Landrieu and Begich would have to think hard too. Even with Obama as weak as he is now, though, I can’t believe Senate Dems wouldn’t hold together to defeat the measure. It’d mean the end of his presidency effectively if they didn’t. Lee’s goal here, I assume, is simply to make this as politically excruciating as he can for the White House in order to repay Boehner and the House GOP for giving the “defund” movement a shot. Won’t matter in the end — Reid won’t hold an up-or-down vote — but it’s good politics.

Here’s Boehner’s office having some fun with President Bumblefark, who reserves his toughest negotiating stance for his real enemy.