Government Closed, Sun Still Expected To Rise

[Gaspar]

In the 4th year without a budget, the government now experiences it's 13th shutdown in history. 

As the House moved toward passing legislation that will likely result in a government shutdown, President Obama excused himself to play his customary Saturday golf, a round that set a record for most golf outings in a year since he became president.  Andrews hosted the president and his customary golf entourage for the 35th time this year, setting a new record (175 hours, or 4.375 work weeks) and the year is not over yet.

As each new domestic, economic, and foreign crisis unfolds, new opportunities to improve the president's short game will present themselves. 

However the president must be commended for taking time away from his game to meet with his cabinet for the very first time of his second term, and only the 17th such meeting of his presidency.  Unfortunately he repeatedly turned down requests to meet with congress and help to hammer out a last minute deal on the budget (that's not his job). 

The house presented four iterations of the budget CR, each with deeper and deeper compromises.  The Senate refused any compromises. The second of which would have kept the government open in exchange for delaying the health care law's individual mandate and eliminating federal health care contributions for lawmakers and Capitol Hill aides. SENATE:DENIED

The third sent to the senate over the weekend to repeal a 2.3 percent tax on medical devices and delay Obamacare by a year.  SENATE:DENIED

Finally late last night the House proposed a 1 week CR that would keep the gov funded while they work on yet another compromise.  SENATE:DENIED

Meanwhile, playing from the tips. . .



The good news is that the American people can enjoy an NSA free day!

[Hoss]

In the 4th year without a budget, the government now experiences it's 13th shutdown in history.  

As the House moved toward passing legislation that will likely result in a government shutdown, President Obama excused himself to play his customary Saturday golf, a round that set a record for most golf outings in a year since he became president.  Andrews hosted the president and his customary golf entourage for the 35th time this year, setting a new record (175 hours, or 4.375 work weeks) and the year is not over yet.

As each new domestic, economic, and foreign crisis unfolds, new opportunities to improve the president's short game will present themselves.  

However the president must be commended for taking time away from his game to meet with his cabinet for the very first time of his second term, and only the 17th such meeting of his presidency.  Unfortunately he repeatedly turned down requests to meet with congress and help to hammer out a last minute deal on the budget (that's not his job).  

The house presented four iterations of the budget CR, each with deeper and deeper compromises.  The Senate refused any compromises. The second of which would have kept the government open in exchange for delaying the health care law's individual mandate and eliminating federal health care contributions for lawmakers and Capitol Hill aides. SENATE:DENIED

The third sent to the senate over the weekend to repeal a 2.3 percent tax on medical devices and delay Obamacare by a year.  SENATE:DENIED

Finally late last night the House proposed a 1 week CR that would keep the gov funded while they work on yet another compromise.  SENATE:DENIED

Meanwhile, playing from the tips. . .



The good news is that the American people can enjoy an NSA free day!

Elections have consequences...oh, I forget who I'm talking to here.  All the house had to do was pass a clean CR: DENIED.  This is the TP faction of the Rs acting like big babies here and Boehner (aka Boozy McOrangeface) with no spine as a Speaker.

[Ed W]

Let's see if I understand this right. The ACA bill passed in both the House and Senate. President Obama signed it into law. The Republicans opposed it and challenged it in court. After it reached the Supreme Court, the ACA was deemed acceptable under our Constitution.  What part of "democratic process" is beyond Republican understanding?

[Gaspar]

Let's see if I understand this right. The ACA bill passed in both the House and Senate. President Obama signed it into law. The Republicans opposed it and challenged it in court. After it reached the Supreme Court, the ACA was deemed acceptable under our Constitution.  What part of "democratic process" is beyond Republican understanding?

Because the majority of their constituents dislike the law, many in Congress are attempting different ways to fix it before it takes affect.  Many others would like to repeal and replace the bill.  
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/09/16/usa-today-pew-poll-health-care-law-opposition/2817169/

Lesson learned is that it would be a good idea to read bills before passage, otherwise they represent executive legislation without representative oversight.

It seems that the house is actually acting on behalf of the people they represent instead of the interests of government.  That is really quite rare.  The Senate is acting on their own behalf and finds themselves here due to their reluctance to pass any permanent budget measures that would likely curtail the spending necessary to maintain funding for expanding programs.

Obamacare is law, passed without review, under cover of darkness.  As a republic, it is the job of our elected representatives to consider and reflect our will when passing legislation.  That includes abolishing or amending the laws we find unjust.  The executive and judicial branches have no authority to legislate, or amend, however Congress has allowed that to happen, and that needs to stop.

[Townsend]

Because the majority of their constituents dislike the law, many in Congress are attempting different ways to fix it before it takes affect.  

Huh, you said "law" instead of "bill" like the other Ted Cruzers.

This is grandstanding on both sides.  This has nothing to do with anyone caring one way or another.  This is purely to be able to say "I did this" or "they did this" in the next mid-term.

We go on with our day and wait for the next sound bite from someone.

[TheArtist]

Because the majority of their constituents dislike the law, many in Congress are attempting different ways to fix it before it takes affect.  Many others would like to repeal and replace the bill.  
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/09/16/usa-today-pew-poll-health-care-law-opposition/2817169/

What is not shown in that poll is that many, like me, don't approve of the law and don't like the way the President handled it... BUT we don't approve of those things because the President "compromised" when he didn't have to, with people (many Republicans) that were never going to be happy with the law and would fight against it regardless of how or how much he compromised, and who didn't even care if he compromised or not.  Actually, they are glad he compromised for what we ended up with was a muddled bill/law that is indeed more complicated and expensive because he did "compromise" and thus makes it an even easier target for them to attack.  

The law didn't go far enough because of the "compromises" and ended up some halfway, cumbersome, more costly than it should have been, mess.  And part of that is because the Republicans weren't part of the process, because they showed that they did not want the law to happen at all.  No amount of reaching out was going to get that position to change. It was better politically to be able to say "it was all done in the shadows without our input".  Like their input would have been trying to make it better? Really?

What the Repubs don't want is for the law to go into effect and then the discussion try to turn again to, "how can we make this better, more efficient, more helpful, etc.".  Many don't want to ever be in the position of having to have that discussion, so they will still only fight to make it go away, period.    

[swake]

Because the majority of their constituents dislike the law, many in Congress are attempting different ways to fix it before it takes affect.  Many others would like to repeal and replace the bill.  
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/09/16/usa-today-pew-poll-health-care-law-opposition/2817169/

Lesson learned is that it would be a good idea to read bills before passage, otherwise they represent executive legislation without representative oversight.

It seems that the house is actually acting on behalf of the people they represent instead of the interests of government.  That is really quite rare.  The Senate is acting on their own behalf and finds themselves here due to their reluctance to pass any permanent budget measures that would likely curtail the spending necessary to maintain funding for expanding programs.

Obamacare is law, passed without review, under cover of darkness.  As a republic, it is the job of our elected representatives to consider and reflect our will when passing legislation.  That includes abolishing or amending the laws we find unjust.  The executive and judicial branches have no authority to legislate, or amend, however Congress has allowed that to happen, and that needs to stop.

Hey, here's a fun idea, let the clean bill go up for a vote in the house. It would pass easily but the Tea Party can't have that, can they?

[swake]

Congressional Republicans approval rating is down to 17%. Yes, only 17%, with a whopping 74% disapproval rating.

Democrats aren't doing too well either that 32% approval and 60% disapproval, but that's worlds better than what Rs are getting. Americans are also against shutting down government over healthcare by a 72-22 margin.

Seriously I am not sure that the Republican Party will survive this if it goes on for a couple of weeks and they also force a default on the debt. There is such a fissure now in the party and the only thing holding it together is the threat of Tea Party primary battles against the more reasonable members (and the leadership!). I can really see the core of the Republican Party leaving the Tea Party dysfunction behind and creating a "New" (old) Republican Party if that's what it takes to get back to doing the business of government.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/congress-approval-government-shutdown-2013-97617.html

[Townsend]

I can really see the core of the Republican Party leaving the Tea Party dysfunction behind and creating a "New" (old) Republican Party if that's what it takes to get back to doing the business of government. 

We can only wait and see.  The posturing and cra-cra antics in order to get face time and votes is a big ol' negative.

It'd be great to see headlines like "Congress works together to get the economy going again."  Not the "Small faction of mental midgets keeping everything at a stand still again."

If they can't identify the USA on a globe, they should have to abstain. 

[nathanm]

Obamacare is law, passed without review, under cover of darkness.  As a republic, it is the job of our elected representatives to consider and reflect our will when passing legislation.

First, please stop trying to rewrite history. The negotiations over the ACA lasted for months. Months that you have previously whined about having been wasted, yet when it is convenient, you say it was some sort of submarine bill that popped up and surprised everybody and imply some sort of shadowy conspiracy. Take your meds.

Secondly, elections have consequences. Romney ran on repealing Obamacare and lost. Almost every one of the Republican candidates for House and Senate ran on repealing Obamacare, yet they still net lost seats in the House and Senate in the last election. After Kerry lost in 2004, you were one of the loudest bloviators on this board crowing about elections having consequences and blah blah blah. I guess what's good for the goose isn't good for the gander?

Thirdly, it is the job of our elected representatives to provide for funding to run the government they have authorized. The Tea Partyists and Boehner are standing in the way like obstinate little children.

[swake]

We can only wait and see.  The posturing and cra-cra antics in order to get face time and votes is a big ol' negative.

It'd be great to see headlines like "Congress works together to get the economy going again."  Not the "Small faction of mental midgets keeping everything at a stand still again."

If they can't identify the USA on a globe, they should have to abstain. 

I think it's going to split if they can't stop it soon. Big Business, the US Chamber, the markets are all against the shutdown. And I think the split will come from the leadership. All the money behind the GOP not coming from the Koch brothers and company will go with them.

McConnell has to be all for getting away from the Tea Party. They are already going to pit him in a primary fight with some Heritage Foundation approved moron. McConnell can be Minority leader of the "Don't Have my Head Stuck Up My A$$ New Republican Party with no personal primary battle and Ted Cruz can have the Republican Party.

Boehner's calculation is different but I think he's going to eventually get there. If he goes against the Tea Party today he likely loses his speakership and likely will also have a primary bloodbath on his hands. He probably will have that anyway. If he doesn't go against the TP and this drags on then the upcoming election will be a bloodbath for the Republican Party and he loses his speakership. He is in a no win situation. His only hope may eventually be a third party where he can hope to win some sort of a coalition speakership with no one party with a majority.

[Townsend]

Should've posted this earlier:



In case anyone knows someone, you know...

[patric]

Because the majority of their constituents Insurance Industry Campaign Donors dislike the law, many in Congress are attempting different ways to fix it before it takes affect.  Many others would like to repeal and replace the bill.

Fixed it for you.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Because the majority of their constituents dislike the law, many in Congress are attempting different ways to fix it before it takes affect.  Many others would like to repeal and replace the bill.  

Kind of the whole point, isn't it...the tea baggers say they "want" a bill - just not this one.  Well, why didn't they present a bill ANY TIME in the last 70 years or so...??

Oh, wait...that's right - I remember now - they have been fighting against ALL the bills that whole time.  I guess that's why they didn't present one.

[Gaspar]

Funny, but sad.

Yesterday in D.C., at the WWII war memorial they moved out barricades to shut it down.  This is an open park, with only the occasional maintenance worker sweeping up debris. Yesterday parks employees put a few metal barricades across the entrances, and tried to turn away a group of WWII vets, but they broke through the barricades and were able to pay their respects and enjoy the park.

This morning the parks service has delivered and setup extra barricades, added police tape, and posted security forces with zip-ties to arrest anyone else who attempts to visit the park.  Washington Examiner reporter Charles Spiering counts 7 parks security workers patrolling the entrances today.


Next week's scheduled Honor Flight WWII vets have been threatened with arrest if they attempt to visit the park.
Much like with the sequesterpocolips, the administration is going the extra mile.

More reinforcements arrive.


Mechelle Obama has even suspended her FREE Twitter account: