Government Closed, Sun Still Expected To Rise

[Townsend]

New hope for debt deal, but not for shutdown

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/04/politics/government-shutdown-main/index.html?sr=fb100413shutdowngopdem4p

Washington (CNN) -- Grandstanding rhetoric abounded but little tangible progress was evident on Friday, the fourth day of a government shutdown both Republicans and Democrats say they don't want but claim they are unable to stop.

"This isn't some damn game!" House Speaker John Boehner said at a news conference where he ratcheted up pressure on President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats to negotiate changes to Obamacare as part of any deal to end the shutdown.

Repeating his insistence that the other side is responsible for the furlough of up to 800,000 workers and other impacts of the shutdown, Boehner said Democrats were willing to let the stalemate continue because they think they are winning the public debate.

"The American people don't want their government shut down and neither do I," Boehner said, calling again for talks on anti-Obamacare provisions that House GOP leaders say are intended to ensure fairness under the president's signature health care reforms.

For his part, Obama repeated his challenge for Boehner to allow the House to vote on a Senate version of a spending plan, saying it would pass the House and end the shutdown "today."

"I'm happy to have negotiations. We can't do it with a gun held to the head of the American people," Obama said during a lunch break with Vice President Joe Biden at a sandwich shop.

Obama and Democrats reject the GOP demands, calling them political extortion intended to force concessions on the 2010 Affordable Care Act that was upheld by the Supreme Court last year. In their view, Republicans forced the shutdown and now have no strategy for ending it without getting blamed.

"They're flopping around like dead fish in the bottom of the boat trying to figure out what to do next," Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington told CNN. "They have no plan B."

Boehner and his GOP House leadership said they would proceed with votes, including a rare Saturday session, on piecemeal spending legislation to fund popular programs while the shutdown continues.

Democrats oppose the incremental approach, saying it amounts to conservatives pushing it to fund programs and services they like.
House Republican leaders sought to depict the legislative wrangling as Democrats harming federal workers and denying services such as national parks and veterans affairs by voting against the limited spending proposals focused on them.

Other piecemeal spending measures will provide funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service with a tropical storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Head Start program, Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia said Friday.

Obama would veto such measures if they reached his desk, the White House has announced. On Friday, it said the president would sign one measure expected to pass Congress that would guarantee back pay for federal workers who are furloughed because of the shutdown.

A second fiscal deadline approaching soon -- the need to increase the federal debt ceiling by October 17 or face potential default on U.S. debt obligations -- has raised concerns that the legislative stalemate means paralysis that could cause serious economic harm at home and abroad.

However, Boehner reportedly told fellow GOP legislators this week that he won't allow the United States to default on its debt, even if it means getting help from Democrats to pass the necessary legislation, according to a Republican House member who requested anonymity to talk about the private meeting.

Congressional Republicans remain divided over how to structure legislation to raise the nation's borrowing level.
A Boehner aide said Thursday that the speaker "has always said the United States will not default on its debt, so that's not news," and Boehner said Friday that "I don't believe we should default on our debt."

However, he then repeated his longstanding contention that government spending must be cut so that the nation doesn't continue to rack up budget deficits.
Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York cheered the reports that Boehner indicated he would not block a debt ceiling measure, even if most House Republicans oppose it.

The speaker took similar steps in the past year on raising tax rates on wealthy Americans and emergency spending after Superstorm Sandy.
"This could be the beginnings of a significant breakthrough," Schumer said in a statement. "Even coming close to the edge of default is very dangerous, and putting this issue to rest significantly ahead of the default date would allow everyone in the country to breathe a huge sigh of relief."

The potential breakthrough -- at least on the debt limit -- came two weeks before the government is set to run out of money to cover its roughly $16.7 trillion debt. Conservative Republicans want budget cuts in exchange for upping the credit limit.

Boehner wrote this week in USA Today that "there is no way Congress can or should pass (a debt ceiling increase) without spending cuts and reforms to deal with the debt and deficit and help get our economy moving again."

He accused the president of refusing to negotiate; Obama and Democratic leaders have since said they are open to talks on any and all budgetary matters, but only after the government is reopened.

Obama out of APEC meeting

Meanwhile, with his focus on the brewing domestic crisis, Obama canceled his trip to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bali, Indonesia.
"The president made this decision based on the difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of a shutdown, and his determination to continue pressing his case that Republicans should immediately allow a vote to reopen the government," a statement from the White House said.
Instead, Secretary of State John Kerry will lead the U.S. delegation in Asia.

Obama challenges Boehner on shutdown

On Thursday, Obama called the GOP strategy of tying government funding to anti-Obamacare provisions "reckless."
"The only thing that is keeping the government shut down, the only thing preventing people from going back to work, and basic research starting back up and farmers and small business owners getting their loans -- the only thing that's preventing all that from happening right now today, in the next five minutes, is that Speaker John Boehner won't even let the bill get a yes-or-no vote because he doesn't want to anger the extremists in his party," Obama said.

Democratic Rep. Steve Israel of New York told CNN on Friday that at least 180 of the 200 House Democrats would vote for the "clean" spending resolution already passed by the Senate that would end the shutdown.

That means at least 37 Republicans out of the chamber's 233-strong majority would have to defy the party's strategy so far to reach the 217 threshold needed for the measure to pass and go to Obama's desk.

Israel said 20 House Republicans had publicly expressed support for such a move, and that he expected more than enough others to join them if the measure actually came up for a vote.

Reid was part of the Democratic chorus Thursday, accusing Boehner of reneging on an agreement to let the House vote on a "clean" spending package of $988 billion, $70 billion less than Democrats wanted. Boehner went back on that deal, Reid surmised in an interview with CNN's Dana Bash, because he feared fellow Republicans would turn on him and oust him from his position as House speaker.

Cantor: GOP should stand its ground

GOP Rep. Michael Grimm of New York said Thursday night that "very, very arrogant and very obstinate" remarks by Reid and what he calls a lack of needed leadership from Obama undermines the chances of reaching a deal.

"If you're going to be insulted ... and if you're going to be spoken down to and there's going to be this air of arrogance, you're only going to make things worse," Grimm told CNN's Anderson Cooper.

While Grimm and a few other moderate Republicans have backed a "clean" spending bill without anti-Obamacare provisions, some of his colleagues in the House say the party won't budge from their strategy.

Rep. Tim Huelskamp of Kansas described his caucus as "very unified" and said Reid and Obama are "confused" if they think "we're going to fold and let them win on everything."

[Hoss]

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/326675-dems-plan-discharge-petition-to-force-vote-on-ending-shutdown

Dems plan discharge petition to force vote on ending shutdown

House Democratic leaders will begin circulating a discharge petition Friday in hopes of forcing a vote on a "clean" spending bill.

GOP leaders have so far refused to stage a vote on the Senate-passed continuing resolution (CR), insisting that the measure also include conservative provisions scaling back President Obama's healthcare law.

But with more than 20 centrist Republicans indicating support for a clean CR, the Democrats are hoping they can attract the 218 signatures required to force such of vote.

The Democrats' gambit is a long-shot, however, as there's no indication that those centrist Republicans would poke their leadership even further by signing the discharge petition.

Indeed, those Republicans have sided with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on a series of votes this week to fund the government with piecemeal bills – a strategy rejected by Obama and the Democrats.

Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) launched their discharge-petition effort Friday after an afternoon meeting in the Capitol, where the Democratic Caucus huddled with White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough to discuss the party's shutdown strategy.

"It is very unfortunate that the majority of the House has not been allowed to freely cast its vote to reopen the government," Miller said. "But one thing [that's] becoming clearer is that, as the shutdown drags on, a growing number of Republican members of Congress want the opportunity to work with Democrats to end this crisis."

Under their petition strategy, Miller said, the House could vote on a clean CR on Oct. 14, at the earliest.

The Democrats had initially thought the discharge petition option was unavailable, because a bill must be at least 30 legislative days old before it can be subject to such a drive. But the Democrats have located a GOP bill introduced in March that serves the same purpose as the Senate-passed CR.

Sponsored by Rep. James Lankford (Okla.), head of the Republican Policy Committee, the bill would create "an automatic CR for any regular appropriations bill not completed before the end of the fiscal year," according to Lankford's release.

The Democrats don't intend to pass the Lankford bill, but just to use it as a vehicle to pass the Senate's CR.

"We will have a complete substitute for that language which will be a clean continuing resolution to open up the government," Miller said.

Asked how he expects to get the 218 signatures needed to discharge the Lankford bill, Miller was terse.

"You round 'em up," he said.

[Gaspar]

LOL!

Nasa's website down as a result of government shutdown. http://www.nasa.gov

Actually, it's not.  All of the subdomains are still up and running. 
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/index.cfm
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/index.cfm

Apparently the servers have not received their furlough notice. 

[Townsend]

Tea Party Leaders Announce Support For Deal In Exchange For Malia Obama

http://tinyurl.com/oa9883q

WASHINGTON—As the federal government shutdown stretches into its fourth day, 20 members of the Republican's Tea Party faction announced this morning they would be willing to support a clean budget resolution bill in exchange for the president's firstborn daughter, Malia Obama.

While members of the Republican Party's far-right wing have heretofore been resistant to any sort of deal with the White House over the issue of Obamacare, the Tea Party caucus authored and released a short, tersely worded statement this morning in which they agreed to a swift negotiation of an unstipulated spending bill if the president were to deliver "the firstling."

"The girl. Bring us the girl," said Congressman Steve King (R-IA) as he stood beside fellow Tea Party leaders during this morning's press conference on the steps of the Capitol. "The bill may pass, but the firstborn shall be ours."

"Heed our bidding," added an unblinking Phil Gingrey (R-GA). "And thy wish shall be granted."

According to Washington insiders, the deal would reportedly feature a continuing resolution to fund government operations through November 15 without any modifications to the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, including implementation of the individual mandate and the much-maligned tax on medical devices, while Malia Obama would legally fall under the protectorship of the Tea Party caucus.

White House officials have declined to comment.

According to Congressional aides, if the White House agrees to deliver Malia, as well as a pint of Michelle Obama's blood, a ram's horn, and a shard of obsidian to the basement of the Cannon House Office Building by this evening, a House vote on the bill could take place as early as Saturday.

"Obamacare may be a scourge, but lo, our eyes are cast upon matters of greater import," explained Tea Party Republican Justin Amash of Michigan's third district. "Preparations must be made. The hour is nigh."

While some political analysts argued the surprise announcement suggests a weakening in resolve of the faction, opening the door for further movement on their stance, several Republican staffers have already indicated that the caucus will not negotiate on their declared terms and that any attempts to substitute Sasha for Malia will be fruitless.

"It must be Malia," stated Mick Mulvaney (R-SC). "First of birth. First of blood. First of the reckoning."

Experts added that in addition to limiting the damage of the current government shutdown, the deal could also avoid a protracted and dangerous battle over raising the nation's debt ceiling in the coming weeks if members of the Tea Party determine Malia has fulfilled the prophecy.

"The Tea Party has spoken," said Georgetown professor of political science Richard Drape. "The deal has been wrought. All bear witness to the fruits of the Great Compromise, for it is with us."

At press time, a teary-eyed Michelle Obama was informing Malia that she will always love her.

Waka

[Hoss]

Tea Party Leaders Announce Support For Deal In Exchange For Malia Obama

http://tinyurl.com/oa9883q

Waka

You donkey.  I was copying/pasting that when I double-checked.   

[Conan71]

"This isn't some damn game!" House Speaker John Boehner said at a news conference where he ratcheted up pressure on President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats to negotiate changes to Obamacare as part of any deal to end the shutdown.

The orange man is a funny guy...

[Townsend]

You donkey.  I was copying/pasting that when I double-checked.   

"First of birth. First of blood. First of the reckoning."

[Gaspar]

AP just reported that a man set himself on fire at the National Mall.  

[Townsend]

AP just reported that a man set himself on fire at the National Mall.  

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/man-sets-fire-national-mall-20476899

Man Sets Himself on Fire on the National Mall
WASHINGTON October 5, 2013 (AP)
Associated Press
A fire official says a man has been flown to the hospital after setting himself on fire on the National Mall.

Fire crews responded Friday afternoon to a report of a man on fire at 7th Street and Madison Drive. A witness says she saw a man dump a red canister of gasoline on his head and then set himself on fire.

D.C. Fire Department spokesman Tim Wilson says the man has life-threatening injuries.

His name and age weren't immediately known.

Katy Scheflen says she was walking along the Mall when she saw a man by himself pick up a can of gasoline and empty its contents on his head before setting himself ablaze.

She says passing joggers took off their shirts to help douse the flames.

[Hoss]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/man-sets-fire-national-mall-20476899

I have heard people attest that Speaker Boehner smells like burnt toast.

[RecycleMichael]

http://screen.yahoo.com/snl/did-stop-060000269.html

Miley Cyrus weighs in on shutdown.

[Gaspar]

Veterans are warned that they will be arrested if they attempt to visit the WWII memorial in DC.  HonorFlight is denied permits for Veterans to visit the memorial by the Spite House.

Meanwhile, the Spite House and parks department has approved a permit for Culture Strike's day of Action, to open the National Mall for an immigration rally.



Here is a great video if you would like to make a sign for the rally:

 

Perhaps we can just take down the barrycades for the veterans for a little while?  Sure, most of them don't vote Democrat, but they did fight for your freedom so that you could.

[Townsend]

Maybe a few more of these will get something going.  Reason's not going to do it apparently.

Poll: 70 Percent Disapprove of GOP

So the GOP is not really winning hearts and minds during the budget battle. Seventy percent of Americans disapprove of the way congressional Republicans are handling the crisis, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll. What's more, 51 percent of those said they disapproved "strongly" of the GOP's actions. Congressional Democrats didn't fare much better: 61 percent disapprove of their actions. President Obama's approval rating, meanwhile, ticked up slightly, with 45 approving of the way he has handled the negotiations, up from 41 percent last week. He still has an overall 51 percent disapproval rating, with 39 disapproving "strongly." - See more at: http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2013/10/08/poll-70-percent-disapprove-of-gop.html#sthash.eAe4GN1W.dpuf

[Townsend]

Muskogee Veterans Affairs Regional Office closes as shutdown drags on

The Muskogee Veterans Affairs Regional Office succumbed to the effects of the federal shutdown Tuesday, closing all operations deemed non-essential. The regional office, which is home to the VA's only call center responsible for responding to education benefits inquiries, closed to the public Monday afternoon. The call center is also expected to close in conjunction with the shutdown. According to Jacob Nichols with the office of the director, the Muskogee VA Regional Office is the biggest of the VA's 56 regional offices. More than 1,300 are employed at the office, which has an annual payroll of $105 million.

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/muskogee/continued-government-shutdown-could-force-muskogee-regional-veterans-affairs-to-halt-some-operations

[Townsend]

National Guard cancels drills during government shutdown

Almost all of Oklahoma's 9,700 National Guard members will not drill again until the federal government shutdown ends, which, depending on the shutdown's length, could keep millions of dollars out of the state's economy, a Guard official said Monday. Drills scheduled for October's first weekend were canceled, Col. Max Moss said, and the Guard sent out a message on its Facebook page Monday saying this coming weekend's drills have been canceled, as well. "No National Guard units are able to perform IDT (Inactive Duty Training) during the shutdown unless it's in support of a mobilizing unit," Moss said. The shutdown will affect all National Guard members in the nation, he said.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/national-guard-cancels-drills-during-government-shutdown/article_42968292-7562-510c-ac34-dd1a4be3e7c7.html