Stupid shutdown news link fest

| October 5, 2013

Too many links and so little time;

What would a US default look like? (from Ex-PH2)

The Disabled Veterans of America want you to write your Congress creatures. (from Ex-Ph2)

The Daily Caller says that contract Catholics priests have been threatened with arrest if they minister voluntarily on military bases (from Preston)

It looks like they shut down the USMC Memorial, too.

Congress voted to pay government workers after the shutdown ends. So can I PLEASE go back to work?

Did Obama really close the ocean?

Who gave the Obama-bots a gun?

Added; Obama closes the Vietnam Memorial. It’s a wall and a sidewalk, for crying out loud.

Category: Link fest

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Smitty

i think this is a good place for this link
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/07/lawmakers-probe-reports-property-owners-kicked-off-federal-land-amid-partial/

there is very minimal effect on the populace from the shut down, so the feds have to try to make people feel it and are just coming off as ass holes in the process

Ex-PH2

It just keeps piling up bad karma.

What goes around comes around.

Ex-PH2

Looks like there is a gathering this weekend of vets in DC, per this news link:

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/metro-news/2013/oct/7/million-vets-are-coming-dc-demand-their-monuments-/

I think there is a link to rallies in other areas if you can’t go to the rally in WDC.

Ex-PH2

Here’s an update on the Chinese reaction to the shutdown, as well as comments from Putin and the Prime Minister of Malaysia, who says exactly what I said: bodaprez misses a golden opportunity to show regional leadership.

http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663303/s/322a16e5/sc/2/l/0Lworldnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C10A0C0A70C20A8565460Echina0Eto0Eus0Eclock0Eis0Eticking0Eon0Edeal0Eto0Eavoid0Edefault0Dlite/story01.htm

Ex-PH2

…and this just in: the USA’s credit rating, which is currently AAA (how it’s rated for borrowing mone) may be downgraded if the debt ceiling limit is not addressed BEFORE October 17.

http://news.msn.com/us/us-credit-rating-again-in-danger-of-downgrade

Here’s where the fun begins, boys and girls. You and I understand how important a good credit rating is. It’s what gives us a lower interest rate when we want to buy a car or a house.
Does anyone besides me think that maybe those in charge (bodaprez, valj, etc.) don’t actually think this matters?

Ex-PH2

Just adding another punch in the solar plexus to the military, death benefits won’t be paid to military families until this mess is over with.

http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663303/s/323203f6/sc/8/l/0L0Stoday0N0Cnews0Cshutdown0Edenies0Edeath0Ebenefits0Efamilies0Efallen0Esoldiers0E8C11355842/story01.htm

So what do we do? Let Gunny Rzezckowski rot in his coffin until this is settled? Well, it isn’t just burial costs, it’s the subsequent extended benefit that follows the first DB payment.

OK, so if I croak tomorrow, or MCPO NYC Ret shuffles off this mortal coil on Saturday after the game, we expect you all to kick in by digging a nice hole in the ground and providing a plywood box. Some artifical flowers would be nice, and I’m sure a rock cairn will do if you can’t find shovel for digging. 🙂

Ex-PH2

I just have one question that no one anywhere has addressed.

If it’s necessary to force people off federal lands or block access and views of federal monuments, why have the federal highways not been shut down in this mess?

It is SO easy to to do that, you see. All it takes is one bad accident on I-94 in each lane, which closes down all traffic for literally hundreds of miles in each direction. Even construction or resurfacing causes a logjam.

So why are these roads not shut down? They’re federal roads! They belong to the gubbmint!

Shut them down!!!!

Let’s be fair to EVERYONE!!!

Mr(s). President, SHUT DOWN THESE ROADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ex-PH2

Uh-oh. Reid may be cracking, per this news item: ‘
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said last week in an interview with Bloomberg News he would move a “clean” debt ceiling increase bill before Oct. 17, when the Treasury expects borrowing authority to lapse.’

Here’s the Newsmax link to the story:
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/democrats-debt-ceiling-legislation/2013/10/07/id/529693?ns_mail_uid=62968367&ns_mail_job=1540678_10072013&promo_code=151B9-1#ixzz2h8ouMBln

Also, the latest Newsmax polls show that people generally blame both parties for this, and are frowning upon the methods used by bodaprez to have his own way.

Ex-PH2

More news on what the businesw world is up to in regard to the shutdown.

The dollare is now attractive to foreign currency traders.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101095824

And the president of the Swiss National Bank thinks we’re headed for disaster.

http://www.breakingnews.com/item/ahZzfmJyZWFraW5nbmV3cy13d3ctaHJkcg0LEgRTZWVkGMKI0BUM/2013/10/08/swiss-national-bank-president-thomas-jordan-says-h

He could be right.

Ex-PH2

Oh, and guess what!?!?! Those who do what they can to keep our food safe, so that there’s no plague of dysentery or cholera or typhus, or for that matter, salmonella and e.coli poisoning, have been recalled, like many others.

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/salmonella-tied-foster-farms-chicken-hospitalizes-dozens-may-be-drug-6C11357570?gt1=43001

Some furlough program, huh?

Ex-PH2

I’m having some fun ferreting out these bits and bobs of information related to the infamous and quite unnecessary shutdown.
These come from ‘Breaking News’ on my front page.

This is re: gubbmint funding:
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/327297-cruz-reid-exchange-barbs-on-whether-to-debate-government-funding

and this is re: the immigration rally on the Mall: http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/eight-democratic-members-of-congress-arrested-at-immigration

Ex-PH2
Ex-PH2

This ought to give all of you a good laugh and a WTF moment.

Isn’t Nevada Harry Reid’s state?

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/oct/08/sandoval-nevada-faces-catastrophe-if-government-sh/

I don’t hear these things coming from the governor of Illinois, just fussing about the state pension funds.

Joe Williams

A little help Please, CRS has got me. How many times can “The Won” veto a bill before it is a law without his singing the bill. This is why Reid will not allow voting on the funding.I see Reid in a illegal act is in the separation of Powers ? Joe

Ex-PH2

@64 – Joe, I don’t know. I thought the Constitution allowed the House & Senate to pass a bill and make it law, overriding a presidential veto, but it had to be both houses. I have to check on that.

Here are more bits and bobs from Breaking News:

Working group to deal with the shutdown, now created:
https://twitter.com/frankthorpNBC/status/387724778678669312

This one is worrisome, don’t know if it’s related to shutdown or if it’s because the Muslim Brotherhood is no longer a force in Egypt: https://twitter.com/DeenaCNN/status/387718107516522496

In re: #61 above, two of the Congressmen arrested are from Illinois. I guess they found out the shoe CAN be on the other foot, eh?

Ex-PH2

Also, someone is stepping up to do what SHOULD be done for deceased vets and their families, as noted here: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663303/s/3237a855/sc/7/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C10A0C0A80C20A871220A0Emilitary0Efoundation0Esteps0Eup0Eto0Ecover0Edisgusting0Edelay0Ein0Epayments0Efor0Efamilies0Eof0Efallen0Dlite/story01.htm

So, some things stink, but not nearly as much as the emperor’s lack of costume. I do see chinks in the armor appearing almost hourly, and it’s only Tuesday.

Ex-PH2

Looks like Congress in total gets a 5% approval (very low) rating, while this poll shows that GOPers are blamed for it more than Democrats (but only slightly more, look at the percentage points), but there is hope: almost everyone blames BODAPREZ for it. 🙂

http://news.msn.com/us/poll-republicans-get-the-blame-in-shutdown

Read it through. It’s interesting.

On a side note, apparently the national Amber Alert System at the DoJ was down for a couple of days. Yes, telling people that children are missing is far less important than keeping fatlotus’s website up and running and pissing off families of service members.

bodaprez wants to meet and talk: http://www.breakingnews.com/item/ahZzfmJyZWFraW5nbmV3cy13d3ctaHJkcg0LEgRTZWVkGKrs2xUM/2013/10/09/president-obama-to-invite-all-4-congressional-cauc

Also, Chuck Hagel is running off to Dover AFB to meet the dead, says a Tweet that was on ‘Breaking news’ and is now gone.

This is like one of those bad soap operas you tell yourself you shouldn’t watch… but it’s almost hypnotic, isn’t it? You know you shouldn’t watch, but you keep staring at it, and it gets stupider and stupider while you look.

OWB

@ #62: If memory serves, following a veto, a bill can become law without the prez’s signature if both houses of Congress pass it again by a 2/3 majority. (Not sure if there is a timetable in there somewhere – could be.)

Ex-PH2

OWB, I think you’re right.

I’m just keeping track of things now. My axe has been ground to a razor-shapr edge. I’ll keep posting whatever I find. That is all. (Unless MCPO NCY Ret wants to play beer poker or something.)

Ex-PH2

Yes, of course: it’s always a computer ‘glitch’. Let’s blame faulty unemployment numbers on computers. Let’s do that.

http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663303/s/324a90b6/sc/2/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Cbusiness0Cjobless0Eclaims0Erise0E60Emonth0Ehigh0Eafter0Ecomputer0Eglitch0E8C11366855/story01.htm

Ex-PH2
Ex-PH2

Chinks in the armor… cracks in the bastion… tiny holes in the dam….

http://news.msn.com/us/obama-gop-leaders-seek-to-find-breakthrough

Ex-PH2

Not just chinks, but cracks… I can almost see daylight….

http://news.yahoo.com/house-republican-sees-debt-limit-spending-deal-190742932–business.html

David

OWB – and you think the Senate will 2/3 agree with the House?
I strongly hope no one piss-tests you soon. You’re high.

PintoNag

If the Republicans cave to Obama on giving absolutely everything the prez wants before he’ll “negotiate,” they might as well fold up their tent and go home. They will never get another piece of legislation passed again. Ever.

We may end up with an open government and a higher debt ceiling, but it will be as subjects of a dictator.

Ex-PH2

OH, PN, all is not lost. The only thing that’s lost is the $750 million (3/4 billion dollars) in tourist dollars that people won’t get back because of the NPS’s antics.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nps-retirees-as-of-day-10-of-government-shutdown-7-million-visitors-shut-out-of-national-parks-750-million-in-visitor-spending-lost-2013-10-10

Ex-PH2

I can’t say that the shutdown has gone to the dogs, but it has gotten this farmer’s goats.

http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post–government-goats-laid-off-in-shutdown?gt1=33048

OWB

Uhh, David? I was not stating an opinion there, so my relative highness or lack of same is quite irrelevant. A question was asked about the mechanism for overriding a veto. It was, and remains, a 2/3 vote by both houses of Congress and a bill vetoed becomes law in spite of the veto. It has happened in our history and might again. I would personally not place a bet on it happening any time soon, but then, I don’t wager as a general rule, so that is rather a moot point.

Ex-PH2

It can still happen, OWB, if there is enough agreement on both sides of the political aisle in both houses that something needs to be done, because otherwise, it won’t get done.

For this reason, not passing a budget since – when? – mystifies me.

OWB

All of which is why some of us have been saying for years that until people are made to feel just how incompetent and expensive it all is nothing will change. Perhaps we are near the point where the folks who pay for it all are finally paying attention? Too little, too late maybe, but more people are asking questions today than at any time during my lifetime.

Ex-PH2

Hmmm…. It looks as though some governors are taking their states back from the federal governance.

http://www.breakingnews.com/item/ahZzfmJyZWFraW5nbmV3cy13d3ctaHJkcg0LEgRTZWVkGNOO6BUM/2013/10/11/utah-governor-gary-herbert-us-department-of-inter

’bout damn time!

Ex-PH2

Senators have a plan: http://news.msn.com/us/senators-plan-would-reopen-govt-raise-debt-limit

And remember, there is NOTHING that obligates you to actually watch this video, but because it is on auto-start, it’s one of the few chances you’ll have to shut him up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaIwmg7fWyI

And you can do that as many times as you like. 😉

Ex-PH2

Just keeping everyone informed AS TO the current info emanating from the congress critters:

http://news.msn.com/us/senators-plan-would-reopen-govt-raise-debt-limit

(Hint: senate dems did not prevail on debt extension)

Still not sure where this is going, but I may have to move into Dick Durbin’s house and sleep on his couch if this isn’t resolved. And eat out of his fridge.

http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/663303/s/32616382/sc/24/l/0Lnbcpolitics0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C10A0C120C20A9250A0A10Esenate0Eleaders0Ebegin0Eshutdown0Etalks0Eas0Ehouse0Egop0Eannounces0Eno0Edeal0Dlite/story01.htm

Ex-PH2

And for the latest on national parks, it seems that they are being reopened by the states, because of a loss of tourist dollars. It’s the dollars and sense of it. (pun intentional) And it’s not just the Grand Canyon. It is elsewhere, all over.

http://news.msn.com/us/grand-canyon-opens-in-state-fed-national-parks-deal

And if you’re worried about NSA poking into your stuff, there are websites all over the place opening up to confound the spooks.

Don’t worry. Be happy. http://news.msn.com/science-technology/growing-backlash-to-government-surveillance

I say be happy, because the spooks probably are NOT. 😉

Ex-PH2

Here is the latest info on Social Security, whether anyone actually gets paid next month or not: the COLA raise for 2014 will be 1.5%:

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/13/20947516-social-security-raise-to-be-among-lowest-in-years?lite

Just so you know. And remember, 2010 and 2011 were years in which socsec had NO – repeat, ZERO – raises. 🙂

Just want you all to know how much bodaprez wants to STICK IT TO YOU. 🙂

Ex-PH2

So, is there hope this nonsense will be settled? Maybe. Maybe not.

http://news.msn.com/us/default-looming-day-14-of-shutdown-no-solution

Maybe the motivator could be “solve this problem or I will move into your house, sleep on your couch, and live out of your fridge… and I won’t shower until you fix this problem”. Send it en masses to the congress critters. Or just let them hammer away at each other.

What do I know? I think they should all be fired, from the top down.

Ex-PH2

Just a few questions:

A) Can these people grow up?

B) Do they know that this nonsense, which is the fault of ALL of them from the top down, could get them ALL dismissed from their jobs? (When several polls show 60%+ think it’s the fault of ALL in WDC, it is a non-partisan response.)

C) Were they this sloppy in school?

D) Is there any way to make them sweat over the deadline?

http://news.msn.com/us/senate-nears-default-deal-house-preps-own-bill

Well, their deadline is Thursday.

Ex-PH2

If I’m not mistaken, they now appear desperate.

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/15/20974040-senate-very-close-to-deal-after-house-nixes-last-ditch-debt-vote?lite&gt1=43001

However, Fitch, a major credit rating agency, may downgrade the US government’s credit rating, making it more difficult for the USGov to borrow money and it MAY lead to higher interest rates on SBA business loans and on mortgages. NOT a joke. These things affect everyone, in ways those clowns in politics simply DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/fitch-signals-it-could-downgrade-u-s-credit-rating-8C11399906?gt1=43001

Come next election season, they need to be given the heave-ho, but good. Bring in people with some sense of fiscal responsibility. We, the taxpayers, are not the deep pockets that they think we are.

Ex-PH2

Is it nearing deal-time? Or just a mirage?

http://news.msn.com/us/senators-seek-budget-deal-after-house-gop-effort-flops

We’ll see.

Ex-PH2

Ah! Ze deadly deadline draweth closer… and closer….

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/16/20993759-boehner-we-fought-the-good-fight

Last stance, backs against the wall….

PintoNag

The House still has to vote on this, correct? I know the Speaker is suggesting that all the Republicans in the House vote yes, but will they is the question. They can still derail this agreement, can’t they?

Ex-PH2

PN, yes, that’s my understanding of the report. The Senate has passed the bill, the House is to vote on it.

Well, if it isn’t passed….

Hey! I can hitch a ride to WDC with Mikey in my backpack, picket the Capitol building and pester/lobby the living daylights out of those naughty politicians.

Ex-PH2

I got a call from my Congressman at 8:13PM CDT. He was on his way to vote on the House version of the bill. I briefly discussed VA health care coverage and Medicare with him, as well as Social Security. I was :+) surprised that I got a call from anyone in WDC, as it has never happened before, but he did listen, liked the idea and I said I would send him letter outlining it.

In other news, the House has just passed the restart/govt bill.

Ex-PH2

It’s official. The USGovt will not shut down, after all.

http://news.msn.com/us/senate-approves-debt-deal-house-vote-can-end-shutdown

MCPO NYC USN (Ret.)

Does this mean I have to go back to work?

Ex-PH2

Regretfully, Master Chief, yes. But you’ll still have evenings and weekends and holidays to do whatever it is you do for fun.