Government Shut-Down....

[Hemodoc]

It's the Jacobin's commitment to theory over practice that I see in the tea party wing of the republican Congressional caucus, and the Jacobin's dynamic that required membership in the group to be sifted by ever finer purity screens.

Come on, Thomas Sowell knows that the Constitution does not support one part of one branch, the House of Representatives, to just not do the basic paper work of keeping the government operating and our borrowing capacity sufficient. Thomas Sowell can not possibly want to live in a United States that has go through a debit limit fight every three months with the House offering some new demand each time. Maybe he does. Maybe he is so worried about a Justice from the conservative side of the court needing to be replaced in the next two years that the idea is to establish the debt ceiling and/or CRs as points where a policy goal can be achieved that normal constitutional means denies. But I doubt it. It is too unworkable a model. It is not the one we have now and that has served us very well.

There is a budget process, taking tough votes and muddling through, and in his heart Thomas Sowell knows that is, in fact, good enough.

How many budgets has Obama passed? Yeah, some budget process Bill.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2013/feb/4/obama-misses-budget-deadline/

No purity tests Bill. Just plain old common sense that we are headed for bankruptcy. That is the solidifying element of the Tea Party. In fact, the Tea Party folks are a very small group in congress that are opposed by the majority GOP folks. Boehner is NOT a Tea Party man. There is much more diversity of opinion in the GOP than the DEMS ranging from very conservative to quite liberal such as the good senators from Maine for some reason, especially the previous senator from Maine. There used to be a very conservative element with southern Democratic folks, but not so much any longer. No, the GOP has much more diversity than the DEMS today. Sorry Bill, your theory really doesn't hold water.

[Hemodoc]

Here is one more Obamanation in the Great Smokey Mts. They closed a Federal highway through the middle of the park and the school kids in one area could not get home but by dangerous mt roads that a school bus could not pass. Great job commander in chief. Great job making it hurt.

http://www.thedailytimes.com/Local_News/story/Mayor-Ed-Mitchell-Blount-County-could-step-up-to-reopen-the-Great-Smoky-Mountains-National-Park-id-041546

[noahvale]

Come on, Thomas Sowell knows that the Constitution does not support one part of one branch, the House of Representatives, to just not do the basic paper work of keeping the government operating and our borrowing capacity sufficient. Thomas Sowell can not possibly want to live in a United States that has go through a debit limit fight every three months with the House offering some new demand each time. Maybe he does. Maybe he is so worried about a Justice from the conservative side of the court needing to be replaced in the next two years that the idea is to establish the debt ceiling and/or CRs as points where a policy goal can be achieved that normal constitutional means denies. But I doubt it. It is too unworkable a model. It is not the one we have now and that has served us very well.

There is a budget process, taking tough votes and muddling through, and in his heart Thomas Sowell knows that is, in fact, good enough.

I posted Dr. Sowell's essay in response to the following quote of yours: "...the fact is what the Republicans in Congress are doing is an undemocratic, anticonstitutional attempt to get their way even though the Constitution does not give them a constitutional path to their preferred policy outcome..." which is not FACT.  Just as the democrats pushing through Obamacare, with major opposition, by parliamentary maneuver — reconciliation — to get around Sen. Brown's election.  As Dr. Krauthammer stated, "nothing illegal about that. Nothing illegal about ramming it through without a single opposition vote. Just totally contrary to the modern American tradition — and the constitutional decency — of undertaking major social revolutions with only bipartisan majorities."  If you don't believe that then go to the Congressional Record to read what the votes were for Medicare/Social Security/Part D Medicare.  ALL had bipartisan support.

I can't speak for Dr. Sowell - and you can't either - but his writings over the years have shown him to be a believer in the Constitution and in the meaning of separation of powers.  Each branch must live by and take responsibility for its decisions.  However, what makes this system work is the ability and willingness for all sides to come together and compromise.  Right now, we have a senate leader, being led by the executive, to say no to anything the other side offers INCLUDING not authorizing ANY spending bills put forth by the House.

What is even more disgraceful is the President's outright agenda to make the partial government shutdown "as painful as possible" on citizens to get the House to acquiesce to HIS demands.  Not much love of the people there.   

You want to blame the "extremist" Tea Party for this mess?  Fine.  I put it on the shoulders of leftist/socialist ideologues like yourself for taking hostage of the democratic party, a party that is no longer welcoming to moderates like former Senator Evan Bayh III, and at times, those like myself.

[noahvale]

Cruising the Web

It amazes me that a president who has chosen to selectively enforce laws that he approves and not enforce ones that he disapproves is now being so very literal in how his administration has chosen to interpret the Pay Our Military Act signed as the shutdown was beginning to fund the troops. They have taken an extremely literal interpretation to decide that newly bereaved families of those soldiers who die during the shutdown will not get a trip to Dover to meet their loved one's arrival back in the United States and will not receive their bereavement benefits. The House insists that the bill they passed would have included paying those benefits. The Pentagon insists otherwise. As David French explains, this is just a matter of how the Department of Defense has chosen to interpret the law:

    "Second, because the Pay Our Military Act did not provide a specific appropriation for “benefits,” it was left ambiguous enough that the Department of Defense
    has room to interpret the terms “pay and allowances” to include certain benefits while excluding others. For example, military families are still receiving the bulk of their TriCare health-
    insurance benefits and beneficiaries are still receiving SGLI life-insurance payments. These sums, by the way, are much larger than the death benefits at issue with the families of
    those who recently fell in Afghanistan. It’s hard to discern the legal logic behind these payment choices.

    Thus, through a rather simple, good-faith drafting error, Congress gave the secretary of defense room to maneuver on the delivery of benefits to military families, and the
     Department of Defense’s civilian masters have made an incredible choice, one that no line unit in the military would ever make if it had control over funding for its own soldiers and
     their families: to exclude death benefits from the “pay and allowances” appropriated by Congress."

So the administration that unilaterally ignored the provisions of the Affordable Care Act couldn't stretch their interpretation to send funds to bereaved families. Sure.

Oh, and now the Pentagon is forbidding army chaplains from performing their duties to counsel the military during the shutdown. Catholic soldiers who die in battle may be denied their last rites because of the administration's stubbornness. Chaplains can't perform services and are not even being allowed to volunteer their efforts. There is something terribly wrong with an administration that is willing to threaten arrest to a minister volunteering his or her services for free. And once again, this administration decision is totally a result of how the Defense Department has chosen to interpret the Pay Our Military Act. Once again, David French explains,

     "Finally, regarding the news that contracted Catholic priests are barred from ministering to soldiers during the shutdown? Well, that’s also the secretary of defense’s call. The Pay
      Our Military Act did clearly provide appropriations for “contractors of the Department of Defense” whom the “Secretary concerned determines are providing support to members of
      the Armed Forces.” In other words, appropriations exist for these chaplains, but they’re not even permitted to volunteer. Inexcusable.

      For nine days, the civilian federal bureaucracy has broken faith with the American people, working to maximize suffering to exert leverage in a political battle when they are law- and
      honor-bound not only to remain neutral but to exert their utmost efforts to accomplish their mission in spite of funding limitations. The stain of their misconduct will not be easily
      cleansed."

As the Union Tribune San Diego editorializes (http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/oct/09/denial-of-death-benefits-shame-on-president-obama/),

      "This is ridiculous and perverse. President Barack Obama has used an expansive — and some legal scholars believe extreme — interpretation of his powers to unilaterally rewrite key
      provisions of the No Child Left Behind law, the sweeping 2002 measure that drastically reshaped federal education policies. In similar fashion, the president has unilaterally rewritten
      key provisions of the Affordable Care Act, his sweeping 2010 measure that is drastically reshaping federal public health policies. His administration has also essentially rewritten
      federal laws governing illegal immigration and penalties for drug possession.

      Just this month, the federal government has authorized the spending of billions of dollars since the partial shutdown began without explicit congressional approval. Contrary to the
      Obama administration’s representations, there are not hard, definitive rules governing how the executive branch must act during these budget fights. That is reflected in the
      amazingly arbitrary ways that the federal government has shuttered some services and agencies but not others — often with the barely hidden goal of making people suffer to
      build pressure on House Republicans to give in to the White House. For one of hundreds of examples, the Armed Forces Network serving U.S. military personnel abroad still shows
      news — but it has stopped showing NFL games, blaming the shutdown.

     This is obnoxious enough. In denying death benefits to the relatives of fallen U.S. soldiers, however, the Obama administration has broken new ground in its budget theater. This
     decision is accurately described as depraved."

The administration is pretending that they just learned of this aspect of the shutdown, but that claim doesn't bear scrutiny.

      "But the outrage should remain. On Wednesday, CNN reported that on Sept. 27, days before the shutdown began, the Pentagon was already telling reporters it planned to
      suspend death benefits.

      So for two weeks, the Obama administration has been anticipating this nightmare would come to pass — and did nothing to pre-empt it. Only when the Pentagon began denying
      death benefits and the backlash began did the White House realize this ploy was a political misstep and seek a fix.

      It is an appalling commentary on the president and his administration that they chose to bully the families of dead American soldiers for perceived political gain.

      Shame on Barack Obama."

Check out this list of seven things that the federal government has shut down that aren't saving any money. - http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/08/7-things-government-shut-down-that-saved-practically-nothing/

Jake Tapper opens up quite honestly on why the press is biased and the uselessness of White House press briefings. - http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2013/10/09/jake-tapper-acknowledges-media-bias-says-white-house-press-briefings-#ixzz2hJHPxell

Intransigence and petulance is no way to go through a presidency. As Peter Wehner writes,

     "Which leads me to a final point. The president, always a distant, somewhat withdrawn, and imperious figure, now seems encased in a world all his own. One senses that Mr.
      Obama has surrounded himself with courtiers whose jobs are to affirm his greatness and his glory. He and they live in a bubble. The president is acting as if America is comprised
      solely of people who host, appear on, or watch MSNBC. Disagree with Republicans? Don’t engage with them and by all means don’t negotiate with them. Instead drop rhetorical
      acid on their heads. Describe them as jihadists, terrorists, anarchists, arsonists, gun-to-the-head hostage takers, and (to quote White House aide Dan Pfeiffer) “people with a bomb
      strapped to their chest.” And all of America will cheer.

      But it turns out that Americans don’t precisely align their views with Chris Matthews, Lawrence O’Donnell, and Rachel Maddow. And they don’t much like their president acting as if
      he is the deputy communications director of the DNC. "

Even when confronted with puff-ball questions from a quiescent press corps, President Obama's remarks the other day, as Seth Mandel notes, were quite revealing (http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/08/obama-stumbles-despite-friendly-press/).

      "When Obama opposed raising the debt ceiling, he was just posturing the way people do “frequently.” In other words, when Obama makes a speech on policy he doesn’t actually
       believe what he’s saying; he just thinks enough of the voters will like his message. Obama is not, Obama says, to be taken literally. They are just words.

       The other interesting nugget in that paragraph was the part where Obama said that in the past the debt ceiling was easier to sneak through without the public noticing until it
       was decoupled from omnibus spending bills. The thought process of America’s elected politicians, Obama explained approvingly, was: “I don’t want to take a bunch of tough
       votes to cut programs or raise taxes and then also have to take a debt ceiling vote.”

        The Obama campaign seems to have calculated correctly that “Obama: Change we can believe in” would make a snappier bumper sticker slogan than “Obama: I don’t want to
         take a  bunch of tough votes.” (The latter would also draw attention to his predilection as senator to vote “present.”)

         This exchange took place after CBS’s Mark Knoller asked the president why he doesn’t support passing bills to fund important priorities while these non-negotiations drag on.
         Aren’t you tempted, Knoller asked Obama, to sign bipartisan bills that fund programs you support? “Of course I’m tempted,” Obama responded, “because you’d like to think that
         you could solve at least some of the problem if you couldn’t solve all of it.” Well yes, that does seem to be the point. This may seem reasonable, Obama said, but don’t be
         fooled. It’s a trap:

                      But here’s the problem. What you’ve seen are bills that come up where wherever Republicans are feeling political pressure, they put a bill forward. And if there’s no
                      political heat, if there’s no television story on it, then nothing happens. And if we do some sort of shotgun approach like that, then you’ll have some programs that are
                      highly visible get funded and reopened, like national monuments, but things that don’t get a lot of attention, like those SBA loans, not being funded.

         You see, by funding uncontroversial and broadly popular programs while not automatically funding everything else, the Republicans are trying to trick the government into
         setting priorities, building bipartisan coalitions, and engaging the public in how to spend their tax money. Obama seemed to think this was self-evidently foolish, which tells you
         much about what the president thinks of the taxpayers.

         Then the president added, almost as an afterthought: “And you know, we don’t get to select which programs we implement or not.” Since Obama chooses which parts of
         which laws he wants to implement and enforce at will, as if Congress were a supercommittee brainstorming ideas rather than a coequal branch passing laws, I’m guessing he
         would explain that he is again being take too literally when he’s obviously just posturing. Now he tells us."

A South Carolina man has volunteered to be a single clean-up crew on the National Mall. He's been out there for a week mowing, raking, and cleaning to keep this national treasure clean. It's amazing what one man is willing to do. And, of course, a park ranger wants to stop him.

The National Park Service has decided to prevent people from even taking pictures of our national monuments and natural wonders, but they have money to send park rangers to a conference at the end of the month. As Michael Rubin writes (http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2013/10/09/shutdown-wont-stop-park-ranger-meeting/),

          "Alas, it’s not inconvenience that most annoys Americans about their government and some federal workers, but rather the hypocrisy. As I blogged here on Monday, the
           government is throwing septuagenarians and octogenarians out of their homes on federal land, but allowing President Obama’s mother-in-law to reside in a federal building
           during the shutdown. It is funding Sesame Street, but delaying cancer research. And it temporarily closed down the Amber Alert main page, while letting Michelle Obama’s pet
           project remain up and running. The problem Americans face—and the reason why leading figures from both Democrats and Republicans are seeing their poll numbers plummet—
           is simply because the government seems increasingly hostile to the notion of equal application of the law.

           Most park rangers are good people, and many probably dislike the policies which the National Park Service chooses to enforce. But, it is hard to claim to be an essential
           employee and then jet off to St. Louis for a conference."

http://betsyspage.blogspot.com/

[Hober Mallow]

You want to blame the "extremist" Tea Party for this mess?  Fine.  I put it on the shoulders of leftist/socialist ideologues like yourself for taking hostage of the democratic party, a party that is no longer welcoming to moderates like former Senator Evan Bayh III, and at times, those like myself.

Total right-wing talk radio fantasy. Obama and Senate Democrats are moderate Republicans. Unless, however, you think in a socialist country corporations pay no taxes, universal healthcare is unavailable, and wealth is concentrated among the top few percent.

[Hemodoc]

Here is help from our neighbors to the north dealing with the government shutdown.

https://scontent-b-pao.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/q71/599393_10151889003382716_203115450_n.jpg

[Shaks24]

Republicans are getting hammered in polls on this matter. The American public is fed up and places the blame primarily on the GOP. 2014 and 2016 may be ugly for the GOP.

[Hemodoc]

Republicans are getting hammered in polls on this matter. The American public is fed up and places the blame primarily on the GOP. 2014 and 2016 may be ugly for the GOP.

So be it. If America wants to self implode, I will at least be in the group that tried to keep it from that self destruction. The Obama heavy handed tactics are just a preview. If that is what you want, just be careful what you ask for.

[noahvale]

Republicans are getting hammered in polls on this matter. The American public is fed up and places the blame primarily on the GOP. 2014 and 2016 may be ugly for the GOP.

So be it. If America wants to self implode, I will at least be in the group that tried to keep it from that self destruction. The Obama heavy handed tactics are just a preview. If that is what you want, just be careful what you ask for.

A dissenting view from a prominent, deeply religious conservative commentator:

“Better a live dog than a dead lion...” - Ecclesiastes 9:4

Romance with Fake Martyrdom
Michael Medved - October 8, 2013

In the course of back-to-back confrontations over funding the government and raising the debt ceiling, the conservative base has become intoxicated with visions of glorious martyrdom.
On the eve of the federal shutdown, as House Republicans agreed to insist on defunding Obamacare at the price of keeping the government open, Representative John Culberson of Texas rallied his colleagues by invoking the doomed heroes of United Flight 93. Declaring that the moment somehow reminded him of September 11, the Congressman cheered his colleagues with the words: “Let’s Roll!”

Meanwhile, Senator Ted Cruz likes to cite Braveheart to inspire his loyal followers, urging beleaguered conservatives to “Hold! Hold! Hold!” against the on-rushing enemy in the spirit of Mel Gibson’s version of the 13th Century Scottish warrior, William Wallace.

Every day during the crisis, excited callers to my radio show draw parallels between today’s GOP stalwarts and the doughty band who fought to the last man at the Alamo or the 300 Spartans who perished at Thermopylae in 480 BC. Is it merely coincidence, I’ve been asked, that the number of Republicans in today’s House and Senate comes to a combined total of just about 300? (Actually, 278 – but close enough).

It does little good to point out the obvious problem with invoking such fierce examples as role models for today’s conservatives. United Flight 93 crashed and burned in a field in Pennsylvania, killing all on board; “Braveheart” died in awful style when drawn and quartered by his English enemies; the slaughtered defenders of the Alamo offered only short-lived resistance to their Mexican attackers and the 300 Spartans found themselves overwhelmed by invading Persian hordes, who preceded to occupy much of Greece for more than a year thereafter. The problem with doomed, hopeless struggles, in other words, is that the participants are, in the end, hopelessly doomed.

In response to such common sense observations, enthusiasts and activists snarl imprecations about gutless RINO’s (Republicans In Name Only), milquetoasts and panty-waists, cowards and appeasers and turncoats. According to this logic, all who dare question a laughably impractical and self-destructive strategy selfishly place their own safety above commitment to a worthy cause. Sometimes, according to common convictions, decent men must take a selfless stand against the odds and prepare to sacrifice themselves for higher principle.

Such arguments rest uneasily on two faulty assumptions regarding the current situation.

First, today’s impassioned conservatives most committed to fighting an unending but impossible battle against Obamacare hardly sacrifice their own interests in this effort. In most cases, they gain rather than suffer for their self-righteous theatrics. Consider the obvious example of Senator Cruz (R-The Alamo) who has made himself a household name and a presidential front runner after just nine months in public office through his strident refusal to let go of the fantasy of instant-uprooting of the Affordable Care Act. As late as the second day of the government shutdown, he insisted that Tea Party conservatives were “winning” their struggle and could achieve final victory over Obamacare “now.” Such pronouncements win him bedazzled cadres of eager admirers together with mountains of campaign cash.

As for the House conservatives who deride all notions of compromise or cooperation, the redistricting in 2010 leaves them with little chance of serious liberal or moderate challenge in their lopsidedly GOP districts. According to leading handicappers of the upcoming 2014 campaign only two of the 232 House Republicans represents a district currently listed in the “toss-up” or “leaning Democrat” category.

And as to right wing organizations like The Club for Growth, Heritage Action, Tea Party Patriots and many more, they risk nothing at all with their demands for a fight to the bitter end on pain of primary challenge and insults to a dissenter’s manhood. Current confrontations provide the activists and entrepreneurs who run these operations with surges in publicity, membership and donations, while they make no plans to return the dough when the present non-strategy inevitably collapses in frustration and embarrassment.

Similarly, the loudest voices in conservative media hardly count as courageous or altruistic by urging their favorite politicians to take the most unbending and ideologically pure positions. In the world of talk radio, for instance, any hosts who regularly win as much as 5% of the available audience in major markets count as wildly successful, while professional consultants frequently suggest that the angriest, most emotional rhetoric reliably attracts the needed niche following. While Braveheart and his fearless Scots earned death and dismemberment for their unbending determination to resist, media figures who claim to follow that example earn million dollar contracts.

The second problem with the analogy between today’s Washington brawls and some of the most fateful battles in human history involves their long-term impact. We remember the little band of Spartans and the Alamo defenders only because their sacrifice proved so consequential. According to many historians, the ferocious defense of Thermopylae delayed the Persian invaders just long enough so that other Greeks could rally and prepare to win the decisive battle of Salamis. Similarly, Colonel Travis and his Texans held off the Mexicans and gave Sam Houston (who chose to avoid a sacrificial confrontation of his own) the chance to surprise and defeat Santa Ana’s over-confident troops at San Jacinto. Most poignantly, the heroes of United 93 stormed the cockpit and brought down a plane headed for the Capitol building, arguably saving hundreds if not thousands of other lives. Fearless commitment to advance a righteous cause counts as heroic; a pointless, losing fight that brings you no closer to your goal might better be described as self-destructive.  “Standing up for principle” only amounts to a noble spectacle when your stand advances the principle you care about, rather than damaging it.

Despite the super-heated rhetoric comparing today’s conservative dead-enders to military heroes of history, what we see today hardly counts as selfless nobility. There’s no sacrifice when individuals and organizations advance their own interests with no real risk, and no nobility when you assure both short term and long-term victories for the other side.

“Better a live dog than a dead lion,” isn’t the sentiment of some mushy-moderate, GOP squish; it’s the advice of the Bible in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Unfortunately, the unedifying melodrama in the nation’s capital doesn’t provide Profiles in Courage but offers, rather, Profiles in Crazy.

http://www.michaelmedved.com/column/romance-fake-martyrdom/

[Hemodoc]

Dear Noahvale, do you REALLY wish to discuss the biblical admonitions for government?

No, I didn't think so since that is all that the Tea Party folks are seeking. No theocracy. Just the rule of law which if you are interested, I can show in great abundance. Even if the GOP loses in 2014, or 2016 which could certainly happen the way America is turning its back on God.  If you folks wish to walk off the deep end and put into place a tyrannical government so be it.

It appears you missed the point of my post completely. I sincerely doubt that we have the ability to slow down what God has ordained for a people that does not want God in their lives any longer. I would advise a look at the nation of Israel from which that quote from Solomon emanates. If you follow the history of Israel, there came a point where even God turned His back on them. I suspect we are at that point here in the US. So, do you REALLY wish to discuss the biblical admonitions God gave to run a government? More than happy to oblige, but the problem with your analogy is that the lion is already dead. We are just kicking the dog a bit that is all.

Now, the IHD poll is 50/50 which more likely reflects the reality across the US. You have yet to see the outrage from Obamacare when it fully impacts our economy over the next 4 years and fundamentally changes us from a 40 hour week to a 30 hour work week. The French have a 35 hour work week so it looks like we will take the lead over Europe. Couple that with the amnesty that is coming and the MILLIONS of illegals who will come in and bring their families, Obama will have transformed us from a prosperous nation to a that much closer to our neighbor to the south. So, no lions to save here any longer, just trying to kick the dog for a bit longer my friend.

[Hemodoc]

Here is the full quote in context:

Ecclesiastes 9:4     ¶ For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5     For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6     Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Whether the GOP survives or not politically is truly inconsequential in the long run. It is the will of the American people that God will bless or remove blessings. There is another verse you may be interested in from Ecclesiastes:

Eccesiastes 12:13     ¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14     For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Jeremiah presided prophetically over the demise of Israel. God DID NOT tell him the advice of the man you quoted above. Far from it. He sent Jeremiah to tell the people to repent. He also told them to submit to the authority of those who God gave power over them, specifically, the King of Babylon. We are not quite at that point, but perhaps close. Remember, Jesus walked the earth under the authority of the Romans who in the end put Him to death. We are indeed heading back in that direction. For the church, the fleeting glimpse of freedom given to this great nation is now long since nearly completely evaporated.  We are seeing the last vestiges of that freedom. Obamacare will enslave the entire nation in January 2014 with the largest single tax increase in the history of this nation.  If we cannot keep from going over the precipice, so be it. But if God wills a little more reprieve which He gave to Josiah, then even better.

[KarenInWA]

I've seen the joke about Canada seeing the backsides of Mt. Rushmore. Thing is, Mt. Rushmore is in South Dakota, which is not a border state. North Dakota is. The joke isn't all that funny given the facts. It just shows me how clueless some Americans are when it comes to our own geography. I say this and I'm not all that great about our geography, either. Just sayin'.

KarenInWA

[Hemodoc]

I've seen the joke about Canada seeing the backsides of Mt. Rushmore. Thing is, Mt. Rushmore is in South Dakota, which is not a border state. North Dakota is. The joke isn't all that funny given the facts. It just shows me how clueless some Americans are when it comes to our own geography. I say this and I'm not all that great about our geography, either. Just sayin'.

KarenInWA

Just sayin, it was just a joke. Are we going to critique jokes to show how stupid conservatives are now at IHD. Its a joke and actually quite funny thank you. That is why I posted it, but it is also satirical of the way Obama is "making it hurt." It is just a joke.  Too funny, now a geography lesson at IHD.

In addition, Obama has taken great pains to make it impossible to see Mt Rushmore even from highways spending a lot of money to close off scenic views of the Mt. Nothing funny about that. The satire of the picture speaks for itself. Seeing Mt Rushmore from the backside is the only view Obama is allowing.

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20131004/UPDATES/310040047/Rushmore-blockage-stirs-anger-in-S-D-?nclick_check=1

[willowtreewren]

Here is one more Obamanation in the Great Smokey Mts. They closed a Federal highway through the middle of the park and the school kids in one area could not get home but by dangerous mt roads that a school bus could not pass. Great job commander in chief. Great job making it hurt.

http://www.thedailytimes.com/Local_News/story/Mayor-Ed-Mitchell-Blount-County-could-step-up-to-reopen-the-Great-Smoky-Mountains-National-Park-id-041546

Peter,

You are simply mistaken about your claim that the federal highway through the park was closed. Foothills Parkway is closed, as is Cades Cove (which is a loop road specifically for the tourists and not a through road at ALL). You are not familiar with this area and you did not read the article carefully. It clearly states that US Highway 441 is NOT closed.

In the Smokies, with the exception of the U.S. Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) between Gatlinburg and Cherokee, N.C., “The Spur” between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and the Gatlinburg Bypass, the entire Park is closed.

I also notice that you are using immature name-calling when referring to President Obama. It doesn't become you to do so.

Aleta

[YLGuy]

Now, the IHD poll is 50/50 which more likely reflects the reality across the US.

You are absolutely ridiculous.  It is obvious that you know nothing about polls and sampling.  16 people on IHD in NO way reflects the country.  My Business Statistics professor would certainly give you an F based on your comment.   

[Hemodoc]

Here is one more Obamanation in the Great Smokey Mts. They closed a Federal highway through the middle of the park and the school kids in one area could not get home but by dangerous mt roads that a school bus could not pass. Great job commander in chief. Great job making it hurt.

http://www.thedailytimes.com/Local_News/story/Mayor-Ed-Mitchell-Blount-County-could-step-up-to-reopen-the-Great-Smoky-Mountains-National-Park-id-041546

Peter,

You are simply mistaken about your claim that the federal highway through the park was closed. Foothills Parkway is closed, as is Cades Cove (which is a loop road specifically for the tourists and not a through road at ALL). You are not familiar with this area and you did not read the article carefully. It clearly states that US Highway 441 is NOT closed.

In the Smokies, with the exception of the U.S. Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) between Gatlinburg and Cherokee, N.C., “The Spur” between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and the Gatlinburg Bypass, the entire Park is closed.

I also notice that you are using immature name-calling when referring to President Obama. It doesn't become you to do so.

Aleta

No problem Aleta, but you didn't read my post well did you. is stated that they closed the SCENIC VIEW points, I never stated that Obummer closed the highway.   Have a great night.

[Hemodoc]

Now, the IHD poll is 50/50 which more likely reflects the reality across the US.

You are absolutely ridiculous.  It is obvious that you know nothing about polls and sampling.  16 people on IHD in NO way reflects the country.  My Business Statistics professor would certainly give you an F based on your comment.

Nope, I never stated the IHD poll was scientific. What I stated YL is that the poll probably reflects accurately the reality. Never stated it was scientific YL, but yes, it probably does reflect the sentiment of the entire population better than the left wing media polls for sure. In other words, YL, it was a comment about the veracity or lack thereof of the so called polls you see in all the left wing media. Folks are not happy with ObummerCare and getting less and less happy with it as the details come out in reality.

Anyway, always good to hear from you and Aleta.

Have a great night,

Cheers,

Peter

[YLGuy]

Left wing media polls? Wake up! You really are ridiculous.

ObummerCare: How old are you?

[Hemodoc]

Left wing media polls? Wake up! You really are ridiculous.

ObummerCare: How old are you?

I am 55 my friend. ObummerCare is how it will affect many of us, in fact all of us. The largest tax in the entire history of our nation shall indeed be a true downer which is a real bummer. It accurately sums up what the effect of this horrible bill will have on the US.

Yes, left wing media polls by such independent organizations as NBC. Yup, I am ridiculous all right. Have a great day.

I am closing on a house today and signing the docs and then hanging out with my wonderful little granddaughter.

Have a great day YL. Always great to hear from you.

Take care,

Peter

[noahvale]

It appears you missed the point of my post completely.

I think not.  I went back to reread your posts on this topic.  You place the blame on the current situation with Obama and the democrats.  For the most part I agree with you.  However,  Medved's main contention (which makes a great deal of sense to me) is that the Republican reaction and strategy has been completely flawed.  By "helping" to allow for the partial government shutdown, it gave the MSM - who are an extension of Obama and the Democratic party - the opportunity to keep the failure of the ACA implementation out of the headlines.  The MSM would play up all the misery the Republicans are causing by shutting down the government.   The ACA will implode on its own without the help of Republicans.  I even posted a topic on this a couple of months ago when the Obama administration waived patient out-of-pocket caps until 2015.   

 

Now, the IHD poll is 50/50 which more likely reflects the reality across the US. You have yet to see the outrage from Obamacare when it fully impacts our economy over the next 4 years and fundamentally changes us from a 40 hour week to a 30 hour work week. The French have a 35 hour work week so it looks like we will take the lead over Europe. Couple that with the amnesty that is coming and the MILLIONS of illegals who will come in and bring their families, Obama will have transformed us from a prosperous nation to a that much closer to our neighbor to the south. So, no lions to save here any longer, just trying to kick the dog for a bit longer my friend.

I agree with this except for your comment, "no lions to save here any longer, just trying to kick the dog for a bit longer."  In fact, I'm surprised it is even 50/50 since the vast majority of IHD members are reliant on government programs/services in one way or another - more than the average American. 

Dear Noahvale, do you REALLY wish to discuss the biblical admonitions for government?
 

Quite frankly, not at all.  The reference to Ecclesiastes did catch my attention when reading Medved's essay - as do most biblical quotes in political commentary.  I went to the Bible to read the full passage (well, Ecclesiastes 9:4-6) to see if he did take it out of context and thought it appropriate.  To be quite honest, the only reason I even added the verse above Medved's essay header was to read your reaction.  Would that one sentence towards the end of Medved's essay be the focal point of your response or would you actually comment on the heart of his argument?   However, your opinion that this whole situation comes down to biblical prophesy is just as valid as any other.  Again, I posted Medved's response to show that folks who have deeply held religious convictions can feel otherwise.

[willowtreewren]

Here is one more Obamanation in the Great Smokey Mts. They closed a Federal highway through the middle of the park and the school kids in one area could not get home but by dangerous mt roads that a school bus could not pass. Great job commander in chief. Great job making it hurt.

http://www.thedailytimes.com/Local_News/story/Mayor-Ed-Mitchell-Blount-County-could-step-up-to-reopen-the-Great-Smoky-Mountains-National-Park-id-041546

Peter,

You are simply mistaken about your claim that the federal highway through the park was closed. Foothills Parkway is closed, as is Cades Cove (which is a loop road specifically for the tourists and not a through road at ALL). You are not familiar with this area and you did not read the article carefully. It clearly states that US Highway 441 is NOT closed.

In the Smokies, with the exception of the U.S. Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road) between Gatlinburg and Cherokee, N.C., “The Spur” between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and the Gatlinburg Bypass, the entire Park is closed.

I also notice that you are using immature name-calling when referring to President Obama. It doesn't become you to do so.

Aleta

No problem Aleta, but you didn't read my post well did you. is stated that they closed the SCENIC VIEW points, I never stated that Obummer closed the highway.   Have a great night.

Actually Peter, I read the news release that you used as your source of information, as well as your post. In your post you stated:

Here is one more Obamanation in the Great Smokey Mts. They closed a Federal highway through the middle of the park and the school kids in one area could not get home but by dangerous mt roads that a school bus could not pass. Great job commander in chief. Great job making it hurt.

I have no idea where you got this misinformation. First of all, the highway THROUGH the middle of the park is not and never was closed for the government shut down, as YOU stated it was (even though you said that you never said it). It was closed earlier this year when a landslide removed a major part of the road. It is also sometimes closed in the winter due to impassible conditions. We locals know that if we need to use the route through the park during bad weather, a simple call to park headquarters will advise of closure.

The hype about school children is completely bogus. There are no school children riding buses through the park. Blount County, where I live is on one side of the park. The schools near the park in Blount and even Sevier Counties do not use park roads for busing children to school. There is no need to go INTO the park and then back out for children who do not live in the park. Ridiculous. Now, the Foothills Parkway may be another issue, but it is closed in the winter anyway. Families living in Happy Valley, which is located between Foothills Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park must traverse a different route than Foothills Parkway anyway.

The news article that you linked to was primarily talking about the huge economic impact to local citizens based on the loss of tourist traffic. Fall with the color change is a prime income season for many businesses near the park. And yes, that is going to affect this area significantly. the same story is happening around all of the national parks.

But your blaming the president for these closures is quite one sided. And using slurs is rather petty.

Aleta

[willowtreewren]

So why doesn't a vote come to settle this shutdown?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/13/house-republicans-rules-change_n_4095129.html

Interesting.

[Shaks24]

Well said Aleta!

[Hemodoc]

Dear Aleta, read the article and several others. They did INDEED shut down the Foothills parkway which is what I was referring to and left kids in an isolated part of the county in great difficulty getting home on dangerous roads.

The National Park Service also closed the Foothills Parkway, a major thoroughfare in the county. The closure came without warning and left the local school district scrambling to get children back to their homes./

The children live in the eastern Tennessee community of Top of the World – serviced by School Bus 49. Normally, the bus travels along the Foothills Parkway. Other roads leading to the isolated mountain community are impassible by bus.

“It’s dangerous,” said Nancy Kemp, the spokesperson for Blount County Schools.”It’s very curvy and straight up the mountain. It’s just not a safe route.”

One local resident told Knoxville television station WBIR that the alternative roads are “white knuckle routes.”

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/10/07/all-about-power-and-leverage-feds-shut-down-major-roadway-block-access-to/

I guess you don't know what is going on in your neck of the woods by our residing dictator in chief.

[Bill Peckham]

The federal government reopens tomorrow on terms that have been acceptable to Congressional democrats since the shutdown started, so in the end what do supporters of the republicans in Congress take away from this experience?