The Fiscal Cliff

[imanihonjin]

A couple of things:

First, three guys from Minnesota (Powerline) are interesting. Conservative attorneys who decide to play their part in the great distortion of ideological media. I love how they call the protesters of their side as honorable citizens who just happened to be there with a good number of Conservative Members of Congress when to everyone surprise some WWII showed up as if there was no coordination whatsoever. LOL, no politicization whatsoever!

Second, what a slimy thing for the union to do. That is not the place for that sort of thing, from left or right. If accurate, you often find places like Powerline being less than accurate, their actions are completely inappropriate.

Third, there are always security staff assigned to wonder the various monuments. It is what makes them safe to visit, even at night. They make the rounds all the time even when not visible in all places at all times. There are also central locations where security can respond to any of the monuments quickly. In fact they try not to be too visible. If not properly staffed as normal, wouldn't the park service be at least morally if not more formally liable if something were to happen. In the age of terrorism, aren't they obligated to close the parks/monuments with the shutdown? Or put more of the limited staff on site if you get two groups politicizing the situation (with 80-90 year old vets between them. )

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It has already been pointed out that the Congressman from Mississippi, who is a Vet himself, has been involved with all 5 honor flights and that the group visiting was from Mississippi. It has also been pointed out that this trip by these veterans had been planned nearly a year ago. Congressman Palazzo did exactly what he should have done to make sure these WWII vets from him home state were taken care of and honored.

If you can't see a difference between that and what the SEIU did, then I feel sorry for you.

[Uncle Ted]

A couple of things:

First, three guys from Minnesota (Powerline) are interesting. Conservative attorneys who decide to play their part in the great distortion of ideological media. I love how they call the protesters of their side as honorable citizens who just happened to be there with a good number of Conservative Members of Congress when to everyone surprise some WWII showed up as if there was no coordination whatsoever. LOL, no politicization whatsoever!

Second, what a slimy thing for the union to do. That is not the place for that sort of thing, from left or right. If accurate, you often find places like Powerline being less than accurate, their actions are completely inappropriate.

Yeah, those attorneys are all the same. It seems that Ted Cruz and Barack Obama are cut from the same block: Harvard Law. I guess that is they learn this ideological media crap. Moments like this make me glad to be an Libertarian. Both Republicans and Democrats have proved again they are idiots.

Wait, this is more than a couple of things...

Third, there are always security staff assigned to wonder the various monuments. It is what makes them safe to visit, even at night. They make the rounds all the time even when not visible in all places at all times. There are also central locations where security can respond to any of the monuments quickly. In fact they try not to be too visible. If not properly staffed as normal, wouldn't the park service be at least morally if not more formally liable if something were to happen. In the age of terrorism, aren't they obligated to close the parks/monuments with the shutdown? Or put more of the limited staff on site if you get two groups politicizing the situation (with 80-90 year old vets between them. )

Yes, it was nice of the Obama Administration to make the WWII Memorial a safer place than Benghazi. We don't want to lose someone like another ambassador to all those terrorists we created from our policy of bombing the sh*t out of their kids with drones.

[imanihonjin]

Yes, it was nice of the Obama Administration to make the WWII Memorial a safer place than Benghazi. We don't want to lose someone like another ambassador to all those terrorists we created from our policy of bombing the sh*t out of their kids with drones.

I am sure that terrorists are really keen on attacking DC right now, seeing as though DC, especially around the mall, is a ghost town. Seems like an ideal time to rain down terror. Additionally, I really, really, hope that we have more than park service rangers fighting terrorism and that whoever is responsible for countering terrorism in DC is considered essential personnel at this time.

[VirginiaCougar]

Yeah, those attorneys are all the same. It seems that Ted Cruz and Barack Obama are cut from the same block: Harvard Law. I guess that is they learn this ideological media crap. Moments like this make me glad to be an Libertarian. Both Republicans and Democrats have proved again they are idiots.



Yes, it was nice of the Obama Administration to make the WWII Memorial a safer place than Benghazi. We don't want to lose someone like another ambassador to all those terrorists we created from our policy of bombing the sh*t out of their kids with drones.

Don't get me started with the philosophical and historical problems with modern Libertarianism (with all its variants) - that is a whole other mess of something, worthy of its own thread.

My apologies for listing three items as a "couple." I will revise it to a "few."

I also like the wonderful apples/oranges "gotcha" comparison the ideological media has been using to link Benghazi to this "wonderful" little thing the Cruz/Leeites perpetrated. We should go all the way back though - I've always thought Obama wanted the Benghazi attack because he really is an Islamic Kenyan - Birtherism lives!! That is also why he is ashamed of the WWII monument and wants it closed.

[imanihonjin]

I also like the wonderful apples/oranges "gotcha" comparison the ideological media has been using to link Benghazi to this "wonderful" little thing the Cruz/Leeites perpetrated. We should go all the way back though - I've always thought Obama wanted the Benghazi attack because he really is an Islamic Kenyan - Birtherism lives!! That is also why he is ashamed of the WWII monument and wants it closed.

You are right it is apples to oranges and should have been treated as such. Benghazi had actual terrorists around and the state departments woeful lack of security is appalling. The WWII monument is an open air facility in the heart of DC with American's showing up to honor WWII vets and somehow someway the government saw a need to have more security at the monument than in Benghazi. You are right apples to oranges, but the Obama admin treated apples as oranges and oranges as apples.

[Katy Lied]

If you have to use more labor to close a monument than keep it open, the only reason I see to close it in the middle of a government shutdown is because you are being a dog-in-the-manger. (Does anyone know what this is anymore?)

The Park Service and by extension, the Federal Government and by extension, President Obama seems very dog-in-the-mangerish.

(This is only for the WWII monument, and that other historical site that is completely funded by private donations. For the other parks, I sympathize with the Park Service.)

[NorthShoreCoug]

The effects of the shutdown are being felt all over the country....

[ERCougar]

It has already been pointed out that the Congressman from Mississippi, who is a Vet himself, has been involved with all 5 honor flights and that the group visiting was from Mississippi. It has also been pointed out that this trip by these veterans had been planned nearly a year ago. Congressman Palazzo did exactly what he should have done to make sure these WWII vets from him home state were taken care of and honored.

If you can't see a difference between that and what the SEIU did, then I feel sorry for you.

I'll agree with you that Palazzo has every legitimate reason to be involved in this. However, weren't there other congressmen cashing in on this? (honest question--haven't really followed this).
I'll also agree with you that the Administration's response, be it Obama, DNC, or NPS led, seems absurd.

[imanihonjin]

I'll agree with you that Palazzo has every legitimate reason to be involved in this. However, weren't there other congressmen cashing in on this? (honest question--haven't really followed this).
I'll also agree with you that the Administration's response, be it Obama, DNC, or NPS led, seems absurd.

Politicians on both sides have jumped in to help the Vets and, to be honest, I have no idea what their motivations are for doing so. They could be politically motivated but I haven't seen any statements or screaming and yelling from any politician that I would classify as grand-standing solely for the sake of grand standing.

[il Padrino Ute]

If you have to use more labor to close a monument than keep it open, the only reason I see to close it in the middle of a government shutdown is because you are being a dog-in-the-manger. (Does anyone know what this is anymore?)

The Park Service and by extension, the Federal Government and by extension, President Obama seems very dog-in-the-mangerish.

(This is only for the WWII monument, and that other historical site that is completely funded by private donations. For the other parks, I sympathize with the Park Service.)

Dang. I haven't heard that in a long time. My grandpa used to say that about federal land that bordered his property.

[Eddie]

So - were all of the monuments hit with barriers, or just the WWII memorial?

I guess what I'm asking is did they cordon off the entire Mall? Did this include the other war memorials? What about the area around the Washington monument? The reflecting pool? (is it still under construction?) Or did they only block the WWII memorial?

[Omaha 680]

So - were all of the monuments hit with barriers, or just the WWII memorial?

I guess what I'm asking is did they cordon off the entire Mall? Did this include the other war memorials? What about the area around the Washington monument? The reflecting pool? (is it still under construction?) Or did they only block the WWII memorial?

The NPS tried to block off the parking lots at Mt. Vernon even though Mt. Vernon itself is privately funded and operated. I read the reason was the NPS owns some of the parking lots.

[Jacob]

The NPS tried to block off the parking lots at Mt. Vernon even though Mt. Vernon itself is privately funded and operated. I read the reason was the NPS owns some of the parking lots.

So, it is purely for spite.

[imanihonjin]

So, it is purely for spite.

Of course it is. Damn those republicans for playing politics.

[statman]

So, it is purely for spite.

What other explanation is there? What is the marginal cost savings for shutting down access to an area that has no people designated directly to operate it?

What's next? The Federal Government doesn't actually OWN the Interstate Highway system - the individual states do - but could the Dept of the Interior to shut down all roads that pass through National Forests or any other Federally owned land? If you can shut down one memorial in the middle of the National Mall - while the rest of the Mall is open, there's no reason Interior can't claim that traffic through their land causes them increased costs, and therefore it's all shut down...

And this just in - a news flash of shots fired on the grounds of the Capitol...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...ding-lockdown/