Government shutdowns and public relations

[SDHornet]

All the Democrats had to do was just go with it and say, "There will be a delay in implementing certain aspects of the Affordable Care Act because those nasty Republicans in the House refused to agree to funding." Then, if they think the Affordable Care Act is something the People want, they could make that an issue in the next election. They could have made it clear that they need to re take the House in order to get rid of the problem. Then the People could give the Democrats control of the House if they chose to do so.

There's absolutely no good reason for the Democrats to do what they're doing now unless the reason is that they think/thought a government shutdown would play to their political advantage. It's not like waiting another two years for full implementation, assuming they can get control of the House, would be the end of the world. The country has gone more than two centuries without the Affordable Care Act already.

You're biased. The Dems could compromise, but they are not. The GOP could allow and up/down vote, but they are not.

I think the blame falls pretty evenly on both sides at this point. We're in this position because both parties are trying to gain a political advantage.

This pretty much sums it up. Only way for this to get worked out is for both sides to suck it up and hash it out in a conference. The "we will not negotiate" stance is not going to get anything done.

[SDHornet]

Congress holds the power of the purse. There is absolutely nothing illegal or "innately" wrong about Congress choosing not to fund the implementation of a law. And there is nothing innately wrong with Congress trying to work towards repealing the law in the meantime.

There's a way to do that. They can defund the law.

They've tried 42 times now to defund it... and they've failed 42 times... so, they've decided to shut down the government because they can't get what they want.

Still haven't answered my question:
How is it justifiable for Obama to issue exemptions for unions and a one year pass to evil big bad businesses but not a one year exemption for the common people? Isn't Obama for the people?

[89Hen]

The country was founded on compromise.

It was?

[Chizzang]

The country was founded on compromise.

It was?

absolutely...

[Skjellyfetti]

Still haven't answered my question:
How is it justifiable for Obama to issue exemptions for unions and a one year pass to evil big bad businesses but not a one year exemption for the common people? Isn't Obama for the people?

They're not exempt.

And, maybe I am misunderstanding exactly what exemptions you are referring to, but here's my understanding.

ACA requires insurance companies to phase out annual limits. Many policies offered by businesses or unions have extremely low premiums but low annual caps. The waivers are just to transition between the law going into effect and implementation of the phasing out of annual limits.

It's not perfect, but it eases the implementation of the law... and it saves the unions and businesses money and keeps the workers from losing their coverage all together.

And, as to why there aren't exemptions for the "common people".... first, there are exemptions for the common people. And, second... the "common peoples" insurance policies either don't need this exemption because their policies already meet the annual cap standard or they don't get insurance through their employer and they can get insurance through an exchange or company that already meets the annual cap requirement.

I believe this answers your question. There were other exemptions discussed, specifically for unions... but, Obama denied these in September... so, not sure if which exemptions you are talking about precisely....
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government ... re-Waivers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AZGrizFan]

Still haven't answered my question:
How is it justifiable for Obama to issue exemptions for unions and a one year pass to evil big bad businesses but not a one year exemption for the common people? Isn't Obama for the people?

They're not exempt.

And, maybe I am misunderstanding exactly what exemptions you are referring to, but here's my understanding.

ACA requires insurance companies to phase out annual limits. Many policies offered by businesses or unions have extremely low premiums but low annual caps. The waivers are just to transition between the law going into effect and implementation of the phasing out of annual limits.

It's not perfect, but it eases the implementation of the law... and it saves the unions and businesses money and keeps the workers from losing their coverage all together.

And, as to why there aren't exemptions for the "common people".... first, there are exemptions for the common people. And, second... the "common peoples" insurance policies either don't need this exemption because their policies already meet the annual cap standard or they don't get insurance through their employer and they can get insurance through an exchange or company that already meets the annual cap requirement.

I believe this answers your question. There were other exemptions discussed, specifically for unions... but, Obama denied these in September... so, not sure if which exemptions you are talking about precisely....
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government ... re-Waivers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oh, and conveniently gets them PAST the mid-term election cycle without feeling the financial impact of the law.

[SDHornet]

Still haven't answered my question:
How is it justifiable for Obama to issue exemptions for unions and a one year pass to evil big bad businesses but not a one year exemption for the common people? Isn't Obama for the people?

They're not exempt.

And, maybe I am misunderstanding exactly what exemptions you are referring to, but here's my understanding.

ACA requires insurance companies to phase out annual limits. Many policies offered by businesses or unions have extremely low premiums but low annual caps. The waivers are just to transition between the law going into effect and implementation of the phasing out of annual limits.

It's not perfect, but it eases the implementation of the law... and it saves the unions and businesses money and keeps the workers from losing their coverage all together.

And, as to why there aren't exemptions for the "common people".... first, there are exemptions for the common people. And, second... the "common peoples" insurance policies either don't need this exemption because their policies already meet the annual cap standard or they don't get insurance through their employer and they can get insurance through an exchange or company that already meets the annual cap requirement.

I believe this answers your question. There were other exemptions discussed, specifically for unions... but, Obama denied these in September... so, not sure if which exemptions you are talking about precisely....
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government ... re-Waivers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Huh? How will they lose coverage if they can get coverage (like the common person) in these new exchanges? I don’t see how this justifies an exemption from having existing coverage comply with the ACA.

So basically unions and big businesses don’t have to comply with the law (see exemption), but everyone else has to. Makes no sense and there is no justification for it. You act as if the big businesses aren’t going to adjust coverage and/or participation the following year, and some businesses that employ unions won’t just cut hours. The powers that be just need to get it over with now and stop kicking the can down the road.

BTW I still don’t see why allowing the common person the choice to opt out for the first year like unions and big businesses is a sticking point for “not negotiating”.

[SDHornet]

They're not exempt.

And, maybe I am misunderstanding exactly what exemptions you are referring to, but here's my understanding.

ACA requires insurance companies to phase out annual limits. Many policies offered by businesses or unions have extremely low premiums but low annual caps. The waivers are just to transition between the law going into effect and implementation of the phasing out of annual limits.

It's not perfect, but it eases the implementation of the law... and it saves the unions and businesses money and keeps the workers from losing their coverage all together.

And, as to why there aren't exemptions for the "common people".... first, there are exemptions for the common people. And, second... the "common peoples" insurance policies either don't need this exemption because their policies already meet the annual cap standard or they don't get insurance through their employer and they can get insurance through an exchange or company that already meets the annual cap requirement.

I believe this answers your question. There were other exemptions discussed, specifically for unions... but, Obama denied these in September... so, not sure if which exemptions you are talking about precisely....
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government ... re-Waivers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oh, and conveniently gets them PAST the mid-term election cycle without feeling the financial impact of the law.

You knew that was going to be a given.

[Bronco]

Tourists Trying To View Yellowstone’s Attractions Detained At Hotel By Armed Rangers…


The Gestapo has nothing on the Obama regime.

Via Eagle Tribune:

Pat Vaillancourt went on a trip last week that was intended to showcase some of America’s greatest treasures.

Instead, the Salisbury resident said she and others on her tour bus witnessed an ugly spectacle that made her embarrassed, angry and heartbroken for her country.

Vaillancourt was one of thousands of people who found themselves in a national park as the federal government shutdown went into effect on Oct. 1. For many hours her tour group, which included senior citizen visitors from Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States, were locked in a Yellowstone National Park hotel under armed guard.

The tourists were treated harshly by armed park employees, she said, so much so that some of the foreign tourists with limited English skills thought they were under arrest.

When finally allowed to leave, the bus was not allowed to halt at all along the 2.5-hour trip out of the park, not even to stop at private bathrooms that were open along the route.

“We’ve become a country of fear, guns and control,” said Vaillancourt, who grew up in Lawrence. “It was like they brought out the armed forces. Nobody was saying, ‘we’re sorry,’ it was all like — ” as she clenched her fist and banged it against her forearm.

Vaillancourt took part in a nine-day tour of western parks and sites along with about four dozen senior citizen tourists. One of the highlights of the tour was to be Yellowstone, where they arrived just as the shutdown went into effect.

Rangers systematically sent visitors out of the park, though some groups that had hotel reservations — such as Vaillancourt’s — were allowed to stay for two days. Those two days started out on a sour note, she said.

The bus stopped along a road when a large herd of bison passed nearby, and seniors filed out to take photos. Almost immediately, an armed ranger came by and ordered them to get back in, saying they couldn’t “recreate.” The tour guide, who had paid a $300 fee the day before to bring the group into the park, argued that the seniors weren’t “recreating,” just taking photos.

“She responded and said, ‘Sir, you are recreating,’ and her tone became very aggressive,” Vaillancourt said.

The seniors quickly filed back on board and the bus went to the Old Faithful Inn, the park’s premier lodge located adjacent to the park’s most famous site, Old Faithful geyser. That was as close as they could get to the famous site — barricades were erected around Old Faithful, and the seniors were locked inside the hotel, where armed rangers stayed at the door.

[grizzaholic]

"And with this shutdown the Mayan's were correct"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=becU6tqyeGs[/youtube]

[houndawg]

Tourists Trying To View Yellowstone’s Attractions Detained At Hotel By Armed Rangers…


The Gestapo has nothing on the Obama regime.

Via Eagle Tribune:

Pat Vaillancourt went on a trip last week that was intended to showcase some of America’s greatest treasures.

Instead, the Salisbury resident said she and others on her tour bus witnessed an ugly spectacle that made her embarrassed, angry and heartbroken for her country.

Vaillancourt was one of thousands of people who found themselves in a national park as the federal government shutdown went into effect on Oct. 1. For many hours her tour group, which included senior citizen visitors from Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States, were locked in a Yellowstone National Park hotel under armed guard.

The tourists were treated harshly by armed park employees, she said, so much so that some of the foreign tourists with limited English skills thought they were under arrest.

When finally allowed to leave, the bus was not allowed to halt at all along the 2.5-hour trip out of the park, not even to stop at private bathrooms that were open along the route.

“We’ve become a country of fear, guns and control,” said Vaillancourt, who grew up in Lawrence. “It was like they brought out the armed forces. Nobody was saying, ‘we’re sorry,’ it was all like — ” as she clenched her fist and banged it against her forearm.

Vaillancourt took part in a nine-day tour of western parks and sites along with about four dozen senior citizen tourists. One of the highlights of the tour was to be Yellowstone, where they arrived just as the shutdown went into effect.

Rangers systematically sent visitors out of the park, though some groups that had hotel reservations — such as Vaillancourt’s — were allowed to stay for two days. Those two days started out on a sour note, she said.

The bus stopped along a road when a large herd of bison passed nearby, and seniors filed out to take photos. Almost immediately, an armed ranger came by and ordered them to get back in, saying they couldn’t “recreate.” The tour guide, who had paid a $300 fee the day before to bring the group into the park, argued that the seniors weren’t “recreating,” just taking photos.

“She responded and said, ‘Sir, you are recreating,’ and her tone became very aggressive,” Vaillancourt said.

The seniors quickly filed back on board and the bus went to the Old Faithful Inn, the park’s premier lodge located adjacent to the park’s most famous site, Old Faithful geyser. That was as close as they could get to the famous site — barricades were erected around Old Faithful, and the seniors were locked inside the hotel, where armed rangers stayed at the door.

They're foreigners, Bunco. They hate our freedom.

[DSUrocks07]

They're foreigners, Bunco. They hate our freedom.

No they're supposed to love our government...they were only trying to protect them from the turrorists who hate our freedom.

Sent from my HTC One V using Tapatalk now Free

[BDKJMU]

Tourists Trying To View Yellowstone’s Attractions Detained At Hotel By Armed Rangers…


The Gestapo has nothing on the Obama regime.

Via Eagle Tribune:

Pat Vaillancourt went on a trip last week that was intended to showcase some of America’s greatest treasures.

Instead, the Salisbury resident said she and others on her tour bus witnessed an ugly spectacle that made her embarrassed, angry and heartbroken for her country.

Vaillancourt was one of thousands of people who found themselves in a national park as the federal government shutdown went into effect on Oct. 1. For many hours her tour group, which included senior citizen visitors from Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States, were locked in a Yellowstone National Park hotel under armed guard.

The tourists were treated harshly by armed park employees, she said, so much so that some of the foreign tourists with limited English skills thought they were under arrest.

When finally allowed to leave, the bus was not allowed to halt at all along the 2.5-hour trip out of the park, not even to stop at private bathrooms that were open along the route.

“We’ve become a country of fear, guns and control,” said Vaillancourt, who grew up in Lawrence. “It was like they brought out the armed forces. Nobody was saying, ‘we’re sorry,’ it was all like — ” as she clenched her fist and banged it against her forearm.

Vaillancourt took part in a nine-day tour of western parks and sites along with about four dozen senior citizen tourists. One of the highlights of the tour was to be Yellowstone, where they arrived just as the shutdown went into effect.

Rangers systematically sent visitors out of the park, though some groups that had hotel reservations — such as Vaillancourt’s — were allowed to stay for two days. Those two days started out on a sour note, she said.

The bus stopped along a road when a large herd of bison passed nearby, and seniors filed out to take photos. Almost immediately, an armed ranger came by and ordered them to get back in, saying they couldn’t “recreate.” The tour guide, who had paid a $300 fee the day before to bring the group into the park, argued that the seniors weren’t “recreating,” just taking photos.

“She responded and said, ‘Sir, you are recreating,’ and her tone became very aggressive,” Vaillancourt said.

The seniors quickly filed back on board and the bus went to the Old Faithful Inn, the park’s premier lodge located adjacent to the park’s most famous site, Old Faithful geyser. That was as close as they could get to the famous site — barricades were erected around Old Faithful, and the seniors were locked inside the hotel, where armed rangers stayed at the door.

I've been to a slew of nat parks, about 18 west of of the Mississippi alone, including Alaska and Hawaii, and a slew of Nat monuments, but I am done with anything run by the NPS.

There is absolutely ZERO excuse for the NPS's gestapo tactics. The Rangers are acting like nothing more than a bunch of jack booted thugs. If they had any integrity what so ever they wouldn't be acting as they are now, orders or no orders.

[kalm]

I've been to a slew of nat parks, about 18 west of of the Mississippi alone, including Alaska and Hawaii, and a slew of Nat monuments, but I am done with anything run by the NPS.

There is absolutely ZERO excuse for the NPS's gestapo tactics. The Rangers are acting like nothing more than a bunch of jack booted thugs. If they had any integrity what so ever they wouldn't be acting as they are now, orders or no orders.

Free Bradley Manning!

[Ibanez]

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/2 ... g-shutdown" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A Mount Pleasant resident's single-handed effort to prop up a broken government hit some government red tape Wednesday, but he's not giving up.

Chris Cox, a professional chain-saw artist, has been working in Washington, D.C., on some commissions lately. He was dismayed to see trash piling up around the Lincoln Memorial before the Million Vet March on the National Mall this weekend.

[DSUrocks07]

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/2 ... g-shutdown

A Mount Pleasant resident's single-handed effort to prop up a broken government hit some government red tape Wednesday, but he's not giving up.

Chris Cox, a professional chain-saw artist, has been working in Washington, D.C., on some commissions lately. He was dismayed to see trash piling up around the Lincoln Memorial before the Million Vet March on the National Mall this weekend.

"But...but, without government, who will cut the grass?"

[HI54UNI]

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/2 ... g-shutdown

A Mount Pleasant resident's single-handed effort to prop up a broken government hit some government red tape Wednesday, but he's not giving up.

Chris Cox, a professional chain-saw artist, has been working in Washington, D.C., on some commissions lately. He was dismayed to see trash piling up around the Lincoln Memorial before the Million Vet March on the National Mall this weekend.

Does anyone else find it funny that a South Carolina resident is mowing the Lincoln Memorial?

[Ibanez]

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/2 ... g-shutdown

Does anyone else find it funny that a South Carolina resident is mowing the Lincoln Memorial?

I laughed when I heard about this.

[Skjellyfetti]

Oct 2008: "You'll never get elected and pass healthcare."
Nov 2008: "We'll never let you pass healthcare."
Jan 2009: "We're gonna shout you down every time you try to pass healthcare."
July 2009: "We'll fight to the death every attempt you make to pass healthcare."
Dec 2009: "We will destroy you if you even consider passing healthcare."
March 2010: "We can't believe you just passed healthcare."
April 2010: "We are going to overturn healthcare."
Sept 2010: "We are going to repeal healthcare."
Jan 2011: "We are going to destroy healthcare."
Feb 2012: "We're gonna elect a candidate who'll revoke healthcare NOW."
June 2012: "We'll go to the Supreme Court, and they will overturn healthcare."
Aug 2012: "American people'll never re-elect you-they don't want healthcare."
Oct 2012: "We can't wait to win the election and explode healthcare."
Nov 2012: "We can't believe you got re-elected & we can't repeal healthcare."
Feb 2013: "We're still going to vote to obliterate healthcare."
June 2013: "We can't believe the Supreme Court just upheld healthcare."
July 2013: "We're going to vote like 35 more times to erase healthcare."
Sept 2013: "We are going to leverage a government shutdown into defunding, destroying, obliterating, overturning, repealing, dismantling, erasing and ripping apart healthcare."
Oct 2013: "WHY AREN'T YOU NEGOTIATING???"

[Cap'n Cat]

Free Leonard Peltier!

[Bronco]

http://www.abcnews4.com/story/23544655/ ... g-new-tone" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Obama's no-negotiation stance setting new tone

WASHINGTON (AP) - This time, President Barack Obama says, he's not budging. This is the confrontational Obama, the "Make my day" president, betting Republicans blink to avoid a government shutdown or a first-ever default of the nation's debts.

It's a proposition not without risk and one with a history of last-minute accommodations on both sides. Brinkmanship between Obama and congressional Republicans has often stopped at the precipice's edge.

In this round, however, the president and his aides maintain that when it comes to raising the government's borrowing authority and meeting its debt obligations, there's no bargaining. To conservatives wishing to undo the 3-year-old health care law in exchange for an increase in the nation's credit, Obama on Friday said bluntly: "That's not going to happen."

"I don't know how I can be more clear about this: Nobody gets to threaten the full faith and credit of the United States just to extract political concessions," Obama said in a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room.

Still, House Speaker John Boehner says a debt hike must be linked to budget cuts and other programmatic changes.

"The president says, 'I'm not going to negotiate,'" Boehner said. "Well, I'm sorry, but it just doesn't work that way."

[93henfan]

Oct 2008: "You'll never get elected and pass healthcare."
Nov 2008: "We'll never let you pass healthcare."
Jan 2009: "We're gonna shout you down every time you try to pass healthcare."
July 2009: "We'll fight to the death every attempt you make to pass healthcare."
Dec 2009: "We will destroy you if you even consider passing healthcare."
March 2010: "We can't believe you just passed healthcare."
April 2010: "We are going to overturn healthcare."
Sept 2010: "We are going to repeal healthcare."
Jan 2011: "We are going to destroy healthcare."
Feb 2012: "We're gonna elect a candidate who'll revoke healthcare NOW."
June 2012: "We'll go to the Supreme Court, and they will overturn healthcare."
Aug 2012: "American people'll never re-elect you-they don't want healthcare."
Oct 2012: "We can't wait to win the election and explode healthcare."
Nov 2012: "We can't believe you got re-elected & we can't repeal healthcare."
Feb 2013: "We're still going to vote to obliterate healthcare."
June 2013: "We can't believe the Supreme Court just upheld healthcare."
July 2013: "We're going to vote like 35 more times to erase healthcare."
Sept 2013: "We are going to leverage a government shutdown into defunding, destroying, obliterating, overturning, repealing, dismantling, erasing and ripping apart healthcare."
Oct 2013: "WHY AREN'T YOU NEGOTIATING???"

All that when all they really have to do is sit back and watch it implode.

[DSUrocks07]

All that when all they really have to do is sit back and watch it implode.

Exactly.

BTW, allow me to point out that health INSURANCE does little to control the spiraling costs of healthcare in this country. But 90% of Americans aren't smart enough to realize this.

[DSUrocks07]

[Bronco]

-
Doesn’t get any more spiteful than this.

Obama’s Park Service Removes Handles From Water Fountains In Park Frequented By Joggers And Bikers…

LOS ANGELES, CA – Until very recently, the National Park Service was one of the least-loathed government agencies in the country. Now, with orders from on high to keep the public from visiting beloved parks and monuments the agency is developing a poor reputation.

Republicans contend that the NPS, which is part of the executive branch, is under orders to make life difficult for would-be parkgoers as part of a broader political plan by the Obama administration to turn public opinion against Republicans. Both parties blame the other for the shutdown and so far appear unwilling to negotiate.

Senior Republicans have said they may open a formal investigation into the mass closures and the barring of people from places where no significant maintenance or security is required. Small children’s parks, hiking trails, and outdoor monuments remain closed despite the minimal investment needed to maintain them, if any.

In what looks like a spiteful move, the NPS even removed handles from water spigots along the Chesapeake and Ohio canal where bikers and joggers exercise as well as along the Great Allegheny Passage, just to ensure people don’t get any water from them.

Instead of saving money, the NPS is expending additional resources to go out of its way to close such locations and to make people miserable.

http://www.catholic.org/national/nation ... p?id=52673" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;