General Political Thread

[Guest Don Draper]

With less than half a day to go, I think now it is time to panic.  

 

Panicking won't do anything but make you feel panicked.  We survived the 1996 shutdown, and I think there's a good shot we'll survive this one too.

[KevinG]

Panicking won't do anything but make you feel panicked. We survived the 1996 shutdown, and I think there's a good shot we'll survive this one too.

I used panic in reference to what Atticus said. In all reality the gov shutdown won't affect me. But it is concerning.

It shows the failure of our government.

It shows how a small group of far right members of congress are holding the US hostage because they don't like a law. It is sad really.

[caliber66]

The government shutdown had an immediate, real, negative effective on my company's bottom line. Awesome way to start the fiscal year.

[Guest Jules]

How so Caliber?

[caliber66]

We had to cancel a conference.

[Sir Stewart]

That sucks.

[Guest Jules]

Sure does.

[Sir Stewart]

From usa.gov:

 

 

• National Institutes of Health (NIH)  – NIH's clinical center is not taking new patients or initiating new clinical trials. However, trials that were in process before the government shutdown continue.
• National Parks and Landmarks  – National parks and landmarks are closed to the public.
• National Zoo  – The National Zoo is closed to the public. All animals in the zoo have been euthanized by the most appropriate/humanitarian action. 
• Operating Status  – Visit the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for the most up-to-date operating status of the federal government.

[KevinG]

Saw John Boehner on the TV making a speech on the House floor in which he said the President is refusing to meet him half way or negotiate on the shutdown/debit ceiling.  

 

But really what is their to negotiate?  From what I can tell the sticking point is the defunding of ACA.  Which is a law, passed and signed, and challenged and upheld in the Supreme Court.  It has also tried to be overturned by House 40 times.  These efforts have been unsuccessful.  Also PBO one in a landslide against a man whose stated goal if he one the election is to overturn ACA on his first day in office.  Why should the President negotiate?  I am missing something here?

 

Whether or not the law is good or bad is up to history now, but it is a law, the right had their chance and now it is time to deal with it.  

 

So those of you on the right, I ask, do you agree with what the GOP is doing?  Can you explain why?  Because at this point it seems senseless, stupid, petty, and damaging to the country.   

[Guest Jules]

there, won

 

I kind of like the shutdown. Close it down forever.

[John Smith]

If I thought the ACA were going to be a huge failure I would let it go through and use it's failure to crash the Democratic Party for a generation or more. They are obviously not worried it will fail.

 

Also thee are many more issues tied to the process than just the ACA, all of them involve the president taking a firm conservative stance on the issues for a short term deal only to face the exact situation when the next budget battle begins. Short answer is republicans want long term concessions on multiple issues in exchange for a short term deal. Long term for short term is never a good idea.

[Guest Jules]

Maybe the Democrats wanted the shutdown.

[John Smith]

It is a possibility, especially with an election coming up next year. Thing is with a R controlled house and D controlled senate and WH I would think all parties would meet in the middle somewhere. But what appears to be common sense is not even on the radar for this congress.

[Radiant Witch Face]

maybe you wanted the shutdown.

[NoJ]

YEAH!

[caliber66]

The shutdown is also fucking with our charity ride from Pittsburgh to DC.

[NoJ]

JT should write a song about the shutdown. Make it "protesty".

[Guest Jules]

The shutdown is also fucking with our charity ride from Pittsburgh to DC.

 

They're taking your bikes?

[caliber66]

It is illegal to ride on the C&O towpath during the shutdown.

[KevinG]

It is a possibility, especially with an election coming up next year. Thing is with a R controlled house and D controlled senate and WH I would think all parties would meet in the middle somewhere. But what appears to be common sense is not even on the radar for this congress.

 

Meet in the middle how exactly?  ACA is a law, it has been upheld by the supreme court, repeal has not worked the 40 times the house voted for it.  The country voted for the act's author in a near landslide.  It is done it is over.  There is no middle ground here.  

 

 

Maybe the Democrats wanted the shutdown.

 

In what way?  The shut down is solely the result of the GOP's actions.  The Democrats are completely blameless in this shut down.  So I don't see how they could have wanted something they really had no control over.  

[Sir Stewart]

You can want something to happen and still remain blameless when it happens.

[Guest Jules]

It is illegal to ride on the C&O towpath during the shutdown.

 

Ah yes, the national park thing.  Sucks.

You can want something to happen and still remain blameless when it happens.

 

Woah

[Mr. Heartbreak]

For once, I think Jules might actually be right. In some Machiavellian way, the Dems might be pleased to see it hit the level of shutdown:

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/congress-showdown-_n_4020631.html

 

And, somewhat predictably, the shutdown is proving a bonanza for Democratic fundraising:

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/shutdown-fundraising-dnc_n_4023477.html

 

Don't get me wrong: I think Republicans, in particular the Tea Party jagoffs who will not cut any kind of a deal, are almost entirely responsible for this. Did they really expect the President to defund his signature legislative accomplishment? But if it benefits the Dems in 2014, then they might not be too choked up about the stalemate going on for a bit.

[Atticus]

CNN crawl says people are having problems enrolling in Obamacareaid online

[John Smith]

KG the middle I am talking about is on the actual budget and funding of the government. Leave the radical agenda items at the door and discuss what needs to get done. Stopping ACA is a radical agenda item in my book. Not that I favor it ( I am more of a single payer person ) but after 46 attempts to get rid of it, maybe it is time to move on.