The Tea Party is back in business! (3 Viewers)

[dparker713]

Message to the Troops:

Thanks for all you do but tomorrow your wife will have to stay home tomorrow because the Child Care Center is closed. Now get to work ####ers!!!! /congress

PS: You might get paid on the 15th, we'll see.

PPS: Don't worry though, the do nothing Congress is still getting paid.

Shameful. Why didn't this Health reform debate take place a month ago?

Spoiler

Because Congress took the entire month of August off!!!!!

To be fair, every court I know basically takes that month off too. So its not just 1 lazy branch of government.

 

[KCitons]

It's kind of minor compared to all the people being furloughed, but think about all the people who have booked vacations to Washington DC, planned to go with their families for months- it's all closed down.

Didn't most (if not all) employees receive back pay during the last gov't shut down?

 

[Ballstein]

This is dispicable. My brother is in the Marines and his family needs to pay the bills. This isn't A ####### joke GOP.

 

[prosopis]

stupid

 

[KCitons]

This is dispicable. My brother is in the Marines and his family needs to pay the bills. This isn't A ####### joke GOP.

How is he not going to get paid?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

It's kind of minor compared to all the people being furloughed, but think about all the people who have booked vacations to Washington DC, planned to go with their families for months- it's all closed down.

Didn't most (if not all) employees receive back pay during the last gov't shut down?

That was a long time ago, no telling what they'll do this time. Different time, different era really.

 

[timschochet]

This is dispicable. My brother is in the Marines and his family needs to pay the bills. This isn't A ####### joke GOP.

To be fair, most likely your brother will be paid on time.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

This is dispicable. My brother is in the Marines and his family needs to pay the bills. This isn't A ####### joke GOP.

How is he not going to get paid?

If a budget is not approved by Oct 7th military pay on the 15th might not happen. They'll get it, just not on the 15th.

 

[DanFouts]

Now hearing on Fox News about them getting ready for debt ceiling battle because " at least Obama has more to lose" with that battle. WTF....not just Obama you idiots. How about the whole US economy. These guys make me sick.

 

[KCitons]

It's kind of minor compared to all the people being furloughed, but think about all the people who have booked vacations to Washington DC, planned to go with their families for months- it's all closed down.

Didn't most (if not all) employees receive back pay during the last gov't shut down?

That was a long time ago, no telling what they'll do this time. Different time, different era really.

Agreed. but based on available information/history, the logical assumption is they would receive pay retroactively. The budget is in place and the money is going to be there once this gets settled.

 

[Rush Limbaugh Fan]

Now hearing on Fox News about them getting ready for debt ceiling battle because " at least Obama has more to lose" with that battle. WTF....not just Obama you idiots. How about the whole US economy. These guys make me sick.

Makes the assassination thing mentioned earlier not sound so bad. These people are ####### with the livelihood of Americans.

 

[timschochet]

Now hearing on Fox News about them getting ready for debt ceiling battle because " at least Obama has more to lose" with that battle. WTF....not just Obama you idiots. How about the whole US economy. These guys make me sick.

The fact that there is even going to be a "debt ceiling battle" is troubling indeed.

It doesn't matter. Obama is not going to budge on Obamacare. And he won't budge on ANYTHING regarding the debt ceiling, because if he does the same thing happens over and over. Everybody realizes this except for the Tea Party.

 

[DanFouts]

It's kind of minor compared to all the people being furloughed, but think about all the people who have booked vacations to Washington DC, planned to go with their families for months- it's all closed down.

Didn't most (if not all) employees receive back pay during the last gov't shut down?

That was a long time ago, no telling what they'll do this time. Different time, different era really.

Agreed. but based on available information/history, the logical assumption is they would receive pay retroactively. The budget is in place and the money is going to be there once this gets settled.

You are thinking too logically. We are talking about some crazy tea party crackpots here. Not even the guys going in are guaranteed to get paid.

 

[dparker713]

Now hearing on Fox News about them getting ready for debt ceiling battle because " at least Obama has more to lose" with that battle. WTF....not just Obama you idiots. How about the whole US economy. These guys make me sick.

There is a legitimate Constitutional argument that the President can authorize spending regardless of the debt ceiling, so hopefully Obama grows some balls and shuts the idiots down.

 

[Abraham]

Serious question : what is the GOP hoping to gain?

 

[Widbil83]

Now hearing on Fox News about them getting ready for debt ceiling battle because " at least Obama has more to lose" with that battle. WTF....not just Obama you idiots. How about the whole US economy. These guys make me sick.

Senator Obama loved voting against raising the debt ceiling. So he does have more to lose with that battle because he is as usual, a giant hypocrite.

 

[dparker713]

Ok so the Fat Tea Party Chick on CNN is not only a loon, but she has the worst public speaking voice I've heard since Suzyn Waldman.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Ok so the Fat Tea Party Chick on CNN is not only a loon, but she has the worst public speaking voice I've heard since Suzyn Waldman.

Oh my gawd.

 

[Rush Limbaugh Fan]

What was that fat blob that Piers just interviewed?

 

[Abraham]

Now hearing on Fox News about them getting ready for debt ceiling battle because " at least Obama has more to lose" with that battle. WTF....not just Obama you idiots. How about the whole US economy. These guys make me sick.

Senator Obama loved voting against raising the debt ceiling. So he does have more to lose with that battle because he is as usual, a giant hypocrite.

Keep fooling yourself. The country hates the house a lot more than they mildly dislike the west wing.

 

[Aerial Assault]

Serious question : what is the GOP hoping to gain?

They will deploy their usual hatchetpeople on TV and radio talk shows beginning tomorrow, trying to spin the government shutdown as a huge crisis that is all the Democrats' (in Congress and, of course, the President) fault. Their goal will be to increase pressure on weak Democrats - think Sen. Manchin of West Virginia - to start making noise to the effect that the Democrats should cave in and negotiate with what the GOP has in essence become: a terrorist organization.

If the GOP can get some Democrats to start bemoaning the crisis, then, their thinking likely goes, they will force concessions by Obama and the Democratic leadership in Congress, and they'll cut into a law that they deeply hate.

 

[jon_mx]

Serious question : what is the GOP hoping to gain?

There is not much to gain. If they would have made this about a more general desire to get the deficit under control, it would have been a better play for them. The GOP would do far better focusing on the budget deficit and making Obamacare a minor issue impacting the budget. I am not sure what idiots advise the GOP, but they are terrible and have been for the last 8 years.

 

[timschochet]

Serious question : what is the GOP hoping to gain?

I don't think the GOP likes this. I think they're trapped by the Tea Party. Boehner doesn't want this.

 

[Aerial Assault]

Serious question : what is the GOP hoping to gain?

I don't think the GOP likes this. I think they're trapped by the Tea Party. Boehner doesn't want this.

And yet he lacks the will and the stones to allow the "moderates" (speaking relatively) in his caucus to get a vote on a CR that does not affect the ACA. He's a real hero.

 

[Abraham]

Serious question : what is the GOP hoping to gain?

There is not much to gain. If they would have made this about a more general desire to get the deficit under control, it would have been a better play for them. The GOP would do far better focusing on the budget deficit and making Obamacare a minor issue impacting the budget. I am not sure what idiots advise the GOP, but they are terrible and have been for the last 8 years.

I actually know some or them. And they are some of the dumbest people you could ever imagine in politics. The party has alienated me in the same way I like watching sports teams lose. The GOP that I worked hard for 15-20 Years ago is long gone and what has replaced it is a fraud for those of us that used to care about smaller government and personal freedom. As a social (little "s") and Fiscal (capital "f") conservative I'm glad to sit on the shore and watch the party boat burn to a crisp.

 

[timschochet]

Serious question : what is the GOP hoping to gain?

I don't think the GOP likes this. I think they're trapped by the Tea Party. Boehner doesn't want this.

And yet he lacks the will and the stones to allow the "moderates" (speaking relatively) in his caucus to get a vote on a CR that does not affect the ACA. He's a real hero.

He's afraid of losing his job. But he's also afraid of what will happen to the GOP.

These Tea Partiers are being cheered on, not just by their constituents, but also by the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Sarah Palin, etc.- all of the people who have always despised the GOP establishment. They relish this.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

It's kind of minor compared to all the people being furloughed, but think about all the people who have booked vacations to Washington DC, planned to go with their families for months- it's all closed down.

Didn't most (if not all) employees receive back pay during the last gov't shut down?

That was a long time ago, no telling what they'll do this time. Different time, different era really.

Agreed. but based on available information/history, the logical assumption is they would receive pay retroactively. The budget is in place and the money is going to be there once this gets settled.

Right. Last time however President Clinton authorized the repayment, this time it will be kicked down the road to individual agencies. Last year DoD employees were told they were getting 22 days furlough, then 17, then 13, then nine, then 11, then finally six. Now it's just a big limbo for over half the employees, I don't even know what my status is at the moment (mission essential v non-ME). Changed five times today.

#### is stressful, adn six of my employees are gone for the shutdown (still have the uniforms but my civilians are my continuity and technical base). I gotta stop doing this, maybe get a job managing a bowling ally or something.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

PIN RESET ON SIX!

PIN RESET ON SIX!

 

[Mr. Pickles]

PIN RESET ON SIX!

PIN RESET ON SIX!

I'm on it, boss.

 

[DrJ]

I really hate the ACA. I think its an absurd power grab by the government and should have been overturned by SCOTUS. That said, the House Republicans must be filled with gigantic idiots. I'd be happy if they are brought up on treason charges, or barring that someone assassinating Ted Cruz.

lots of stupid in this post.

You must be a Republican.

Democrats and republicans should both be offended by how stupid your post was.

A politician getting killed and people getting brought up on false charges shouldnt make anybody happy.

Treason: the crime of helping your country's enemies during war. Shutting down the government for no legitimate reason while at war certainly fits my definition of this crime.

So we've actually had an official declaration of war? When did that happen?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

PIN RESET ON SIX!

PIN RESET ON SIX!

I'm on it, boss.

Move that fat chick off five too, she's blocking my view of the MNF game.

 

[timschochet]

John Boehner just gave what is probably the worst press conference I have ever seen. It lasted about 30 seconds.

 

[Rush Limbaugh Fan]

Boehner just took one question and turned his back after the second. What a ####### coward.

 

[msommer]

Now hearing on Fox News about them getting ready for debt ceiling battle because " at least Obama has more to lose" with that battle. WTF....not just Obama you idiots. How about the whole US economy. These guys make me sick.

Senator Obama loved voting against raising the debt ceiling. So he does have more to lose with that battle because he is as usual, a giant hypocrite.

Right, because he wants tp be reelected.

Wait...

 

[Max Power]

It's kind of minor compared to all the people being furloughed, but think about all the people who have booked vacations to Washington DC, planned to go with their families for months- it's all closed down.

Didn't most (if not all) employees receive back pay during the last gov't shut down?

That was a long time ago, no telling what they'll do this time. Different time, different era really.

Agreed. but based on available information/history, the logical assumption is they would receive pay retroactively. The budget is in place and the money is going to be there once this gets settled.

Right. Last time however President Clinton authorized the repayment, this time it will be kicked down the road to individual agencies. Last year DoD employees were told they were getting 22 days furlough, then 17, then 13, then nine, then 11, then finally six. Now it's just a big limbo for over half the employees, I don't even know what my status is at the moment (mission essential v non-ME). Changed five times today.

#### is stressful, adn six of my employees are gone for the shutdown (still have the uniforms but my civilians are my continuity and technical base). I gotta stop doing this, maybe get a job managing a bowling ally or something.

I totally understand the stress factor that comes along with this shutdown and my shop is considered fully exempted. I can't imagine how the non-critical crowd is feeling. Making it worse, I have no faith the government doesn't just punt this down the road a few months and we are going through this same cycle by the end of the year.

 

[snogger]

Bunch of ... We as voters need to start voting based on the person, and not the party they align themselves with..

Best way to fix this crap is to support those that have signed up to stop fighting and start fixing.

 

[igbomb]

[SIZE=medium]Out of curiosity, for those of the doom and gloom persuasion when it comes to our national debt, what do you view as an acceptable debt situation?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Are you looking for all debt to be wiped out? Just stop growing? In absolute terms? As a percent of GDP?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I’m genuinely curious what people view as success. [/SIZE]

Still curious to hear what the folks that are most concerned with our debt view as an acceptable level.

Over the next five years, the debt as a % of GDP is on pace to shrink. Not dramatically, mind you, but shrink nonetheless.

Take off 6-7 trillion and I stop being concerned as long as the debt doesnt grow again and continues a downward slope after that.

Why 6-7 trillion? Is there some benchmark you're aiming for?

And when you say you want it to continue to decrease, do you mean in absolute terms or relative to GDP?

I mean in absolute terms, not in relation to GDP.

The benchmark I aim for is as close to zero as possible, but more importantly to shrink to a level where future interest rates don't make the cost of the debt a huge burden every year. If we pay 800 billion a year in interest in the future, that sure is a lot of jobs.

I think looking at the debt in absolute terms is misleading. In absolute terms, it looks we were almost static until the early 70s and then things went catastrophic:

Absolute

But if you look at the debt as a % of GDP, which is what potential investors would be most worried about as well, it shows that post-WW2 we were improving significantly until the early 80s. And then the crap really hit the fan in about 2007. But this also shows that fixing this thing is far more possible than it appears to be in absolute terms. Just get the trend heading down again and let's grow out of it.

As % of GDP

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

As a matter of journalism, any story that presents the disagreements as a "standoff," a "showdown," a "failure of leadership," a sign of "partisan gridlock," or any of the other usual terms for political disagreement, represents a failure of journalism and an inability to see or describe what is going on.

This isn't "gridlock." It is a ferocious struggle within one party, between its traditionalists and its radical factions, with results that unfortunately can harm all the rest of us -- and, should there be a debt default, could harm the rest of the world too.

What they’re doing here is not hostage taking, the most commonly used metaphor in the media. It’s political terrorism. When hostage takers see that their demands are met, they release the hostage. But what makes anyone think today’s Republicans will ever release the hostage? No—if the Democrats agree to negotiate, the demands will never stop. Every pivot point on the legislative calendar will be an opportunity to make demands without precedent in our system.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

political terrorism.

I see you have met the conservatives. Best of luck with that.

 

[Lutherman2112]

Trent Lott:

"I'm of two minds," Lott said. "I'd like to be in the arena and help work something out. But it's gotten too nasty and too mean these days. I couldn't work with these guys."

 

[SHIZNITTTT]

same as day one

 

[The Commish]

Some reporters also believe the House will back down later tonight too. So that's possible.

My sources say an agreement tonight is unlikely. I hope they are wrong, but they usually aren't. I've spent all day doing furlough paperwork to lay everyone off. I should have given them the Johnny####s emergency fund speech, but passed.

That's totally ####ed. That pisses me off to no end. I really hope the usual crowd who always argue that these crises are meaningless and don't really hurt anyone (Joe T, Max Threshold, etc) are reading this post.

This is a genuine question Tim....when we are talking about curbing spending in this country, what do you think is going to get cut? Just about ANY cut means it filters down to individuals who are employed by the government.

Not just those employed by the government. Almost all agree that military spending needs to be cut.. but understand that most spending is goods from companies that would have to make cuts of their own to compensate for the lost in revenue from the government. The company I work for creates software products for many customers including different governments around the world.No matter where you make cuts people inside the government and out will feel the pain.. :(

No, I get that. I'm just perplexed by the "WE NEED THE CUTS!!! Oh wait, this really impacts people? I'm outraged!!!" stuff I see here all the time.

 

[The Commish]

Only the hackiest of partisan hacks would point the finger anywhere but at the scumbag House Republicans for today's shenanigans.

They're not scumbags. Calling them scumbags, and joking about assassinating a US Senator, is rhetoric that is in terrible taste IMO.

I HATE what the House Republicans are doing here. But they genuinely believe in it. They're not bad people; just horribly misguided (IMO).

When you say "believe in it" ....what is "it"?? This isn't about ideology. This is about making the other party look bad and not giving them an ounce of anything they ask for simply because they are the other party. If it were about ideology, there'd be compromise. That ship sailed long ago.

 

[Don Quixote]

Pretty sad looking at my Facebook feed this morning. I have a lot of friends that are government attorneys, and substantially all are getting furloughed. Feel particularly bad for the couple which just had a baby a few months ago and both are getting furloughed.

 

[3C's]

People are saying that Congress should go unpaid until this is resolved. Throw in their staff too. Most of those in Congress have money and lots of it and other sources of income. When their staff starts getting hurt maybe they'll (Congress) start to feel it.

 

[DrJ]

Out of curiosity, for those of the doom and gloom persuasion when it comes to our national debt, what do you view as an acceptable debt situation?

Are you looking for all debt to be wiped out? Just stop growing? In absolute terms? As a percent of GDP?

Im genuinely curious what people view as success.

Still curious to hear what the folks that are most concerned with our debt view as an acceptable level.

Over the next five years, the debt as a % of GDP is on pace to shrink. Not dramatically, mind you, but shrink nonetheless.

Take off 6-7 trillion and I stop being concerned as long as the debt doesnt grow again and continues a downward slope after that.

Why 6-7 trillion? Is there some benchmark you're aiming for?

And when you say you want it to continue to decrease, do you mean in absolute terms or relative to GDP?

I mean in absolute terms, not in relation to GDP. The benchmark I aim for is as close to zero as possible, but more importantly to shrink to a level where future interest rates don't make the cost of the debt a huge burden every year. If we pay 800 billion a year in interest in the future, that sure is a lot of jobs.

I think looking at the debt in absolute terms is misleading. In absolute terms, it looks we were almost static until the early 70s and then things went catastrophic:

Absolute

But if you look at the debt as a % of GDP, which is what potential investors would be most worried about as well, it shows that post-WW2 we were improving significantly until the early 80s. And then the crap really hit the fan in about 2007. But this also shows that fixing this thing is far more possible than it appears to be in absolute terms. Just get the trend heading down again and let's grow out of it.

As % of GDP

GDP growth was well into the double digits in the late 50's until the early 80's. We didn't pay down the debt and government spending kept going up, our growth simply outpaced it. We aren't hitting that level of growth any time ever again though, so the hope of outgrowing it in that fashion is basically nil. The only real hope is a 90's style budget balance.For me the absolute debt number is less important than just getting a balanced budget - if you have a balanced budget for long enough, the debt will just naturally shrink as a percentage of the economy.

 

[spreagle]

Now Obama is hammering the gold price to punish the Tea Partiers for cutting off the governments free money printing! This is starting to get interesting. Is this what financial war looks like?

 

[Mister Martie]

Now Obama is hammering the gold price to punish the Tea Partiers for cutting off the governments free money printing! This is starting to get interesting. Is this what financial war looks like?

 

[dparker713]

People are saying that Congress should go unpaid until this is resolved. Throw in their staff too. Most of those in Congress have money and lots of it and other sources of income. When their staff starts getting hurt maybe they'll (Congress) start to feel it.

That would require the Congressman to not be sociopaths

 

[cstu]

Now hearing on Fox News about them getting ready for debt ceiling battle because " at least Obama has more to lose" with that battle. WTF....not just Obama you idiots. How about the whole US economy. These guys make me sick.

Senator Obama loved voting against raising the debt ceiling. So he does have more to lose with that battle because he is as usual, a giant hypocrite.

He voted to make a point and didn't threaten to shut the government down or cause the U.S. to default. If Republicans had made their point and then made the deal then we wouldn't be calling them terrorists.