The Guvmint Shutdown

[Radbird]

The implication is that Obama didn't shut the gardens down because it wouldn't be the lead story on the MSM's evening news.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I understand the implication, my point is that it's a really stupid example, and probably telling that it's the only example. "Why didn't they close the Constitutional Gardens?" Because you can't.

[Socnorb11]

The implication is that Obama didn't shut the gardens down because it wouldn't be the lead story on the MSM's evening news.

Oh, I get the implication. My question is - why would he leave the gardens open when the high-profile monuments close? Wouldn't it be smart to just close the low-profile ones too, to avoid the aforementioned implications?


In other words, I think it's a stretch to think that's what his intention was.


Edit: What TT said.

[ghostrunner]

To AD's point -

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc ... ry/280179/

[Radbird]

That's the problem with the mindset here. The Repubs think they can spin this
1) to make it look like it's the Admin that caused this by not agreeing to some very basic and reasonable requests to slow down a program that obviously isn't working and
2) when the Dems don't capitulate it causes the "slimdown" which they (Dems) now try to manipulate to make the Tea Partiers look like the culprits when all they (GOP) are trying to do is save the country.

[TimeForGuinness]

It appears the problem here is Obama playing politics.

Make It Hurt? Republicans accuse administration of inflicting added budget pain

Is the Obama administration employing a make-it-hurt strategy to gain political leverage in the budget battle on Capitol Hill?

Republicans are making that charge as the stalemate drags on, and point to the Pentagon furlough of 400,000 civilian staffers -- even though Congress passed and the president signed a bill to supposedly keep them on the job.

Many have complained about the National Park Service cordoning off even open-air monuments in Washington, D.C., such as the World War II Memorial.

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, R-Wash., accused the administration of selectively closing parks. His office noted that less-visited sites like the Constitutional Gardens remain open, while major draws like the National Mall are closed.

"It appears as though only the highly visible monuments and areas are being closed to the public -- further proof that the Obama Administration is only playing politics and purposely choosing to make this shut down as painful as possible," he said in a statement.

House Republicans are trying to push a series of mini-spending bills aimed at prying open certain portions of the government, including national parks and monuments.

House Republicans are trying to push the series of mini-spending bills to only open what they want...then when all the other things are funded and not the ACA, they'll call it quits. The Senate and President realize this and are stiff-arming them. Yes it is politics.

[pioneer98]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't the liberals already compromised on universal health care? Don't they really prefer a single-payer plan, but "settled" for what we've got?

Right - the whole ACA is a giant testament to compromise.

They kept tweaking and tweaking and tweaking it just to get 1 single stupid vote in the Senate - Olympia Snowe - and I still don't think they ever got her vote.

[pioneer98]

Remember the talking point about how the recovery was so slow because business wanted "certainty"? You know, business was slow to recover because they were so scared Obama was going to introduce a new tax on any given day. Well, we can definitively call that B.S. now.

It's Official: Republicans Don't Care About Uncertainty At All

I'm old enough to remember when Republicans wanted to reduce uncertainty.

It was 2012, and it was the centerpiece of Mitt Romney's economic agenda. Actually, it was just about the only piece of Mitt Romney's economic agenda. It was also 2011, and it was the centerpiece of John Boehner's economic agenda too. (You can guess how many pieces that economic agenda had). But whether 2011 or 2012, the idea was that deficit spending and new regulations were why the recovery had been so weak, that businesses were waiting to invest until they knew what future tax rates and rules would be. And that undoing this red ink and red tape was the path to prosperity.

This was, of course, nonsense.

[IMADreamer]

Been hearing all day on the radio how this is Obama's fault. A caller called in to even say the country was I supposed great financial and economical state before Obama took office and then he spent like a drunken sailor and ruined it. At this point I don't know if they are delusional or am I?

[heyzeus]

Been hearing all day on the radio how this is Obama's fault. A caller called in to even say the country was I supposed great financial and economical state before Obama took office and then he spent like a drunken sailor and ruined it. At this point I don't know if they are delusional or am I?

They are. The recession began in 2007, 11 months before Obama was elected.