More Suggestive Evidence That The Republicans Are Winning

A straw in the wind suggesting that Republicans are winning, or at least not losing, the debt limit scuffle is provided by Noam Scheiber ot TNR, who offers this analysis diatribe about the wisdom of Obama's "Just Say 'No' To Negotiation" strategy:

The reason the White House has been so firm in its no-debt-limit negotiation position is that it understands what’s at stake. If Republicans believe they can extract concessions from the president by threatening a debt default (the consequence of not raising the limit), then there’s no end to what they will be able to demand. Elections and the legislative process will become utterly meaningless. A minority party will be able to enact an agenda for which it lacks popular support and sufficient votes in Congress. The only way to prevent this is to make crystal clear that there will be no concessions period, rendering the whole extortion exercise utterly pointless.

The only way to prevent this in the future is to stand firm now? Hmm, the Democratic strategy has been to create a crisis, blame the Republicans, and hope a wave of popular anger enables them to reclaim the House and hold the Senate in 2014. Which, in addition to giving a boost to whatever Obama is passsing off as an agenda, would be a great way to stop this legislative tactic. (Whether that strategy actually made sense at the level of the relevant Congressional districts is debatable.)

Of course, the Treasury could attempt to engage in some ad hoc prioritizing so that interest and principal payments on our public debt are not missed. Since there is no clear legislative authority allowing the Treasury to pick and choose amongst our national obligations it would be a bit of a Mad Hatter's Sequester. But hey, a Democratic Adinistration could simply suspend payments to defense contractors working on weapons systems and $600 toilet seats, right?

This notion of public debt versus all debt, including payments due on government contracts or promised under entitlement programs, is vigorously elided by Obama's backers. Over to Mr. Scheiber, my emphasis:

If Republicans believe they can extract concessions from the president by threatening a debt default (the consequence of not raising the limit), then there’s no end to what they will be able to demand.

That is true only if "debt" is broadly defined to encompass all payments owed by the US Government. But over at the Bureau of Public Debt, they realize that the much-ballyhooed debt limit refers to public indebtedness issued by the Treasury and does not include payments due to Halliburton and General Electric for their fine and public-spirited efforts on government contracts.

If Obama's supporters are losing their arguments and their minds, that suggests the Republicans are hanging in there. My two cents: Obama's "I won't negotiate because they are being unreasonable and intransigent" pose won't hold as the public begins to see Obama as unreasonable and intransigent. I just don't see "I'm crazier than they are" as a winning play.

Comments

[Account Deleted]

I have rather deep reservations regarding the sincerity of the offer, Mark. It does set up some nice campaign ads though.

I could be wrong about Boehner's next move but my bet is that he's going to take his time pulling the wings and legs off President Petulant. There really isn't any reason to rush.

[Jane on Ipad hi there NSA]

They should make the delay optional. You can sign up if you want but don't have to for a year. That should highlight the worst of everything.

[Ignatz]

--Your ears were better than mine back then, Iggy.--

CH,
When your only musical talent is whacking a thing with a stick you tend to listen to the guy in the back more than most. :)

[sbwaters]

Petulant LePetomaine

[Trevor Saccucci]

For some time I've been struck by the similarities between UBL, et al's attacks on the US on 9/11 and Obama, et al's attacks on US republican democracy and free market capitalism during his presidency.

UBL and associates wanted Islam to crush and discredit democracy and capitalism in the US (as the most powerful representative of Western culture in the world), with the American people then flocking to Islam as the victor, and therefore the "stronger horse", in the conflict, for direction and stability.

Obama and associates want to use statistism-authoritarianism and command economics to crush and discredit representatitve democracy and free market capitalism in the US, with the American people then flocking to statism-authoritarianism and command economics as the victorious, and therefore "superior", approach to governance in the conflict, for direction and stability.

I agree with NK in the last thread that Obama, et al should be acknowledged as being more than simply delusional. True, both UBL/al-Qaeda Obama/Progressives are, in this formulation, delusional - but not illogical. Neither the UBL's nor Obama's approaches are random mish-moshes of schemes and notions; both are comprised of internally consistent logical frameworks. There's a readily recognizable chain of internally consistent causality in both approaches; where UBL failed, and where I believe Obama will fail, is when that internal logical framework is extended into external, objective reality.

UBL simply didn't comprehend how the US, and the West in general, would react to 9/11 and consequent al Qaeda terror acts. As imperfect as the Western response to them was, the US didn't fall to millitant Islam, and UBL and many of his fellow-travelers ended up dead.

I think an analogous fate is in store for the the statist-authoritarian / command economic designs of the Obamaites. I think they've failed to properly take the measure of Boehner and the House Republicans, and the American people in aggregate, in this government shutdown-debt ceiling showdown. I think I'm guilty of the same failing in the other direction - for which I'm delighted!

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

So after setting us up that the POI guy is a serial killer he's a victim after all. Hilarious interaction between the ladies comparing heat. Funny how Root calls the machine a female; not because of any gender bias on my part so much as it's Finch's creation.

[OldTimer]

Let the O-care web experience sink in a little longer - turns out it's the best delay and teaching mechanism available.

[narcisoM]

Yes, this isn't the first time they pull a mcguffin, they did that with the husband and wide last season,

[Beasts of England]

Found Haden, Frisell and Baker on YouTube. Inspired...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEpMLiqzZd8

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Yes the 404Care snafus are exceeding even my expectations. Resetting all the passwords unexpectedly is a hilarious touch. FIRST CLASS SYSTEM IMO.

[C.R.]

The Pentagon says it has specific instructions from its budget office not to make payments for deaths that occurred after 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2013.

Over the weekend, four soldiers -- two of them Army Rangers -- and one Marine were killed while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan. The bodies of the four soldiers will be returned to Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday.

Due to the impasse, the families of 25-year-old 1st Lt. Jennifer M. Moreno; 24-year-old Pfc. Cody J. Patterson; 24-year-old Special Agent Joseph M. Peters; 25-year-old Sgt. Patrick C. Hawkins; and 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Jeremiah M. Collins, Jr. will not receive the $100,000 payment that they would have otherwise received within three days of the death.

Adding further insult, the families will have to pay for their own travel to Dover. That's a bill the Pentagon also says it can't pay because of the partial shutdown.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/08/pentagon-freezes-death-benefits-for-fallen-soldiers-families/

[Ignatz]

Interesting story at AmSpec on gay marriage in Canada, where it's been legal since 2005.
Porchlight's Mark Regnerus makes an appearance discussing a Canuck study showing kids of gays only 65% as likely to have graduated high school as married, opposite sex couple's kids, with girls the most harmed.

Tom Bethell, who always has a way with words, once described modern culture as the Consenting Adult Society. He explained how superficially fun it seemed for the adults, although even they eventually shipwreck on the reef of hedonism too, but that from the get go part of the deal is the tacit recognition that the kids get it in the neck while the "adults" have their fun.

[narcisoM]

To riff all Network 'they are messing with Primordianl foruces;

[Ignatz]

--So after setting us up that the POI guy is a serial killer he's a victim after all. Hilarious interaction between the ladies comparing heat. Funny how Root calls the machine a female; not because of any gender bias on my part so much as it's Finch's creation.--

If I started watching that show for any reason other than that Iranian chick I might be a little miffed at all those West Coast spoilers, Cap. :)

[Eric in Boise]

Pressed Reid and Barry
Have closed down their shop
The bad Captain Boehner
Has told them to stop
Selling atonal 'surance
Amplified crap
And Barry's collection
Of "It's in their lap!!"

[Dave (in MA)]

Found Haden, Frisell and Baker on YouTube. Inspired...

This cut from the 1st album evokes Cream a bit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE9CknPJeIc

[Beasts of England]

It sounds as if we have the makings of a JOM rhythm section. Where's my Jazz bass?

[rich@gmu]

*** Resetting all the passwords unexpectedly is a hilarious touch.***

did this really happen on one of those exchanges?

[Caro]

And the forgotten Mountain Time Zone.

[rich@gmu]

Beasts-

think Gus plays the guitar

[rich@gmu]

***And the forgotten Mountain Time Zone.***

that would be another good one. nice to see you in the comments caro.

[rich@gmu]

Cali has managed to get about 16k "applications" together. Probably more than the rest of the country combined.

[rich@gmu]

and I'm talking to myself.

[narcisoM]

No, all of them, rich.

[Beasts of England]

We're set Rich! All we need is groupies!

[Caro]

Rich, I always think about asking the guy on the street in DC....Are you rich? Heh.

[narcisoM]

Ugh, really univerese, really;

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/redskins-top-topic-goodell-news-conference-20510999

[Ignatz]

Ginger Baker uses his cane to break the nose of the guy who made a documentary about him.

Jack Bruce on Ginger:

"It's a knife-edge thing between me and Ginger. Nowadays, we're happily co-existing in different continents [Bruce lives in Britain, Baker in South Africa]...although I was thinking of asking him to move. He's still a bit too close."

Heh.

[narcisoM]

What is that like 3,000 miles apart.

[Dave (in MA)]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Woy9aimntUw
Something a little more out there under Baker's name, but really more along the lines of Bill Laswell's bands Last Exit or Material.

[Eric in Boise]

Before Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker were in Cream, they were in another band together and used to sabotage each other's instruments, such was the animosity between them. Good times.
Clapton reportedly put every bit as much effort keeping those two on speaking terms as he did on writing the lead guitar parts for the band.

[Dublin Dave]

"Adding further insult, the families will have to pay for their own travel to Dover. That's a bill the Pentagon also says it can't pay because of the partial shutdown"

That the Tea party caused.

One of the funniest consequences of this shutdown ( and there haven't been many) is watching the absolute cowardice of the right as they simultaneously celebrate what they did and pathetically try to run from it when the devastating results rear their ugly head on tv.

For them to fund a part of government these days it's got to make the news and hurt them in the polls...and lo and behold there's a new house bill to fund dead soldiers' spouses being paid what they're owed coming up on the house floor tommorow..

Maybe if the Democrats actually delayed the individual mandate for a year the spouses of dead marines would get the money they need to pick up the body.... all it takes is giving the tea party what it wants and delaying the individual mandate along with opening the keystone oil pipeline.

This is who you are...you can run from it or deny, but this is who you are on on a fundamental level.... this is your humanity.... this is how much you love your country......

[OldTimer]

The shut-down gives them a convenient excuse for enhanced secrecy to plan, plot and plunder. No wonder he thinks he's winning - no one can figure out what he's doing:

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/08/Lack-of-Government-Staffers-At-Public-Affairs-Offices-Shatter-Administration-s-Transparency-Claim

[narcisoM]

I was late to Clapton, aroun the time he did score to Lethal Weapons 3,

[rich@gmu]

Beasts-

steady...

[narcisoM]

Not longer after that I was first aware of '"Laeil',

[Beasts of England]

Nevah!

[rich@gmu]

Rich, I always think about asking the guy on the street in DC....Are you rich? Heh.

Posted by: Caro

ha. I'm so bad with the meet ups. It never fails, I'll work a 12-er and show up half asleep. Think I'm going to make it into DC this weekend though to snap some pictures and maybe take down a few barriers.

[rich@gmu]

You're a bad influence Beasts.

Drove by the Ferrari dealership today. Soon.

[Eric in Boise]

IMHO, the best thing Clapton ever did was a 1966 album he recorded with John Mayall, titled Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton

He was all of twenty years old, and played like a man possessed on that record. Required listening for anyone who enjoys rock/blues guitar.

[Beasts of England]

I'm the guy your parents warned you about, Rich!

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Sorry I disappeared to watch an episode of Boardwalk Empire. I don't know how wide spread it was rich; there's an AoS thread about it.

[Dave (in MA)]

The "Beano" album.

[matt]

Ginger was one of the original wild men of rock & roll. Completely insane and the model for all who came after. But he broke down under the drugs and alcohol and women.Slowly he has rehabilitated himself. White Room was a tour de force, but he was erratic to say the least.

Moon was on his own planet. He settled down, though. He was always an incredible student of his craft.

For drumming, Mickey Hart and the combo of the Allmans early in their careers were pretty incredible as was Carl Palmer.

But for pure funk I go to Fela and James Brown, the Motown rhythm section and Muscle shoals.

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Last Exit. Now we're talking...

[Frau Gaudi! Radi! Musi!]

I bet there will be interviews and an age limit on the groupies.
Oh well.

Take down a barrier or two for me, rich.

[Dave (in MA)]

Keith Olbermann just used the phrase "much more simpler".

[jimmyk]

Just back from being out for the evening--Daddy, that was a wild game, the Tigers escaped by a hair. Should be a great game 5, maybe a rematch of Verlander vs Sonny Gray? Not sure it was a good idea for them to use up Scherzer, but we'll see.

DrJ, maybe you can relate to this: While I'm all for the R's sticking to their guns (am I allowed to say that?) on the shutdown/debt ceiling, we hired a guy who's supposed to start in January, and his visa application is apparently held up, and may not be done in time. It's not such a big deal for us, but he's quite concerned about it.

[OldTimer]

Of the elite, by the elite, for the elite..

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/10/08/Establishment-Journalists-Obama-WH

[Danube on iPad]

Charlie Watts has always considered himself primarily a jazz musician. He's a rocker because that's where the excitement and the money are.

[Danube on iPad]

Scheiber is simply wrong, and a little bit silly. If the president agrees to sensible budget cuts now, it does not follow that he must agree to ones that are not sensible on some future date.

The debt ceiling is the law of the land, as Obama likes to say about Obamacare. It is a bit unseemly for the chief executive to demand that the legislature change that law precisely as he desires. It doesn't work that way, and never has.

I agree with DrK that it is high time Boehner specified just what cuts he wants to discuss.

[daddy]

BBC does it's part to damn the Republicans:

It has a link at it's current home page of "Most Popular stories" saying: "The Man Responsible For The Shutdown", and when you click on it you get a story on:

Obama? No
Harry Reid? No
John Boehner? Yes. So according to the BBC John Boehner is the man responsible for the Government shutdown.

[Threadkiller]

More evidence thet Michael Medved is an a-hole.

"Republicans are no heros"

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/10/08/republicans-gop-obamacare-ted-cruz-column/2948293/

[Miss Marple]

Well, I see Dublin Dave (aka Wormtongue) has appeared again to accuse us of hating our country.

I listened to a guy on Coast to Coast AM last night (yeah, I know, but this was really interesting) discuss how people can be manipulated through behavioral psychology. Guess who had the top behavioral psychologists in the country working on his presidential campaign, and the answer wasn't Mitt Romney.

This might explain the bizarre behavior of many on the left, and their compulsion to paint us as villains rather than those who have a different opinion.

I thought you all would be interested in this, because it explains a lot about the LIV's!

[henry]

Miss Marple, rse has compiled a deep bibliography on behavioral manipulation starting from schools and encompassing the broader government / crony cabal. She's writing a book and has an excellent blog connecting all the dots.

[Steve]

Telekinetic Coffee Shop Surprise

http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2013/10/halloween-fun-telekinetic-coffee-shop.html

[Early Bird has found the worm.]

Nature is deaf to narrative.

[peter]

Fascinating musical discussion going on in this thread. I remember having a couple of cassettes of the Graham Bond organization, which was the group Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce were in before Cream, and which also had John McLaughlin. I remember the cassettes breaking, requiring me to repair them with scotch tape, (not particularly easy task.)

[rse]

http://frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/obamas-competent-incompetence/ is great.

Thanks for the plug henry. Believe it or not I should have the book release date to announce soon. By the way that adult skills survey is simply more of OECD's social justice/subjective well-being agenda. I have a very interesting quote from their Sec-General in book.

On the behavioral psychologists, virtually everyone I encounter who is pushing the radical view of assessments being hidden under the Common Core banner turns out to have done a stint at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences. That's really what it was created for and systems thinking was begun by fellows there shortly after its founding.

Rawls was there when he wrote his famous A Theory of Justice.

Would it surprise anyone to learn that the very term behavioral sciences was invented in Chicago? Or that its creator went on to write the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 1965 for LBJ?

[narcisoM]

Medved a nice guy, that as a very silly column, On wonders where that Politiciolak came from, for it confirms what we already suspecteds

[DrJ]

A Barrycade hits San Francisco:

In an unexpected turn of events, the famous San Francisco Cliff House restaurant was ordered to close after dinner service ended around midnight on Tuesday.

The restaurant and bar, a popular destination for tourists and locals alike with its fine cuisine and stunning views of the ocean, are concessionaires of the federal Golden Gate National Recreation Area. And like so many businesses on park land across the country, they are required to close during the partial federal shutdown.

The 150-year-old San Francisco icon was closed for a bit last week, but stubbornly reopened on Monday and Tuesday. Then the National Park Service caught wind of the defiance and ordered it closed again.

[NKonIPad]

Love of country-- very important. So let's define terms shall we. Love of country fundamentally means one voluntarily gives more to his country than he demands in return. One lives an honest an decent life, working productively and raising children to understand those same moral civic and patriotic virtues. It also includes the duty to be charitable and voluntarily help others in need because of exigent circumstances out of their control. In return one demands the same from his countrymen and its institutions including that they respect his god given liberties. It is the opposite of 'love of country' to grab as much swag from others, with both hands, as possible before the roof caves in from national bankruptcy. That is disdain of country. The leaders of the Dem party disdain America, because they want to bust it out now and get paid befor the roof caves in and our kids are stuck with the disaster. I loathe them for that reason.

[narcisoM]

More wnadering mindtoughrs

http://hotair.com/archives/2013/10/08/obama-again-announces-hes-not-too-keen-on-workers-striking/

[Miss Marple]

henry and rse,

Much appreciate the link to rse's blog, which I have bookmarked. Indiana has put a "hold" action on Common core while its ramifications are further investigated, which of course caused howls from certain quarters but I think a much-needed action.

rse, I look forward to your book!

[Miss Marple]

I spent a fair amount of time this morning reading this excellent essay by Daniel Hannan in The New Criterion. It's titled "The Anglosphere Miracle" and I highl recommend it for both it's historical detail and the beauty of his writing:

http://www.newcriterion.com/articles.cfm/The-Anglosphere-miracle-7709

[AliceH]

--... they are required to close during the partial federal shutdown.--

Would it be too much to hope that the article mentions that this "requirement" is imposed per the discretionary judgment of the WH administration, or notes that no prior administration ever imposed this "requirement" in any past shutdowns?

[Extraneus]

DublinDave is just asking that the House pass a CR to fund the vet families. He's not the kind of guy who'd say "Why would I do that?"

[DrJ]

AliceH, yes, that is a bridge too far. I entered the fetid swamp of article comments at sfgate, and of course it is Boehner's fault. Those who pointed out rightly that this was a decision of the executive branch were harshly "disliked."

[centralcal]

Good on the Cliff House for trying to disobey their overlords and opening for at least 2 days. On the bright side re:the comment section, DrJ - there are not too many R votes in SF to begin with, so I doubt there will not be any "lost" due to the shutdown.

Cliff House used to be a favorite beginning point for dinner in SF. We would go there for cocktails only, just before sundown so we could watch the wonderful show in the sky.

[centralcal]

sorry about the double negative - not fully awake yet - "there will be any lost..."

[rse]

MM-

Great link and Hannan and I are on the same page about what is at risk and at stake. It is the Anglosphere that has been particularly targeted by the stories I tell and for the reasons that Hannan and I describe. The age of the individual is supposed to be over. The 21st century is to be the age when governments reassume direction of society and the economy.

I regularly come across references to emulating the Latin American model and have always assumed that the speaker knew little history and neither did his listeners. I also regularly come across acknowledgments that the model being pushed will be a return to a more feudal conception of the state but with lots of technology this time. The word feudal is actually used.

A little known fact from the book that I will share is that docs I have reveal the Common Core's creator's intention to adhere to the Maastricht covenants and view of the world and the citizen.

Because I write for a broad spectrum, I am deliberately snarkier than Hannan and have learned to use sentence fragments for point emphasis even though that's not my natural style. Thanks again. Cannot wait for that book.

[Trevor Saccucci]

I agree with DrK that it is high time Boehner specified just what cuts he wants to discuss.

If Obama or Reid come out with an eleventh-hour deal-like non-deal - the closest I think they'll come to an actual deal - I hope Boehner's counteroffer consists of only such cuts, and no debt ceiling increase. We've seen too many bad actions from our shut down government than should go unanswered.

P.S.: It occurred to me last night that my UBL-Obama comment upthread was applied Eric Hoffer, straight out of The True Believer; it's sad to see al Qaeda and some of our own government and sociopolitical structures fall under the same rubric.

[BR]

That is amazing about the Cliff House. It doesn't cost the govt anything; they're probably losing money by closing it.

[rse]

henry, ch, Dr J-any thoughts?

http://venturebeat.com/2013/10/03/intel-teams-up-with-arduino-to-promote-open-source-hardware-community/

[Porchlight]

I could be wrong about Boehner's next move but my bet is that he's going to take his time pulling the wings and legs off President Petulant. There really isn't any reason to rush.

Sure hope so, Rick.

[Porchlight]

DublinDave is just asking that the House pass a CR to fund the vet families.

They're way ahead of him. It's happening this week. And Reid won't bring a vote on it. Or if he does, the MSM will say "look how ethical and reeeeesonable" even though there are 8 other reasonable funding bills on Reid's desk that he won't even look at.

[Porchlight]

I agree with DrK that it is high time Boehner specified just what cuts he wants to discuss.

I don't agree. Not yet. As soon as he comes out with specifics, MSM will jump all over it and the media conversation will be all about the demands and how unreasonable they are. Obama would love that. Right now Repubs are keeping on message and the conversation is about the President's Petulance.

[henry]

rse, tablets and smart phones are killing Intel even more than Microsoft (which is dumping Ballmer and faces shareholder pressure to dump Gates). They have to do something to keep volumes up in their chip fabs. As far as open source hardware, why not? Most hardware and operating systems are overpriced for what is now a commodity.

[Porchlight]

Charlie Watts has always considered himself primarily a jazz musician. He's a rocker because that's where the excitement and the money are.

Watts is the best. Just listen to him and Keith go back and forth on "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" - incredible. After him, my favorites are Ringo, Bonham and Helm. I know, not very original. There are some modern guys too but not on that level.

[AliceH]

"Investigators say a four-year-old brought eight bags of crack cocaine and $173 to a Philadelphia grade school Tuesday morning and was showing it off to classmates."

He will be allowed back in school because he's just 4 yo, and it's not like he did something dangerous, like point his finger and say "bang" at somebody.

[AliceH]

I thought the House already passed 2 CRs that funded vet families, both voted down by partisan votes in the Senate.

The one they will be passing this week will be the 3rd. Democrats don't want to fund vet families.

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

I've seen Medved speak before and have no idea how or why he'd write an insultingly daft column like that. Maybe he's had one too many "Disagreement Days" and has turned into Poppin' Fresh.

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Ringo? Does Mr Porch know this?

[NK(tryin'2.0)]

House Repubs plus 20+ Dems have passed budget resolutions to fund top priorities. So 240+ members of the House are setting spending priorities. The fascist Dems refuse to prioritize, they just want to borrow and spend until national bankruptcy-- choosing Yellen is just more Dollar debasement to borrow, while consumers get killed by higher food and fuel costs. The Dems leaders disdain the country and its people-- they are in it strictly for their own power and wealth.

[MarkO]

I have wondered why the GOP message is not about what a terrible manager Obama is in the face of this temporary problem. Someone with a smidgeon of administrative competence could weather the storm without the disastrous effects we see. Something along those lines.

Two prongs. Obama won't negotiate and, worse, he can't manage the government so as to keep open the Lincoln Memorial.

[rse]

I would encourage anyone interested in economics or what the vision is to read Yellen's husband's Identity Economics book.

Very troubling vision which one can assume the new Fed Chief will also share.

[Trevor Saccucci]

NK,

I just read about Yellen's "elevation" on Drudge. So the prescription for our economic problems is the status quo of infinite dollars with value approaching zero, rather than a single coin with value approaching infinity. Why does this not console me?

[MarkO]

Did someone say Dr. K had gone soft?
Well,

"President Obama held an off-the-record meeting with five conservative journalists on Tuesday afternoon.

Present at the meeting were Charles Krauthammer, the Washington Post columnist and Fox News contributor; Paul Gigot, the Wall Street Journal editorial page editor; Robert Costa, the National Review's Washington editor; syndicated columnist Kathleen Parker; and Washington Examiner columnist Byron York, according to a source with knowledge of the meeting."

[GMax]

Drudge is blairing out at the moment a headline that basically says Obama support is collapsing down to 37%. Of course the AP story he links does not take that approach to the story but the poll does in fact exist and good on Matt Drudge to point out the people have had it with the tyrant.

hahahahaha

[peter]

I'll bet Peter UK knew quite a few of these boys at the LUN

[NK(tryin'2.0)]

The American people are wonderful, Obummer's a bastard. Obummer got 51+% of the vote and by the end of the year 55% 'approved' and hoped he would do the right things for the country and extended good will to him. Apolitical Americans did that becasue they are wonderful. 10 months later,after the abuses-- NSA spying, IRS cheating conservatives, Benghazi/IRS coverups, and the the gross incompetence, Snowden, Syria, ObummerCare rollout, and the hateful attempts at Tyranny-- the slimdown, NPS shutdowns, threats of debt default, he's spit in the face of almost 200million Americans who don't support him. No surprise, he's lost almost one third of americans willing to support him at the end of 2012. He's an Alinsky narcissis, who hates anyone who disagrees with him, and who does what he can to destroy them.He's the second worst POTUS in the history of the USA, and if he starts a civil war, he'll replace Buchanan as the worst.

[Extraneus]

The only one I trust out of that bunch is Byron York. I wonder why he was invited. To stiff the Washington Times?

[Trevor Saccucci]

Headlining Drudge now, an AP story - naturally titled "Poll: GOP Gets The Blame In Shutdown" - claiming 37 % approval for Obama: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=230635128. An outlier, or a pebble falling off a big heap of trouble piled up past its angle of repose, I wonder?

[DebinNC]

I'm reading of increasing "taking back" of Barrycaded places this morning, such as:

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/10/08/2013-battle-yorktown-restaurant-owner-defies-feds/

Also, gleeful pics being posted by folks playing hide and seek with Smokey the Stasi in national parks.

[NK(tryin'2.0)]

People here begrudge professional journalists/bloviators the opportunity to meet with with the POTUS? I don't get that.

[NK(tryin'2.0)]

"Smokey the Stasi" too funny.

[jimmyk on iPad]

"That is amazing about the Cliff House. It doesn't cost the govt anything; they're probably losing money by closing it."

Happening a lot. That Coyote Blog guy has been all over it (h/t Alice). This post points out that it's only the small operators that are getting the shaft.

http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2013/10/forest-service-closing-only-small-private-campground-operators-not-closing-large-ski-corporations-or-state-parks-that-operate-on-forest-service-land.html

[Extraneus]

This will cheer up DublinDave.

Military foundation offers to cover death benefits as lawmakers consider fix

House lawmakers are planning to vote Wednesday on a bill to restore funding for the payments. Speaker John Boehner blasted the Obama administration Tuesday for withholding the payments.

Boehner claimed a bill passed by Congress and signed by the president last week to pay America's troops should have given the Pentagon the latitude "to pay all kinds of bills, including this."

"I think it's disgraceful that they're withholding these benefits," Boehner said, urging Obama to sign the bill that the House will take up on Wednesday.

The bill would still have to pass the Senate before arriving on Obama's desk. If that bill fails to pass, the Pentagon says, families will be reimbursed once Congress passes an appropriations bill.

In the Senate, members of both parties lamented the impasse.

Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the lack of compensation for the families of five soldiers killed in Afghanistan over the weekend was "appalling."

"Shouldn't we be ashamed?" said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

"Your government has let you down in a time of your need," echoed fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, describing what his message to the families would be. Graham blamed Democrats, Republicans and Obama for the situation.

Etc.

[Trevor Saccucci]

GMax - I didn't see your comment while I typed mine, but better late than never!

[DebinNC]

"Smokey the Stasi" too funny.

Yes, I saw it here first. Wish I knew who to credit.

Barrycade ignorer pics: http://twitchy.com/2013/10/08/ha-check-out-whats-plastered-over-closed-sign-in-dc-barrycades-youre-doing-it-wrong-pics/