As soon as this debt ceiling/shutdown drama is in our rear view mirror Republican strategists can figure out how to exploit screw up the 24/7 story they have kept off the front pages for two weeks.
Not even Ezra Klein or the NY Times are willing to pretend the ObamaCare website roll-out is anything other than awful. Klein:
“One of the Obama administration’s jobs, separate from all of the political stuff we talk about here, is to simply run things like this well, to run their signature legislative initiative well,” he continued. “On that, so far, this has been a big failure.”
And the NY Times front-paged a story Sunday that will terrify anyone rooting for a quick comeback. Politics, poor decisions, and excessive optimism may have created a website problem that cannot be solved in a timely fashion:
For the past 12 days, a system costing more than $400 million and billed as a one-stop click-and-go hub for citizens seeking health insurance has thwarted the efforts of millions to simply log in. The growing national outcry has deeply embarrassed the White House, which has refused to say how many people have enrolled through the federal exchange.
Even some supporters of the Affordable Care Act worry that the flaws in the system, if not quickly fixed, could threaten the fiscal health of the insurance initiative, which depends on throngs of customers to spread the risk and keep prices low.
“These are not glitches,” said an insurance executive who has participated in many conference calls on the federal exchange. Like many people interviewed for this article, the executive spoke on the condition of anonymity, saying he did not wish to alienate the federal officials with whom he works. “The extent of the problems is pretty enormous. At the end of our calls, people say, ‘It’s awful, just awful.' ”
Some problems with politics:
To avoid giving ammunition to Republicans opposed to the project, the administration put off issuing several major rules until after last November’s elections. The Republican-controlled House blocked funds. More than 30 states refused to set up their own exchanges, requiring the federal government to vastly expand its project in unexpected ways.
The stakes rose even higher when Congressional opponents forced a government shutdown in the latest fight over the health care law, which will require most Americans to have health insurance. Administration officials dug in their heels, repeatedly insisting that the project was on track despite evidence to the contrary.
Within a few weeks we may see Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid demanding a delay to ObamaCare and Sen. Cruz insisting it proceed full speed ahead, over a cliff.
One example of the magical thinking and miserable leadership guiding this:
One highly unusual decision, reached early in the project, proved critical: the Medicare and Medicaid agency assumed the role of project quarterback, responsible for making sure each separately designed database and piece of software worked with the others, instead of assigning that task to a lead contractor.
Some people intimately involved in the project seriously doubted that the agency had the in-house capability to handle such a mammoth technical task of software engineering while simultaneously supervising 55 contractors. An internal government progress report in September 2011 identified a lack of employees “to manage the multiple activities and contractors happening concurrently” as a “major risk” to the whole project.
...By early this year, people inside and outside the federal bureaucracy were raising red flags. “We foresee a train wreck,” an insurance executive working on information technology said in a February interview. “We don’t have the I.T. specifications. The level of angst in health plans is growing by leaps and bounds. The political people in the administration do not understand how far behind they are.”
Can this be salvaged? The same people who assured us that all was well now assure us that all will soon be well, but the Times hears other voices, too:
Administration officials have said there is plenty of time to resolve the problems before the mid-December deadline to sign up for coverage that begins Jan. 1 and the March 31 deadline for coverage that starts later. A round-the-clock effort is under way, with the government leaning more heavily on the major contractors, including the United States subsidiary of the Montreal-based CGI Group and Booz Allen Hamilton.
One person familiar with the system’s development said that the project was now roughly 70 percent of the way toward operating properly, but that predictions varied on when the remaining 30 percent would be done. “I’ve heard as little as two weeks or as much as a couple of months,” that person said. Others warned that the fixes themselves were creating new problems, and said that the full extent of the problems might not be known because so many consumers had been stymied at the first step in the application process.
Time will tell. Just for a sense of how nasty the coverage can get, check this - the Weekly Standard got a Drudge link for this story about a relentless CNN reporter who can't get signed up:
Two Weeks Later, Reporter Still Can't Sign Up for Obamacare
The healthcare.gov website has been online for two weeks. But folks are having trouble signing up.
One person who says she's been trying for two weeks straight to sign up is CNN senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen.
Gee, her too? The NY Times story linked above included this detail:
Many users of the federal exchange were stuck at square one. A New York Times researcher, for instance, managed to register at 6 a.m. on Oct. 1. But despite more than 40 attempts over the next 11 days, she was never able to log in. Her last attempts led her to a blank screen.
I am sure we will learn that every major news outlet has a similar story to tell and will be ready to do so. Well, unless Ted Cruz kidnaps Sunny or Bo.
Not even Ezra Klein or the NY Times are willing to pretend the ObamaCare website roll-out is anything other than awful.
Really? Here's Bill Keller today:
And that's just the opening paragraph. Granted it's an opinion piece, but don't opinions have to be fact-based? Not in the NYT evidently.
Posted by: jimmyk | October 14, 2013 at 02:53 PM
--As soon as this debt ceiling/shutdown drama is in our rear view mirror Republican strategists can figure out how to exploit screw up the 24/7 story they have kept off the front pages for two weeks.--
The stories are one and the same. The debt ceiling/shutdown drama is a result of the Reps trying to protect us in some meager way from a hugely unpopular monstrosity and the Dems trying to ram that monstrosity down our throats.
Posted by: Ignatz | October 14, 2013 at 03:03 PM
"confirm that there is enormous popular demand"
Just as there is for subscribing to the NYT, as revealed by their loss statements. 404Care is targeted to the same sort of ever more selective audience.
Posted by: Account Deleted | October 14, 2013 at 03:05 PM
Looks like GOP is going to capitulate
Points to pound Democrats over the head over and over again per ObamaCare
- IRS involvement
- Vitter Amendment- 72% Obama subsidy giveaway to congress and staffers
- IPAB
- Individual Mandate (very, very unpopular)
- damage to job market
Posted by: Army of Davids | October 14, 2013 at 03:09 PM
A guy claims he went on the Obamacare website to look around but didn't buy. Result was $95 dun letter from IRS. http://tinyurl.com/py92jzq Go to 3:00. That if true should kill it off.
Posted by: Bob | October 14, 2013 at 03:09 PM
Bill Keller == Walter Duranty v2.0
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPhone | October 14, 2013 at 03:10 PM
Posted by: 1_cathyf_says_typepad_is_the_most_wonderful_software_in_the_world_2 | October 14, 2013 at 03:12 PM
Is there any evidence that "millions" have "enrolled"? As opposed to "got on the website," or "applied"?
Posted by: jimmyk | October 14, 2013 at 03:14 PM
Now hold on; I heard the Searchlight Pederast wheezingly claim that millions of people would love it once they started looking at it. I assume he was referring to 404Care.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPhone | October 14, 2013 at 03:16 PM
President Barry, head of the executive branch of the feds weighs in scornfully on the Redskin's name and yet our beloved Federal employees all get today off in honor of Columbus. Columbus, the murderer of millions of Indians, oops I mean American Indians, errr, Native Americans, no, wait, First Peoples, no, Indigenous Peoples, Jeez, First Nations, I give up,....Redskins, Columbus the murderer of millions of Redskins.
Ironic, no?
Posted by: Ignatz | October 14, 2013 at 03:18 PM
Paul Ryan saying House will ask for one year delay on Individual Mandate
Obama is trying to work through the capitulating Senate Republicans to squeeze the House.
Prioritization...nonsense on default...let October 17 come and go...only a failure to prioritize by Treasury/Obama/Lew will lead to debt default
Assuming accuracy....The House needs to hold that Individual Mandate line.
Posted by: Army of Davids | October 14, 2013 at 03:20 PM
Cathy wonderful..
The Senate/Reid do not want a delay on the individual mandate.
Posted by: Army of Davids | October 14, 2013 at 03:24 PM
Is there any evidence that "millions" have "enrolled"? As opposed to "got on the website," or "applied"?
None whatsoever. The last figure I heard was 51K *applications,* nothing on how many successful enrollments.
Posted by: Porchlight | October 14, 2013 at 03:28 PM
Tom McG,
Credit due for zeroing in on gold reserves
Treasury games are sickening per debt ceiling.
Failure to raise debt ceiling only means that the budget must now be balanced and that business as usual in DC is impaired.
The real "hostage takers" "putting a gun to the head" (of the U.S. citizen) are Democrats, DC insiders and bankers/primary dealers.
Posted by: Army of Davids | October 14, 2013 at 03:30 PM
I am sure we will learn that every major news outlet has a similar story to tell and will be ready to do so.
Are you? I have this weird feeling that when they no longer have the shutdown to bash Republicans with, they'll go strangely quiet on Obamacare.
But, we shall see.
Posted by: Porchlight | October 14, 2013 at 03:33 PM
I'd prefer they are all forced to sign up opposed to a one year delay.
Posted by: Jane-Rebel Alliance1 | October 14, 2013 at 03:34 PM
One year delay brings it up again before the 2014 election.
Posted by: Jane-Rebel Alliance1 | October 14, 2013 at 03:35 PM
"Looks like GOP is going to capitulate"
From Politico:
That's not capitulation. It starts the new year with the commies on their back foot and allows 404Care to sink a lot lower.
Posted by: Account Deleted | October 14, 2013 at 03:35 PM
I posted this a few minutes ago on the previous thread, but it seems relevant to this one as well:
"Do you think Republicans reading into the Congressional Record or making stump speeches about how the program will be a disaster would have been extensively covered by the media the way the defunding attempt was?"
No. I think that Republicans appearing on all the MSM Sunday shows, and on Fox News, and in their multiple print outlets with a unified, coherent message about the disaster that is Obamacare would have generated a national conversation, in which the MSM could not have escaped participation, about...well, the disaster that is Obamacare.
Instead, we had a brief period of Cruz talking about the disaster that is Obamacare, followed by a national conversation about...who will cave, what is a default, and who is to blame.
Hard for me to accept that this was wise.
Posted by: Danube on iPad | October 14, 2013 at 03:36 PM
Just wait Susan, Kelly and Lisa will step with a better idea any minute now...
Posted by: Gmax | October 14, 2013 at 03:38 PM
Harry Reid will never in a million years seek a one-year delay. As we have seen with breathtaking clarity, Obama himself can bring about such a delay unilaterally whenever he wants to, and no one can stop him.
Posted by: Danube on iPad | October 14, 2013 at 03:39 PM
***I am sure we will learn that every major news outlet has a similar story to tell and will be ready to do so.***
lol.
if only we had a media...
here is a sample article...http://www.allgov.com/news/where-is-the-money-going/7-government-it-projects-that-failedat-taxpayer-expense?news=839923
if my google scholar subscription were paid up I could find about 10 years of articles documenting government failure in big it projects.
Posted by: rich@gmu | October 14, 2013 at 03:42 PM
The party of McCain hasn't had a coherent and unified message since the Contract With America.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPhone | October 14, 2013 at 03:43 PM
Byron York wrote a great piece of contrafactual history, at the LUN.
I really do think that Ted Cruz might as well be a Manchurian candidate created by David Axelrod to destroy the conservative movement; it breaks my heart that so many JOM regulars seem to think that Cruz is sincerely interested in anything but his own self-aggrandizement. Cruz has done more to promote Obamacare than any Democrat. It's a shame.
Posted by: aged lurker | October 14, 2013 at 03:44 PM
Senate French Republicans are the weak link both in messaging and per capitulation.
Should also be cash on hand to go beyond October 17th (without prioritization)
If this goes to October 18th and nothing happens how does that change the game?
Is the 17% government shutdown really making that big a difference right now outside of DC?
Does anyone really miss the 90% of IRS and EPA employees who are on furlough?
Posted by: Army of Davids | October 14, 2013 at 03:46 PM
The concern trolls are shutdown proof
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPhone | October 14, 2013 at 03:50 PM
Zerohedge with a story from China's official press calling for a "de-Americanized" world and a new reserve currency.
The author also calls for;
Still awaiting comment from Japan, Taiwan, Viet Nam, Tibet, Inner Mongolia and China's western provinces.
Posted by: Ignatz | October 14, 2013 at 03:55 PM
Heh. Drudge:
Posted by: Extraneus | October 14, 2013 at 03:57 PM
...China is advocating that Japan, Taiwan, Viet Nam, Tibet, Inner Mongolia and China's western provinces all keep their hands off domestic affairs of China...
Posted by: 1_cathyf_says_typepad_is_the_most_wonderful_software_in_the_world_2 | October 14, 2013 at 03:58 PM
Anyone that uses acronyms like LUN and JOM probably isn't a troll.
But seriously, Cruz has done more to promote Obamacare than any Democrat? That's ludicrous. Obviously, without Democrats like Barack Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi we wouldn't have Obamacare at all.
Posted by: Porchlight | October 14, 2013 at 04:04 PM
(cont fm prev thread):
Celebs, Hollywood:
GOs-FOs:
any others?
Posted by: Sandy Daze | October 14, 2013 at 04:09 PM
it all but ensures a heated fight over whether to continue the unpopular [sequester] cuts in the new year
Says who, POLITICO? I love 'em and home they ratchet down every year for the next fifty years.
Posted by: Extraneus | October 14, 2013 at 04:14 PM
Jamie Weinstein wrote an even better piece on Cruz's serial dishonesty, at the LUN. Why are GOPers shooting ourselves in the head again?
Posted by: aged lurker | October 14, 2013 at 04:19 PM
Chuck Norris!
Posted by: Sue | October 14, 2013 at 04:19 PM
er, I know it's bad form to correct typos, but that would be "hope."
Posted by: Extraneus | October 14, 2013 at 04:20 PM
John Voight
Posted by: Sue | October 14, 2013 at 04:22 PM
If you're keeping score, that's the Pitzer Putz strumming the concern ukelele.
Posted by: Account Deleted | October 14, 2013 at 04:23 PM
I like to read GW read for the comments...
http://gretawire.foxnewsinsider.com/2013/10/14/here-is-what-senate-majority-leader-harry-reid-and-senate-minority-leader-mitch-mcconnell-just-said-click/
Posted by: OldTimer | October 14, 2013 at 04:23 PM
Egad, Cruz used the term Surrender Caucus to describe a bunch of invertebrates who routinely surrender to the Dems, which is how we have gotten to our present sorry state.
I imagine nearly everyone here has used a saltier term than that to describe the gutless wonders.
Posted by: Ignatz | October 14, 2013 at 04:27 PM
Thanks for sticking up for me, at least kind of, Porch. I occasionally responded to some of your comments (under a different handle, because I am a coward) during the campaign and especially when the stories about the HHS mandate on abortifacients broke. I was grateful that Christians like you were sticking up for pro-life Catholics, even when you kind of blamed the bishops for getting us into this mess. Obviously, Harry Reid and Pelosi and Obama and Stupak gave us this horrible law; my rhetoric was totally overheated (I lurk and don't comment until I'm too upset to think straight, much less write properly, so I'll go back to lurking after this.) But I am sincere: I think we would have had a much better chance of exposing Obamacare's massive flaws if Ted Cruz hadn't done his thing. The only way to get rid of Obamacare is to win the Senate and White House. Not an original thought, obviously. But I do not understand why anyone who says that (from George Will to Krauthammer to inarticulate me) is a RINO. I would not be so angry at Ted Cruz if I did not care so much about defeating Obamacare.
Okay, back to lurking. All the best.
Posted by: aged lurker | October 14, 2013 at 04:30 PM
"The party of McCain hasn't had a coherent and unified message since the Contract With America."
Common sense dictates that we choose, at every level, between the Democratic Party and the other one. If you choose to characterize the latter as being the party of McCain, so be it.
Is there a party of Cruz with a unified message? Will that party win a national election?
Posted by: Danube on iPad | October 14, 2013 at 04:31 PM
I think China is messing with India's water supply so that should go into Ignatz's mix.
Posted by: glasater | October 14, 2013 at 04:39 PM
Will that party win a national election?
I for one am quite ready to find out. We know the answer to the alternative, two elections in a row, now don't we?
Posted by: Gmax | October 14, 2013 at 04:41 PM
Is there a party of Cruz with a unified message? Will that party win a national election?
There's room for debate about Cruz's tactics, but I'd prefer the GOP to unify around Cruz than to unify around McCain. And I think the reports of "damage" from Cruz's tactics are greatly exaggerated, whereas the damage from Republican "leaders" attacking Cruz rather than Obama is very real.
Posted by: jimmyk | October 14, 2013 at 04:41 PM
I think we would have had a much better chance of exposing Obamacare's massive flaws if Ted Cruz hadn't done his thing.
I think that's somewhat silly.
No offense, but what planet are these people living on who think the press would do a full-court press on how much Ocare sucks? There have been a thousand outrages by this Admin before the Ocare crash and burn, how'd the MSM cover all of those?
Posted by: Some Guy | October 14, 2013 at 04:42 PM
Funny you talk about a unified message when Cruz has been attacked by Rove and his minions. One big happy family, right?
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPhone | October 14, 2013 at 04:43 PM
About the media coverage, Some Guy, is right. I especially love all the conservative journos and opinionistas who lament the shutdown press coverage completely obliterating the Ocare roll out fiasco. As AliceH asked a time or two on Twitter (and I am paraphrasing, but not quoting her), "what's stopping YOU from reporting it?"
It is utter fantasy for ANYONE to think the MFM would be reporting honestly on anything Obama related.
Posted by: centralcal | October 14, 2013 at 04:47 PM
I've got to wonder why the 'world' so so concerned about our not spending so much money which a debt ceiling default would certainly do.
We still have enough money to cover interest payments and important other obligations.
Posted by: glasater | October 14, 2013 at 04:47 PM
"Common sense dictates that we choose, at every level, between the Democratic Party and the other one."
http://www.brennancenter.org/legal-work/dnc-v-rnc-consent-decree
Posted by: Threadkiller | October 14, 2013 at 04:48 PM
Oh, Tom Maguire, you always make me chuckle--"...unless Ted Cruz kidnaps Sunny or Bo."
I wish I'd been born intelligent and witty. :)
Posted by: Joan | October 14, 2013 at 04:48 PM
Speaking of a "unified message", I wasn't the one going ballistic over Akin and Mourdock so I don't need to be hectored by somebody who did.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPhone | October 14, 2013 at 04:49 PM
"I imagine nearly everyone here has used a saltier term than that to describe the gutless wonders"
But only a limited few get chewed out for using language.
Posted by: Threadkiller | October 14, 2013 at 04:49 PM
I've got to wonder why the 'world' is so concerned about slowing down spending which a debt ceiling default would certainly do.
This 'world' has been worried about US profligate spending for a long time.
A default wouldn't mean we don't pay interest and major obligations.
Posted by: glasater | October 14, 2013 at 04:51 PM
You baited him, CH.
Posted by: Threadkiller | October 14, 2013 at 04:51 PM
OMG
Five thoughts on the Obamacare disaster
In the weeks leading up to the launch I heard some very ugly things about how the system was performing when transferring data to insurers — a necessary step if people are actually going to get insurance. I tried hard to pin the rumors down, but I could never quite nail the story, and there was a wall of official denials from the Obama administration. It was just testing, they said. They were fixing the bugs day by day.
According to Bob Laszlewski, those problems aren’t resolved. They’re just not getting much attention because the health-care law’s Web sites aren’t working well enough for people to get that far in the process.
When you’ve lost Ezra Klein, DC’s boy-version of “Chatty Cathy”, there is no defense.
Posted by: Neo | October 14, 2013 at 05:06 PM
Aged Lurker "I lurk and don't comment until I'm too upset to think straight, much less write properly, so I'll go back to lurking after this."
Hey cuz, you write just fine and should post more often. We love to argue with each other so long as we say what we think and think about what we say.
Except when DoT and TK are going at each other. Then we all revert to lurking until the storm blows through.
Posted by: Old Lurker | October 14, 2013 at 05:12 PM
Another side of the Sen Cruz debate.
"Ted Cruz Isn’t The Problem With The Republican Party; He’s The Solution"
Posted by: pagar 75 | October 14, 2013 at 05:22 PM
Is there a party of Cruz with a unified message?
If there were, it would be the only party with a unified message other than the Democrats, and I would heartily join it and support it.
Posted by: Extraneus | October 14, 2013 at 05:37 PM
Will the feds dock EBT card-holders who over-drew on their "benefits" during the "glitch," or will they simply stiff Walmart and let the looters keep the free stuff?
The question almost answers itself.
Posted by: Extraneus | October 14, 2013 at 05:41 PM
It's fautous that they would have admitted to this, it wasn't in the bill, we never figured connectiivty, would be even the 100th problem
Posted by: narciso | October 14, 2013 at 05:49 PM
test
Posted by: BB Key | October 14, 2013 at 05:50 PM
Hey, daddy, check out this dude that fought off a bear by grabbing its tongue and making him bite it.
link
Posted by: Extraneus | October 14, 2013 at 06:02 PM
Here's one take on how many have actually enrolled in Obamacare:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2013/10/14/how-many-people-have-enrolled-in-obamacare-an-early-look/
Even this rather sanguine take puts it in the thousands, as opposed to Keller's "millions." You get a bigger number if you include enrollees in expanded Medicaid, but that is hardly the core of 404Care.
Still, I know that some on the left are blaming states for (a) not setting up their own exchanges; (b) not going along with the Medicaid expansion. My response would be along the lines of "Since when can the Federal government just order states to do things (other than obey the Constitution)?" but I suspect the answer is "All the time." Still, the argument is maddening, because it suggests states should just be subservient to the wishes of Obama.
Posted by: jimmyk | October 14, 2013 at 06:04 PM
IMO, Obamacare is going to end all private business in the US.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/14/georgia-small-business-weighs-paying-obamacare-fine/
"Those penalties could add up to $400,000 in just the first year. That comes right off their bottom line. Still, it's a fraction of what providing health care could cost them. That tab could top $2 million per year. "
---------------------------------
Obamacare shock: $12,600 deductible, 40 percent co-pay, zero competition
http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2537200#.Ulv35lJHQWA.twitter
Posted by: pagar 75 | October 14, 2013 at 06:09 PM
"I think we would have had a much better chance of exposing Obamacare's massive flaws if Ted Cruz hadn't done his thing."
What "thing" was that. It appears he unified the GOP in the House, save one.
Two Dems voted for the defund?!?
Maybe Cruz's thing was creating bipartisanship.
I think the majority of people who are upset with Cruz don't understand the difference between a Senator and a Representative.
The House is calling the shots. Not Cruz. Calm down.
Posted by: Threadkiller | October 14, 2013 at 06:16 PM
jimmyk,
It may be that many are figuring out the 404Care exchange is a Parasites Only site. If there is no way you can figure out how to qualify as a parasite, then ehealth or direct contact with Friendly Fascist Insurance obviates the hassle factor.
The wholly unimpressive numbers for the functioning state sites support my hypothesis at this point.
Posted by: Account Deleted | October 14, 2013 at 06:25 PM
In the wake of the government shutdown, despite provisions in the Pay Our Military Act, Catholics at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia are being denied religious services. The Catholic priest who serves this community has been prohibited from even volunteering to celebrate Holy Mass without pay, and was told that if he violated that order, he could be subject to arrest. Protestant services continue to take place. Only Catholic services have been shutdown.
This is an astonishing attack on religious freedom by the federal government, and the latest affront towards the military since the beginning of the shutdown.
As a result, the Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, MI, today, filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Posted by: Sandy Daze | October 14, 2013 at 06:52 PM
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Father Ray Leonard, a Catholic priest contracted to serve as base chaplain and Fred Naylor, one of Father Leonard’s parishioners and a retired veteran with over 22 years of service. Fr. Leonard is a civilian Catholic Pastor contracted by the Department of Defense (DoD) to serve as a military chaplain at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia.
Fr. Leonard who served Tibetan populations in China for 10 years, informed the court in an affidavit; “In China, I was disallowed from performing public religious services due to the lack of religious freedom in China. I never imagined that when I returned home to the United States, that I would be forbidden from practicing my religious beliefs as I am called to do, and would be forbidden from helping and serving my faith community.”
On October 4, 2013, Fr. Leonard was ordered to stop performing all of his duties as the base’s Catholic Chaplain, even on a voluntary basis. He was also told that he could be arrested if he violated that order. The approximately 300 Catholic families, including Fred Naylor’s, served by Fr. Leonard at Kings Bay have been unable to attend Mass on base since the beginning of the shutdown.
Posted by: Sandy Daze | October 14, 2013 at 06:54 PM
Fr. Leonard was locked out of his on-base office and the chapel. Fr. Leonard was also denied access to the Holy Eucharist and other articles of his Catholic faith. The order has caused the cancellation of daily and weekend mass, confession, marriage preparation classes and baptisms as well as prevented Fr. Leonard from providing the spiritual guidance he was called by his faith to provide.
Posted by: Sandy Daze | October 14, 2013 at 06:55 PM
Is this how the Spitehouse "gets back" and Catholics and the military?
Posted by: Sandy Daze | October 14, 2013 at 06:57 PM
This is not just a Catholic fight...
Posted by: Sandy Daze | October 14, 2013 at 06:59 PM
First they came, quoting Martin Niemöller...
Posted by: Sandy Daze | October 14, 2013 at 07:01 PM
Aged Lurker,
I'm glad you posted, but I still love Cruz. Convince me I am wrong.
Posted by: Jane-Rebel Alliance1 | October 14, 2013 at 07:02 PM
And someone(s) thinks Cruz was out of line... The fight is some much bigger than just that...
Posted by: Sandy Daze | October 14, 2013 at 07:03 PM
Arvik Roy provides more details on the 404Care Parasites Only aspect. Ehealth publishes the metals prices for all states for those who wonder what reality looks like.
Posted by: Account Deleted | October 14, 2013 at 07:04 PM
quoting Churchill...
We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France in the Senate, we shall fight on the seas and oceans monuments and parks, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our islandway of life, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender
Posted by: Sandy Daze | October 14, 2013 at 07:06 PM
Back home after a 5 hour drive up 95. Listening to all the news, talk and analysis of this so-called deal I am left with one concern. There should be no deal that endangers the Speaker of the House Boehner. If you are going to cave, it has to be a cave that all House republicans can agree to and not one that only 20 do along with the Dems.
And regarding the Cruz effect that DoT believes will make 2016 unwinnable that is an opinion and like assholes we all have one. Myself, I am inclined toward the Cruz position. Its about time to hit the trip wire and go nuclear on the spending, the regulations, the deficit, the tax policy, the decline of our economy, our character and our respect around the world.
If Cruz is such a bad deal then give me the alternative. I think we are at a Patrick Henry moment and only the brave and committed will save this country. It is in deep jeopardy and the Memorial fiasco is a public example. Maybe trivial compared to the debt ceiling, the CR, the budget and extreme dsyfunctional governance but it is not an outlier of what the left's and Obama's plan is for all of us.
Posted by: Jim Eagle | October 14, 2013 at 07:08 PM
We must fight with everything we have, with every weapon we possess...
Posted by: Sandy Daze | October 14, 2013 at 07:08 PM
It's becoming more and more plain where the priorities are for our betters-the ones making laws that influence our daily lives.
The National Mall in DC is closed to the veterans that fought for our freedom, but opened up to a protest by those who are here illegally.
This isn't an accident. Those of us who favor free enterprise, the rule of law, and individual responsibility are being directed to the back of the line. Will we take our place there, or will we effect change? If the latter, what will it look like?
Posted by: Eric in Boise | October 14, 2013 at 07:19 PM
shocking Sandy Daze. had heard glad he is fighting back.
***As AliceH asked a time or two on Twitter (and I am paraphrasing, but not quoting her), "what's stopping YOU from reporting it?"***
waiting on the media to learn how to chew gum and walk at the same time.
Posted by: rich@gmu | October 14, 2013 at 07:19 PM
Haven't read the thread yet, but the takeaway for the Ted Cruz "fringe" (which includes me) will be and should be "Now you see why we fought so hard." This turkey isn't going away, and the Republicans who worry more about the news cycle than their basic principles should recognize that tactics mean little or nothing if nobody thinks you have any principles.
Posted by: boatbuilder | October 14, 2013 at 07:20 PM
JIB at 7:08 -- kudos. I'm going to use the following thought for my letter to Kelly Ayotte, newly-minted girl RINO:
"Its about time to hit the trip wire and go nuclear on the spending, the regulations, the deficit, the tax policy, the decline of our economy, our character and our respect around the world."
I've been mulling around about a letter to her, but I had my second eye done for cataracts last Tuesday, and my style has been severely cramped. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: MaryD | October 14, 2013 at 07:22 PM
Meanwhile, the moveon aspect, is noted as they turned up the two minute hate, on Bolton, after they gae to Nobel Peace Prize, to the outfit that failed to prevent the first use of chemical weapons in 25 years.
Posted by: narciso | October 14, 2013 at 07:23 PM
also in re: Cruz. not sure where I stand on the politics on the matter (conservative by temperment, booo), but it has focused the debate and jammed up a GOP reach-across-the-asile priority of immigration reform (amnesty).
I would contrast it with Paul's "filibuster" of Brennan earlier. He extracted a pretty much worthless statement from the administration and he was confirmed 63-34 shortly thereafter. Brennan is wholly unfit for the postition and has lots of question still to answer but Paul got his half day of kook stroking.
Posted by: rich@gmu | October 14, 2013 at 07:26 PM
narciso-
can't wait for the Russians to drop the evidence that the prize committee is corrupt and accepted bribes (esp when they do that for Obama's peace prize-it is only a matter of time).
Posted by: rich@gmu | October 14, 2013 at 07:30 PM
the news is a depressing read.
Posted by: rich@gmu | October 14, 2013 at 07:35 PM
This warning *** is part of the ObamaCare website terms and conditions.
That's right. It's in Invisotext!
lifted from the sidebar at the Ewok's shop via NRO. it just gets better and better (knew the warning would be the case but didn't think they would go to that extreme to hide it). Awesome. Just awesome.
Posted by: rich@gmu | October 14, 2013 at 07:40 PM
What Cruz is doing is exposing one layer at a time the squishes from Christie to Krauthammer to Douthat to York to Hume. But then he is a domestic violence abuser according to Babs.
She who once asked me during the Iraq hostage crisis (our people so I was involved) why Iran would want to hold our people hostage. She was not aware that Iran and Iraq were two separate countries since she had never heard of Iraq. She was one of our local Congress members back then.
Dumb as a rock as California proves everytime it re-elects her.
Posted by: Jim Eagle | October 14, 2013 at 07:40 PM
No I don't think they needed the brbe, they believe they a re good so it is, whereas someone who actually risked her life, like Mall yousafsai, they don't count.
Posted by: narciso | October 14, 2013 at 07:44 PM
If it wasn't for Cruz & Paul & Lee speaking up, I'd just about be done with the Republican party.
Posted by: Janet - It's not cheating, it's allowed,...& it's free! | October 14, 2013 at 07:48 PM
Same here, Janet.
Posted by: centralcal | October 14, 2013 at 07:49 PM
Sandy, Glad to hear someone is fighting the shutdown on the religious services.
------------------------
Be sure and read the link that Rick B. put up at 07:04 on the Obamacare mess. It should make your blood boil.
Posted by: pagar 75 | October 14, 2013 at 07:56 PM
While Cruz is not my cup of Tea Party, he made the focus of his crusade Obamacare -- which it should have been. It has been Ryan and Boehner who have shifted the focus to all sorts of different random stuff (Entitlement reform?? -- Mr. Ryan, I love ya, but that's an issue for 2015). I think they hurt themselves on the messaging by losing the thread of what they were fighting about.
Posted by: Appalled | October 14, 2013 at 07:58 PM
Someone needs to give Mitch McConnel the Congressional medal of honor.
He's literally saved America.
Posted by: DublinDave | October 14, 2013 at 07:59 PM
Without the ewok's steadying presence, Malor has gone full retard. It wasn't a long journey.
Posted by: Captain Hate on the iPhone | October 14, 2013 at 08:06 PM
aged lurker,
I do believe you're sincere. I think it's going to work out, though, at least in the short term. Getting rid of Obamacare in the long term was always going to be very difficult no matter what Cruz does or doesn't do. Right now the only thing that matters to me is that the Republicans are positioned as 100% against Obamacare, down the line. So far so good, even if they disagree on tactics.
I did kind of blame the bishops, didn't I - they were so very enthusiastic at first for what was obviously going to be a terrible law. I don't understand why anyone could pursue "social justice" (a term I despise) and then be surprised to end up being used as a tool by the left. But that is another discussion.
Posted by: Porchlight | October 14, 2013 at 08:08 PM
Ted Cruz gets nothing but kudos here.
The country is riddled w/ economic cancers.
Want to finally deal w/ these problems instead of let them fester and get worse?
We need more like him. Not more like mealy mouth French Republicans like Lindsey Graham or Mitch McConnell.
The leadership of the Democratic Party is not about taking prisoners. Cruz and Lee understand this. Too many GOP DC insiders either do not or more likely don't care...as long as they are invited to the right parties.
Posted by: Army of Davids | October 14, 2013 at 08:08 PM
Go Mary!
Posted by: Jane-Rebel Alliance1 | October 14, 2013 at 08:09 PM
Rick's 7:04 link is quite interesting. All this from the most transparent administration evah!
(Summary: The websites were designed to conceal from those ineligible for subsidies how expensive the insurance would be, while trumpeting low premiums only for the eligible. That contributed to a lot of the technical problems.)
Posted by: jimmyk | October 14, 2013 at 08:09 PM
wELL YES, BUT HE WAS PELTED WITH STONES FOR HIS TROUBLE,
rEMEMBER WE WERE STILL ON DELAY NOT DEFUND,
Posted by: narciso | October 14, 2013 at 08:10 PM