October 3-4, 2013
Oct 03 01:41 Obama, Reid, Pelosi refuse to budge Oct 03 02:05 Yada, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah Oct 03 11:03 Media's bias showing during gov't shutdown Oct 04 07:53 Who appointed Harry Reid dictator? Oct 04 11:42 Arbitrary choices, disastrous outcomes Oct 04 12:54 Welcome back, Jim. We've missed you.
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Obama, Reid, Pelosi refuse to budge
Wednesday afternoon, President Obama met with leaders from the House and Senate. With the potential to reach a deal hanging over the table, President Obama, Sen. Reid and Minority Leader Pelosi took the hardline position that they'll only accept a clean continuing resolution, aka CR. After the meeting, Speaker John Boehner made a brief statement:
Here's what he said:
SPEAKER BOEHNER: You know, in times like this, the American people expect their leaders to come together to find ways to resolve their differences. The President reiterated one more time tonight that he will not negotiate. We've got divided government. Democrats control the White House and the Senate. Republicans control the House. We've sent 4 different proposals to our friends in the Senate. They rejected all of them. We've asked to go to conference to try to sit down and resolve our differences. They will not negotiate. We had a nice conversation, a light conversation, but, at some point, we've got to allow the process that our founders gave us to work out. We've appointed conferees on the House side to sit down with our Senate colleagues. It's time for them to appoint conferees. Now all we're asking for here is a discussion and fairness for the American people under Obamacare. I would hope that the President and my Democratic colleagues in the Senate would listen to the American people and sit down and have a serious discussion to resolve these differences.
President Obama and Sen. Reid have acted like spoiled brats throughout these 'negotiations', if you can call them that. Their behavior is best summed up with this sentence: They want what they want when they want it. They aren't interested in treating all Americans the same way. The Senate has voted to keep their special exemption from the Affordable Care act while subjecting American families to the Affordable Care Act.
What President Obama and Sen. Reid essentially are saying is that they're entitled to be treated like royalty. With families struggling, it's difficult seeing the American people agreeing that Washington's disfunctional elites deserve special treatment.
Sen. Reid's meanspiritedness was displayed Wednesday when he was asked by CNN's Dana Bash why he wouldn't fund the National Institutes of Health to help save children with cancer . Here's what he said:
BASH: But if you could help one child with cancer, why wouldn't you do it?
SEN. REID: Listen, why would we want to do that?
Sen. Reid's reply will make tons of ads for Republican Senate candidates. If they're smart, they'll say something like this: When House Republicans tried funding health care for children with cancer, [Mark Pryor, Kay Hagan, Mary Landrieu, etc.] sided with Sen. Reid to deprive these children of the treatments they need.
It's time for President Obama, Sen. Reid and Minority Leader Pelosi to stop acting like spoiled brats and pawns of DC's special interests. It's time for them to act like leaders. Unfortunately, I don't think they're interested in that.
Posted Thursday, October 3, 2013 1:41 AM
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Yada, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah
Mark Jaede's Flashpoint editorial is straight from Democrat Talking Points Central:
The House GOP should immediately pass a clean appropriations bill. It is shameful that they started this blackmail to begin with.
Making government function is the first responsibility of elected officials. There is no reason to delay ACA. It is the law of the land, it has been upheld by SCOTUS, and the country just re-elected the president who sponsored it in an election that focused on ACA.
First, Prof. Jaede should read the Constitution. Then he should consult a dictionary. Here's the primary definition of blackmail :
any payment extorted by intimidation, as by threats of injurious revelations or accusations.
Does Prof. Jaede think Speaker Boehner is using intimidation and threats of injurious revelations? If he does, then he needs to supply proof supporting that foolish accusation. If he doesn't have proof, which is likely, he should apologize for making that type of incendiary comment.
As to delaying the Affordable Care Act, Prof. Jaede apparently hasn't been watching the disastrous rollout of the health insurance exchanges. Their software isn't functional. Essential pages won't load. The websites' servers crash frequently. What part of that suggests that the exchanges are ready for primetime?
Finally, Republicans know it's the law of the land. Laws get changed every day. Does Prof. Jaede think that the Affordable Care Act should never be touched and then, only by Democrats and subservient Republicans?
I'd suggest that Prof. Jaede put some thought into his next editorial. It's apparent he didn't with this one.
Posted Thursday, October 3, 2013 2:05 AM
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Media's bias showing during gov't shutdown
This article shows how biased the media is in reporting the shutdown:
NPR's Mara Liasson explained the situation on Morning Edition: Republicans say they'll only fund the government if they can kill or delay the Affordable Care Act, and Democrats "aren't in the mood to rescue the Republicans from the box they've got themselves in."
Liasson isn't stupid but that's some of the most foolish-sounding reporting I've ever heard. Republicans aren't in a box, at least one where they need to be rescued from.
On the other hand, Democrats keep digging deeper and deeper holes for themselves. Any time that Harry Reid is telling reporters that he isn't interested in funding the NIH so that children with cancer could get cured isn't a good day for the Democrats. Each time President Obama plays the role of spoiled brat who won't negotiate with Republicans, Republicans have a good day.
Then there's the disastrous rollout of the Affordable Care Act's exchanges. Each day, people get frustrated with the websites. They encounter long delays or, worse, crashed websites. While President Obama insists that the House pass a clean continuing resolution, the reality that the exchanges aren't ready for primetime sets in more and more.
Obama also said that he would not negotiate with Republicans over a budget until they reopen the government and agree to raise the debt ceiling.
He said he would not negotiate now because he was not going to allow a faction from one party to "extort concessions."
Mr. President, what you call extorting concessions is frequently considered routine negotiations. Further, Republicans are simply asking that Democrats agree to a year delay while the Obama administration gets the exchanges functioning properly. That isn't an unreasonable demand. In fact, it's the only legitimate option.
If Ms. Liasson paid attention to what's happening, she'd notice that President Obama and Sen. Reid are creating a PR nightmare.
Yesterday, Harry Reid responded to a question from CNN's Dana Bash, who asked why they wouldn't fund the NIH. Sen. Reid's response was "Why would we do that?"
In Tuesday, President Obama ordered the World War II Memorial barricaded. The goal was to prevent World War II vets being flown in by Honor Flight from visiting the memorial built in their honor by private funds. Members of Congress ignored the order and helped the veterans visit their memorial.
Again, that's a PR nightmare for this administration.
Returning to Ms. Liasson's quote, I'd argue that it's President Obama and Sen. Reid who need rescuing from their pettiness and their acting like spoiled brats. She'd know that if she paid attention to President Obama and Sen. Reid. They're acting like petulant little spoiled brats.
Finally, Ms. Liasson should read Legal Insurrection's post . It highlights the Democrats' incendiary rhetoric:
1. 'Unhinged' Arsonists (Wasserman-Schultz)
2. Insane People Who 'Have Lost their Minds' (Harry Reid)
3. 'People with a Bomb Strapped to their Chest' (aka Terrorists)(Dan Pfeiffer)
4. Blatant Extortionists (Jay Carney)
5. 'Legislative Arsonists' (Nancy Pelosi)
It's likely that Ms. Liasson's job description includes frequently kissing up to President Obama and his allies in the House and Senate but is it too much to ask her to talk about the Democrats' petulant behavior?
Posted Thursday, October 3, 2013 11:03 AM
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Who appointed Harry Reid dictator?
The Democrats' allies in the Praetorian Guard, aka the formerly mainstream media, won't admit to this phenomenon. They won't even report it. That won't prevent real journalists, aka citizen journalists, from saying what's happening. What's happening is that Harry Reid is acting like a dictator :
Senate Democrats blocked four resolutions to fund government programs, including paying the National Guard and opening national parks, as Republicans offered the limited measures in an attempt to win the government shutdown fight by financing popular programs and leaving those they oppose untouched.
'Unbelievably, today Senate Democrats went on record to oppose funding for National Guard and Reserve salaries, veterans' services, lifesaving medicine and cures, and national parks and museums," Senate Republican Conference chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said in a release following the procedural battle.
"Congress unanimously passed a bill to ensure active-duty military personnel are paid during this lapse in government funding, and it's unclear why Senate Democrats wouldn't pass similar measures to fund these important services,' Thune said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., asked for unanimous consent to pass funding for the Veterans Affairs Department and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, requested unanimous consent to pass a bill funding the national parks and monuments. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., rejected both.
"Senator Reid is countering Republicans' UC request with a request to pass a clean [continuing resolution] that reopens the entire government," Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson.
Sen. Reid isn't willing to negotiate. He isn't willing to accept anything that isn't exactly what he wants. Sen. Reid's position is identical with President Obama's no-negotiations position, meaning President Obama and Sen. Reid don't like the Constitution. Specifically, they've proven their disrespect for Article I, Sect. 7 which states:
All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States: If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Clearly, the men that wrote the Constitution placed as much power, if not more, in the hands of the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives ins't the Senate's weak sister. The Senate doesn't dictate what happens in the House.
Apparently, Sen. Reid thinks he's entitled to dictate terms of the continuing resolution. Obviously, he's wrong. He can thwart the People's House, which is broken into districts, not states. Members of the People's House are elected every 2 years, which forces them to keep in touch with their districts.
If the national media, aka the Agenda Media, was interested in things other than DC echochamber gossip, they'd be covering how pigheaded Sen. Reid has been. Unfortunately, they've largely ignored Sen. Reid's behavior, rather focusing on the alleged pickle Republicans are in.
Here's a suggestion for the Agenda Media. Focus on whether the things that Republicans are proposing are reasonable. They won't do that because that might ruin their storyline. It might cast Sen. Reid, not Republicans, in a negative light. That they won't do.
Posted Friday, October 4, 2013 7:53 AM
Comment 1 by walter hanson at 04-Oct-13 04:23 PM
Gary:
Keep in mind Harry thinks that he is the dicatctor of the US Senate. After all he writes the important bills, the amendments that get voted on have to be approved by him, etc.
The bigger question you should ask Gary and maybe you can call Senator Franken and Senator Amy K and ask them why are you being quiet about the horrible things that Harry Reid is doing?
Their staff might have to pay attention to a blogger like you.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Arbitrary choices, disastrous outcomes
With President Obama and Senate Democrats insisting that the budget can't be done by piecemeal, it's time to inject truth into the conversation. Certainly, President Obama and Senate Democrats know that they're lying. This video shows how wedded to the spin Democrats are:
Here's what Sen. Landrieu, (D-LA), said :
Asked Thursday morning at a press conference if she would vote for the NIH or veterans affairs bills, Landrieu told THE WEEKLY STANDARD, "I would not. This cannot be done by piecemeal and should not be done by piecemeal. What part is more important than the next?" Landrieu said.
"Many of us could argue while those might be important issues, and they are, what's more important than millions of small businesses who undergird the entire economy of the United States?" Landrieu asked, flanked by a group of small business owners.
Landrieu said that "the Tea Party has to understand that they cannot hold government and our private partners--which are many from big companies like Boeing and Lockheed to small companies that are represented here--hostage over their inability to get a law that they don't like amended."
"It is my hope--my hope--that many brave men and women in the Republican party will stand up and close this Tea Party down," Landrieu said.
TRANSLATION: We don't want to do this a bill at a time. It isn't that we can't do it. It's that we've chosen not to do it that way.
Throughout this shutdown, Democrats have refused to explain their substantive objections are to doing this one appropriations bill at a time. They've hinted at what their political motivations are for being pigheaded but that's a different matter.
People don't care about the political back-and-forth of the issue. They care about the House, Senate and President Obama working together to solve problems.
Democrats think that they're winning this fight. They aren't. At best, the American people are looking at Washington, DC and thinking 'a pox on all their houses.' If that's the Democrats' definition of winning, that's a warped definition of winning.
From a substantive perspective, Republicans can say that they want the individual mandate delayed a year because the health insurance exchanges aren't working. There's no denying that. That's been on display since the early morning hours of Tuesday .
What's disheartening is that the media isn't talking about the Democrats' mean-spiritedness and stubbornness, not to mention how the Democrats' arbitrary choices are hurting people. Instead, they're busy writing about Republicans putting themselves in a political cul-de-sac.
My question for the media is simple. Why doesn't they care about substance anymore? My question for Democrats is even simpler. Why don't they care about doing what's right for the American people?
Posted Friday, October 4, 2013 11:42 AM
Comment 1 by walter hanson at 04-Oct-13 04:17 PM
Gary:
Technically because the Republicans have been trying to make a deal they said okay how about we remove the special exemption that Obama has illegally created for Congress while we pass the CR. You know make members of Congress and staff live under the Obamacare rules instead of having their seperate plan.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Comment 2 by walter hanson at 04-Oct-13 04:21 PM
I wonder if Mary is thinking if I want to avoid a primary and get money for 2014 that I have to keep doing these stupid things!
It might get her money and no candidate, but boy after two tough reelection fights you think she might have thought I don't want to throw away my reelection.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Comment 3 by J. Ewing at 05-Oct-13 10:23 AM
The government CAN be funded one agency at a time-- "piecemeal"-- and in fact that is the way it is normally done. It could be done that way now but Harry Reid has said he will not "fall for that strategy" because that would leave the whole government funded except for Obamacare. And the problem with that? Isn't it obvious? Since that is the only difference between the "clean CR" he wants and the House bill, isn't that the debate we should be having, without all of the theatrics? Really, it's the Theatre of the Absurd.
Response 3.1 by Gary Gross at 05-Oct-13 10:55 AM
Jerry, check out my latest post. It's the fight I'm picking, complete with insurance premium prices.
Welcome back, Jim. We've missed you.
I've enjoyed Jim Hoft's blogging for years. Without question, he's one of the best bloggers in the nation. That's why it's been difficult the last month or so. Jim's been dealing with a series of serious health issues, which he writes about in this post .
My first thought in reading Jim's post was 'Thank God for big miracles.' While I visited his blog frequently because I love the content, I especially looked forward to updates on Jim's health. The last couple of updates from his friends said that he's healing and on the right path. That brought a smile to my face.
This morning's post, though, was dramatically different. There it was. Something posted by Jim. Just the thought that Jim will recover is great news. This paragraph, though, is inspiring even though Jim talks about a dark time:
Much of late August through September was blurry for me. I was very, very sick. I prayed, and prayed, and prayed, but was not sure if I was going to make it. It was such a dark, lonely place. But in the end, prayer won.
In the end, prayer wins indeed. That type of inspiration puts me in a better place fast. Thanks, Jim, for that inspiration. It couldn't have happened at a better time.
To Jim, I have a simple wish. Continue letting go and letting God. You've already done a bunch of that. This isn't the time to stop. Know that you continue to be in my prayers.
Finally, welcome back. As you note, the fight continues. The good guys, us, need Jim Hoft back in whatver amount you're physically able to handle. It's great to have you back.
Posted Friday, October 4, 2013 12:54 PM
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