On the big issue of whether government serves the people or whether people serve the government, it’s clear where the folks at MSNBC stand. No one loves big government the way MSNBC loves big government.

Republicans and Democrats alike will take a political hit from this. The Republicans have been able to propose legislation in the House now for a few weeks and instead of dealing with the 2011 budget issues they’ve staved them off for silly, political votes on repealing healthcare and other promises in their New Contract.

Boehner will be the hardest hit for his “read my lips” statement and following that with “so be it”, referring to government employees losing their jobs in the meantime. But if they come up with their own budget and get it through the House and it stalls in the Senate the Dems will be sharing in the blame game.

Before this gets too out-of-hand, I believe Boehner will reach a compromise for a short-term budget but it’ll be limited to defense, employees’ wages and other essential, short-term spending. Democratic leaders in congress are whetting their lips at this thinking “Ooh, now it’s their turn to take some heat” but really they will need to give up some of the things they want as well; that’s the nature of compromise.

I just hope they get this sorted before March 4th because, as Frances wrote, if a single person loses their job because of politically ideological bickering there will be hell to pay.

Nice try Larry, but you don’t understand. Most of us, (otherwise known as “the majority” now) don’t give a flying fark if it comes to what you describe as a “shutdown”.

Worlds will not collide, babies will not starve, lights will not get turned off, etc.

You lie.

And these people have the nerve to talk about Fox being bias!

Shut It down! And don’t forget to turn off the lights when you leave… (got to save energy you know)

timzank said:
Nice try Larry, but you don’t understand. Most of us, (otherwise known as “the majority” now) don’t give a flying fark if it comes to what you describe as a “shutdown”.

Worlds will not collide, babies will not starve, lights will not get turned off, etc.

You lie.

Social Security checks will stop going out, because the government employees who send them out will stop getting paid in a government shut down. The most reliable voting bloc for the GOP are senior citizens.

John Boehner will be saying “NO” to Grandma.

–Cobra

OMG, I am beginning to miss Keith Olbermann!

Cobra said:
Social Security checks will stop going out, because the government employees who send them out will stop getting paid in a government shut down. The most reliable voting bloc for the GOP are senior citizens. John Boehner will be saying “NO” to Grandma. –Cobra

Do you think there is a “switch” on the wall? Nobody will go without anything.

jo hoochie said:
And these people have the nerve to talk about Fox being bias!

And when did MSNBC ever call themselves “Fair & Balanced”?

Oh that’s right…never.

The GOP death panel. Granny doesn’t get her SS check on time. No money, no food for Granny and Grandpa. The GOP is willing to kill Vets and seniors. Whose your death panel Daddy now?

@ huntington

So what you’re saying is you hope this falls through, because the death (your word) of “Granny and Grandpa” can be used to score political points.

Interesting. The GOP demanding a buget… versus you looking to score political points. Yes, clearly you hold the high road.

huntingtonboy said:
The GOP death panel. Granny doesn’t get her SS check on time. No money, no food for Granny and Grandpa. The GOP is willing to kill Vets and seniors. Whose your death panel Daddy now?

You have no clue on the workings of Government do you???

Socialist the world over are all the same. With out daddy government, their world comes to an end….

Let me see if I have this right, when the democrats were in control it was up to the republicans to agree with them. Now that the republicans are in control of just ONE house it is up to the republicans to agree with the democrats again? Hmmmm?

I realize it’s popular for nincompoops to congregate, bash the government and delight in it’s possible closure, but there are thousands of consequences to consider. Business traffic into and outside of the US is considerable. In my smallish industry alone, there are two (2) big trade shows and conferencews coming up in Germany and in Atlanta. The Europeans are already querying about whether they ought to cancel, whether Immigration, Customs and TSA will be functioning. Factor this across all business travelers in all industries. Sounds like Boehner & Company are setting their sights into throwing us into the old Double Dip, doesn’t it? And, before you denounce that as some partisan scare tactic, I would call your attention to the Austerity Program in the UK, now in its 3Q. GNP down three (3) straight quarters. Inflation up. Employment down. Looks like Boehner and the Republicans need to find some model other than the Cameron and Tory model. That led the UK into a Double Dip. It will the US as well.

The Real Royal King said:
I realize it’s popular for nincompoops to congregate, bash the government and delight in it’s possible closure, but there are thousands of consequences to consider. Business traffic into and outside of the US is considerable. In my smallish industry alone, there are two (2) big trade shows and conferencews coming up in Germany and in Atlanta. The Europeans are already querying about whether they ought to cancel, whether Immigration, Customs and TSA will be functioning. Factor this across all business travelers in all industries. Sounds like Boehner & Company are setting their sights into throwing us into the old Double Dip, doesn’t it? And, before you denounce that as some partisan scare tactic, I would call your attention to the Austerity Program in the UK, now in its 3Q. GNP down three (3) straight quarters. Inflation up. Employment down. Looks like Boehner and the Republicans need to find some model other than the Cameron and Tory model. That led the UK into a Double Dip. It will the US as well.

And remember, this model is disastrous not just for the UK. Japan’s recovery in the late 80′s stalled and resulted in the Economic Lost Decade of the ’90′s.

Once people stop getting their social security checks and money stops going out the sh*t will hit the fan. The Republicans will be scrambling around to keep the government open for business with a temporary bill. A lot of those Tea Party people rely on social security. They may talk tough but they don’t want the lights to going out on them.

You do realize that the supposed government shutdown day is March 4 and Social Security checks are mailed or direct deposited March 1. Those members of society getting the SS payments won’t have a problem until April.

Unless Obama orders the Office of Management and Budget to redefine the meaning of “essential services and personnel”, these are the services and personnel that will continue to function:

The CRS report is explicit regarding those government services that will not be disrupted. Cut and pasted directly from the report:

Essential Services and Personnel

A 1980 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum defines “essential” government services and “essential” employees as those: http://democrats.rules.house.gov/Archives/98-844.pdf

providing for the national security, including the conduct of foreign relations essential to the national security or the safety of life and property;
providing for benefit payments and the performance of contract obligations under no-year or multi-year or other funds remaining available for those purposes;
conducting essential activities to the extent that they protect life and property, including:
medical care of inpatients and emergency outpatient care;
activities essential to ensure continued public health and safety, including safe use of food, drugs, and hazardous materials;
continuance of air traffic control and other transportation safety functions and the protection of transport property;
border and coastal protection and surveillance;
protection of federal lands, buildings, waterways, equipment and other property owned by the United States;
care of prisoners and other persons in the custody of the United States;
law enforcement and criminal investigations;
emergency and disaster assistance;
activities that ensure production of power and maintenance of the power distribution system;
activities essential to the preservation of the essential elements of the money and banking system of the United States, including borrowing and tax collection activities of the Treasury; and
activities necessary to maintain protection of research property.

Let me be absolutely clear here. There will be no disruption in Social Security, welfare, civil service retirement, or any other kind of open-ended mandatory program payments. The mail will not stop because the Post Office is largely self-funding (with you know, those stamps you buy to mail things with). Air traffic controllers will not go on furlough, jets will keep flying, the Border Patrol will keep on attempting to secure the border that Janet Napolitano wants unsecured, and our military will stay in the fight, however poorly and treasonously led by the current Commander-in-Chief.
http://anotherblackconservative.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-happens-when-government-shuts-down.html

The Real Rabid Kook said:
Sounds like Boehner & Company are setting their sights into throwing us into the old Double Dip, doesn’t it?

They’ve done their job, Kook. If there’s a shutdown, it won’t be them that did it. You need to be looking at Harry Reid and Barack Obama. But they, like your WI brethren, don’t seem to be capable of accepting election results when they lose.

Yoda002 said:
The Republicans will be scrambling around to keep the government open for business with a temporary bill.

You mean like the Democrats were doing two months ago after failing to prepare a budget at all? The Republican House has done it’s job. Send your complaints to the Senate Majority Leader.

josecuervoisgood said:
You do realize that the supposed government shutdown day is March 4 and Social Security checks are mailed or direct deposited March 1. Those members of society getting the SS payments won’t have a problem until April.

Sorry you are wrong. Not all SS checks go out the first. They are staggered through the month. Mine comes out the second Wednesday of each month.

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BlackWidow said:
Sorry you are wrong. Not all SS checks go out the first. They are staggered through the month. Mine comes out the second Wednesday of each month.

Why does it not surprise me you are a recipient.

BlackWidow said:
Sorry you are wrong. Not all SS checks go out the first. They are staggered through the month. Mine comes out the second Wednesday of each month.

Are they made out to PamAlexander or Carol West ?

timzank said:
Why does it not surprise me you are a recipient.

And when your time comes to collect are you going to turn it down? I feel rather confident that you won’t. Just as your buddy in arms Gordo is collecting his. And the argument was he paid into it so he is entitled to collect it. No argument here.

sarainitaly said:
Let me be absolutely clear here. There will be no disruption in Social Security, welfare, civil service retirement, or any other kind of open-ended mandatory program payments. The mail will not stop because the Post Office is largely self-funding (with you know, those stamps you buy to mail things with). Air traffic controllers will not go on furlough, jets will keep flying, the Border Patrol will keep on attempting to secure the border

I belive that it depends on whether it is a partial shutdown or full shut down.

sarainitaly said:
Unless Obama orders the Office of Management and Budget to redefine the meaning of “essential services and personnel”, these are the services and personnel that will continue to function: The CRS report is explicit regarding those government services that will not be disrupted. Cut and pasted directly from the report: Essential Services and Personnel A 1980 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum defines “essential” government services and “essential” employees as those: http://democrats.rules.house.gov/Archives/98-844.pdf Let me be absolutely clear here. There will be no disruption in Social Security, welfare, civil service retirement, or any other kind of open-ended mandatory program payments. The mail will not stop because the Post Office is largely self-funding (with you know, those stamps you buy to mail things with). Air traffic controllers will not go on furlough, jets will keep flying, the Border Patrol will keep on attempting to secure the border that Janet Napolitano wants unsecured, and our military will stay in the fight, however poorly and treasonously led by the current Commander-in-Chief.http://anotherblackconservative.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-happens-when-government-shuts-down.html

Your utter vapidity and insipidity is a source of continual amazement to all of us. You are dealing not with law but by the interpretation of law thirty (30) years ago by an administrative agency. Since you are a poor researcher and often fail to disclose your background sources, I assume this started out by your reading some self-serving tripe by a far rightist politician trying to calm the understandable fear of social security recipients and/or gouvernment employees in his or her district who then throw out this drivel. You don’t live in the US, so you are not particularly concerned about whether the US gouvernment shuts down or not. Perhaps, you will become more attuned to the consequences when your family in Seattle begins to suffer should a shut down occur. Of course, with you, probably not, and you’d certainly never admit it. *rock ‘n roll* :)

Shouldn’t that be ‘rouck and roull’?

Kat said:
And when your time comes to collect are you going to turn it down? I feel rather confident that you won’t. Just as your buddy in arms Gordo is collecting his. And the argument was he paid into it so he is entitled to collect it. No argument here.

I shouldn’t be too concerned. Tim’s point was simply to make it clear to you that you are a welfare sponge and scummy residue.

Now post as Bovine, so you can do some swearing.

As I worked my through reputable newspapers and watched some of the talking heads this morning, I am not at all convinced that we have a shut down certain. There will be at least one CR, perhaps more, and, in the end, Boehner will compromise significantly. Of course, that will enrage the Tea Partiers, but they are perpetually enraged anyway.

Most assouroueredly.

The Real Royal King said:
Your utter

Ahhhh …the heady brew of misogyny and internet bravado, perfect for a Sunday morning .

@ Royal

And here I thought you had a job of “national importance.” Isn’t that what you told me?

I wonder, what “smallish industry” leaves you in a position of national importance… over seas?

Yet again… your stories fall appart.

I understand why you are so disappointed with your life, but it helps you not to project your own shotcomings and failures on me. You would do better to focus on improving yourself.

writer said:
Most assouroueredly.

No, I didn’t use “udder”.

@ Royal

My “shotcomings?” See… it’s like I’ve been saying, you’re faultering… way off your game.

Oh well, your BS stories are falling appart. Perhaps it’s time to retire the King, and move to another personality before it’s too late.

He could always post as Bovine again. In that persona, he gives in more to his meanness, rather than tempering it by trying to impress us with his status on the world stage.

George C said:
Are they made out to PamAlexander or Carol West ?

Helen Thomas.

I’m not fully convinced that a government shut-down would be a terrible thing. It’s happened before, and most people weren’t even aware of it.

As long as the borrowing shuts down, too.

And Federal payment of emoluments to all members of Congress and policy makers in the Executive and Judicial branches.

The Real Royal King said:
As I worked my way through reputable newspapers…

Oxymoron alert, Aisle 6.

The Real Royal King said:
Your utter vapidity and insipidity is a source of continual amazement to all of us.

Cool sentence, full of haughty, elite words like ‘vapidity’ and ‘insipidity.’ I’m suitable impressed. But before you toss in phrases like ‘all of us,’ you might want to make sure that ‘all of us’ agree with you. Those little red & green numbers aside each of your posts declare otherwise.

Cobra said:
John Boehner will be saying “NO” to Grandma.

.
Well, if it comes to that b/c the Dems just refuse to face the hard facts this is one “Grammie” who will hoist a few Absoluts on the rocks in his honor.

We are not all selfish whining gimme, gimme gimme parasites!

Like I posted above:

For all the political drama and rhetoric, the actual stakes of a shutdown are not so dire for ordinary Americans. The military would stay active, interstate highways would remain open and government checks would be issued, although new applicants for benefits under programs such as Social Security might have their sign-ups delayed.

In fact, the federal government has had more than a dozen “shutdowns” since 1981. Some lasted only hours, and few are remembered.

Hundreds of thousands of “non-essential” federal workers were furloughed for three weeks, from mid-December to early January. (Some workers eventually received back pay for missed days). National parks, museums, passport offices and other agencies closed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41696416/ns/politics/

CAconservative said:
I’m not fully convinced that a government shut-down would be a terrible thing. It’s happened before, and most people weren’t even aware of it.

Haha, Oh man, you people just have no clue huh? What do you think happens when there is no government? Anarchy. All brought on by the Tea Party idiots finally getting positions of power..

Get ready for a lot more weird **** as Tea Party amateurs completley **** up the states they are now in charge in.

Really scary stuff, the Tea Party is going to bring America’s downfall if we aren’t lucky. Just see how cool it is when the government has no power or money, it’ll be great! Nothing could go wrong!

I’m waiting for them to change the name of the show

From: The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell
To: The Last Word OF Lawrence O’Donnell