A brief history of government shutdowns (or 'scaled-back budgeting')

A partial government shutdown could be a blessing in disguise for not only defunding Obamacare, but defunding all the excesses of government, without affecting its obligations. This could be the best thing this President's done since being sworn into office!

Since this is all our failed media can focus on--never mind the impending tyranny foisted on the American people through the implementation of a reckless health care takeover--it might be beneficial to reiterate the facts about a so-called government shutdown, what that really means, and what the Obama administration wants you to believe it means (i.e., the pain they will purposely attempt to inflict solely for political gain).

First, a brief record of all our previous government shutdowns:

PAST FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS
Year	Beginning date (at midnight)	Length in Days	Ending date
1976	Thursday, Sept 30	10	Monday, Oct 11
1977	Friday, Sept 30	12	Thursday, Oct 13
	Monday, Oct 31	8	Wednesday, Nov 9
	Wednesday, Nov 30	8	Friday, Dec 9
1978	Saturday, Sept 30	17	Wednesday, Oct 18
1979	Sunday, Sept 30	11	Friday, Oct 12
1981	Friday, Nov 20	2	Monday, Nov 23
1982	Thursday, Sept 30	1	Saturday, Oct 2
	Friday, Dec 17	3	Tuesday, Dec 21
1983	Thursday, Nov 10	3	Monday, Nov 14
1984	Sunday, Sept 30	2	Wednesday, Oct 3
	Wednesday, Oct 3	1	Friday, Oct 5
1986	Thursday, Oct 16	1	Saturday, Oct 18
1987	Friday, Dec 18	1	Sunday, Dec 20
1990	Friday, Oct 5	3	Tuesday, Oct 9
1995	Monday, Nov 13	5	Sunday, Nov 19
	Friday, Dec 15	21	Saturday, Jan 6, 1996

With each, there was no collapse of governance to follow. As soon as the shutdown labeled occurrence was resolved, the government resumed (thus, continuing to spend the money of taxes collected). To put it in simple terms, supposed 'shutdowns' impose scaled-back budgeting on the government merely for a matter of days.

Next, let's understand what actually occurs during a partial shutdown. It's important to take note of the required services and functions of government that must continue under a government shutdown (which is basically why shutdown is a misnomer):

Heritage: If President Barack Obama “shuts down” the government by vetoing a continuing resolution (CR) that funds all government operations with the exception of Obamacare, or the Senate fails to pass such a CR, crucial services will continue without interruption. That includes all services essential for national security and public safety—such as the military and law enforcement—as well as mandatory government payments such as Social Security and veterans’ benefits.

The key fact, as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) itself has said, is that when there is a short-term lapse in appropriations, “the federal Government will not be truly ‘shut down’…because Congress has itself provided that some activities of Government should continue.” In fact, any claims that not passing a CR will result in a “shutting down” of the government “is an entirely inaccurate description” according to the DOJ.

Such a lapse in funding would be neither catastrophic nor unprecedented, but it would pare down government services to those most essential for “the safety of human life or the protection of property.” That would not include the hundreds of billions of dollars in the federal budget that are constantly squandered and wasted on frivolous, unnecessary, and unneeded programs.

Related links: OMB to agencies: Start making shutdown plans
The Facts: A Government Shutdown Won't Hurt the Military or Vets
There Are Worse Things Than Government Shutdowns

Now, here's how Obama plans to make Americans feel the pain of a government shutdown, when otherwise, based on every past shutdown, all the necessities and obligations have continued to be funded:

He's already begun to play the sympathy card, by making statement to the affect that the ‘threat of not raising the debt ceiling is being used to extort me' (because it's all about him, not about protecting the American people and their private property, you see). This undoubtedly leads into further efforts to detach himself from his unpopular policies.

However, in nearly the same breath, just as in the past, he will begin to threaten those mandatory services that the federal government is obligated to provide above and beyond his special interest agenda. You'll likely start to see a rehash of these headlines...

Obama threatens SS and Veteran checks if debt ceiling not raised
Obama: Social Security Checks Threatened If Debt Ceiling Deal Isn't Reached

But with just a little bit of fact checking, you quickly realize that these are politically motivated threats, that not to be discredited, have worked for this President in the past, so don't expect him to back down. However, we and our representation in Washington should be able to see them for what they are and not fall for them either.

Related link: Washington gets $200 billion a month, Social Security costs $50 billion a month, and Obama is threatening to starve Grandma?

Are you putting the pieces together? This man, his party, his administration is manufacturing another crisis that shouldn't be, nor needs to be. But because he cannot compromise, he's ready to demagogue and despotically place his boot on your throat.

Now is when we the people say 'Enough's enough!' and place our weight behind the effort among conservatives in the House and Senate to defund the Obamacare monstrosity. If his family, his corporate cronies, our Congress, their staffers, and likely Unions after it's all said and done, are exempt, then ALL of America should receive the same exemption.

And if they want to play hardball and shut the government down, hold them accountable when they, supported by a sycophantic media, attempt to make those they owe an obligation to (our veterans, the elderly, the disabled) suffer the most. These, in addition to the interest on the debt, can, have been and will be covered under a partial government shutdown. And every Republican politician elected shouldn't be standing back, waiting to be blamed. They should be in front of every camera and every microphone articulately explaining how this process works and why they're fighting for Americans (reference the very first statement made above if need be!).

FINALLY! House GOP leadership to defund Obamacare

Don't be misled into believing Boehner & the boys finally received an injection of testosterone. They've finally been forced to submit to the will of conservatives, and by that will alone is the option to defund this monstrocity, what they've all been saying couldn't be done, is finally coming to fruition...Hallelujah!

TheHill: House Republican leaders bowed to conservative demands and announced plans Wednesday to strip out money for President Obama’s healthcare law in a stopgap spending bill to keep the government running after Sept. 30.

The reversal by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) raises the stakes in a fiscal fight that could shutter much of the federal government. The continuing resolution (CR) the House plans to vote on as soon as Thursday is likely to be dead on arrival in the Senate, where Democratic leaders have vowed to reject any attempt to unravel Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement.

If Obama and the Senate Democrats want to shut the government down because they won't compromise on exempting ALL of Americans, then it will be on them. Enough!

Related link: House will vote on continuing resolution that defunds Obamacare

ADDENDUM: Levin was on FIRE tonight!

CNSNews: Last night, Mark Levin blasted Republicans who had been reluctant to fight to defund Obamacare, calling them "French Republicans" and saying they were "forced to fight" because "they can't produce the votes for surrender."

On Thursday's radio program, host Levin said some Republicans don't consider Obamacare defunding worth fighting for and were desperately seeking ways to surrender - until they were forced to fight by true conservatives, like those in the Tea Party:

Listen to more here!

...and here's the Senate civil warriors' responses to the House action...

American families: median income down...food, gas prices and poverty up under Obama

And the Obama economy tolls on. While household median income is down $2,627, impoverishment grows by 6,667,000 to a record 46 MILLION PLUS!

CNSNews: During the four years that marked President Barack Obama’s first term in office, the real median income of American households dropped by $2,627 and the number of people in poverty increased by approximately 6,667,000, according to data released today by the Census Bureau.

In 2008, the year Obama was elected, real median household income in the United States was $53,644 according to the Census Bureau. In 2012, the last full year of Obama’s first term, median household income was $51,017. Thus, real median household income dropped $2,627—or 4.89 percent—from 2008 to 2012.

In fact, real median household income dropped in every year of Obama's first term. In 2008, when he was elected, it was $53,644. In 2009, the year he was inaugurated, it dropped to 53,285. In 2010, his second year in office, it dropped to $51,892. In 2011, his third year in office, it dropped to $51,100. And, in 2012, his fourth year in office, it dropped to $51,017.

At the same time the number of people living in poverty in the United States increased. In 2008, according to the Census Bureau, there were approximately 39,829,000 people living in poverty in this country. In 2012, there were 46,496,000. That is an increase of approximately 6,667,000—of 16.73 percent—from 2008 to 2012.

Related link: In one map, here's why Washington doesn't care about income inequality

In the Ameritopia that has been created, household income isn't the only thing suffering.

Food prices are up, specifically the ability to afford it...

ZeroHedge: A stunning 20.0% of Americans were found to have struggled to afford food in the last year - surging in recent months to its highest since the peak of the crisis in 2008 - as American's ability to consistently afford food has not recovered to pre-recession levels. Furthermore, Americans access to basic needs (13 factors including housing, healthcare, and food) hovers near record lows - dramatically lower than pre-recession levels.

Gas prices are up...

CNBC: By now every driver knows the drill: The price of gasoline ratchets up, there's an outcry among motorists who feel gouged at the pump and then things settle down as the higher price becomes the new normal.

Well, AAA has come up with a sobering statistic: the average price of gasoline will surpass $3 per gallon Tuesday for the 1,000th consecutive day. That's never happened before, the motoring organization says.

Related link: Good Question: Will We Ever Play Less Than $3 Per Gallon Again?

And to circle back around to the first piece, we begin to understand how and why overall poverty is up.

America, if we can understand this, then it's time to also understand how the man, his philosophy and his policies are ONE. They're supported by his party, and haven't been adequately challenged by the opposition. It's time to change the latter to regain & preserve American prosperity.

Heritage takes Times Square, DeMint says we have to stop Obamacare 'while there's still time'

If you find yourself in New York City, specifically Times Square, look up!

TheFoundry: All month, you’ll see Heritage’s six-story warning about Obamacare.

“Warning: Obamacare may be hazardous to your health,” it reads, placed where 1.5 million people can see it every day.

But more than your health is at risk. Fox News’s Eric Bolling called the billboard a “crystal ball”...because the examples of Obamacare’s hazards are piling up:

"What’s it going to take for the folks in D.C. to wake up and realize this warning sign has become a reality: Obamacare is a hazard for all hard-working Americans."

Related links: Poll: Obamacare remains highly unpopular as implementation looms
USA TODAY/Pew poll: Health care law faces difficult future

DeMint continues to challenge the powers that be in Washington, emphasizing that this is worth fighting for...

TheFoundry: Unfair. Unworkable. Unaffordable.

Those are the words Heritage President Jim DeMint used to describe Obamacare during a conversation with Andrew Wilkow on The Blaze this week.

“We have to stop it while there’s still time,” DeMint said. “If there has ever been something to take a political risk for, this is it.”

The first step is to DEFUND IT NOW!

Buffett says scrap Obamacare and start over!

Oh, now he decides it's no good...still, what a reversal.

FoxNation: You know things are bad for President Obama when even Warren Buffett has soured on Obamacare and says that "we need something else." Money Morning writes:

"Healthcare costs in the United States are like a tapeworm eating at our economic body."

Those words come from famed investor Warren Buffett, who said he would scrap Obamacare and start all over.

"'We have a health system that, in terms of costs, is really out of control,' he added. 'And if you take this line and you project what has been happening into the future, we will get less and less competitive. So we need something else.'

"Buffett insists that without changes to Obamacare average citizens will suffer.

"'What we have now is untenable over time,' said Buffett, an early supporter of President Obama. 'That kind of a cost compared to the rest of the world is really like a tapeworm eating, you know, at our economic body.'

Beginning of the end?

Rush: For Democrats back on gun control high horse, one word: 'Colorado!'

Yesterday, I made a point not to blog about the DC Navy Yard shooting. For one, all of media had it more than covered (even the predictable misinformation). But also, we knew where gun-grabbing politicians would immediately go with this local tragedy...never mind that the guy was a mental case, or that he stole two of the weapons used in the shooting (none of which were the dreaded AR-15, as was misreported). Nope, the law-abiding citizens need to pay. So, from Feinstein to Obama to Hoyer, they all jumped on the gun-ban bandwagon, yet again. But Rush had a poignant message for all of them this morning...

"Now for all of you Democrats who are back on your gun control high horse, I have one word for you: COLORADO!"

Hey, Cruz warned 'em back in April.

Related links: Colorado recalls a setback for gun control supporters nationally
After his gun control debacle, Scarborough releases book on how GOP can win
From recall to repeal: Colorado gun control under fire

Happy Constitution Day!

Today is the 226th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Your kids, my kids, all students should return home to tell their parents of something that they've learned about that profound document written my remarkable men...

Written during the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, the Constitution of the United States of America is the fundamental rule of law for the US federal system of governance. This landmark document of the Western world, is the oldest written national constitution in use, defining both the principal organs of government, as well as their jurisdictions, and the basic rights of citizens.

Following ratification through the states, the first ten amendments—the Bill of Rights—came into effect on December 15, 1791. These important amendments further limited the powers of the federal government to protect the rights of all citizens.

The current leviathan in Washington, all branches, all parties, finds itself in desperate need of a refresher course in its words, its meaning, and its reflection of the honorable men who constructed such a revered manuscript.

Rush defends Cruz against RINOs' all-out assault towards any opposition to Obama's policies

"What the hell is a normal Republican, Mr. Brooks? Bends over and agrees with whatever the Democrats want? Makes compromises? Gets along, goes along?" ~ El Rushbo

Time to separate the men from the boys...or in this case, the mush Republicans from the conservatives.

Rush Limbaugh offered an impassioned defense of Sen. Ted Cruz today, who is under assault from both parties within the Washington ruling class over the near exclusive desire and will, but for a handful of likeminded conservatives, to fight Obama's statist regime. Taking particular exception to NY Times columnist and alleged conservative, David Brooks, who warned of the “rise of Ted Cruzism,” Rush lit into the Establishment...



Related links: Limbaugh Hammers GOP, David Brooks for ‘All-Out Assault’ on Ted Cruz
Rush Limbaugh defends Ted Cruz from 'Washington establishment'

Obama negotiates with tyrants...but not with GOP

Senate GOP aide asks: "So Obama will negotiate with Putin and Assad but not congressional Republicans?"

So, let's get this straight. Obama can negotiate with Syria, Russia...Iran, if and when need be...but not the GOP! And certainly not when it comes to the debt ceiling and federal spending. Nope! They're the real threat, they're the terrorists, don't you know? This spendaholic statist ideologue is driving this nation into the toilet...

Reuters: President Barack Obama warned Republicans in Congress on Monday that he will not negotiate over an extension of the U.S. debt ceiling as part of a budget battle that will soon dominate Washington, with a deadline fast approaching.

Pivoting to domestic policy after devoting weeks to the crisis in Syria, Obama scolded his political opponents for threatening a federal government shutdown and attempting to attach conditions to funding the budget for the 2014 fiscal year that begins October 1.

"Let's stop the threats. Let's stop the political posturing. Let's keep our government open. Let's pay our bills on time. Let's pass a budget," Obama said.

And the sad thing is, this will probably be the extent of his demagoguery before the MSM hop aboard and send the RINO leadership into surrender mode.

Related link: Obama: “No Serious Evidence” That Obamacare “Is Holding Back Economic Growth”

A disapproving snapshot of Obamacare

Despite the early big winners, who stand to reap the monetary rewards of a government takeover of America's heath care system, the average joe (you and me) affected by such a disastrous imposition want Obamacare defunded now!

PewResearch: Currently, 53% disapprove of the health care law, while 42% approve. This is among the most negative assessments of the law since it was enacted in March 2010.

The current survey finds more intense opposition than support for the health care law. While 41% strongly disapprove of the law, only about a quarter (26%) strongly approve.

And even more damning, only 12% of Americans believe Obamacare will have any positive effect on their family...

Breitbart: A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll reveals Americans are unconvinced that Obamacare will improve the country's healthcare system. Only 12% say the law will have a positive effect on their family and even the uninsured are skeptical Obamacare will do them any good.

Only 23% of all respondents say the law will benefit the healthcare system and paltry 12% believe the law will have a positive impact on their family.

The public is not predicting positive developments arising from the law, with more than half (52%) expecting healthcare costs to rise. One consequence of the unpopular law is that businesses have already started pushing people off their current health insurance plans and are cutting hours to avoid the law's mandate to provide coverage to 30 hour+ workers. As three-quarters (73%) arealready satisfied with their current healthcare coverage, the net result of Obamacare appears to be strictly detrimental: higher healthcare costs, fewer work hours for employees and those who are satisfied with their health insurance, losing that coverage.