Anyone else (possibly) getting a mandatory vacation come Tuesday?

[Sava]

Dana Bash reporting Reid doesn't want to save children.



Optics genius

I just heard the "optics" talking point on Crossfire. So is that the new word of the day that Republican pollsters have come up with?

[Imran Siddiqui]

20 is pretty sweet. I'd only get about 4. The bright side is that if they fire you for cause they don't have to pay it but when it's only 4 months it's not worth the effort to prove so they just pay it out. And you can collect unemployment during the 4 months. But yes it does seem like the euros have it better in these matters.

It does seem there is more of an equal footing across the pond between employees and employers.

[Ben Kenobi]

You have to have a locked gun cabinet and the police have to approve you for a firearms license. This is absolutely acceptable.

Imagine them doing the same thing with your computer. First Amendment == Second Amendment.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Isn't a "Free Speech Zone" and marching permits the same thing in effect?

[Ben Kenobi]

Isn't a "Free Speech Zone" and marching permits the same thing in effect

The equivalent to a Free Speech Zone would restricting the ability to carry in certain places. It wouldn't restrict the ability of a citizen to purchase, own and use a firearm.

The equivalent to this law is if the police had to approve of your ownership of a computer, and you had to keep it locked up when not in use.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

I just heard the "optics" talking point on Crossfire. So is that the new word of the day that Republican pollsters have come up with?

You need to come up to speed son. Optics is a not so veiled reference to the quote from Gladchuk the guy in charge of the navy air force football game, a cancellation that actually costs revenue.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The equivalent to this law is if the police had to approve of your ownership of a computer, and you had to keep it locked up when not in use.

I'd imagine if computers could kill people directly, that's exactly what they'd do.

[The Mad Monk]

Isn't a "Free Speech Zone" and marching permits the same thing in effect?

No, I would say marching permits pertain more toward Freedom of Assembly. Same for any other sort of "permitted" public gathering, which has more to do with public safety than anything -- or at least, it should.

[Ben Kenobi]

I'd imagine if computers could kill people directly, that's exactly what they'd do.

Next up, "Hammer control" followed by "Ladder control".

[Imran Siddiqui]

No, I would say marching permits pertain more toward Freedom of Assembly. Same for any other sort of "permitted" public gathering, which has more to do with public safety than anything -- or at least, it should.

Point taken.

[Sava]

You need to come up to speed son. Optics is a not so veiled reference to the quote from Gladchuk the guy in charge of the navy air force football game, a cancellation that actually costs revenue.

Seems like a new buzzword, that's all. The only people I've heard using it so far are Republicans.

[Felch]

Isn't a "Free Speech Zone" and marching permits the same thing in effect?

Free Speech Zones are tools for the powerful to corral and ignore the poor masses. Any American who thinks limits like that are appropriate should be stripped of his citizenship, hanged by the neck until dead, and then left to rot in an abandoned quarry.

[MrFun]

Democratic House Rep Introduces Bill Which Would Block Pay for Congress During the Shutdown
October 2, 2013 By Allen Clifton 20 Comments
Share on Tumblr
ricknolanWhy should Congress get paid for not doing their job? That’s the question Democratic Representative Rick Nolan from Minnesota is asking. Nolan introduced a bill yesterday that would block members of Congress from being paid during the government shutdown.
The bill, titled “No Government, No Pay Act,” would prevent members of Congress from being paid as long as the government continues to be shut down.

Representative Nolan explained his proposal:
“The inability of this Congress to collaborate, compromise, and get things done has led me to introduce legislation to prohibit Members from being paid when failure to do their job results in a government shutdown. It’s time for Congress to start living in the real world where you either do your job, or you don’t get paid.”
Sadly, the bill probably violates the 27th Amendment and doesn’t stand much chance at passing. But even if it didn’t violate anything, I’m sure most members of Congress would soundly reject such a proposal.

Though this Republican-forced shutdown has put 800,000 workers on an unpaid furlough, those responsible for shutting the government down will continue to get their salaries paid to them in full. Something I’m sure most Americans soundly reject.
It’s also unclear right now if those workers who are furloughed will receive backpay once the shutdown is over. That will be left up to Congress to decide.

It’s quite ironic that Republicans are still being paid during the shutdown considering they recently voted to cut $39 billion from SNAP benefits. Republicans often claim that there are too many Americans who simply refuse to work, instead deciding to live off government benefits. Yet there Republicans are shutting down the government, refusing to do their jobs—and still being paid in full by the taxpayers. Now to be fair, both sides are being paid in full — but this shutdown is the fault of Republicans, not Democrats or President Obama.
However, some lawmakers have pledged to donate their pay during the shutdown to charity. Though I must stress that only a small percentage have agreed to do this. Around 91 of the 535 members of Congress have agreed to it so far, and I sincerely hope that more follow their lead.
So while Nolan’s proposal probably won’t have any real chance at ever being passed, and might simply be unconstitutional, it does stress a point I think most Americans overwhelmingly agree with.

Why can't we have more Congresspersons like Nolan?

[Sava]

Free Speech Zones are tools for the powerful to corral and ignore the poor masses. Any American who thinks limits like that are appropriate should be stripped of his citizenship, hanged by the neck until dead, and then left to rot in an abandoned quarry.

What about a well instead of a quarry?

[DinoDoc]

Why can't we have more Congresspersons like Nolan?

It's just like a Democrat to show such utter disregard for the Constitution.