China Lectures Obama as Shutdown Enters Week Two with No End in Sight

As the U.S. government moved into the second week of a shutdown on Monday with no end in sight, Chinese officials warned President Barack Obama and Congress Monday that the "clock is ticking" to avoid a U.S. default that could hurt China's interests and the global economy.

China, the United States' largest creditor, is "naturally concerned about developments in the US fiscal cliff," vice finance minister Zhu Guangyao told the BBC.

"The executive branch of the US government has to take decisive and credible steps to avoid a default on its Treasury bonds," he said, referring to President Obama.

Editor's Note: 22 Hidden Taxes and Fees Set to Hit You With Obamacare. Read the Guide to Protect Yourself. 

"It is important for the US economy as well as the global economy."

"We hope the United States fully understands the lessons of history," Mr Zhu said, referring to a similar deadlock in 2011 that led to a downgrade of the US "AAA" credit rating.

A deadlocked U.S. Congress, meanwhile, confronted an October 17 deadline to increase the nation's borrowing power or risk default.

But Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner vowed not to raise the U.S. debt ceiling without a "serious conversation" about what is driving the debt, while Democrats said it was irresponsible and reckless to raise the possibility of a U.S. default.

The last big confrontation over the debt ceiling, in August 2011, ended with an 11th-hour agreement under pressure from shaken markets and warnings of an economic catastrophe if there was a default.

A similar last-minute resolution remains a distinct possibility this time.

Equities investors were unnerved by the apparent hardening of stances over the weekend. U.S. stocks opened sharply lower on Monday and European shares fell to a four-month low.

In comments on Sunday television political talk shows, neither Republicans nor Democrats offered any sign of impending agreement on either the shutdown or the debt ceiling, and both blamed the other side for the impasse.

Via: Newsmax

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BarackObama.com calling all troop twits to Twitter

For the 24-7 on-the-job,  vicious Barack Obama team, the torment of their enemies is always just a tweet away.

Used to be that politicians faced off their opponents in the fine art of debate.  There was a time when sacrosanct elected officials met face to face with angry taxpayers, and at least gave the appearance of trying to answer some of their questions.  Both those ideals jumped down Alice’s rabbit hole when Obama came into power and took over the social media networks.

Why bother with statesmanship and run-ins with those plebes who pay your salary; why worry about ObamaCare when as a politician you don’t have to sign up;  when all you have to do is come up with the right #hashtag like “Joe Schmo’s an anarchist and an arsonist”  and run your message in the blink of an instant across the worldwide web?

Left on their own for any length of time, politicians will always find the easy way out, and character assassination by public messaging is the easiest way out.

Nothing ever sticks to them after Tweeting their worst and they can laugh about it out on the golf links.

Politicians of the day never have to break out a sweat over hurling hurtful insults now that Twitter is here.

Tweet a Deceit is the order of the day. 

And guess who’s now out there competing for best drivel with Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber and the usual suspects among Hollywood stars on the Twitter Trend?

Via: Canada Free Press

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America Will Self-Correct from the Mistake of Obama

I don't expect America to be perfect, and I know America has made some mistakes.  But boy do we know how to correct them.  And we will self-correct from the mistake of electing Obama.

The anti-American naysayers declare that we are all from somewhere else -- the inherent message being that America was stolen and none of us can lay claim to the land.  They say that we invaded what is now America, attacked the Indians, then took their land and livelihoods.  We forced them to live in squalid camps.  Liberals say that we took their dignity.

I admit that the Indians got a bad deal.  A well-meaning group of immigrants left oppression, then came to America and oppressed.  The interlopers got greedy and the Indians paid for it; many with their lives.  We relocated the Indians from their homes and gave them the badlands.  And if America had remained the America run by Democrat Andrew Jackson, who referred to the people whose land he stole as "savages," today I would be outraged.  But today, the Indians have the opportunity to feast, and some are.

The Pequot Indians of Connecticut run the largest casino in America.  The tribe guarantees every person in their nation a college education, and adults are guaranteed a $60K a year job, I'm told.  That's better than the deal you can get from any Liberal, including the king of redistribution himself.

Speaking of Africans, Liberals say that Americans went to Africa, discovered black people, then enslaved them.  Forced blacks to work on plantations as slaves.  Liberals have certainly taken liberties with a common practice of the time, though an abhorrent one.

Via: American Thinker

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SHOCKER! Despite Being Taken Offline Over Weekend For Repairs, Obamacare Exchange Still A Glitch-Filled Mess…

It took them three 1/2 years to F**K it up and you expect to see it fixed on a weekend??  Dream on!!

Department of Health and Human Services officials announced late Friday that during "off peak" times over the weekend it would would be taking down the federal website meant to enroll Americans in President Obama's health care program to perform site maintenance.

"We expect that Monday, less than a week after the Marketplace opening, there will be significant improvements in the online consumer experience," HHS spokeswoman Joanne Peters promised in the release.

But when I attempted to visit Healthcare.gov this morning, I experienced the same problems I did before the maintenance.

The system wouldn't let me log into the account I created last week. When I attempted to create a new account, I got an error message that read, "Important: Your account couldn't be created at this time. The system is unavailable."

And apparently, I'm not alone. Jennifer Haberkorn, a health care reporter for Politico, also wrote on Twitter that she couldn't create an account on the web site.

Via: Washington Examiner

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Five most interesting Supreme Court cases coming up next

Despite the government shutdown, the U.S. Supreme Court began hearing cases on Monday. In case you were wondering what cases the Supreme Court was hearing this year.

1. Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action (Docket No. 12-682):

Michigan has banned preferential treatment. Obviously, this has angered a lot of affirmative action supporters, who say the passage of the measure has violated rights outlined in the 14th Amendment equal-protection clause: rights of racial minorities in the state.

This case concerns Article 1, Sec. 26 of Michigan’s state constitution, which states, “any… public college or university, community college, or school district shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.”

The Supreme Court hears the oral arguments on this case beginning Oct. 15.

Via: Daily Caller

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BOEHNER: REID WANTS 'COMPLETE' GOP SURRENDER

Appearing the October 6th airing of This Week With George Stephanopoulos, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) wants "complete surrender" by the GOP as a prerequisite for meaningful negotiations. 

After, Stephanopoulos said, "Reid said he is more than willing to have a conference, more than willing to have a negotiation, but not under the threat of a government shutdown."  

Boehner responded: "So it's 'my way or the highway,' that's what [Reid] is saying. Complete surrender, and then we'll talk to you."

Boehner added: "It's about having a conversation. I gave the Senate Majority Leader some advice at the White House about how to proceed. I gave him some advice over a week ago... And yet, they refuse to do it."

Stephanopoulos then said that Reid claims Boehner offered to pass a clean government-funding resolution in July. It had no Obamacare amendments and it was $70 billion below what the Senate wanted yet Reid accepted it. Reid now claims Boehner has gone back on it. 

Boehner responded: "Clearly, there was a conversation about doing this... But I and my members decided that the threat of Obamacare and what was happening was so important that it was time for us to take a stand. And we took a stand."

Boehner said the House GOP is "unified" in its opposition to the dangers posed by Obamacare.

Via: Breitbart

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Gov't's Amber Alert Site Shuttered: WH First Targets Veterans, Now Targeting Children, in Shutdown

Department of Justice shuts down government Amber alert system

EXAMINER.COM - The Obama administration and the Democrats have been working to force the Republicans to cave into their demands and as a result, Obama’s Justice Department, led by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, decided to make it hurt even more that if a child goes missing, don’t count on the Amber Alert support system to notify the public.

The Washington Examiner reported on Sunday that the Amber alert support system, the national missing-child warning program, has been offline because of the government shutdown.

In viewing the Justice Department amber-alert website, visitors are greeted with, “Due to the lapse in federal funding, this Office of Justice Programs website is unavailable”.

Ashe Schow of the Washington Examiner said, “So, union members could return to work, but the website to alert Americans to missing children had to be taken down?”

Via: Fox News

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[VIDEO] Smash-mouth Reid

President Obama has handed over the reins of leadership on government funding and the debt limit to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). [WATCH VIDEO]

Reid is now fully in charge of his party’s negotiating strategy, a significant change from past showdowns with Republicans.

He has taken the initiative from Obama, who played the principal role in the 2011 debt-limit talks and New Year’s fiscal cliff deal. Some Democrats on Capitol Hill are relieved by the switch.

The majority leader has brought a more pugnacious style to the debate, bashing House conservatives as “anarchists” and mocking the “Banana Republican mindset.” This is a welcome change for Democrats who thought Obama was too accommodating to Republicans during previous crises.

Simply put, they believe less is more when it comes to Obama’s involvement in negotiations with the GOP.

Liberal Democrats do not fully trust Obama, in part because of his more diplomatic style. Their disquiet was deepened by his past tax deals with Republicans and repeated offers to trim Social Security and Medicare costs.

Obama alarmed some in the Senate Democratic caucus last week when he convened congressional leaders at the White House to discuss the government shutdown and looming debt-limit debate.

They feared he might take the lead in the talks and make concessions to get past the current fiscal crisis.

Via: The Hill

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Illegal immigrants allowed to practice law in California

(Reuters) - Illegal immigrants can be licensed to practice law in California under one of eight bills expanding immigrant rights that were signed by Governor Jerry Brown on Saturday.

The California Supreme Court, which finalizes requests of applicants to be licensed as a lawyer in California, is now authorized to approve qualified applicants regardless of their immigration status.

Other new laws prohibit law enforcement officials from detaining immigrants based on federal government instructions except in cases of serious crimes or convictions, and make it illegal for employers to retaliate against workers on the basis of their citizenship.

"While Washington waffles on immigration, California's forging ahead," Brown said in a statement. "I'm not waiting."

The new laws, including the one letting undocumented immigrants become lawyers, could set a precedent for the nation. They are part of a push to increase immigrant rights in the strongly Democratic state. About 38 percent of California's population of 38 million is of Hispanic descent.

On Thursday, Brown signed a law making undocumented immigrants eligible to apply for drivers licenses. California, which will join at least nine other states when the law takes effect in 2015, expects 1.4 million people to apply for licenses over three years.

Via Reuters

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Sen. Cornyn: Obama Is Not 'King'

Sen. John Cornyn criticized President Barack Obama on Sunday for failing to do his job and negotiate with Congress to reopen the government in a sharp reminder that a monarch does not rule the U.S.

"The president has got to lead, and he's got to do his job," Cornyn told CBS's "Face the Nation."

"We rejected the concept of a king when our country was founded, and created three co-equal branches of government," Cornyn said.

"Now he says he won't negotiate on the debt, but what he needs to do is roll up his sleeves and get to the table," Cornyn said.

CBS host Bob Schieffer also interviewed Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, and said the two sides did not appear to be negotiating, but talking past each other.

House Speaker John Boehner insists there are not enough votes to reopen the government without concessions from Senate Democrats and the White House on changes to Obamacare, while Lew insists the votes are there.

"Why doesn't he put it on the floor and give it a chance?" Lew said.

Via: Newsmax

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Iwo Jima Memorial Closed, Barricades Erected (Update: Vets Break Through)

Another open-air memorial in the Washington area is closed and barricaded off: the Iwo Jima Memorial, just across the bridge from D.C. in Rosslyn, Virginia. A source sends along this picture of the barricade set-up at the memorial, which is also called the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial:

"I took the picture yesterday afternoon. Those barricades had been there at least a day. People can still walk into the Memorial area, but for many elderly and disabled vets, it is important they be driven and park right next to the statue," the person who took this picture emails.

"There has been no coverage of Iwo Jima being closed and it is a routine stop for Honor Flight visitors."

The source adds: "This picture is from North Marshall Drive (100 yards up the hill from the 110) facing the only road in and out of the Memorial for cars. There are parking spots for cars and buses right next the Memorial that can only be accessed via this road. Interestingly too, the view you see is also the last 200 yards of the Marine Corps Marathon which is in three weeks. That would be 20,000 pissed off runners who have trained for months."

The stop is a popular destination for veterans and tourists alike, and, in my observation, is usually completely unmanned and unguarded. But, for some reason, it's closed to the public during this federal government shutdown.

UPDATE: I'm told, "The Syracuse Honor Flight just knocked down the barrier and a couple hundred of them are at the Memorial now."

Here's a picture:

Via: Weekly Standard
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In 3 Days of Shutdown, Gov't Has Spent $3B on HUD--Same as Without Shutdown

In the first three days of what is being called a government "shutdown" or "partial shutdown," the federal government spent approximately $3 billion on the Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to the Daily Treasury Statement released at 4:00 p.m. Friday.

The Treasury said it had spent $2.965 billion on Housing and Urban Development programs from Tuesday, Oct. 1 through Thursday, Oct. 3. Data will not be available on how much money the government spent on HUD programs on Friday until the Treasury releases its next daily statement at 4:00 p.m. on Monday.

In the first three days of October of last year, when the government was not in a "shutdown" or "partial shutdown," the Treasury spent almost the exact same amount of money--$2.966 billion--on HUD programs as it did in the first three days of this year when it was in a "shutdown" or "partial shutdown."

Via: CNS News

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“I’m Not Waiting” For Washington: Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown Signs ‘Sanctuary State’ Immigration Law

Law enforcement officials in California who arrest immigrants in the country illegally will be prohibited from detaining them for transfer to federal authorities unless they committed a serious crime under one of several bills signed Saturday by Gov. Jerry Brown to ease conditions for immigrants.

The Trust Act is the second milestone bill on immigration signed by the governor in two days. On Thursday he approved a measure allowing immigrants in the country illegally to receive California driver’s licenses.

“While Washington waffles on immigration, California’s forging ahead,” Brown said. “I’m not waiting.”

Brown's action came as immigration advocates rallied in California and across the county to push for new immigration legislation.

Via: LA Times

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Boehner: House will not pass bill to re-open govenment until Obama agrees to negotiate

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Speaker John Boehner said Sunday that the House of Representatives will not pass bills to re-open the federal government or raise the debt limit unless President Barack Obama comes to the negotiating table.

“He knows what my phone number is, all he has to do is call,” Boehner, R-Ohio said on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

In his first extended TV interview since the government shut down closed Tuesday, a defiant Boehner placed the blame for the fiscal impasse firmly on Obama, who has refused to sit down with House Republicans until they re-open the government.

"The president just can’t sit there and say, ‘I’m not going to negotiate,' " Boehner said.

Boehner said that there aren't enough members in the Republican-led House to simply re-open the government with no other strings attached.

"There are not votes in the House to pass a clean (continuing resolution)," Boehner said.

But Democrats immediately called that claim false, arguing that 195 Democrats and 21 Republicans are ready to vote for that bill.

"Put it on the floor, and let's see if you're right," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. said to Boehner in an interview on ABC.

Boehner said he worked with members to come up with the strategy to tie government funding to a delay of the new health care law, dubbed Obamacare, large portions of which into effect Tuesday. But some members of even his own party say that Boehner is moving forward on a path he opposes at the behest of conservative Republicans.

"I, in working with my members decided to this, in a unified way," he said.

Via:  McClatchey.com

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Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/10/06/204429/boehner-house-will-not-pass-bill.html#storylink=cpy

MAHER: VETERANS NOT BRIGHT FOR PROTESTING WITH MICHELE BACHMANN

Bill Maher disparaged World War II veterans and members of the "greatest generation" on Friday, saying the heroes who fought to preserve the freedoms that he enjoys were dumb. 

On HBO's Real Time on Friday, Maher seemed puzzled by why Republicans felt it was important to allow World War II veterans to see their memorial on their "Honor Flights"to Washington, D.C. during the federal government shutdown. He then blamed Republicans for the memorial being barricaded and mocked World War II veterans for taking photos with a Republican--Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)--Maher asserted was "one of the people most responsible" for shutting down the memorial:

The other thing that apparently was so important for the Republicans to keep open was the World War II Memorial in Washington. That was closed, so a bunch of the World War II vets knocked down the barriers and stormed it.

And then I loved this, they posed for pictures with Michele Bachmann who showed up. Michele Bachmann, one of the people most responsible for shutting the f--king thing down. They’re the greatest generation – nobody said they were the brightest generation.

Unlike Maher, conservatives like Mark Levin understood the importance of allowing veterans on their "Honor Flights" to see their memorial. Levin said he would bring "a half million people" to the memorial if anyone from the Obama administration "lays one damn hand" on a veteran trying to see his memorial. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called for Obama administration employees to engage in acts of civil disobedience at the "Barrycades" and allow veterans unfettered access to their World War II memorial.

Via: Breitbart

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New Rule: Off-Duty Police Officers Better Think Twice Before Deciding to Carry a Gun to Any NFL Game

A new NFL policy reportedly prohibits all law enforcement personnel from carrying their firearms into all NFL stadiums.

Police in Cleveland, Ohio said they received an internal member on September 11 from the NFL that said all off-duty federal, state and local members of law enforcement would not be allowed entry into NFL facilities if they attempt to bring their gun with them,according to Fox affiliate WJW.

An NFL spokesperson did not immediately return multiple requests for comment Sunday.

However, according to Cleveland.com, a spokesman explained that the new policy was implemented after deciding it would best enhance the gameday experience.

A new NFL policy reportedly prohibits off-duty law enforcement personnel from carrying their firearms inside stadiums. (Image source: Shutterstock.com)

The Cleveland Police Patrolman's Association (CPPA) appeared to oppose the new policy, telling WJW officers do not like to disarm themselves.

"A police officer is never happy to give up his service weapon, especially when we have the right to carry it, you know, 24 hours 7 days a week and we're upheld by our oath too to protect and serve the public on or off duty," said Jeff Follmer, president of the CPPA.

"We are police officers 24/7," Follmer added to Cleveland.com. "I don't know why anyone would want to disarm a police officer."

IRS Not Sending Refunds, Not Turning Over Docs In Probe, But Still Collecting Your Money.

The IRS is still collecting taxes during the government shutdown, but it isn’t sending refunds — and it also has stopped complying with a subpoena to turn over documents to members of Congress who are investigating the agency’s targeting of tea party groups.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee have stopped getting documents from the Internal Revenue Service.

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SEE ALSO: Marriage group to sue IRS over donor leak, says list went to political enemies

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“The IRS has indicated to the committee that their furlough decisions will affect the agency’s responsiveness to committee requests, including the outstanding subpoena,” said Ali Ahmad, a spokesman for the oversight committee.

The government shutdown, which began Tuesday morning, has kept home an estimated 800,000 federal employees, including more than 85,000 who work for the IRS, according to the agency’s contingency plan. That leaves slightly more than 9 percent of the IRS staff on the job.

That is too few to process refunds but does not let taxpayers out of their obligations.

“Individuals and businesses should keep filing their tax returns and making deposits with the IRS, as they are required to do so by law,” the agency said in its guidance for taxpayers. “The IRS will accept and process all tax returns with payments, but will be unable to issue refunds during this time.”

Via: Washington Times

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Kentucky Marketplace: WARNING: No Explicit or Implicit expectation of Privacy

      

The Kentucky Obamacare marketplace has no “expectation of privacy,” warning its prospective customers that their information can be monitored and shared with government bureaucrats.

When clicking “let’s get started” on the state-run health insurance marketplace “kynect,” the user is quickly prompted to a “WARNING NOTICE.”

“This is a government computer system and is the property of the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” it states. “It is for authorized use only regardless of time of day, location or method of access. “

“Users (authorized or unauthorized) have no explicit or implicit expectation of privacy,” the disclaimer reads. “Any or all uses of this system and all files on the system may be intercepted, monitored, recorded, copied, audited, inspected, and disclosed to authorized state government and law enforcement personnel, as well as authorized officials of other agencies, both domestic and foreign.”

Such information includes Social Security numbers. When calling kynect to enroll in the marketplace a person is told to have their Social Security card, immigration status, pay stubs, alimony payments, student loan information, and current health insurance information at the ready.

The kynect disclaimer says users information can be shared at the will of state government agencies.

“By using this system,” the warning states, “the user consents to such at the discretion of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

Via: WFB

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