Recent comments

Okay, will you show me where I claimed that you actually said you "request" or "demand" anything in your words. I've been very clear to refer to actions of many people who seem to feel entitled to do anything they wish, anywhere they wish, and anyhow they wish, usually without being charged anything for doing it. I was referring to actions and not words. No fabrication needed. So now, let's see you back your accusations.

Kurt, if you need it, I have a discount certificate for some Extra Strength Advil I can send you. Your post above was spot on.

And, Roger, thanks. I know it's a waste of time, but it sure is fun to get him riled up. And I guess Saul must be his middle name or something.

To bad you can't man up and admit it was a total fabrication. Show us the words, show us the "actions" or apologize.

(Kurt - I know I am pushing the limits but someone should not be allowed to make personal accusations without backing them up)

The House passed the Budget Control Act on August 1, 2011 by a vote of 269–161. 174 Republicans and 95 Democrats voted for it, while 66 Republicans and 95 Democrats voted against it.

The Senate passed the Act on August 2, 2011 by a vote of 74–26. 6 Democrats and 19 Republicans voted against it.

So if you add it all up, a total of 202 Republicans and 140 Democrats in both houses voted for the act. 85 Republicans and 101 Democrats voted against it.

Now, the whole thing sounds a lot like a herd of Kindergarteners pointing fingers and shifting blame when the teacher catches them at something. (Nah, that's probably an insult to all Kindergarten children everywhere. . . . . )

The bill was the final chance in a series of proposals to resolve the 2011 United States debt-ceiling crisis, which featured bitter divisions between the parties and also pronounced splits within them. Earlier ideas included the Obama-Boehner $4 trillion "Grand Bargain",the House Republican Cut, Cap and Balance Act, and the McConnell-Reid "Plan B" fallback. All eventually failed to gain enough general political or specific Congressional support to move into law, as the midnight August 2, 2011, deadline for an unprecedented U.S. sovereign default drew nearer and nearer.

The solution came from White House National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling, who, on July 12, 2011, proposed a compulsory trigger that would go into effect if another agreement was not made on tax increases and/or budget cuts equal to or greater than the debt ceiling increase by a future date.

Ultimately, the intent of the sequester was to secure the commitment of both sides to future negotiation by means of an enforcement mechanism that would be unpalatable to Republicans and Democrats alike. President Obama agreed to the plan. House Speaker John Boehner expressed reservations, but also agreed.

On July 26, 2011, White House Budget Director Jack Lew and White House Legislative Affairs Director Rob Nabors met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to discuss the plan. Reid, like Boehner several days before, was initially opposed to the idea, but was eventually convinced to go along with it, with the understanding that the sequester was intended as an enforcement tool rather than a true budget proposal.

On the evening of July 31, 2011, Obama announced that the leaders of both parties in both chambers had reached an agreement that would reduce the deficit and avoid default. The same day, Speaker of the House John Boehner's office outlined the agreement for House Republicans. One key element in the deal being reached and the logjam being broken earlier that afternoon was U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's ability to negotiate with his 25-year Senate colleague, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Biden had spent the most time bargaining with Congress on the debt question of anyone in the administration, and McConnell had viewed him as the one most trustworthy. [from Wikipedia]

The Budget Control Act is a fraud, not a budget. If Congress (and the president) would deal with any of the waste and abuse previously identified by the CBO, OMB, private think tanks, etc or any of the myriad of duplicitive programs that exist in the Federal budget, the sequestration would not have happened and the parks might have the budget they "need" to conduct their operations. Fiscal resources are limited. In the absence of a reasonable budget and the courage to support it, you get things like the (presidential proposal) of sequestration.....

Thanks to all who posted advice or contacted me separately. I'm on the case. And yes, I'm based in the SF Bay area, but I can certianly call the NYC-area parks. The thing that's interesting to me is that people are going so far away from urban areas to do their tagging.

And yes, "tagging" with bullets sure sems part of the same phenomenon.

Allbest,

Felicity

You're misreading the quote. It doesn't say "Republicans in Congress forced these painful cuts."

I would great if all dog owners are were responsible, they are not. In CHNS where there has always been a leash law. I have personally witnessed many worse case dog off leash interactions here: from dogs running through colonial bird nesting colonials that have unfledged chicks, fawn deers being killed and sunbathers being peed on (very common). I love dogs. I wish there were a good way to allow them to be off leash as many dog and dog owners manage and control their canines in a responsible manner.

Bloodroot in the Southern Appalachians signal the beginning of spring flowers. They came and left weeks ago. We've seen a procession of flowers. Now we're enjoying fringed phacelias.

Danny www.hikertohiker.com

Avalanche and glacier lilies at Mt. Rainier NP; pink lady's slipper on Isle Royale NP; and whatever was blooming in early August on San Miguel, CINP last year (don't have their names, but they were pretty great).