NEWBURYPORT — Pat Vaillancourt went on a trip last week that was intended to showcase some of America’s greatest treasures.
Instead, the Salisbury resident said she and others on her tour bus witnessed an ugly spectacle that made her embarrassed, angry and heartbroken for her country.
Vaillancourt was one of thousands of people who found themselves in a national park as the federal government shutdown went into effect on Oct. 1. For many hours her tour group, which included senior citizen visitors from Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States, were locked in a Yellowstone National Park hotel under armed guard.",,,
..."The bus stopped along a road when a large herd of bison passed nearby, and seniors filed out to take photos. Almost immediately, an armed ranger came by and ordered them to get back in, saying they couldn’t “recreate.” The tour guide, who had paid a $300 fee the day before to bring the group into the park, argued that the seniors weren’t “recreating,” just taking photos.
“She responded and said, ‘Sir, you are recreating,’ and her tone became very aggressive,” Vaillancourt said."...
Let's get Barry off his dime first - it's time to negotiate with the House and Senate. It's not the GOP's fault that they called Barry's bluff.
I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him; better take a closer look at the American Indian." - Henry Ford
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges; When the Republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous. - Publius Cornelius Tacitus
Ronbo wrote: Friggin unbellievable. The National Park Service won't allow our veterns to visit an open air war memorial but they do grant permission for a pro immigration reform protest on the national mall.
Frigging unbelievable. Some posters actually believe right wing blogs over the truth!
"“I was afraid we’d be sitting outside looking in,” said Bob Hamilton, a World War II veteran from Green Valley who, like many of the veterans on the Honor Flight trip, was nervous the the monument would be closed once they got there.
The memorial, like all monuments, was closed to the public last week when the federal government shut down because of a congressional budget impasse.
That made headlines when it appeared some veterans were going to be turned away from the monument by National Park Service rangers, and members of Congress showed up to push back the barriers as the media looked on.
But it was a different story Monday, as park rangers showed up at the memorial before the veterans to remove the barriers and let them in.
“The park service could not be more accommodating and helpful for us,” said Emerson Knowles, board president for Honor Flight Southern Arizona, which brought the veterans to D.C."
"On Tuesday -- the first full day of the shutdown -- more than 140 veterans also made the journey from Mississippi and Iowa, to visit the memorial. By wheelchair and with cane in hand they came to find the World War II Memorial closed -- fenced off with bicycle gates, police tape and a sign that read, "Because of the Federal Government SHUTDOWN, All National Parks Are CLOSED."
By 11:45 a.m., with help from members of Congress, the flimsy gates were pushed aside and the vets were able to reflect and enjoy the granite and bronze tribute to their service so many years ago. But by Tuesday afternoon, the memorial was re-closed and cleared by U.S. Park Police. Honor Flights were notified that they should anticipate the memorial will be shut down."
Of course if you were honest, you would have included the next paragraph from the ABC report:
According to the National Park Service, the memorial remains officially closed, but a statement released by the department states Honor Flight members will not be barred from entering the site.
"The Honor Flights are being granted access to the WWII memorial to conduct First Amendment activities in accordance with National Park Service regulations applicable to the National Mall and Memorial Parks," said National Park Service Spokeswoman Carol Johnson in a statement regarding the closure of World War II and other national memorials in DC. "This is consistent with the DOI Closure Determination and Notice issued on October 1, 2013."
And according to NBC News as reported on October 2, 2013;
Hundreds of veterans are being granted access to the shuttered World War II Memorial on the National Mall Wednesday, a day after members of Congress pushed aside barriers to allow another group inside.
The mall's memorials are closed as part of the government shutdown, with barricades placed around them after the government shutdown took effect at midnight Tuesday.
But the National Park Service said Wednesday that it's allowing access to WWII veterans -- many of whom are in their 80s and 90s, with some in wheelchairs -- so they can exercise their first amendment rights, reported News4's Mark Segraves.
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local ... 52471.html
But of course if the facts were included, then where would the "outrage" be?
In the beginning of the shutdown, they closed the memorials to all people including the veterans. It was after the incident on that 1st Monday of the shutdown that decisions were made to allow veterans to enter the WWII memorial. So to say it they were always going to let the veterans in is not true at all. They also were removing veterans from visiting the Wall also.
"Unfortunately, other veterans are not going to be as lucky as today's group. The WWII Memorial will be re-closed this afternoon and remain closed until funding is restored. National Mall and Memorial Parks Communications Officer Carol Johnson told ABC News the memorial will be shut down and cleared by Park Police.
Honor Flights scheduled for the month of October have been notified that the memorial will be closed until the federal government re-opens. A group of 100 veterans is still expected to arrive from Chicago tomorrow. "
So there are some of the facts.
I also do not believe this is all Obama. Don't like the guy but this is about all of them in Congress. Sandbox 101. Also don't have much use for the idiot congress nuts to be doing some grandstanding with the veterans.
I noted your Twitchy story about cones being placed at Mt. Rushmore so people couldn’t pull over. When we drove Highway 9, part of which passes through the outskirts of Zion National Park on Oct. 1, we were advised by the Park Ranger at the gate that we couldn’t stop our car at any time in the next 12 miles.
To ensure that we didn’t pull over at any of the scenic viewpoints, cones were placed at every turnoff. That didn’t stop people, however, as many were getting out, moving cones, and quickly taking pictures. People were incredulous at that restriction, as if they could somehow shutdown our ability to enjoy our surroundings.
At the other end of the road, there was another park ranger forcing people to move who had stop to photograph a small group of wild bighorn sheep. Because, you know, the government owns them too. All of this was happening on a public road.
I'm happy to see all these American citizens expressing their anger and frustration with the tactics the Republicans have used and the consequences of those tactics. Temper tantrums rarely get the desired result.
archer wrote: I'm happy to see all these American citizens expressing their anger and frustration with the tactics the Republicans have used and the consequences of those tactics. Temper tantrums rarely get the desired result.
It's tactics of the entire federal government. You've spent too much time in this forum and around others that sympathize. You should be attacking the entire establishment, but most definitely you should be joining the rest of informed society in wanting to get rid of that p.o.s that calls himself the POTUS. Once a sheep, always a sheep. Yer just as bad as hardcore rightwingers. A sad, SAD state of affairs our country is in, and you want to add gasoline to the fire like most people that have no idea how or why the government does what it does.
archer wrote: Maybe, just maybe, it's time the Republicans stopped this train wreck.
Sure, do what Archer wants, support the status quo of spending much more money than we have.
We might need to fire some of those fascist park rangers. Cancel the multimillion dollar order for new china for our overseas diplomats. Shut down the Department of Education. Or we could go the Archer way and kick the can down the road and give our children an IOU.
Thanks Tommy, for paying these Obamacare subsidies for your dear old dad.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
