Park Service ranger: “We’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we can. It’s disgusting.”
posted at 6:41 pm on October 4, 2013 by Allahpundit
I missed this nugget from Wesley Pruden yesterday, but I think it’s actually better for a Friday afternoon to sort of sum up the week.
When and how did the National Park Service become “the shock troops of the punitive bureaucracy”?
The Park Service appears to be closing streets on mere whim and caprice. The rangers even closed the parking lot at Mount Vernon, where the plantation home of George Washington is a favorite tourist destination. That was after they barred the new World War II Memorial on the Mall to veterans of World War II. But the government does not own Mount Vernon; it is privately owned by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. The ladies bought it years ago to preserve it as a national memorial. The feds closed access to the parking lots this week, even though the lots are jointly owned with the Mount Vernon ladies. The rangers are from the government, and they’re only here to help.
“It’s a cheap way to deal with the situation,” an angry Park Service ranger in Washington says of the harassment. “We’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we can. It’s disgusting.”
Sad to say, but there’s precedent here. The extent of the barricade mentality may have deepened over time, with some memorials being shuttered now that stayed open in ’95, but the NPS has apparently always been a lead actor in shutdown-theater pageantry. Andrew Stiles interviewed former Bush Interior Secretary Gale Norton about it, and she said it’s nothing new:
“The National Parks Service has a long history of dramatizing budget issues by inconveniencing the public,” she says. ”They often choose the most dramatic type of action in order to get their message across. It’s something I had to guard against when I was secretary — not letting them play budget games.“
NPS has engaged in such behavior for decades, Nortons says, recalling at least one occassion during the Reagan administraiton, in which she worked as an attorney for the parks service, when NPS decided to close Skyline Drive, a scenic highway running through Shenandoah National Park, in order to make a statement during an appropriations fight on Capitol Hill…
“Given the fact that they have closed so much, and acted so broadly, I imagine that decision was made at the highest levels of park service leadership, in cooperation with department leadership and the White House,” she says.
Note the point about budget games. Darrell Issa sent a letter to the director of the NPS yesterday demanding to know why open-air memorials have been closed and noting that the tactic seems oddly similar to other inexplicable closures back in March, when NPS was grumpy about its budget being cut due to sequestration. Quote: “Specifically, the Committee received information that proposed budget adjustments submitted by an NPS official in the field to deal with sequestration impacts were rejected by NPS superiors in favor of cuts that would be more visible and disruptive.” Hearings are presumably on the way, as only a really thorough public shaming is apt to make them think twice about this in the future. I wonder who the Lois Lerner of the NPS will turn out to be. Fair warning to whoever that person is: You’re looking at some hard time involving months of paid vacation and a luxe government pension, pardner.
Via John McCormack, here was what the World War II Memorial looked like this morning. They’ve actually wired the barricades together to make it marginally harder for people to get in. Exit quotation from Tom Hanks, commenting on the Honor Flight vets who insisted on entry earlier this week: “Good for the veterans. Good, go see it. We should all have access to them all the time.””
The fences/barricades were not wired shut when I was here on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/mMV6TsqGt7
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) October 4, 2013
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Great comments in this thread. Some very funny. I have to say though that his people still think he’s a god. I’m working with a builder to learn some subcontractor skills. So, I get to work with about every trade it takes to build a house. I constantly have to listen to LIVs talk about these event from the standpoint of what Republicans are trying to keep or take from them. Lunch break yesterday, I had to listen to the crew go on about how the Speaker of the House (yes, I was surprised they knew what that was) is still getting paid while “he’s” turning old vets away from memorials.
There is no amount of proof you can show them that will make them blame Obama.
smoothsailing on October 5, 2013 at 12:07 PM
Next weekend is the trucker protest.
Facebook took their page down…
RideForTheConsitution.
Murphy9 on October 5, 2013 at 11:56 AM
Murphy9 on October 5, 2013 at 12:10 PM
Any realizations yet, black folks?
rogerb on October 5, 2013 at 12:12 PM
That Zuckerberg took that page down is not surprising since he’s a supporter.
Big $ supporter of Amnesty too.
God Bless the Truckers and the Bikers!!
Thanks for the info too.
bluefox on October 5, 2013 at 12:15 PM
They should stop by Taylor Gourmet to buy sandwiches for the vets. En masse.
de rigueur on October 5, 2013 at 12:19 PM
No, that was the night Obysmal “got” Bin Laden.
onlineanalyst on October 5, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Excuse me if this has been covered, but …
ALOT of small bizz owners’ livelihoods have been affected by this temper tantrum .. not the least of which are fishing enterprise, now …
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/05/Feds-Try-to-Close-the-OCEAN-Because-of-Shutdown
Will they have any legal standing against this regime in these cases ??
pambi on October 5, 2013 at 12:21 PM
If only a government shutdown led to Obama’s mouth being wired shut.
Resist We Much on October 5, 2013 at 12:24 PM
Thanks INC!
Murphy9 just posted the link for the Ride For The Constitution and it’s scheduled for Oct 11-13!
Hope the Vets get there first!!
I don’t need to say Traffic Jam.
bluefox on October 5, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Hey that’s great you are learning all the trades needed in building a house!!
Your fellow workers remind me of the saying “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”, LOL
Sometimes instead of trying to convince them that they are wrong,
asking pertinent questions work:-) That allows them to think, yeah I know and perhaps come to the correct conclusion. I’ve used that method before and have been surprised at the results.
bluefox on October 5, 2013 at 12:32 PM
I’d settle for Jehu…
Akzed on October 5, 2013 at 12:39 PM
Good idea, but I think Taylor Gourmet would have to “shutdown”; out of sandwiches:-)
bluefox on October 5, 2013 at 12:40 PM
Haaaaaaaaaaaa-Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Glad I hadn’t started lunch yet:-)
bluefox on October 5, 2013 at 12:42 PM
Your fellow workers remind me of the saying “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”, LOL
Sometimes instead of trying to convince them that they are wrong,
asking pertinent questions work:-) That allows them to think, yeah I know and perhaps come to the correct conclusion. I’ve used that method before and have been surprised at the results.
bluefox on October 5, 2013 at 12:32 PM
There is one guy who’s worked for this builder forever the younger guys look up to. The msm doesn’t even really need to exaggerate because he always seems to add a little to the story. He was talking about crazy lady as if the bad economy caused her to go off the deep end. He blamed Bush and said, “There’s only so much Barrack can do to fix it.”
I think your advice is great. Asking questions defuses a lot with open-minded people. Not these guys though. Almost done with this though and back to school after the holidays. I’m sure that environment will be better.
:-)
smoothsailing on October 5, 2013 at 12:43 PM
I think maybe in this case, we’d need both!
bluefox on October 5, 2013 at 12:44 PM
If there are enough ‘essential personnel’ to hassle citizens wishing to use the parks and memorials, then there are too many ‘essential personnel’.
ajacksonian on October 5, 2013 at 12:55 PM
Best post of 2013, right there.
dogsoldier on October 5, 2013 at 12:57 PM
Stop the ocean from rising: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/05/Feds-Try-to-Close-the-OCEAN-Because-of-Shutdown
davidk on October 5, 2013 at 12:59 PM
Propaganda works, no doubt. Even so, you and others that speak out help to counter that. I agree those guys sound like they’ve made up their minds and don’t want to be confused with the facts, LOL
Nevertheless, a fact here & there helps. Even when you go back to school, perhaps another person comes along and adds to what you said.
Learning is a great adventure, hope yours increases as you head back to class!
bluefox on October 5, 2013 at 1:04 PM
I hear variations on that theme from a lot of lefties. No matter how bad the economic news is (record level of people out of the labor force, record level of people on food stamps, record level of people getting disability, etc.), it’s always Bush’s fault.
Obama can’t be blamed for the bad economy, despite the fact that he’s been president for five years now, because Bush made everything so bad. Obama is doing the best he can do under the circumstances, but it’s going to take more time for the economy to recover, because of all the evil that Bush did.
Bush is their rationale to explain all of Obama’s failures. Nothing will ever be Obama’s fault in their minds. When Obama leaves office, the U.S. could be in a full blown depression, and these people will still be blaming Bush.
AZCoyote on October 5, 2013 at 1:09 PM
How are Republicans serious about forcing the goons and schmucks to reopen the national parks if they did not make that part of the “pay for troops” bill or the six or so other special bills they’ve passed?
I’m not buying it.
They didn’t attach provision requiring the parks to open to the “special” WIC bill? That says it all.
kunegetikos on October 5, 2013 at 1:33 PM
The military funding bill was passed 09/28/13 before Obama started being so petty about closing parks, including anything privately funded that paid the government for being on park lands.
Here’s a list of what the House has passed and what the Senate and Obama did or threatened to do.
http://www.speaker.gov/senatemustact
INC on October 5, 2013 at 1:52 PM
Ah, another LIV Dem checks in. Happy to be of service, O’bot!
3 days ago:
And from just yesterday:
Thanks for playing!
F-
Del Dolemonte on October 5, 2013 at 1:55 PM
They passed on for the parks too.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/01/us-usa-fiscal-idUSBRE98N11220131001
dogsoldier on October 5, 2013 at 1:57 PM
I’m expecting Obama to take away treatment and prosthetics next.
dogsoldier on October 5, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Del Dolemonte on October 5, 2013 at 1:55 PM
Awesome rebuttal, Del.
smoothsailing on October 5, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Pass the bolt cutters please.
Bmore on October 5, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Close it up: we have our threadloser…
affenhauer on October 5, 2013 at 2:19 PM
Obama really hates little children. Now he’s shutting down Head Start for millions of poor children.
AND WHY DOES THE HA FILTER HATE SOME LINKS??? Jeez Louise guys. FIX THAT.
dogsoldier on October 5, 2013 at 2:21 PM
Obama has ordered the shutdown of base chapels and churches. I guess Obama hates God too. He’s really making the military suffer. He’ll probably be shutting of the water and electricity on military bases next or may taking out the vending machines, shutting down the chow halls and cutting of the internet.
Wow that link filter SUCKS!
dogsoldier on October 5, 2013 at 2:28 PM
http://dailycaller.com/2013/10/04/priests-threatened-with-arrest-if-they-minister-to-military-during-shutdown/
dogsoldier on October 5, 2013 at 2:29 PM
Resist We Much on October 5, 2013 at 2:35 PM
Murphy9 on October 5, 2013 at 2:40 PM
de rigueur on October 5, 2013 at 2:46 PM
From Ace –
More NPS shut downs –
This is now breaching well into the territory of general asshattery and obnoxious arrogance. It’s as if they don’t care about the optics because they know the lamestream media will cover for them.
Athos on October 5, 2013 at 3:32 PM
This is precisely how tyrannical governments act once they feel secure in their power.
Murphy9 on October 5, 2013 at 3:35 PM
Time for some civil disobedience….
Passivity only encourages fascist governments.
Athos on October 5, 2013 at 3:41 PM
What about the turtle tunnels? Have they been shut down?
I sure hope that those poor turtles benefited enough from Head Start to be able to read the ‘closed due to shutdown’ sign. I’d hate to see them arrested while their poor eggs down aren’t being R2P’d down in Florida…cuz shutdown or something.
And, don’t forget those shrimp treadmills either, buster!!! eL3vEnTy!!!iii111III
Resist We Much on October 5, 2013 at 4:00 PM
Obamaha Beach
Athos on October 5, 2013 at 4:19 PM
We need more of these – Vets, the Tea Party, as frequently as possible to send a clear message even the hacks in the lamestream media can’t ignore.
Athos on October 5, 2013 at 4:26 PM
Well, there is one thing about it. Neither Boehner nor Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Rand Paul and other Patriots have the power to order all of these shutdowns.
Even Reid doesn’t have this power. Hmmm, I wonder who does??
The House is doing their job in funding, but Reid and the Senate are not. So there you go.
If I send you a check and you don’t cash it, don’t complain to me that you are broke.
bluefox on October 5, 2013 at 4:27 PM
The Park Service website is soliciting sympathy. Due to camping trips with my family, I have always been a big park supporter. It will be a long time before I send them a donation or buy a golden eagle. They are trying to disrupt operations and spending money trying to keep people away and that does not endear them to me. It makes me sad to see the NPS being used as a political weapon.
from the website:
Ibanez Lotus on October 5, 2013 at 5:07 PM
Leftist Tom Hanks has no credibility here, Allahpundit, because he refuses to criticize his Dear Leader over this.
Mr Obama could reopen the memorials & monuments with one executive order.
itsnotaboutme on October 5, 2013 at 5:18 PM
kunegetikos on October 5, 2013 at 1:33 PM
You are actually faulting them for not realizing how butt-farking crazy their opposition is?
PJ Emeritus on October 5, 2013 at 5:56 PM
We were only following Orders…..
Afterseven on October 5, 2013 at 7:24 PM
Soldiers can not have church services on base. Only Catholics are prohibited. Priests are threaten with indefinite internment.
Soldiers can not buy food at the commissary.
Soldiers can not be buried in a military cemetery.
Relative can not go to military cemetery to pay respects.
Reservists can not drill.
Soldiers oversea are forbidden to view live sports events.
Active and former military can not go to public monuments of their fallen brothers and sisters.
Disabled solders may not get their disability pay.
Retired solders may not get their retirement checks.
If the government defaults on these checks there is no regress for the disabled or retired.
Is their a pattern here. Am I ready for a tin foil hat or do all the dots line up in a certain way. Don’t forget that private Army Obama wanted in his first election. What really happened to those 4 billion rounds of ammunition that Home Land Security bought?
If these fools do not clean up their act by monday, by mid week people may start dying.
To his credit Sectary Hagel is stopping some of this nonsense, on his own. He also would not let Obama drop the hammer on Syria.
Three things to keep in mind.
1.Under the 26th amendment it would only take the agreement of 6 may 7 Cabinet Secretaries to deem Obama unfit and he is out.
2.The Governor of a State can recall his senators.
3.If your check dose not come you can take your representative or senator to small claims court and get a order to take his government car for auction. It is not the same as suing the Government.
jpcpt03 on October 5, 2013 at 8:08 PM
Excuse me if this has been covered, but …
ALOT of small bizz owners’ livelihoods have been affected by this temper tantrum .. not the least of which are fishing enterprise, now …
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/05/Feds-Try-to-Close-the-OCEAN-Because-of-Shutdown
Will they have any legal standing against this regime in these cases ??
pambi on October 5, 2013 at 12:21 PM
……………
This is happening down here where I live in the Keys.
The park service has been trying to close off key areas of Florida Bay’s 650 square miles for 30 years now. They don’t give a dam about people just the critters. Especially the “endangered” crocodiles which pull dogs off docks and eat them.
So far they have closed down the bay to boaters/fisherman really screwing up our economy.
the water temps drop this time of year and the bay is a great place to fish. We catch snook redfish, trout, snapper grouper tarpon it only lasts for 6 or 8 weeks until it gets too cold to fish. So this is prime time they are closing off.
What they are doing is giving out warnings for anyone who goes back there the first time and then trying to take their boat the second time.
they reportedly are patrolling by boat and plane.
It’s just more chickensh_t enforcement we have become used to over the years by the feds.
We need to take our own parks back and get rid of the federal govt.
rodguy911 on October 5, 2013 at 10:04 PM
When will the government close the borders to save money?
If monuments are not left open, why should the borders be?
profitsbeard on October 5, 2013 at 10:59 PM
An indoctrinated Socialist is not a low-information voter. Calling them stupid and mentally deficient will not help matters one bit.
Myron Falwell on October 5, 2013 at 11:54 PM
It’s not about optics. It’s about constantly pushing, pushing, nudging, shoving until they get what they want, which is a civil disturbance that can be put down with force. What do you think will happen, for instance, if one of those aging patriots gets a little unruly and then gets handled a little too roughly by a frightened Park Ranger? How much more provocation will it take until something flashes? Tempers are increasingly frayed.
They just want an excuse. What do you think all of the bulking-up of DHS and the other federal departments and police forces is all about? They now HAVE the paramilitary force that Barky initially proposed “We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.”
Apparently they’ve decided that it’s time to go for it.
Basically the mask has dropped, and regardless of all of the speculation that went before, you now have the country in two groups – those that see increasingly clearly what is happening, and those that will refuse to see regardless of events.
bofh on October 6, 2013 at 12:47 AM
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