Spies May Defect Over Furlough

[Ben]

I think this might make "Most ridiculous statement of the week". Seriously James Clapper? Our intelligence operatives might defect because they're not getting paid for a whole day and a half? I'd be curious to know how many people in the critical areas of the intelligence community with TS clearance have even been furloughed, if any. Of course that's likely classified, so no way to fact check his statement.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/02/intel-chief-us-spies-might-defect-over-budget-impasse/

[brimic]

Worse!
Trrrist plots might not be foiled by the NSA because of shutdown!!!
 

[Balog]

1. They get back pay after the furlough, so this is paid vacation the pay is just slightly delayed.
2. If you're gonna go rogue because you missed a day or two worth of pay maybe you shouldn't be a spy?

[AZRedhawk44]

Worse!
Trrrist plots might not be foiled by the NSA because of shutdown!!!
 

Worst:

FedGuv uses the furlough as an excuse to deliberately let some half-arsed trrrrrrist plot succeed, to create a false parallel between libertarian policies and trrrrrist support, uses as grounds for more civil liberties squashing.

[Balog]

NSA monitoring is going full steam ahead, they're just not processing FOIA requests.

[Fitz]

1. They get back pay after the furlough, so this is paid vacation the pay is just slightly delayed.
2. If you're gonna go rogue because you missed a day or two worth of pay maybe you shouldn't be a spy?

Number one is not true for a lot of people


Still though. Fear nonferrous and bullshit from the US intelligence apparatus

Nothing to see there, folks

[TommyGunn]

1. They get back pay after the furlough, so this is paid vacation the pay is just slightly delayed.
2. If you're gonna go rogue because you missed a day or two worth of pay maybe you shouldn't be a spy?

That's OK they will redefect back to us when they get their back pay.

[tokugawa]

i was going to comment but do not want to end up like Micheal Hastings.

[brimic]

NSA monitoring is going full steam ahead, they're just not processing FOIA requests.

Still would make great timing for a false flag operation.

[RevDisk]

I think this might make "Most ridiculous statement of the week". Seriously James Clapper? Our intelligence operatives might defect because they're not getting paid for a whole day and a half? I'd be curious to know how many people in the critical areas of the intelligence community with TS clearance have even been furloughed, if any. Of course that's likely classified, so no way to fact check his statement.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/10/02/intel-chief-us-spies-might-defect-over-budget-impasse/

First question from a reporter should have been "Didn't you commit perjury when testifying before Congress?  How do you still have a job, let alone be able to try to pull something this stupid."

[Hawkmoon]

In more ridiculousness, the National Park Service has (forcefully) ordered the closure of a Virginia landmark that is located on NPS land, but which is not staffed by NPS personnel and which receives NO (that's as in "Zero") federal funding. This same site has been through a number of previous government "shutdowns" without being asked to close.

I thought it was a truism that all politicians were shameless, but the Obummer administration gives an entirely new meaning to the word.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/2/nps-orders-closure-park-receives-no-federal-fundin/?page=all

[vaskidmark]

As I read it, NPS can close down the Park, which would effectively preclude tourists accessing the Farm, but should have no voice in how the trust operates the Farm itself.  And if the Farm has livestock NPS would need to allow Farm staff to acccess the site to care for said livestock - or suffer an attempt to get a warrant sworn out against them for violating federal animal cruelty laws (which of course then leads to civil suits for compensation for te distress and emotional trauma suffered by staff who knew about the cruel treatment of the livestock).

NPS may get away with keeping tourists from getting in, but telling a lessee you are going to refuse to honor the lease is bordering on the far side of stupid.

But ten, this "government shutdown" is not about shutting down the government so much as it is trying to distract the uninformed and the single-issue voters from the 800 pound gorilla in the middle of the room.

stay safe.

[freakazoid]

What if they refuse to close?

[Hawkmoon]

What if they refuse to close?

According to the article, the NPS erected barricades at the entrance.

[freakazoid]

If they truly are closed then there shouldn't be anyone manning the barricades.

[Hawkmoon]

If they truly are closed then there shouldn't be anyone manning the barricades.

But if the parks and monuments are essentially closed, then the personnel needed to enforce the closings must be essential personnel.

You just don't know how to think like a bureaucrap.

[Tallpine]

Tourist businesses on the YNP perimeter are complaining about lost income.  But I also wonder about lost tax revenue on that lost income.

Would be interesting to study whether national parks, etc actually cost or make money   

[Hawkmoon]

Tourist businesses on the YNP perimeter are complaining about lost income.  But I also wonder about lost tax revenue on that lost income.

Would be interesting to study whether national parks, etc actually cost or make money   

When the state highway department decides to repair a stretch of highway, they don't close it ... they just "close" it. They post a sign that says something like, "Road legally closed. Pass at your own risk. State assumes no liability if your car falls into a crater or gets buried in hot asphalt."

So what't the big deal about closing a forest? Do the trees care? Just post a sign that says, "Hey, the rangers are on furlough. If a bear chases you, you're on your own. Enjoy your visit."

Done. Simple.

[Boomhauer]

Would be interesting to study whether national parks, etc actually cost

They cost money.

Believe me I used to work for them and the amount of money that the NPS spends is staggering. Way too much to be self-supporting. You don't get a call telling you to go spend $20,000 in one day in an agency that is self supporting.

Conversely, I now work for a state park system that is 85% self supporting. We are on a shoestring, squeeze blood from turnips type budget.

[Tallpine]

They cost money.

Believe me I used to work for them and the amount of money that the NPS spends is staggering. Way too much to be self-supporting. You don't get a call telling you to go spend $20,000 in one day in an agency that is self supporting.

Conversely, I now work for a state park system that is 85% self supporting. We are on a shoestring, squeeze blood from turnips type budget.

Turn the national parks and forests over to the states 

I'm sure Montana could make money off the national state forests.  Heck, 1/36th of the rest of the land earns money to help fund the schools.

[Sergeant Bob]

Clapper said Wednesday he cannot "guarantee" the country is safe in the current condition.

I guess this means if he get the bucks he can "guarantee" the safety of the country? I think he has a highly inflated opinion of his own worth....

[Ben]

I guess this means if he get the bucks he can "guarantee" the safety of the country? I think he has a highly inflated opinion of his own worth....

That's a really good point. I'd love to see a reporter ask him that.

[Triphammer]

Isn't coercing money to guarantee "protection"  called extortion?