News for today's 2018

World War II vets knock down barriers, visit Memorial

2:27 PM Tukiyooo 0

government shutdown World War II vets knock down barriers, visit Memorial

Elderly veterans who came to Washington to visit the World War II Memorial knocked down the barriers to the closed monument and visited it a...

Poll proves John McCain correct about shutdown blame falling on GOP

11:52 AM Tukiyooo 0

A new Quinnipiac poll reporting 72% of Americans blame Republicans for shutting down the government has proven that Senator John McCain was <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/poll-indicates-gop-has-been-deeply-damaged-by-shutdown-fight">correct in his assessment</a> that a shutdown would not be good for Republicans:<br /><blockquote>Senior Republicans like <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/mccain-to-gop-we-will-lose-the-shutdown-fight" target="_blank">Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)</a> have long maintained that a government shutdown is a political loser  for their party, an argument backed by polling. A CNN/ORC International  poll released Monday showed that more Americans <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/poll-congressional-gop-will-receive-more-blame-for-government-shutdown-than-obama" target="_blank">will blame the GOP</a> than Obama for a government shutdown.</blockquote>Now this senior statesman who was a Vietnam War prisoner of war is the subject of a recall petition in Arizona, apparently activated by <a href="http://www.dailypaul.com/299048/recall-senator-john-mccain">Libertarians</a> and <a href="http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/06/arizona-voters-look-to-recall-sens-mccain-flake-following-amnesty-vote/">tea partiers</a>.<br /><br />With 72% of Americans blaming Republicans for the government shutdown, these factions may want to listen to the experience of John McCain ... but I won't hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

A new Quinnipiac poll reporting 72% of Americans blame Republicans for shutting down the government has proven that Senator John McCain was ...

Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park closed due to government shutdown

11:10 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCRGWPtxU8G4VEir4MevRSp0Z9uM4vJqGUFNpR_rgk9M0BHH00q326EZPdw16IcVfqKrmTx3Ia7Cxh3cy11-H0iDRwrg00iryuLFTIsY1QPX-v3yvKBEhjs2Zzf4CS7EwItdPVdZtYrWu/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCRGWPtxU8G4VEir4MevRSp0Z9uM4vJqGUFNpR_rgk9M0BHH00q326EZPdw16IcVfqKrmTx3Ia7Cxh3cy11-H0iDRwrg00iryuLFTIsY1QPX-v3yvKBEhjs2Zzf4CS7EwItdPVdZtYrWu/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> If the government shutdown that began today continues through October, these are scenes you won't see this year. Just as leaf season is about to arrive, Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park are closed to visitors. Peak weekend usually hits about the third week in October.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyEMUNNIrIZU5Qzb1w_bF8uca_jfhCrmpfJZSFbY4H2yudWiA0sIAy4WPiPjYmipmEGy8CZSRkonagT01L4uvahhytOSp4uKymNYU9rarHaHulWRlpGXH59syjeGIY_FOms91mh5qW2l-/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyEMUNNIrIZU5Qzb1w_bF8uca_jfhCrmpfJZSFbY4H2yudWiA0sIAy4WPiPjYmipmEGy8CZSRkonagT01L4uvahhytOSp4uKymNYU9rarHaHulWRlpGXH59syjeGIY_FOms91mh5qW2l-/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhry4AmNpopqRK-lVbme7e_uf9BJh8vT0d6uiW66heteNXygH_y44SLKvkdoxKu8CY6YC8krGNrvm0O4pgk41G2HRWrVOR7zm4Q6sFdQerc6qusUVXcAE87BYAnWTYhQZ8Q7gQW1wcnc2IZ/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhry4AmNpopqRK-lVbme7e_uf9BJh8vT0d6uiW66heteNXygH_y44SLKvkdoxKu8CY6YC8krGNrvm0O4pgk41G2HRWrVOR7zm4Q6sFdQerc6qusUVXcAE87BYAnWTYhQZ8Q7gQW1wcnc2IZ/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcB0pW8vEDlm1isMD3QfTXrIGrEVfDkWtoSBYzPUre9dv7l3snOteCoc5YGfgKJc2KmSVfgT4NPAiEDA1n0gLtD-VLUCu_ubXC4EvJHmn2-ORJ4TsAb4f8mjVcNLuIwlFuAJWp-i3cf3WP/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcB0pW8vEDlm1isMD3QfTXrIGrEVfDkWtoSBYzPUre9dv7l3snOteCoc5YGfgKJc2KmSVfgT4NPAiEDA1n0gLtD-VLUCu_ubXC4EvJHmn2-ORJ4TsAb4f8mjVcNLuIwlFuAJWp-i3cf3WP/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1Z6Z1-CKxJq2rc3tGNxSFiLRRlKjqpr52vcbtTGFhJqw_Nl5OAVHNxdSNybIOcgLdU7T79TPI0s6l55EAWkYAg_bk4-RZmChk7540SrL8TTHdeKhaXA-3XQ7dFy8-R9rRVJ1B82F1W-e/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1Z6Z1-CKxJq2rc3tGNxSFiLRRlKjqpr52vcbtTGFhJqw_Nl5OAVHNxdSNybIOcgLdU7T79TPI0s6l55EAWkYAg_bk4-RZmChk7540SrL8TTHdeKhaXA-3XQ7dFy8-R9rRVJ1B82F1W-e/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKw3B784FV8cuEevXYJMi8EjyNGGG7CNbrCAoOKU2dxJIMgNx3JmRpityEqV2SOEByRVufUNn45kwdU6vxfktpYvTlZNt6711dX4X4f5IbMb9RA4wEg5wZBeDeuJi3stEZY_9jDA7hmaQ/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKw3B784FV8cuEevXYJMi8EjyNGGG7CNbrCAoOKU2dxJIMgNx3JmRpityEqV2SOEByRVufUNn45kwdU6vxfktpYvTlZNt6711dX4X4f5IbMb9RA4wEg5wZBeDeuJi3stEZY_9jDA7hmaQ/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaSJ1K8NMClabYKvEizQO3pUOc4Ioc4BcRh01grSIcccyYH4H0KRFVRc0TxW2PLEvAmToJbVo99j9s7Em7rkUrq0K2F0Gtdcr8AWS00M5msR31QT9o2TcDCyXxzlaCwGn6AFX9f41bMbs/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaSJ1K8NMClabYKvEizQO3pUOc4Ioc4BcRh01grSIcccyYH4H0KRFVRc0TxW2PLEvAmToJbVo99j9s7Em7rkUrq0K2F0Gtdcr8AWS00M5msR31QT9o2TcDCyXxzlaCwGn6AFX9f41bMbs/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjqr90Xw59aGQGH8kzKJ-0UDshAbF4nb_uy8giCiEW6jlXqtI2HQqahKxlgZMqmVBFxr1giJxw2cyVn_346Sx7XDAyG_PrKbeaVp7unjCFCjNoScdJOvHvPuGFsFPUI5_N3f9HnBEgvsu/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjqr90Xw59aGQGH8kzKJ-0UDshAbF4nb_uy8giCiEW6jlXqtI2HQqahKxlgZMqmVBFxr1giJxw2cyVn_346Sx7XDAyG_PrKbeaVp7unjCFCjNoScdJOvHvPuGFsFPUI5_N3f9HnBEgvsu/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhZajYde2EKfSfIXKr9UsbRRTpmpg-zhhYTLXLyjs-0MNDbqSO0H9glkhs2I4564d9hbKS-l9RFDJse3n0-ikDbfhpo_8yo99JjRnfFNjFW1CBoE9E0lWdcnbh0L21-Wi_Gj-1OfGee5O/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDARr5hWn618oEY5ZjYxQaP52ClkC9TVOPaKs7x9Js1RY-G6OXOZ1W-a9MPHostbgh2wkktrOA2cGoshT4QqJNsonTWvT78WhSElYjPgyQ2NgQcetcK9yqa0k5QALL2WIdICgyzmiaTg0/s400/28.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKw0foK6T_zFJ-cNovPSqKkC1U2-iORl3h0C25R_1xgFI13gMLJxSXCMPeS9cr36R0-hRfc05m3Zny3QxfsVqOM_YRNB_S-IDAKi3OkjVfdjcFeCaBxEcBw2rquwrhsnjqeYwgXLPpQJb/s1600/30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKw0foK6T_zFJ-cNovPSqKkC1U2-iORl3h0C25R_1xgFI13gMLJxSXCMPeS9cr36R0-hRfc05m3Zny3QxfsVqOM_YRNB_S-IDAKi3OkjVfdjcFeCaBxEcBw2rquwrhsnjqeYwgXLPpQJb/s400/30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav5Ltx1ACdGPUIqPJvQXPCt9UorpPyz6yd2SJpZedbpScQEgbD8r4BUxUXqT8Lnl5k8hk60Vcceeg33mce-bfLa1YlK9bjuugRVTSkN1vmr4QC99zk9sZ0UWW3a7XVU7g_rDTMngTRIiO/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav5Ltx1ACdGPUIqPJvQXPCt9UorpPyz6yd2SJpZedbpScQEgbD8r4BUxUXqT8Lnl5k8hk60Vcceeg33mce-bfLa1YlK9bjuugRVTSkN1vmr4QC99zk9sZ0UWW3a7XVU7g_rDTMngTRIiO/s400/31.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/local/shenandoah-national-park-to-close-if-shutdown-happens/article_37420cb0-2a29-11e3-a5d7-001a4bcf6878.html">Shenandoah National Park to close</a> by Bob Stuart <br /><a href="http://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/article_5e17bf58-2a4f-11e3-b9a9-001a4bcf6878.html">Area parks, services to close in government shutdown</a> by Ray Reed<br /><a href="http://www.roanoke.com/news/2265842-12/blue-ridge-parkway-will-allow-traffic-not-attractions.html">Blue Ridge Parkway will allow traffic, not attractions, in shutdown</a> by Ralph Berrier, Jr.<br /><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />Shenandoah National Park

Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park closed due to government shutdown

Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge Parkway government shutdown Lynchburg News and Advance Roanoke Times Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive tourism Virginia Is For Lovers Waynesboro News-Virginian Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park closed due to government shutdown

If the government shutdown that began today continues through October, these are scenes you won't see this year. Just as leaf season is...

Shutdown isn't affecting TPP talks

10:26 AM Tukiyooo 0

The <a href="http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/10/01/government-shutdown-what-stays-open-whats-closed/" rel="nofollow">government shutdown</a> is costing 400,000 civilian employees part of their paychecks. Small businesspeople won't be able to apply for federal loans, nor will students or homebuyers. Retirees won't be able to apply for Social Security. All national parks and federally funded museums are closed.<br /><br />Here's one thing that won't shut down: negotiations for job-killing<strike> corporate giveaways</strike> trade deals like the <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/03/tpp-power-grab-by-corporations-and-1.html" rel="nofollow">TPP</a> and <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/07/tafta-delay-good-for-workers.html" rel="nofollow">TAFTA</a>.<br /><br />According to an email from the people who bring you these job-killing <strike>corporate giveaways</strike> trade deals, the U.S. Trade Representative's office:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Due to a lapse in federal appropriations, as of October 1st, USTR will be unable to carry out normal operations.    As of today, in hopes that the lapse will be brief, USTR plans to participate in the upcoming meeting of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Trade Ministers as well as the APEC meetings taking place in Bali, Indonesia from October 3-8, 2013.  USTR also plans to participate in the upcoming 2nd round negotiation of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) taking place in Brussels, Belgium from October 7-11, 2013.  In the event of a prolonged lapse in funding, plans may change and we will inform you accordingly.</blockquote>'T-TIP' is their term for TAFTA, which they don't like to use for obvious reasons.<br /><br />In other words, ordinary people are getting screwed by the shutdown -- twice over.

government shutdown TPP Shutdown isn't affecting TPP talks

The government shutdown is costing 400,000 civilian employees part of their paychecks. Small businesspeople won't be able to apply for ...

Government shutdown? Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkway would close -- UPDATED

5:39 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCrg45c_Twty0OtRUVBQIt4kKWhtyb_nle44FCkfCXU4D8GpomXUIHFYwcO8RYBNcFtuhzu9NuEFDyPlpITnDgWfV9i-RzwdhPGa4qB8itLW2fWa32oGT6A0VlMXi2gIe5jxdjA51M2hr/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCrg45c_Twty0OtRUVBQIt4kKWhtyb_nle44FCkfCXU4D8GpomXUIHFYwcO8RYBNcFtuhzu9NuEFDyPlpITnDgWfV9i-RzwdhPGa4qB8itLW2fWa32oGT6A0VlMXi2gIe5jxdjA51M2hr/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Mabry Mill would be closed during a government shutdown.</i></div><br />Come on, people ... Republicans did this in 1995 and had our behinds kicked to the curb by the American people who blamed the entire government shutdown on the GOP. Do we really have to repeat history?<br /><br />Apparently so, for those who were not around back in the day. If you don't know history, you are bound to repeat it. <br /><br />So <a href="http://www.doi.gov/shutdown/index.cfm">what would be shut down</a>?<br /><br />Just as the east coast approaches leaf season when millions hit the roadways to admire the changing colors of fall, the Blue Ridge Parkway could be a victim of the shutdown. That trickles down to hotels, gas stations, restaurants, attractions, and other tourist-related businesses that clearly benefit during leaf season.<br /><br />The Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Smokey Mountains would close under a government shutdown. That includes bathrooms, visitors centers, camping and picnic areas, concessions operations and backcountry trails.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.themountainpress.com/news/x249846987/Government-shutdown-would-mean-Smokies-closure">The Mountain Press</a> reported: <br /><blockquote>The last time the government shut down, in the mid-1990s, for 27 days,  closures cost park-dependent communities an estimated $14 million daily,  according to a report from the National Parks Conservation Association.<br /><br />“When our national parks closed in 1995-96, I received an outpouring of  calls from gateway communities alarmed by the situation,” said Phil  Francis, the recently retired superintendent of Blue Ridge Parkway.<br /><br />“The potential shutdown adds insult to injury because these communities  are already concerned about the recent cutbacks in funding for national  parks that have harmed the Park Service’s ability to serve visitors,"  Francis added. "No one expected these cuts to happen again. Now we’re  looking at not only a potential shutdown, but the likelihood of another  round of cuts. If that happens, there’s a good chance it’s going to be  even harder.”</blockquote>The <a href="http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20130927/NEWS/309270031/As-leaf-season-nears-government-shutdown-could-close-Blue-Ridge-Parkway">Asheville Citizen-Times</a> weighed in:<br /><blockquote>The parkway, which only recently reopened after a giant crack caused by a landslide was repaired, means a lot to tourism-related businesses in Asheville.<br /><br />If the shutdown happens, and lasts into the fall leaf season, small businesses could feel the pinch.</blockquote><a href="http://www.roanoke.com/news/2262104-12/government-shutdown-would-close-blue-ridge-parkway.html">The Roanoke Times</a> laid it on the line:<br /><blockquote>The Blue Ridge Parkway and many of its attractions will close during its peak travel season if the federal government shuts down on Tuesday.<br /><br />All national parks will be forced to close if Congress does not agree on a spending bill by midnight Monday. If a shutdown happens, park rangers have been instructed to close the parkway.<br /><br />“The plan is to close up all operations and shut the gates for the most part,” said Leesa Brandon, Partnerships & Community Outreach Coordinator for the parkway. “I am still hopeful that there will be a resolution and it won’t come to that.”</blockquote>Last week's journey down the Blue Ridge Parkway would not have been possible this week if the shutdown goes through. All the places SWAC Husband and I visited are slated to be closed:<br /><blockquote>Although many details will still need to be addressed, the Department of the Interior’s plan seems to instruct parkway attractions such as Mabry Mill, the Peaks of Otter and other privately managed venues on parkway property to close. Even if those places are allowed to remain open, however, travelers in automobiles would have limited access.<br /><br />Likewise, should a shutdown occur, the Blue Ridge Music Center will be forced to close and its daily bluegrass and old-time mountain music events will be canceled.</blockquote><a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2012/10/autumn-travel-and-leaf-peeping-in.html">No leaf looking</a> along Skyline Drive ... Shenandoah National Park closed ... no taking <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/09/blue-ridge-heritage-polly-growing-up-in.html">Polly to lunch</a> at Skyland Resort as we had planned. The shutdown would close it all and, again, affect businesses along the way.<br /><br />NPR senior business editor Marilyn Geewax <a href="http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2013/09/27/impact-government-shutdown">commented</a>:<br /><blockquote>"... tourism could take a big hit. Consider if you owned a restaurant. I talked to a guy who owned a restaurant out - just outside of the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Early October is the leaf peeping season. That's when people are out there, driving around. If the National Park is closed, the Skyline Drive is closed, that's a real hit on all of that tourism industry out there. So restaurant owners worry, stores worry and, you know, the entire really travel industry is concerned because passports won't get processed.<br /><br />"So people may not plan various trips. So we're not really talking about an airport shutdown. Air traffic controllers will be deemed essential. TSA workers, they'll be essential. But it's all the things around traveling. Yes, the airport may be open, but if Yosemite Park is closed, what's the point of going on your vacation?"</blockquote>Glad we made our trek last week when we were able to see <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/09/blue-ridge-parkway-lunch-at-peaks-of.html">Peaks of Otter</a>, <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/09/early-morning-reflections-at-mabry-mill.html">Mabry Mill</a>, Explore Park, the BRP Music Center, and all the other sights along that meandering American byway.<br /><br /><b>UPDATED 10/1/2013:</b> A last-minute decision on Monday by the National Park Service will allow the Blue Ridge Parkway to remain open during the government shutdown. Political reporter Bob Stuart has the latest today in the <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/newsvirginian/news/local/shenandoah-national-park-to-close-if-shutdown-happens/article_37420cb0-2a29-11e3-a5d7-001a4bcf6878.html"><i>News-Virginian. </i></a><br /><br /><i>Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell</i>

Government shutdown? Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkway would close -- UPDATED

Blue Ridge Mountains Blue Ridge Parkway federal government government shutdown Mabry Mill Music Center Peaks of Otter Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive Government shutdown? Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkway would close -- UPDATED

Mabry Mill would be closed during a government shutdown. Come on, people ... Republicans did this in 1995 and had our behinds kicked to th...

The president of disconnect

3:52 AM Tukiyooo 0

A <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/17/us/shooting-reported-at-washington-navy-yard.html?pagewanted=all">tragedy unfolded on Monday in the Washington Navy Yard</a> that ended in the death of 12 victims and the 34-year-old gunman. Areas of D.C. were locked down. The Nationals baseball team postponed their game until the next day. Seven victims were identified: Michael  Arnold, 59; Sylvia Frasier, 53; Kathy Gaarde, 62; John Roger Johnson,  73; Frank Kohler, 50; Kenneth Bernard Proctor, 46; and Vishnu Pandit,  61. Families were shattered.<br /><br />Columnist Maureen Dowd was shocked that President Barack Obama seemed to basically overlook the obvious heartache that so many were feeling as he went about the business of delivering a speech, writing in the <i>New York Times</i> that he is <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/18/opinion/dowd-losing-the-room.html?_r=0">Losing the Room</a>: <br /><blockquote>President Obama also gave a speech Monday, talking at the White House while the drama unfolded at the supposedly secure Navy Yard nearby. He could have posted his original remarks on the White House Web site and replaced them with a cri de coeur on gun control, or comfort for the shaken city. The 12 who died were, after all, under his aegis as workers in a federal building.<br /><br />But, jarringly, the president went ahead with his political attack, briefly addressing the slaughter before moving on to jab Republicans over the corporate tax rate and resistance to Obamacare.<br /><br />Just as with the address to the nation on Syria last week, the president went ahead with a speech overtaken by events. It was out of joint, given that the Senate was put into lockdown and the Washington Nationals delayed a night game against the Atlanta Braves, noting on its Web site, “Postponed: Tragedy.”<br /><br />The man who connected so electrically and facilely in 2008, causing Americans to overlook his thin résumé, cannot seem to connect anymore. </blockquote>Noting that even Democrats are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the President for a variety of reasons, Ms. Dowd added:<br /><blockquote>Obama still has a secret weapon: Congressional Republicans, who might yet shut down the government or cause a cataclysmic default and make the president look good. </blockquote>I sincerely hope that does not happen for <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/08/strong-opposition-to-government.html">reasons I have written about before</a> and <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/08/ny-times-on-gop-shutdown-threat.html">opined about by <i>The Times</i></a>. Been there, done that, got our behinds kicked to the curb by the American public.<br /><br />And then there's this:<br /><blockquote>Unlike Bill Clinton, who excels at boiling down complex arguments to simple ones, Obama prefers to wallow in the weeds, reminding people that he’s the smartest man in the room and expecting their support because he feels he is only doing what’s complicated and right. </blockquote>This president, much as I've tried to see it, does not emit compassion during tragedies. Obviously Maureen Dowd sees the same.