Snow Shuts Down Government, but Life Goes on!

WASHINGTON — If snow keeps 230,000 government employees home for the better part of a week, will anyone notice? With at least another foot of snow headed for Washington, Philadelphia and New York, we're about to find out. The federal government in the nation's capital has largely been shut down since Friday afternoon, when a storm began dumping up to 3 feet of snow in some parts of the region. Offices were remaining closed at least through Wednesday.
 
So far, the effects have been negligible. Many essential government services are performed at offices around the country, and about 85 percent of federal employees work outside the Washington region anyway. Others were working from home despite the snow. An IRS spokeswoman said tax returns should not be affected.
 
"Anything that is critical is going to get done," said Linda Springer, a former director of the Office of Personnel Management, which oversees the federal work force of nearly 2 million workers.
 
David Fiore, who works for the federal government's Export-Import Bank of the U.S., stocked up on groceries Tuesday in Washington and said he planned to do some work from home, including a 2 p.m. conference call.
 
"They're open in Turkey. I'm getting e-mails from Morocco," he said. "The work goes on."
 
That was the case for Robert Kronin, who made it to his office at a non-profit organization in Washington that has contracts with the government. He said that with federal workers off, he had fewer meetings and got caught up with a lot of paperwork.
 
Still, "it's always hard to swallow when the government has the day off and we don't," he said as he walked home.

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69 Comments

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DaleMac

Al Gore and Obama are liars, and their pants are not on fire, cause it is to damn cold..{ ice cycle's in their pants, ice cycle's in their pants, lookin like a fool, with ice cycle's in their pants....}

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 06:32 PM Report 

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Candycane

Great!
It will slow down the harm.
The economy will recover slowly on it's own.
Get envolved.
Vote intelligently!
Don't be fooled by RINO's.
Go to web site usdebtclock.org everyone may want to go to a tea party after seeing this.
Reform goverment first.
Vote out politicians that will not reduce goverment waste to reduce our taxes.
Let us stimulate ourselfs.
Stop forcing the economy with political payback to buy votes.
The goverment is the cause of all our bubbles.
Stop bailouts. Stop corporate welfare.
If you think we can afford any more wasteful programs
or the fuzzie math politicians are using again, then you are crazy.
Vote out politicians that will not cut waste, fraud and abuse.
Vote out politicians that will not balance all programs.
Vote out politicians that will not stop fundings for abortions.
Vote out politicians that will not stop benefits to all illegals,
and enforce the current laws to stop illegal immigration and sancutary cities.
Sheriff Joe, Rush, GB is RIGHT!
Vote out politicians that will not stop give away programs to buy votes.
Vote out any politicians that votes on golden parachute benefits, pensions and raises for itself.
Vote out politicians that will not vote in the best interest of all legal Americans.
Vote out politicians that will not accept responsibility for their actions and voting record.
Vote out politicians that will not stop voter fraud.
Increase voter accountability.
Stop foreign aid! America first

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 06:17 PM Report 

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SamMNY

Gives one pause to think. We might be able to thrive - not just survive - without the Federal Government which is trying to destroy our rights and freedoms. Spending like drunken sailors. Maybe this is a heavenly speed bump.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 05:55 PM Report 

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mrfredcb

Ya' gotta love global warming!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 05:00 PM Report 

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dmtl

.....so much for global warming....Al Gore your a joke!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 04:54 PM Report 

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Frank C.

Well do you think Obama will get the message. Two snow storms shut down DC and a earth quake in his home town. He won't listen to us, maybe he might listen to God!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 04:51 PM Report 

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Navy(Retired) Oathkeeper

Thank you snow storm, hope it keeps up.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 04:16 PM Report 

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franks1

it must be a sign from God to shut down the spending. if they cant meet they cant spend.Oops no credit card today.2010,2012 fiscal responsibility

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 04:14 PM Report 

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Major_Skidmark ««Audio: Reagan on UHC

With DC shutdown congress just got it's highest rating of the year!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 04:08 PM Report 

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gllasse

Hey Al Gore, hows that global warming working out for ya!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 04:07 PM Report 

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Major_Skidmark ««Audio: Reagan on UHC

I think Al Gore and Ratman Parachuti should be force to shovel all the "global warming" off all the sidewalks in DC as punishment for their crimes.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 04:06 PM Report 

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Cav03

maybe if everyone prays enough it will snow and snow and snow until Washington is hidden under a glacier! Couldn't think of a better way to cool them off!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 04:03 PM Report 

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macgig

our govt is broke, it needs to shut down.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 03:57 PM Report 

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Josey Whales - Missouri

Just remember, when the government shuts down, they can't pass bad legislation and will stay out of our lives for a brief respite.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 03:54 PM Report 

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annieoakley

Let it snow and keep snowing. Give us a break from them passing any bills we can't afford and don't want.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 03:52 PM Report 

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TX Bexar Chief

Let It Snow-Let It Snow
DC is 90% federal workers and they will get their FAT paychecks on payday from the tax payers.Employees of Private Companies get $000!!!
Welcome to OBAMA LAND.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 03:44 PM Report 

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Ex Republican

Snow.
Socialism.
They both start with the letter S!!!
Outrage!
Treason!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 03:42 PM Report 

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Lee in Pa

Proof that the country CAN run without them... hope they stay closed for a few more months.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 03:40 PM Report 

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FBO! Photobucket

National Fascist government shut down because of their global warming blizzard. Here's hoping for just 3 more years of snow.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 03:26 PM Report 

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National Guard Mom

And to think that this coming Monday another storm is on the way Ha Ha !!!
Maybe Washington will be shut down till the end of March or April and nothing will get done for they will all be out campaigning for their non re-elections

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 03:26 PM Report 

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Revolt Stop The Dictators

MEANS NOTHING! THEY ONLY WORK 20 HOURS A WEEK! TUES MORNING UNTIL THUR AFTERNOON!
**
JOIN US TODAY*****FIGHT BACK ******STOP THE LIBERAL AGENDA!
***
OUR GOAL IS TO PUT OBAMA & THE INSANE LIBERALS IN CONGRESS OUT OF OFFICE
JOIN US ! BLOG & POST AGAINST ANY POLICYS THE LIBERALS SUPPORT!!
*************Tired of being called names by obama & the liberals
in congress! JOIN OUR CONSERVATIVE SOCIAL NETWORK & CONTACT CONGRESS
Join at http://stormlobby.50webs.com/index.html Sign up today!
***
Never before have we had a president that is so dis-respectful!
He has no respect for the american people or our american values!
Its clear that obama & the liberals he represents are anti_god,
anti-christian & anti-america ! Obama does not even respect the
supreme court! JOIN US TODAY**LOBBY FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
GO TO http://stormlobby.50webs.com/index.html
***
ACORN is obamas army! Acorn has 1 million paid employees nation
wide! Acorn is supported by your tax dollers,ACORN MUST BE STOPED!
GOV JAY NIXON OF MISSOURI is firing state employees & replaceing them
with americorps people which is backed by acorn! Gov offices are
now being maned by acorn! FIGHT BACK NOW SERVE AMERICA JOIN US AT
http://stormlobby.50webs.com/index.html
***
We can no longer allow the liberals to take over the private sector
we must stop the liberal attacked on the american people & their values
you can help stop them! WE NEED YOUR HELP ! LOBBY CONGRESS FOR WHAT YOU

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 03:04 PM Report 

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Revolt Stop The Dictators

MEANS NOTHING! THEY ONLY WORK 20 HOURS A WEEK! TUES MORNING UNTIL THUR AFTERNOON!
**
JOIN US TODAY*****FIGHT BACK ******STOP THE LIBERAL AGENDA!
***
OUR GOAL IS TO PUT OBAMA & THE INSANE LIBERALS IN CONGRESS OUT OF OFFICE
JOIN US ! BLOG & POST AGAINST ANY POLICYS THE LIBERALS SUPPORT!!
*************Tired of being called names by obama & the liberals
in congress! JOIN OUR CONSERVATIVE SOCIAL NETWORK & CONTACT CONGRESS
Join at http://stormlobby.50webs.com/index.html Sign up today!
***
Never before have we had a president that is so dis-respectful!
He has no respect for the american people or our american values!
Its clear that obama & the liberals he represents are anti_god,
anti-christian & anti-america ! Obama does not even respect the
supreme court! JOIN US TODAY**LOBBY FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
GO TO http://stormlobby.50webs.com/index.html
***
ACORN is obamas army! Acorn has 1 million paid employees nation
wide! Acorn is supported by your tax dollers,ACORN MUST BE STOPED!
GOV JAY NIXON OF MISSOURI is firing state employees & replaceing them
with americorps people which is backed by acorn! Gov offices are
now being maned by acorn! FIGHT BACK NOW SERVE AMERICA JOIN US AT
http://stormlobby.50webs.com/index.html
***
We can no longer allow the liberals to take over the private sector
we must stop the liberal attacked on the american people & their values
you can help stop them! WE NEED YOUR HELP ! LOBBY CONGRESS FOR WHAT YOU

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 03:04 PM Report 

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THE TOMB

Obviously critical measures do not take a lot of people. Seems that this storm is a good indication of what we can do without, BIG GOVERNMENT! I worked and never missed a day because of weather. I have gone to work in winter leaving 3 hours early and along the way picked up hourly employees that worked for us as I saw them walking to work. This was in Chicago in the late 60's throuh 1980. Our hearty people always made it to work as a reward that company now over 100 years old and started by immigrants is still in business today. Oh, the company provided full medical and pensions along with company college scholarships to anyone who had at least a C average and maintained the same in college - full tuition room and board to the college of your choice. We also were a union shop!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 03:02 PM Report 

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  ALL AMERICAN ALL BEEF TONTO◄VIDEO: Lt. Col. West

The govt. shutting down is a good thing right now!
It is freedom that drives innovation! BHO’s “cap & trade” is an energy tax designed around this preposterous climate change fiasco [now known to be a fabricated fraud designed to “handicap” western economies] and it is going to destroy whatever is left of our economic engine! Obama has taken over the auto industry, the banks, neutered and belittled our CIA and homeland defense, granted rights to enemy combatants, raised taxes on everything that he can think of and is attempting to socialize the medical industry against the will of the people! The resemblance to one Benito Mussolini is remarkable; this fraudulent cretin is a genuine fascist! Obama’s belief that all things come from government is exactly opposite of what the founding fathers envisioned for America.
Does Barrack Hussein Obama belong with another group of elitists?
NAME ME A SUCCESS STORY FROM THIS LIST!
* * * * * * * * * *
The Communist Club:
Vladimir Lenin
Alexey Rykov
Vyacheslav Molotov
Joseph Stalin
Georgy Malenkov
Nikolay Bulganin
Nikita Khrushchev
Alexei Kosygin
Nikolai Tikhonov
Nikolai Ryzhkov
Valentin Pavlov
Ivan Silayev
Yeltsin
Gaidar
Chernomyrdin
Kiriyenko
Primakov
Stepashin
Kasyanov
Khristenko
Fradkov
Zubkov
Putin
Also:
* * *
Saloth Sar, [ better known as Pol Pot ]
Fidel Castro
Mao Zedong
Nicolae Ceauşescu
Josip Broz Tito
Hugo Chavez

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 02:52 PM Report 

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slipknot

Holy sheep sh#t Batman it's a freeking blizzard. The Saints must have won the Super Bowl cause hell has frozen over. WHO DATTT!!!!!!!!!! Drew Brees for prez.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 02:27 PM Report 

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Econ

@Kevin
You really do not want an answer to that question. If you knew about their severance package you might become a Tea Party participant. My understanding is that their severance is that they draw full salary after they leave office for life and if they are a Rep. then Sen. they draw both. Please correct me if I am wrong. So if they miss a day or week from snow my guess is they are paid double.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 02:27 PM Report 

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red dot in a blue state

The only thing more tiresome than listening to people whine about a snow on their loafers in NYC, is listening to them whine about shoveling snow in DC. I wish them clear dry cool weather they seem unable to handle anything else.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 02:25 PM Report 

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Econ

We are heading for an ice age we must pass cap and tax now!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 02:24 PM Report 

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slipknot

Wow this is funny, the climate change peeps can't go to work because it's fricking snowing. WTF? ROTFLMAO. WHy don't they call Al BORE I'm sure he can tell them how to get to work.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 02:12 PM Report 

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Kevin

When I can't get to work because of Mother Natures wrath, I do not get paid. Are these Feds getting paid for not being able to show up for work? If they are getting paid, it needs to be exposed and we the people need to discuss this. They are working for us and we did not give them the day off.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 02:08 PM Report 

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sue of al

hell maybe will save so money .If there shut down they can't spend. this just goes to show hell can freeze over.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 01:59 PM Report 

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Ex Republican

Socialist Fascist Snow!
Outrage!
Treason!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 01:50 PM Report 

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DJbiker

I knew things were running better for the past week.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 01:46 PM Report 

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George F

If congress has to stay home then they're not getting into malicious mischief.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 01:42 PM Report 

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Speaking up

Yeah - a shut down of THIS administration would be a GOOD thing.
.
Thank-you God !

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 01:13 PM Report 

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RodT

Just why do ‘we’ have to pay for these federal workers while they sit at home? In most businesses if you don’t come to work, you don’t get paid. I have lived my entire live in snow country and have never heard of anyone getting paid for staying home because it’s snowing.
Federal workers all get vacation days and I would imagine sick days too. If they can’t get to work then they should be charged a vacation day, don’t charge me because the government is to stupid to know how to handle a snow storm.
These workers get more days off than any other group of employees in the country, and now they are paid if the weather is a little inconvenient? I have no problem with the workers staying home, just paying them for it.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:53 PM Report 

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Ex Republican

This snow is Obamas fault!
And ACORNs!
Outrage!
Treason!
Horse hockey!
Dog Dice!
*BURP*

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:45 PM Report 

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nomoresellouts

there needs to be a snowstorm everyday -- note i said snowstorm not a snow job

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:33 PM Report 

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Libertarian

GOOD!
Maybe we`ll save some money for a few days.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:32 PM Report 

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Don't Drink the Cool Aid

Our prayers are being answered.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:18 PM Report 

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carolewash

Does the White House have a flat roof? Has anyone thought of removeing the snow from the roof? Oh well, we can rebuild that also but maybe in the middle of the states instead of DC. Or not. Just another possible collapse.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:13 PM Report 

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ar547

How much do we save each day the Government is shut down?? Can we keep it down long enough to get out of Debt?????

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:11 PM Report 

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pckt chng

all the more reason to send that bunch of garbage home come nov.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:08 PM Report 

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PATRIOT ARMS

Now I get it, INTELLIGENT LIFE goes on AFTER the government shuts down.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:06 PM Report 

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TX-RWE (TXSSAR)

Everyday that Congress and White House is shutdown the better off the country is.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 12:04 PM Report 

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WeeOne

Earthquake in Chicagoland !, Blizzard at the White House! , Me thinks, SomeOne up there is sending someone (Obama) down here a message wrapped in Pure White.Think he'll get it..........

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 11:53 AM Report 

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ccampbell

glad the global warming science is settled

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 11:33 AM Report 

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Don't Drink the Cool Aid

Any word on how the "Al Gore Snowman Contest" is going?

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 11:32 AM Report 

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SW

They can't find a nose big enough for the liar.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 01:24 PM Report 

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M13 Link There Are No Moderate Democrats

@ Jenna- excellent points and excellent questions !
"Who knew there are 230,000 federal employees in Washington D.C. and that it costs taxpayers $100 million each day they sit at home because the Beltway Brainiacs we keep hearing about weren't prepared for the heavy snow fall and can't figure out how to remove it from the streets after three days of trying? Shouldn't responding to inclement weather conditions of any kind in DC be part of the national security plan?"
=================================================
Sheesh...do you think the Russian government Shuts Down when they get 20 inches of snow in Moscow ? The Russians are LOL at the USA.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 11:14 AM Report 

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