http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local ... 09781.html

Congressman Confronts Park Ranger Over Closed WWII Memorial
By Mark Segraves
Thursday, Oct 3, 2013 • Updated 9:45 AM EDT

Conflict over the responsibility for the government shutdown got personal at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Wednesday when a member of Congress confronted a U.S. Park Service Ranger over access to the closed park land.

The congressman was Randy Neugebauer, a Republican representing Texas. He confronted the ranger in the middle of a crowd of tourists as she was keeping most of the public out of the closed World War II memorial.

The Park Service has been allowing World War II vets who have traveled from all over the country to enter the memorial, even though it's closed during the government shutdown; the rangers say they are exercising their First Amendment rights as they let the veterans in.

But they are keeping the rest of the public out of the facility, which is officially closed. And that did not sit well with the congressman, reported News4's Mark Segraves, who witnessed the confrontation.

"How do you look at them and... deny them access?" said Neugebauer. He, with most House Republicans, had voted early Sunday morning to pass a funding measure that would delay the Affordable Care Act, a vote that set up a showdown with the Senate and President Barack Obama. With the parties unable to agree on how to fund the federal government, non-essential government functions shut down Tuesday.

"It's difficult," responded the Park Service employee.

"Well, it should be difficult," replied the congressman, who was carrying a small American flag in his breast pocket.

"It is difficult," responded the Park Service employee. "I'm sorry, sir."

"The Park Service should be ashamed of themselves," the congressman said.

"I'm not ashamed," replied the ranger.

At that point, a crowd of onlookers got involved. "Ask those questions of the people who aren't passing the budget," shouted a voice from the crowd. "That's who you need to ask these questions to."

"This woman is doing her job, just like me," shouted another. "I'm a 30-year federal veteran -- I'm out of work."

The man, wearing a bicycle helmet, at this point was face to face with the congressman.

"Well, the reason you are is because Mr. Reid decided to shut down the government," responded Neugebauer, referring to the top Senate Democrat.

"No, it's because the government won't do its job and pass a budget," the bicyclist responded.

"The House did its job; it passed appropriations. The Senate hasn't," said another voice from the crowd.

Neugebauer walked away at that point.

The veterans were in D.C. thanks to the Honor Flight Network, which provides flights to D.C. for veterans so they can visit the memorials. Thousands of vets are still on their way to D.C. this weekend as part of the program.

Asshole.

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I place 100% of the blame for this on the Democrats.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

The WWII memorial is an open air site that you can walk through at any other time without the need or assistance of a Park Ranger.

That the site is always open, yet somehow "closed" now is the real issue.

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Are you suggesting that the Park Services Department is behind the shutdown in hopes of secretly making the public more accustomed to seeing Rangers?

Cause if so, I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter.

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The White House tried to make the Repubkicans look bad and it backfired. There aren't guards normally, why now?

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

This and have read this at other normally unmanned places. Even mt Vernon which is privately funded but park service has parking lot

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Elections have consequences.

Wouldn't they normally be unmanned because they're open and have Rangers there now because they're closed?

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Wally World was manned while it was closed for renovations. "Sorry folks, park's closed."

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Hawaii (fuck) You

IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW!

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Didn't your story say that there was a Ranger a present.

And what was Rongey doing in DC anyway?

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Yes.

Because it is closed.

Except for the flying veterans.

Are you ok?

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Takes a real pindicked faggy cocksucker to bully a broad about something he was directly part of fucking up, not her.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Indeed.

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Nomination denied. Why is an open air site closed when no one normally patrols it?

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To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Are you saying we can afford to protect it when the government is shut down but we don't need to protect it when it's not? It's quite confusing, really. It's pretty clear barricading these memorials was a naked attempt to embarrass Republicans that didn't work.

I will accept your Douchebagging of a Republican congressman just on general principle, however.

_________________
Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washingt ... t_Syndrome

Fuck the government

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Republicans dont need help embarrassing themselves.

The White House has nothing to do with it. its standard procedure. Maintenance personnel arent allowed and the Park Service cant respond if the park is closed but remain open for any pedestrians. This is more legal mumbo jumbo than anything. Just because there's no Park Service there 24/7 doesnt mean they dont have liability. They are now there BECAUSE the locations ARE closed. Research people. Facts! Not FOX. If someone were mugged or killed or if something were vandalized, you all would be bitching that these places should have been closed and barricaded.

Or its BENGHAZI!!!!!!!

TO Say Obama or the White House ordered this is crazy talk. You would have to then believe they would have to have strategized this plan during a day when hundreds of more important things to do would be put to the side. Thats just not rational.

The nomination is for a politician who was directly responsible for the site being closed being an asshole to someone who had nothing to do with it being closed.

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This is crazy talk. There are people stationed there not letting people in but they can't have enough people there to stop murders at the site?
It is a pretty standard plan.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I think Republicans look horrible in this whole situation

I find most of this meme's jokes unfunny, but this one was good

I'm convinced this is less about the Republicans caring about a temporary image hit and more about avoiding the grandstanding celebrations that would be going on otherwise as Democrats celebrated the great victory they achieved.

This could have been like an election night scene for Democrats.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

So does the White House. The fact is, the reason behind "shutting down" government is a lack of funds. That being the case, how can they find the funds to put park rangers in places they wouldn't normally be? It would be like if the CBOT shut down because it was broke but suddenly they put three armed guards around the horse.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

I think Obama is winning the p.r. battle.

Im not sure what the Republican motivations are, it doesnt really make sense.

There's always a cookie jar for political posturing


But really, the republicans have no point here.

They are the little kid who lost and are attempting to take their ball and bat and go home but the ball and bat is not even theirs!

This is his signature legislation and he can't celebrate it. He was in line for a big bump that may last until the next election. That is pretty much gone.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

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As simple - and correct - as it gets.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

Who cares though? He's not going for a third term.

I think how the entire party looks is more important and the Republicans look bad.