Sponsored Content




Intermarkets' Privacy Policy
Support


Donate to Ace of Spades HQ!



Recent Entries
Absent Friends
Bandersnatch 2024
GnuBreed 2024
Captain Hate 2023
moon_over_vermont 2023
westminsterdogshow 2023
Ann Wilson(Empire1) 2022
Dave In Texas 2022
Jesse in D.C. 2022
OregonMuse 2022
redc1c4 2021
Tami 2021
Chavez the Hugo 2020
Ibguy 2020
Rickl 2019
Joffen 2014
AoSHQ Writers Group
A site for members of the Horde to post their stories seeking beta readers, editing help, brainstorming, and story ideas. Also to share links to potential publishing outlets, writing help sites, and videos posting tips to get published. Contact OrangeEnt for info:
maildrop62 at proton dot me
Cutting The Cord And Email Security
Moron Meet-Ups

NoVaMoMe 2024: 06/08/2024
Arlington, VA
Details to follow


Texas MoMe 2024: 10/18/2024-10/19/2024 Corsicana,TX
Contact Ben Had for info





















« Drudge: OBAMA: SHUT IT DOWN | Main | Waukeshaw Computer Error Results In Entire City of Brookfield's Votes Never Being Tallied... Until Today
Presser At 6:300 ET; Should Be On Most News Channels »
April 07, 2011

Story Correction: Clinton Did Pay Military in 1995 Shutdown, But...

Corrected: This story was wrong as written. It's below, but here's the scoop.

First, the Air Force Times did get this wrong, leading to the confusion, which got picked up by Mike Flynn.

But like I said-- that story gets it wrong. Here's why the troops got paid on time in 1995:

A frequent question is how this compares to the last government shutdown in 1995-1996. There were two shutdowns at that time, one of five days, from November 13 through November 19, 1995, and one of 21 days, from December 15, 1995 through January 5, 1996. The first shutdown was not long enough to affect pay checks, and DOD was not affected by the second because defense appropriations were enacted on December 1, so funding was available.

So, the draft guidelines should be about the same as under Clinton.

The difference isn't the procedure, but that Clinton was a responsible enough president to strike a deal on defense so that our troops would get paid.

Whereas Obama intends to hold them hostage.

Sorry for the mistake. I have to note, defensively, the Air Force Times got it wrong, which led Flynn to get it wrong, which led me to get it wrong.

I have to thank two people for getting me the right story: First, the indispensible Morgen at Verum Serum, who alerted me about 20 minutes ago that he thought the story was wrong, based on his quick googling of a Congressional Research Staff study on the 1995 shutdown.

And then, Gabe Malor, who really clarified everything with the information now printed above.

Also, I want to thank vets like USADawg who wrote to say they remembered getting paid on time every week in 1995. Yup, you're right -- but because of the deal Clinton and Gingrich struck.

The original, errant story is below. It's in error, and I'm sorry.

But there still is an important takeaway: It would in fact be Unprecedented, as Obama likes to say of himself, for a President to refuse to reach a deal to keep the troops paid during a shutdown.

Summing up: In 1995, in a time of peace, Clinton signed a bill ensuring troops' pay.

In 2011, fighting three wars, one of which he claimed to enthusiastically support and another he started, Obama is threatening to not pay troops in the field.


I had been confused about this. First, I read the military would get paid.

Then, starting last week, I begin reading that the troops wouldn't get paid. They'd earn money, but wouldn't get paid money. Until the shutdown ended.

So, why did the story go from "get paid" to "not get paid"?

Apparently, it is within the executive's power to define "essential" and "non-essential" personnel during a shutdown; non-essential personnel can be furloughed (or at least not paid until the shutdown is over).

But it seems Obama is taking the position -- for political reasons -- that the military is "non-essential." They can't be furloughed, but he has decided (or Gates has; I rather think it's Obama's call) that they'll show up for work but won't get paid until later.

Mike Flynn, citing Federal Times, notes this is not what happened during Clinton's shutdown.

When the government was shut down in 1995, military personnel continued to report to work and were paid, but the planning guidance sent to the services and defense agencies says a shutdown this time will be different.

This is Obama's choice, then, and he's doing it because the military are among the few government employees held in high regard. So they're camera-friendly props and pawns.

But don't be fooled, then: It's Obama, and not Boehner, withholding their checks. Clinton sent out the checks on time. Obama's choosing to stick it to them to make a political point.

Notice the media's not reporting this: They went from reporting troops will get paid to troops won't get paid without explaining why the change had occurred. They didn't issue corrections for their past reportage -- which is fine, as they weren't wrong before.

But now the story has changed in a crucial way and they refuse to say why.

Because of Obama. That's why.

And that's all thanks to CDR M, who writes on his own blog that the First Lady is kicking off some kind of support the troops cause on April 12th. A week they won't be paid to defend our country.

Oh, and if that isn't embarrassing enough, Obama has schedule for April 10 to April 16 "National Volunteer Week," during a week he'll be forcibly volunteering our troops to guard the country without pay.

Thanks to lots of folks for that last tip.

digg this
posted by Ace at 04:26 PM

| Access Comments




Recent Comments
[/i][/b]andycanuck (2yu8s)[/s][/u]: "750-pound alligator seized from home near Buffalo, ..."

Ben Had: "Only 30 more years of these moronic statements ft ..."

2008 is calling: "Mahalia Jackson>>>>>>>>>>>Affimative Action Jackso ..."

BillyD: "[i]158 Mind you, a Moron claimed the car would sti ..."

Diogenes: "DEI in action, and that's a good thing! Posted by ..."

Piper: "Have we discussed KBJ and her gripe the 1sr amendm ..."

Commissar Hrothgar (hOUT3) ~ This year in Corsicana - [b]again[/b]! ~ [/i][/b][/u][/s]: "[i]257 Watching another Boeing United Airlines iss ..."

Loose Emergency Door Plug: "Return to Newark? I'd rather ditch. Posted by: D ..."

J. Random UA Flight: "[i]Return to Newark? I'd rather ditch. Posted by ..."

Diogenes: "Watching another Boeing United Airlines issue in r ..."

Truthbomb : "Watching another Boeing United Airlines issue in r ..."

Ciampino - on time: "About 43 minutes [b]SpaceX - Falcon 9 - Starlin ..."

Recent Entries
Search


Polls! Polls! Polls!
Frequently Asked Questions
The (Almost) Complete Paul Anka Integrity Kick
Top Top Tens
Greatest Hitjobs

The Ace of Spades HQ Sex-for-Money Skankathon
A D&D Guide to the Democratic Candidates
Margaret Cho: Just Not Funny
More Margaret Cho Abuse
Margaret Cho: Still Not Funny
Iraqi Prisoner Claims He Was Raped... By Woman
Wonkette Announces "Morning Zoo" Format
John Kerry's "Plan" Causes Surrender of Moqtada al-Sadr's Militia
World Muslim Leaders Apologize for Nick Berg's Beheading
Michael Moore Goes on Lunchtime Manhattan Death-Spree
Milestone: Oliver Willis Posts 400th "Fake News Article" Referencing Britney Spears
Liberal Economists Rue a "New Decade of Greed"
Artificial Insouciance: Maureen Dowd's Word Processor Revolts Against Her Numbing Imbecility
Intelligence Officials Eye Blogs for Tips
They Done Found Us Out, Cletus: Intrepid Internet Detective Figures Out Our Master Plan
Shock: Josh Marshall Almost Mentions Sarin Discovery in Iraq
Leather-Clad Biker Freaks Terrorize Australian Town
When Clinton Was President, Torture Was Cool
What Wonkette Means When She Explains What Tina Brown Means
Wonkette's Stand-Up Act
Wankette HQ Gay-Rumors Du Jour
Here's What's Bugging Me: Goose and Slider
My Own Micah Wright Style Confession of Dishonesty
Outraged "Conservatives" React to the FMA
An On-Line Impression of Dennis Miller Having Sex with a Kodiak Bear
The Story the Rightwing Media Refuses to Report!
Our Lunch with David "Glengarry Glen Ross" Mamet
The House of Love: Paul Krugman
A Michael Moore Mystery (TM)
The Dowd-O-Matic!
Liberal Consistency and Other Myths
Kepler's Laws of Liberal Media Bias
John Kerry-- The Splunge! Candidate
"Divisive" Politics & "Attacks on Patriotism" (very long)
The Donkey ("The Raven" parody)
Powered by
Movable Type 2.64