Originally Posted by
Boggie Dog
Government manpower cuts won't hit until April. That's when things will get interesting.
If even then. If the local media is correct, there's a 30-day notice period before furloughs start, and there is an appeal process. Headline on WTOP today was "Appealing your furlough".
http://www.wtop.com/1303/3234553/Fur...-your-furlough
Originally Posted by
FliesWay2Much
On the flip side, this is a golden opportunity for them to make a big pitch to get more sheeple to sign up for GE & Pre-Check. Sequestration could turn out to be a big money-maker for DHS.
This would also be a perfect time for local airports to propose contract screeners with the city/airlines paying for the screeners. The Administration would oppose it, but doing so would make the Administration look bad. Since the cities feed at the Federal trough, it's not likely that they would push for contract screeners.
As a guy who is in the national security/first response business, the timing of the sequestration was not lost on me. It's a quiet disaster period and is generally a time when federal agencies prepare for the coming year by cutting costs anyway. We're past hurricane season, we're about 6-8 weeks from the big tornado/thunderstorm season, and, snowstorms are mostly a state & local problem. The only things that could throw a monkey wrench into the political machine would be a major west coast earthquake or a west coast volcano that decides to blow its top. Both could happen in Alaska, but there aren't that many people up there to take care of.
No question that the timing was carefully set for political reasons.
Originally Posted by
InkUnderNails
Answer this question:
Is it within the administration's mode of operation to create havoc so they can blame it on the opposition?
Yes. Ultimately the Administration is responsible for implementation. They can implement it in a way that amplifies the public impact.
If yes, then there will be problems. If no, they are blowing smoke.
If the sequester continues, I will be greatly surprised and pleased if the administration with the cooperation of the media do not maximize the perception of the problems just for political effects. It is what politicians of both parties usually do.
Your last point is dead-on. As an example, the media is focusing on the Administration's demand for higher taxes on the wealthy, but completely ignoring the fact that they already got higher taxes. The media will focus on the inconvenience to the public, with air travel being a most visible sign.... and that's been particularly true for February, which is sweeps (ratings) month. If this drags on past April, we get into sweeps again....