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Subscribe to RSSFew people are nostalgic about the 26 days of shutdowns that froze the federal government in the waning months of 1995.
But the possibility of the first federal shutdown since the Macarena was cool has a lot of people recalling an era when a compromise to avoid a shutdown was a “Jagged Little Pill” for both sides to swallow … an age when lines of Alicia Silverstone’s dialogue from Clueless aptly described how the American public viewed Congress …. a time when people unironically used the exclamation "Psych!"
Yeah… remember the 90s?
Two shutdowns lasted from November 14 through November 19, 1995 and from December 16, 1995 to January 6, 1996. At the time, the first edition of Dreams from My Father had just been published; Rep. John Boehner was giving President Bill Clinton coal for Christmas, and it was unusual to see a news story in which the Speaker of the House (Newt Gingrich) cried in public.
And the year that brought you the last government shutdown also brought you virtual pets, Pinky and the Brain, and Cal Ripken’s record-breaking 2,131th consecutive game.
Here’s some other tidbits from what trends, flicks, and tunes were -- um, “phat”? -- the last time that a congressional budget impasse caused federal workers to wonder how “essential” they really were:
- In December 1995, “One Sweet Day” by Boyz II Men (feat. Mariah Carey) topped the Billboard charts. Also big in the last months of the year that also brought you the original Saved by the Bell! soundtrack: Coolio’s "Gangster’s Paradise" and “Waterfalls” by TLC.
- The Beatles were back, with Anthology 1 leading album sales, while recent releases like Hootie’s Cracked Rear Viewand Alanis Morisette’s 16x platinum international debut were still selling like hotcakes for the holiday season.
- As the shutdown dragged on through the nation’s New Year’s Eve celebration, viewers of "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve" could enjoy the talents of Yasmine Bleeth of Baywatch, Jamie Walters of Beverly Hills 90210, Brandy, the Goo Goo Dolls, and the Rembrandts (famous for the song “I’ll Be There for You” - the theme of Friends, which was in its second season. You know, the one when Monica was dating Tom Selleck?)
- Kids flicks Jumanji and the original Toy Story movie were vying for first place at the box office. Moviegoers could have also enjoyed Mortal Kombat, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Get Shorty, or GoldenEye.
- Lovers of a snarky towhead and his chummy stuffed tiger were mourning the end of comic strip Calvin & Hobbes, which signed off on the last day of 1995.
- The Christmas of Tickle-me-Elmo was yet to come (that was 1996), but Beanie Babies were a top toy for holiday gift-giving in 1995. Pogs remained big with the kids, as did all forms of plastic incarnations of Toy Story protagonists Buzz Lightyear and Sheriff Woody.
And this one’s for all the congressional staffers who may not be able to use their Blackberries to check their work emails during a potential shutdown… In 1995, Motorola unveiled its StarTac mobile phone, the lightest cell phone made to date. Its price tag: $1000.
Ironic.
Don'cha think?
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I remember the 90's - I received a pay raise every year, my health insurance premiums were a 1/3 of what I'm paying now and we weren't involved in 2 wars based on lies...
Those were the days alright! ;o)
And what was the debt then Feisty?
Oh and it looks like you forgot about one of the wars.
Say it with me Feisty old gal - we are currently fighting in 3 wars. I know you really want to ignore Libya, but it's just a fact.
Oh, and Feisty why hasn't Obama gotten out of the other two wars yet? If based on lies there should be no issue to getting out, right?
Oh and be a dear and remind us: what was the cost of a gallon of gas?
The total expenditure for the Iraq War (from the invasion in 2003 to the withdrawal of combat troops last August), according to the CBO and the Congressional Research Service, is less than one-half of the $1.65 trillion in deficit spending for FY 2011.
LESS than one-half of the deficit spending for this fiscal year alone.
Perspective.
Context.
Reality.
Spanky-
You just don't know what you are talking about. Back to school for you.
Well then by all means job1 please do explain to for me.
Come on job1 what you just wrote was a conclusion, absent any basis at all.
So come on and entertain me, what do you have? About what, specifically, do I not know about?
Anything?
Or are we not in 3 wars? Did Obama not say he get us out of the two that existed when he took over. Golly job1 if Iraq was based only on lies, then why would he keep us in? Seems, silly, right?
But we were embarking on an operation in the Former Yugoslavia that, according to President Clinton "was only going to last one year" yet still hasn't completely shut down...interesting.
You're right, in the 90s, people bickered over how much the pay raise would be. Now, they hope it doesn't go down for December so year end profits go up.
Reminds me of slave stories I read. You know where, freedom wasn't the dream. Not having your kids sold for Christmas was..
Spanky, my dear Spanky, oh Spanky, listen Spanky, it's simple... You are conceded. You're merely another sheep blogger with an attitude. AND.... I won't be back to review your clever retort.
Aww, that's hardly passive aggressive of you snmchoppers.
But we both know you are lying.
Mixed Bag You left out the 4000+ sons and daughters who won't be coming home to their families -ever. What's the price tag on those? What's the price tag on the 10's of thousand of permanently maimed? How about the ones who came back but then killed themselves? Get back to me with those ledger entries will ya?
Why hasn't President Obama gotten out of the other two wars? Because Bush really screwed up over there and left a huge mess.
And the debt? Well, not as high as when Bush left office. In fact, there was a surplus. You know, the one that Bush squandered instead of paying down debt.
Yes, 1995 was a long time ago.....we passed the buck on serious govt spending problems....so how much wasted confiscatory government deficit spending has occurred since then?
To quote Dr Evil : a" bazillion trillion gazillion zillion dollars"
The "Beanie Babies" - Isn't that nickname given for all of Obama's Czars?
No, Tea Bagger Trolls.
Aww, job1 it must be so hard for you, what with the tea partiers so effectively controlling the dialogue these days.
It all about them cuts. How you like apples job1?
You liking these apples?
You know JAS1 its just getting too easier around here. These topics are just killing the poor little libbies.
Not fair, Spanky-
When the national narrative is the debt crisis, Job1 is a deer in the headlights.
Like President Obama...he doesn't have a lot to say.
I'll bet he's brilliant on windmills, though...
That was the name of George Bush's Czars, the "man" who started that fun tradition.
Your son is a welfare queen then unable to partake in the gloriousness of the Free Market, it is my assumption that your son is in fact a man child who put off joining the real world. [/t-bagger hat off]
Character aside, I heard that military personnel would still be paid regardless of a shutdown or at least that is what I'm hearing from the navy guys here in San Diego.
echelon, "Czar" was a term first coined in the 70s by President Nixon.
Believe me, military service these days is about as close as you can get to the real world, you know, nation building, humanitarian assistance.
Servicemembers will have a pay delay. They will eventually get paid just not on time.
I was being sarcastic, I keep forgetting that always fails on the internet.
True that MixedB, true that.
These poor dear fools are in for such heart-ache. I almost feel bad.
Almost.
sorry echelon, lol. You're right, sarcasm is sometimes difficult to pick up on, especially for those as myself who isn't too bright in the first place.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Carrie. It wasn't that long ago that this all happened but it seems deja vu all over again.
A difference for me is that I felt Newt Gingrich orchestrated the whole thing with erroneous assumptions of how the electorate would react. I think Speaker Boehner understands the potential backlash here but is not in control of his party enough to stop it.
Well now, my son is in the Navy. He doesn't get paid very much but he works really, really hard for his money. And we're not showing him enough respect for his time and efforts. We're linking his getting paid to the EPA and Planned Parenthood. It's time for everyone to regroup and start thinking of ways to do their job. I am deeply offended by folks who say "shut it down. It doesn't do anything for me." It's not always about you.
No kidding, Female educated voter. What a payback for the commitment your son made to serve this country. I wish I knew what to tell you to make you feel better. This is why I never vote Republican.
I still miss Calvin and Hobbes. Sigh.
Me too.
if they shut the government down, all those who miss the paycheck, the funding for federal programs in the States, all the troops who will not be pai, the federal employees on forced furlough, etc. should sue the House of Representatives for Billions of dollars for fraud and dereliction of duty to fulfill their oath of office.
First let's get a few things straight. Everyone except maybe the congress and senate will be paid. second if we only had a government sworn to do a specific job we wouldn't be in this mess. Third let's get some real cuts, how about planned parenthood,national education department,NPR, vet all government positions and see how many govt, workerswe really need, give all govt. workers a chance to particapate in a 401k for retirement like the rest of us. Make all spending go to an oversightcommittee to see if we really need it,cut all forgin aid. then see how our budgit is doing.
You are so right! I will get paid if congress passes a bill saying I will get paid for the time off of work because they can't get their budget in order. Second, my husband will get paid if congress passes a bill saying he gets back pay because when he signed hsi contract he became a 24/7 soldier no matter what. We were smart and saved up because we knew this would happen, but what about those people living paycheck to paycheck? I work with some of them and they are terrified. Also, we do invest in 401K, its called TSP and it is mandatory for all federal employees to invest at least 3% of each paycheck, twice a month. The serious topics in the budget are not planned parenthood and NPR, its the defense budget and entitlement programs like social security and welfare. We need cuts, but don't take it from the poorest of the poor in this country. I am taking care of my father who lives on veteran disability and social security, but I get no other help from the government and you want them to cut veterans assistance? Why don't you get off your couch and enlist in the military, get wounded in three wars, and then tell me what you deserve or would cut.
Since when has it been mandatory for all Fed employees to invest at least 3% of each paycheck 2x a month? If you are referring to TSP...that is not mandatory...
People just dont like when Government is down, even people on the right that were so noisy about this "in positive way", know that this is something that people just dont like. We dont like it, and as GOP brought it first to the table they are going to be responsible for this doesn't matter how much they will push the blame around.
All that is going on in the world...and this is the best you can come up with?
Carrie, you shouildn't be getting a paycheck as of tomorrow.
Probably the lames "article" I've read all year.
I have several friends who work in government, and if they are furloughed, they will forfeit their pay for those days. The whole thing reeks so badly it makes you feel grungy to think or talk about it. These idiots in congress will all be finger pointing and fault finding for all eternity, and none of them will be willing to take responsibility for their part in it. With each day that comes and goes, I am more and more in favor of term limits for all congress members. It is packed full with career people who's only goal is reelection. Throw out all of them now -- they each carry way too much baggage. Some new blood with the commitment to represent the electorate is badly needed and way overdue.
It seems so long ago and yet its here again. I guess the Republicans with there smirks will have to learn another lesson. What will they name the little cabby patch dolls this time. I am government and why do we have to be the people with the lessons all the time. I didn't vote for Obama but I have said all along that Congress should be replaced completely and not by TEA PARTY IDIOTS!
if the goverment shuts down do the people on disabilty get their money
like i said if the goverment shut down do the innocent people like me on disabilty get paid, these stupid nincompoop senators & goveroners & so on get paid why cant we get paid, i voted for obama yes & i will vote for him again in 012, the president is like a manger he gets blAMED FOR EVERYTHING IF HIS TEAM GOES BAD, WELL THE GOVERNORS SENATORS REPRESENTATIVES OR WOM EVER WHOM THE PEOPLE VOTED IN dont give a shooting hoot about us, the republicaNS HAve screwed nurses , steelworkers & truckdrivers & other hard working people like techers too, lets learn from our mistakes vote DEMOCRATIC WEN IT TIME FOR governors senators & representatives to get in, WAKE UP AMERICA FOR FOR OBAMA IN 012
Yes, you still get your money.
newdayDAWNING10 This is also why I never vote Republican and if the Democrats, ever take anymore money of any kind, out of Social Security, I will never vote for them either. The only people who are in favor of raising the retirement age are people who sit on their ass and never have to do a days work.Look at all the congressmen and women as an example. Who do you know can work like a congressman at age 90.B.S. Ray
funn y thing i herd the other day from a froend whom is retired like i am, he said joe, i herd that local 1010 in east chicago indiana the union for mittal steel & the harbor works & so on might shut down , the reason he gave is the union we have is too strong for mittal steel, thats the funniest thing ive herd since ive retired
goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo local 1010, matt beckman & gang
He expects? He can see past his eye lids. LAMO leader, ZERO Leadership ability...Zip, Nada, PUTZ!!!
It is just another way for this bozo to blame someone else for inability to do anything right..."The blame game" ..too many hollow words, a peanut head with BIG EARS. Mr. OBAMA HEAD, or potatoe head...at least Mr. potatoe Head had a personality. mr.obama just says...hey, put my finger...oops...Did I do that???
2012...No-More...VOTE...2012...No-More...Take the short bus home ...blamer, whinner, lack-luster PUTZ!
Just another excues to shift blame else where for his Non-Leadership...2012 is a comming!!!
Obama can't leave Iraq because the CIVIL WAR that was raging in that country, though Rummy denied it, would have cost even more tens of thousands of lives. When you go into a country and over-throw a dictator (evil as he was), saying you will be out in six months and that Iraq oil will pay for the war, which is what Rummy and the "boyz" were saying, you can't just leave it in chaos. Maybe you could! The USofA can't. And, on the flip-side, if Obama had left, the "right" would be bitching about that. The case is similar in Afghanastan. And tell me about the enormous debt that was "rung up" by the previous administration, with a Republican congress. And two tax cuts that were pushed thru Congress thru the "budget resolution process", bypassing Democrats' objections . During the so-called "good years" of the Bush administration, still with a Republican congress, our Federal government's tax revenues were at the highest level ever. Yet we, Bush and the Repubs, continued to BORROW MONEY. Obama takes office with federal tax revenues plumetting (and they were plumetting prior to the Dems taking control of Congress) and federal expenditures necessarily rising due to a massive increase in unemployment compensation. To throw these problems all at Obama and blame him for them is ludicrous.