Facebook event: Let's dump trash at Boehner's pad
Washington (CNN) - If the federal government shuts down come Friday, House Speaker John Boehner may be in for quite a mess at his Washington, D.C. residence if some Facebook users have their way.
A Facebook event, entitled "If Boehner shuts down the government I am taking my trash to his house," has popped up and is gaining steam as the shutdown showdown ramps up on Capitol Hill. If the federal government shuts down, one of the District's services that will stop is trash pickup.
"Speaker John Boehner is ready to shut down the government, including District of Columbia city services like trash collection," it says on the page. "Well, if he won't allow us to use OUR TAX DOLLARS to pick it up, maybe we should just BRING IT TO HIM."
As of 2:30 p.m. EST there are 1,476 attending; 126 are listed as maybe; 156 aren't showing up; and 4,652 are still making up their minds (much like Congress, apparently).
The trash-a-thon is scheduled for Saturday and apparently will last through June 30.
Organizers of the event - Jonah Goodman and Nolan Treadway - write on the page that even if the government shutdown doesn't occur, they will "move forward with this event, we'll provide details on location(s) and we'll make sure it's done in a sanitary and respectful way. Please don't list any personal addresses for members of Congress on this page."
Goodman is listed in the Democratic National Committee network. Treadway is the political and logistics director for the liberal group Netroots Nation.
House Speaker Boehner's spokesman Michael Steel did not comment to CNN on the group. But he said that "The Speaker has made clear that he wants to cut spending and keep the government open. The House will pass yet another bill to that this afternoon. If the government does shut down, these folks should focus their ire on the Democrats who are actively rooting for a government shutdown, hoping for partisan gain."
Reaction on the page is, like Washington, all over the place.
Amy Lysander: "Do you plan on trashing the yards of the Democrats who are actually causing a shutdown? The House passed a bill to keep the government open. Two of them, actually. The Senate hasn't. Where's Harry Reid's house?"
Diane C. Russell: "Dems controlled Congress completely for 11 months after Obama submitted FY 2011 budget, but FAILED to do their duty and REFUSED to pass any appropriations, either before or after the beginning of the fiscal year."
Brian Devine: "I'll bring some styrofoam from the Hill caf."
Darrin Morgan: "Darn! I just cleaned out my garage. Oh, well. I have some rotten fruit I can throw at the Weeper of the House."
Good thing the police is essential services so they can give these guys a new place to put their garbage – in their jail cell. Keep America beautiful you bums.
House Speaker John Boehner and the Republican are cutting the wrong program. Why not cut the oil subsidies or close the tax loophole for the large company that have there head-quarter over seas so they have to pay taxes or cut congress and senator fund or congress take 15% pay cut
it is emabarassing to share the same air with people like this?? wonder how old they are?? 12??
I live in Texas but would love someone to put my name on it and say,
"With love from a military brat who cared for an eldlery mother, DUMP THIS!"
Let's dump CONGRESS in the TRASH!!! And YES, Boehner should be blamed because if Nancy was in charge – OMG – the RIGHT will be crucifying her..................PERIOD!!!
Hi Ed: Are you inciting a crime with your post?
I enjoy reading all the comments above from folks claiming the Democrats did not pass a budget when they were in charge. They tried, but the Republicans in the Senate kept filibustering the bill to keep it from coming to the floor where they knew they would lose. That way, by not having a bill, they felt they could blame the Democrats for their obstructionism.
From what I understand, SS payments will not stop, but what about VA disability benefits? Luckily, my father who is disabled-retired gets his disability payments from the state where he lives, not the feds.
Let's be fair about this and iclude Harry Reid as well. After all, Harry is as guilty as Boehner of this stickup.
This is a good example of what's really wrong with the country, and it isn't Congress....
I love this idea, trampling on the average Americans is unacceptable. I wish our speaker was still Nancy Peloci, She knows how to govern for the Average Americans while this "crier of the house" is working for his corporate masters.
Our wimpy muslim president is being pushed around by one of the three branches of government his party does not control. Too bad that Boehner boxed him in to the position where has to either sign the week long spending extension or shut down the government.
Pointless talk Trumpie
I'm taking mine to Reids!!
Could this be more childish! A shutdown hurts more than it saves. It is really a sham that people are not hearing the truth. instead of pushing the politicians to work on an agreement we are playing games on FACEBOOK.
Since the reporter didn't do any research on this... figured I would do three minutes worth.
I'm not intimate with District of Columbia financials but does the Federal Government control the waste removal for D.C.? According to the site http://www.cfo.dc.gov title 47, chap 18 of DC Code authorizes the District of Columbia to collect individual income taxes at a rate of 8.5% plus $2,200 for those earning over $40k. Seems that the Federal Government should not be paying for local garbage collection. So, as passionate as one may be for or against the impending shutdown, this is a bit like proposing to egg your science teachers house because your gym coach made you run laps. Both may be jerks but the reaction should be generally related to the action. IMHO.
A liberal publicity stunt working to further the partisan divide.
Can't pass a budget when there are too much politics buried in it.