Protests in Washington DC

Protesting Veterans Tear Down DC Barricades, Chant "Shut Down The White House"

Zero Hedge,

13 October, 2013

The "Million Vet March" in Washington D.C. appears to be escalating as reports of barricades being torn down, police in riot gear and snipers being deployed, and a growing crowd at The White House chanting for its shut-down suggest the people are growing restless.

Veterans take back the Vietnam Memorial

Via Epoch Times,

Protesters have gathered in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, according to reports.

Park police in riot gear were deployed in front of the building.

“US Park Police have arrived in front of WH. Some in riot gear! Tea party/veteran protesters start booing,” wrote CNN’s Jim Acosta on Twitter.

A rally took place at the World War II memorial and headed to the White House, reported NBC Washington. Several thousand demonstrators came out, it said.

NBC reported that people were carrying barricades that were likely from the WWII memorial to the White House area.

The DC Police Department said its officers are on the scene.

“MPD is on the scene at White House with USSS & USPP concerning protest – marchers using sidewalk,” it wrote on Twitter.

Commentator Sarah Palin and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) were on the scene and spoke to demonstrators.

The organizers of the protest described themselves as the “Million Vet March.”

It said that veterans and military members are “being used a political pawns in the ongoing government shutdown and budget crisis,” its website reads.

Jeff Tompkins, a protester, told NBC that  “it should be open to everyone to come down here and see this … this is not just and not fair,” referring to the WWII memorial.

Snipers at the ready atop the White House as the crowds gather...

For more GO HERE

Markets Are Now Open — Here's What's Happening In Washington

Futures markets are now open. And futures have already begun tumbling in response to the lack of a deal in Washington on the government shutdown and debt ceiling.

Business Insider,

13 October, 2013

All eyes Sunday were on the Senate, where negotiations (of some sort) continued between Democratic and Republican leadership.

Five Democratic senators and one Independent — Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) — released a statement shortly before 5 p.m. calling the discussions "productive." They said the discussions were taking place among them, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), and other Republicans.

“We have been involved in productive, bipartisan discussions with Senator Collins and other Republican senators, but we do not support the proposal in its current form," the six senators said. "There are negotiations, but there is no agreement.”

In closing remarks on the Senate floor on Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) also said he had a "productive" conversation with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Sunday. Reid said he's "optimistic about the prospects for a positive conclusion."

At issue seems to be the level of spending that the government will run at next year. Republicans want to lock in sequestration-level spending for as long as possible. Democrats would like to revisit spending levels as soon as possible to undo the spending caps that were put in place as part of the 2011 debt-ceiling deal.

The two sides aren't that far apart, as the GOP realizes that it has a weak hand and can't ask for much. But Democrats aren't inclined to give much, given their strong polling and desire to not give into GOP "hostage-taking."

Given the politics, it's unclear what can get through both Houses. Remember, even if a deal is agreed to by the Senate, the GOP-controlled House could kill anything.

The mood is more grim than it was on Friday, when it looked like a bipartisan deal hatched by Maine Senator Susan Collins could make it out of the Senate. That optimism led to huge market rallies on Thursday and Friday of last week, and now it looks likely that equity markets will give some of that back, as negotiations have gone in reverse over the weekend.

Follow here for the latest.