***LATEST UPDATES ARE AT THE BOTTOM***

Yeah, it looks like we’re going to need an open thread for this:

To quote Allahpundit on Twiter, “Never go full A-hole.” And that’s exactly what the administration is doing:

Live from the WWII memorial where park officials are setting up more gates and tape to block visitors pic.twitter.com/XkzBTWFMEE — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013 7 officials working here today – one carrying wire ties pic.twitter.com/9LEz4WrSg7 — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013

So if they are paying people to set up barricades, couldn’t they pay people to keep the park open? This is so stupid…

UPDATE: Apparently the Park Service workers don’t like being on camera and fled:

After conferring with each other for a moment, park workers fled after cameras started filming. No wire ties on the gates. — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013

UPDATE II: Vets are on the way!

KS & Chicago WWII honor flights at WWII memorial on National Mall this am. KS's Congressional delegation in attendance. — Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 2, 2013

What Twitter is saying:

GOP Congressmen should show up at the World War II Memorial today with a copy of their funding legislation. — Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) October 2, 2013 "If you like your World War Two Memorial, you can keep your World War Two Memorial." — jimgeraghty (@jimgeraghty) October 2, 2013 For those wanting background on group that brings WWII vets to DC, it's #HonorFlight & my brother did a film on it. http://t.co/qBJ9BivMDM — Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) October 2, 2013 164 Democrats voted to curb-stomp veterans, denying their benefits regardless of the government shutdown. Dems on a rampage. — Rep. Steve Stockman (@SteveWorks4You) October 2, 2013 When al Qaeda attacked Americans in Benghazi Obama refused to act. When disabled vets wanted to visit WW2 Memorial Obama rushed to block it. — Rep. Steve Stockman (@SteveWorks4You) October 2, 2013 Why is Obama spending money to shut down something that is open to the public even when government is closed? Why do Dems hate veterans? — Rep. Steve Stockman (@SteveWorks4You) October 2, 2013 The WWII memorial does not need staff and yet the Obama administration excludes these honorable souls from it. Sickening. @SteveWorks4You — Jess Fields (@jessalanfields) October 2, 2013

UPDATE III: One more:

How many Park Service employees does it take to hang a "closed" sign? Answer here: pic.twitter.com/nCzBqNsZT6 — John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) October 2, 2013

UPDATE IV: You won’t believe the administration’s excuse to barricade the WWII memorial:

Via Jake Tapper:

Why was there a need for barricades in the first place? “Park Service did not want to barricade these, but unfortunately we have been directed, because of the lack of appropriations, to close all facilities and grounds,” said National Mall and Memorial parks spokeswoman Carol Johnson. “I know that this is an open-air memorial, but we have people on staff who are CPR trained, (and) we want to make sure that we have maintenance crew to take care of any problems. What we’re trying to do is protect this resource for future generations,” said Johnson. CNN’s Erin McPike reports.







See Legal Insurrection for more about the 1995 shutdown.

UPDATE V: Vets have arrived!

Eugene Morgan, 96, Marine Corps veteran of Guadalcanal, outside the WWII memorial. pic.twitter.com/3SUPAELZPq — Olivier Knox (@OKnox) October 2, 2013

UPDATE VI: More from Charlie Sperling who is on the ground there for the Washington Examiner:

And of course this!

Protester blasting Michelle Bachmann for being here. "SHAME ON YOU! for using these vets!" pic.twitter.com/6BR93Sld4C — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013 Media now swarming anti-Bachmann protestor for quotes. pic.twitter.com/MBZUp1VDH5 — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013

And for the protest sign of the day:

This protestor at WWII memorial is my new hero! What a great sign… pic.twitter.com/ZjYhEH6hlc — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013

SIDE UPDATE: “Tear down this wall” protester is a Marine vet:

Man is a Marine vet from Woodbridge. He runs a carpentry business but took the day off to support vets pic.twitter.com/UDvMANKhLQ — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013

UPDATE VII: VETS ARE JUST MINUTES AWAY!

Honor Flight organizer tells me it's "about to get crazier" in about 15 minutes when more vets arrive #WWIIMemorial — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013

And a message from the Park Police:

Park official is here: She says "memorial is closed and we hope visitors respect that" pic.twitter.com/UGy7n9UHGB — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013 Park official says they like when parks open but "were instructed" to close monuments pic.twitter.com/nkma2vgoiq — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013 When asked if they will arrest vets, park official repeats "we are not seeking confrontation" — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013

UPDATE VIII: CONFIRMED – White House OMB behind closing of National Park:

At the WWII Memorial, Carol Johnson w/the Park Service says they were told to close the site by White House's Office of Management & Budget. — Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) October 2, 2013

UPDATE IX: HERE COME THE VETS!

And here comes the vets…. Big crowds cheering and applauding pic.twitter.com/kaujTnI5Ye — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013 Huge crowd waiting for action as vets approach the gates #wwiimemorial pic.twitter.com/1LFKYtb78Z — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013 >

UPDATE X: Barricades were breached without incident:

UPDATE XI: Ok this made me laugh:

Vet shakes McCaskill's hand: "Nice to meet you," he says, "Even though I'm a Republican" — Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) October 2, 2013

Here’s a few more:

Even more:

And a hateful one from Claire McCaskill:

McCaskill says the receiving line of "tea party" members of congress is actually blocking vets from getting into the memorial — Alexis Levinson (@alexis_levinson) October 2, 2013

UPDATE XII: And for the icing on the cake via Weasel Zippers:

The National World War II Memorial was funded almost entirely by private contributions, as specified in Public Law 103-32. The campaign received more than $197 million in cash and pledges. Support came from hundreds of thousands of individual Americans, hundreds of corporations and foundations, veterans groups, dozens of civic, fraternal and professional organizations, states and one territory, and students in 1,200 schools across the country. Donated and pledged funds were used to cover the total project costs of approximately $182 million. These costs include site selection and design, construction and sculpture, a National Park Service maintenance fee required by the Commemorative Works Act, groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies, fund raising, and the 11-year administrative costs of the project from its inception in 1993 through completion in 2004. Remaining funds are held on deposit with the U.S. Treasury in a National WWII Memorial Trust Fund. The funds will be used by the American Battle Monuments Commission solely to benefit the World War II Memorial.

The White House will counter something about staff and CPR and taxpayer money…but it doesn’t require staff and it wasn’t even built with taxpayer money. But this president has it closed anyway. What a wanker.