It’s been difficult to find anyone to praise during the two-week partial shutdown of the federal government.

President Obama has been stubborn, certain that he has a winning hand and unwilling to bend on his signature achievement, Obamacare, which is at the heart of this stalemate. Since Obama has such poor relationships with GOP leaders, he has been unable to forge a compromise and re-open all government services, including national parks and monuments.

Most conservative Republicans in the House and Senate have acted like sore losers, unwilling to accept the fact that the Affordable Care Act was passed by the House and Senate, signed by Obama and upheld by the Supreme Court.

In addition, as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has pointed out, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney spent 2012 telling the nation he would remove and/or replace Obamacare if he won. Instead, Obama easily captured a second term.

The closure of parks and monuments has been a sore point for many Americans, and it has captured perhaps an oversize portion of media attention. But in Wyoming, where businesses suffered and employees lost hours and dollars, shuttering Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks has been an unpleasant October surprise.

That’s why we were pleased both with the people who attended rallies on Sunday calling for Yellowstone to be reopened, and with the calm response of YNP officials. A few dozen people gathered at the East Entrance Sunday afternoon, braving cool conditions and missing NFL games to register their displeasure.

They waved signs and made speeches, and a few wandered a ways into the park. Some who have entered closed national parks have been cited, but on Sunday, two rangers watched and did not react. No one was charged, no tempers heated up and no ugly scene followed.

Instead, Americans made their views known, some of their employees listened and did not react in an inappropriate manner, and everyone went home at least somewhat satisfied.

Now if we only could get the ruling class in Washington, D.C., to behave in such a sensible manner.

Powell-Cody FB game well worth attending

It’s a fantastic time for sports, with the MLB playoffs reaching their crescendo and the World Series set to start Wednesday.

The NFL season is nearing the halfway point and the Denver Broncos, riding the brains and arm of Peyton Manning, are undefeated.

Pro hockey and basketball are preparing to start their long regular seasons, and fans are ready to cheer on their NHL and NBA favorite teams.

Locally, the high school cross country season is rounding the turn and heading for the finish line, as the conference track meet is set for 1 p.m. Friday at the Olive Glenn Golf Course in Cody, followed by the state meet Saturday, Oct. 26, in Sheridan.

The Powell High School girls’ swimming and diving team will be in Jackson this weekend to compete in the 3A West conference meet, the last chance for swimmers to qualify for the following weekend’s state meet. Meanwhile, the first-place Panthers volleyball team will be preparing for the regional tournament in Jackson that runs Oct. 25-26.

Northwest College’s volleyball team is steadily improving and the college’s men’s and women’s soccer teams are wrapping up their regular seasons, with the regional tourney ahead.

But we would point to one contest with particular interest.

Powell will host Cody in the final regular season home football game of the year Friday. The Panthers are 6-0 and seeking a third straight state title. Cody is 4-2 and tied for second place in the conference.

It’s a rivalry game, so records often don’t matter. But in this case, two very good teams will collide, and we urge fans to don their orange and black and make their voices heard for the PHS squad.

The game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Panther Stadium. It should be a game worth seeing, and we know the Panthers are a team worth cheering.