By mid-day Saturday, the front page of the New York Times' website said Paul Ryan's addition to Mitt Romney's ticket meant a renewed focus on "fiscal" issues. This struck me as odd, in part because of Ryan's lack of fiscal credibility -- more on that later this morning -- but also because the right-wing congressman has far broader interests.
Sure, Ryan has a reputation within the establishment for a focus on budgeting, but his interest in the culture war is real, if underappreciated.
[O]n abortion and women's health care, there isn't much daylight between Ryan and, say, Michele Bachmann. Any Republican vice presidential candidate is going to be broadly anti-abortion, but Ryan goes much further. He believes ending a pregnancy should be illegal even when it results from rape or incest, or endangers a woman's health. He was a cosponsor of the Sanctity of Human Life Act, a federal bill defining fertilized eggs as human beings, which, if passed, would criminalize some forms of birth control and in vitro fertilization.
The National Right to Life Committee has scored his voting record 100 percent every year since he entered the House in 1999. "I'm as pro-life as a person gets," he told the Weekly Standard's John McCormack in 2010. "You're not going to have a truce."
The "truce" reference came in response to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' (R) suggestion that the Republican Party effectively walk away from hot-button social issues, focusing attention away from the culture war. Ryan was making it clear he found Daniels' suggestion unacceptable -- the Budget Committee chairman wants very much to keep the culture war going indefinitely.
At a certain level, this may not seem surprising. Ryan is a congressional Republican, and nearly all congressional Republicans are very conservative on social issues. But that's why the details matter -- the perception of Ryan as a budget wonk obscures his deep commitment to fighting cultural battles, and for that matter, even on Capitol Hill, Ryan is considered very far to the right, as evidenced by his sponsorship of a "Personhood"-style measure.
What's more, Ryan voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay, against repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," against Planned Parenthood funding that has traditionally enjoyed broad, bipartisan support, and for a constitutional amendment against marriage equality. Ryan also condemned the Obama administration's policy expanding access to contraception.
Given Mitt Romney's new-found interest in the culture war, it's worth realizing the Republican ticket's focus goes far beyond the budget and the economy.
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So, has Romney become the non-candidate?
Yes, yes....
but how does Ryan feel about Caterpillars???!!!
I can't understand the Republican position against contraception for poor women. Seems like a lot of those underprivileged babies might grow up to vote Democratic (assuming they can come up with an acceptable form of ID, of course). Basically, they want to punish poor women for having sex at all.
I run into a lot of anti-abortion types who say that. "If they don't want to get pregnant, then don't have sex."
But what about the child that is the result of that sex? Is it their fault that they are born to a parent or parents who cannot provide for them?
Hence the attempts to repeal the child labor laws, I guess. Make those kids support themselves.
"Are there no workhouses?"
We may soon be living in Dickensian times.
If the Republicans are all about less government and the Constitution than why are they trying to legislate Religion and morality?
If you're poor and desperate to feed your kids, you'll take any low-paying job they'll throw at you. A large, low cost workforce without ever leaving the good ol' U.S. of A.
That would be nice but a lot of people with college educations are taking those jobs and you can't even live on that wage, they work you part-time so you don't even get any benefits This summer the jobs were not available for the kids that work in the summer because they were already taken by adults.
Yup, that would be me, working a lousy retail job. Long hours, although not enough to be considered full-time. They are all long hours when you make just above minimum wage & you stand on your feet all day. I have 2 degrees.
ZEALOTS (fanatic, enthusiast,extremist, radical, young Turk, diehard, true believer, activist, militant;bigot, dogmatist, sectarian, partisan; informal fiend, maniac, ultra, nut; eager beaver) of any stripe have no place in elected office.
Oh Day, wouldst that it were true. Sure, it's a guideline for better government, but zealots/fanatics/informal fiends are elected in a democratic republic by the zealots/fanatics/informal fiends of the electorate who want them to pursue their monomania in Washington and the various state capitols.
The current crop of zealots are religious zealots. The United States has undergone what historians have called Great Religious Awakenings, and we're in one right now, the third or fourth in our country's history. "Awakening" is a euphemism for convulsion or upheaval, and wrongly implies that the "convulsors" become more aware of a truth. They like to think of it that way, but it's really a self induced frenzy that allows them to deal with the uncertainties, ambiguities, and frightening changes in the modern world. LIke their Muslim counterparts, current Christian zealots seek comfort in old and rigid values found in their respective canonical texts. Unfortunately, unlike monks or philosophers, they can't get the comfort they crave merely by living according to their values of choice; they have to impose these values on the rest of the world. In a democratic republic like ours, zealots elect other zealots to pervert the constitution and laws of the United States in pursuit of their needs. And I think you agree that these zealots do these things to meet their own needs, rather than for any higher or noble purpose.
To Sofferclese...............Well said.
Can you give me some time periods for the other 'awakenings'? I would like to 'see' what other conversations and laws they have enacted or tried to in order to improve our lives.
The Economic Elite ticket..with nothing but protection for the wealthy and corporations... Ryan was named the biggest BROWN NOSER in HS... This is a reckless Kock paid for choice willard made! Bad for the Nation!
Ryan has passed exactly 2 bills with his name on it..One to name a post office and one to not tax arrows!
http://www.mediaite.com/online/rep-paul-ryan-passed-two-bills-during-13-years-as-congressman/
Catholic bishops called the ryan budget IMMORAL! The CBO called it Mathematically IMPOSSIBLE..
Background on the ryan ultra conservative BS'er!
http://www.wtffinance.com/2011/02/paul-ryan-another-%E2%80%9Cconservative%E2%80%9D-hypocrite/
Romney will have to spend a few buck's of his 250 million to buy Ryan his own Etch a Sketch.Just sit back and watch the hypocrisy from Lyan Ryan and NitWit Mitt.
Well, we now have a real choice. The bases of both sides will, understandably, dig in. It will be, as usual, a fight to win the independents. Perhaps now both sides can get out of the gutter and debate substanative issues. We now have two clear visions for our future direction. How each candidate explains their vision as it relates to the upcoming "fiscal cliff" will determine my vote.
Bottom line: who has done something FOR the people, and who is dead set against doing anything for the people (millionaires excepted)? (First two guesses don't count)
For both sides to "get out of the gutter" would require both sides to have been in it, and I think the Obama re-election campaign has pretty admirably restrained itself from the impulse to join the Rs there. Ads etc. challenging Willard re tax returns, or putting a human face on the devastation caused by his activities with Bain (e.g. the insurance ad so many righties have decried as "below the belt" without disputing the essential underlying facts) are substantive and directly address important issues that are at stake in this campaign, they're not "gutter politics".
OTOH, An entire campaign based on brazen lies (not spin of fact but outright lies), employing ads that take the President's words wildly out of context (one of my "favorites" still being the first major ad buy that presented, completely out of context, then-candidate Obama directly quoting his opponent -McCain- and claiming in the ad that the quote should be attributed directly to the now-President) - that's gutter politics at its worst. I would welcome Willard's campaign out of the gutter if they could crawl that far, but I'm not foolish enough to be holding my breath waiting for that.
As for the determination of your vote, Tom-numbers, assuming that you're honestly presenting your vote as yet-to-be-determined, perhaps you should consider that the Rape-Public-CON party created the "fiscal cliff" you see looming ahead. President Obama has already implemented policies, despite Rape-Public-CON opposition, that have begun to steer us away from that "cliff" - since his inauguration, employment numbers have been improving, vital industries have stabilized, the stock market has improved, even corporate profit is at an all-time high.
Even the "best" efforts of Rape-Public-CONS to undermine this progress have failed to do so. E.g., while instituting massive lay-offs of public employees wherever they have the control to do so, they whinge endlessly about the horrible unemployment rate (i.e., creating more unemployment so that they can complain about it, in the hope that the un- and mis-informed public will blame the President for their own acts against the public interest). And yet, overall job numbers continue to improve since the implementation of President Obama's stimulus measures.
The Rape-Public-CON plan for America: go back to doing all the things that got us into our current mess in the first place, only do even more of them more extremely because what could possibly go wrong? Again?
If you're willing to think about it at all, and do even a modicum of "research" to know the facts, your choice should be obvious.
WORD, Pretzel, WORD!!!!!
Paul Ryan is the new darling of, by and for the 1%. His congressional record demonstrates consistent support of tax cuts for the well-to-do, more trickle down economic theory (a documented failure), with little or no regard for budget deficits. Ardent support of the disastrous fiscal “policies” of President George W. Bush/"43". Opposition to the long-term deficit-reduction proposals of President Obama's appointed federal budget commission of which he was a member. Congratulations! You may now run for Vice President!
Yet ordinary citizens are promised again that this familiar snake oil with expensive new labeling on the dusty old bottle is the prescription for their return to good health?
"They (US Congressmen) give well-worn speeches on the yet elusive progress toward paradise for all citizens. But that paradise is but a fiction for the masses of ordinary citizens. The establishment paradise has been constructed and evolved in such a fashion that it is to remain that way in the name of the established order, conservatism and preservation of the powerful status quo."
Read more at
http://lifeamongtheordinary.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-establishment-paradise-part-one.html
I do not agree with the republicans plan for the economic recovery of our great country. But lets say I could. Lets say the middle class sacrifices, and agrees to some cuts on Medicare/Medicaid. What are they going to sacrifice? Anything? I never seem to hear about the sacrifices they are willing to concede.
My taxes are going to go up. While it doesn't make me happy, if it pays down the deficit, keeps the local public schools open, fixes the potholes in the streets, or keeps Social Security and Medicare solvent for a few more years, I can adapt.
Personally, I'm not a cheap date. My healthcare costs are probably going to be above average. I don't view Medicare as a free lunch. I'm willing to work to keep myself as healthy as possible.
Sacrifice is possible, and at times necessary, but if I'm going to sacrifice so the Koch brothers can keep another Million or two in their Billion dollar wallets, I'm not going to like it.
Have rethugnikans, all just lost their minds? No, really - this whole selfishness, greed, disenfranchisement of everyone that isn't "rich, white, & male" has really gone to a whole other level! And what is it that American voters are really looking at?! We've had 30+ of lowered taxes and deregulation and what has happened:
1) exploding deficits
2) 2 wars
3) the greatest wealth inequality since before that last "Great Depression"
5) JOBS hemorrhaging to low/no wage nations
6) a political class that only gives a dayum about their 1% pimps!
7) stagnating wages for the 95% of working Americans
8) a tax code that is so skewered towards the 1%, EVEN as WE are footing the bills!
9) a gross over-simplification of "how to fix" this mess that the GOTP's policies have gotten US into!
10) an elite that feel entitled to NOT PAY TAXES, bribe politicians, an immorality and a hard heartedness among the sheeple that says if you can't do it all by yourself then you are a failure - even as those same sheeple have their hands out sucking on public teet without acknowledging their hypocrisy!!
C'mon people, there is NO reason to vote for Rawmoney and a return to Bush II on steroids which might just include another war an ushering in of a X-tian theocracy on steroids!! If you don't think that you're better now than you were 4 years ago, then you so aren't paying attention!! Yes, WE all lost money in those Ponzi scheme 401k's that WE were all sold - and yet again you want to return to more deregulation and a total infringement on your real "rights and liberties", puhlease!! If you actually believe that Rawmoney & Paul will do anything except further the destruction of the middle class, attempt to dismantle education on the federal level, and give more tax cuts to millionaires & billionaires all while WE the PEOPLE pick up the tab - then you too are a sociopath and desperately NEED HELP!
This economy would recover if the 1% would stop lining their own pockets and pay their employees a decent, increasing, living wage. Employees work hard but are not rewarded for their increased productivity. If people had more money each week, they would spend it on the products and services in the US. It's that simple.
This week Verizon FIOS increased my bill by 15%. They didn't give their employees a 15% wage this year. I may give up TV. Even though I will miss Rachel.
I'm in the same boat with you Eileen - my Comcast bills finally outstripped my ability to keep up with them, in the face of stagnant income and some unexpected medical expenses. I've already had to give up my "TV" (and I'll admit I still miss some of it).
The good news: you can still watch TRMS via streaming video over the web - I haven't missed an "episode" yet.
;-)
Streaming!!! Thank you!!!
Sanctity of Human Life Act - can fertilized eggs be counted as dependants on a tax return? Sounds like a new tax avoidance scheme. Start In Vitro; freeze a few fertilized eggs and add up the dependant deductions.
Lots of fertilized eggs don't implant in the uterus. And women have miscarriages. Can we jail them for this as well? I'd like to talk to Ryan's wife - they have only 3 children which implies that they used some sort of birth control. Or they only did it 3 times. Yes, crude and not my business, but I'd laugh out loud if I found out that the Mrs. was on the pill and the Mr. didn't know it.
How about an Obama ad campaign consisting entirely of Ryan and Romney quotations? No voiceover needed, no ominous music. Just quote them.
That's too much of a high road for Dems, they need to stick with blaming Romney for cancer or pushing Granny over the edge of cliff. Plus for every Romney quote you have an BO "you didn't build that", "Raise the level of civility". Dems have shown their game plan of painting GOP/Romney as evil, if the voting public look at his record and scandals Obama is toast. The more they attack shows the more scared they are. Can not wait for they Ryan/Biden debate, Biden doesn't have a chance.
Eric, you shouldn't be smoking weed this early in the day.
Just sayin.
Right, stick to the Dem plan of attack with no substance. You never disappoint Donna.
Again: Why do you think they call it "dope," dope.
Attack without substance, Eric!etc?
All right - your Faux News "you didn't build that" lie is taken out of context from what the President actually said, and doesn't represent what he was saying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKjPI6no5ng
Romney/Ryan may or may not be evil, but they represent what is causing this country to become a third-world country. They want to increase the gap between the upper class and middle class, and they want to further restrict social mobility. They may say they want less government, but what they really want is more intrusive government. Ryan, for instance, does not support a woman's choice to abort a fetus, even if that fetus is the result of a rape.
Can't wait for the Ryan/Biden debate? No one watches the VP debates! I, for one, can't wait to watch Barack Obama mop the floor with Myth Rmoney.
It's worth pointing out that Ryan wants real death panels, where he and his particular version of his religion decides that women will die because they believe a pregnancy is more important than a woman's life.
Eddie Munster, the gift that keeps on giving. (He's also Eddie Haskell; according to his high school classmates, he was the leading "brown-noser" in the school)
We should put up the video at his last (paid) "town meeting" where he mocked a 71 year old constituent who took him on over Medicare, and then had the security force throw the guy out while telling the cheering crowd "I hope he took his blood pressure medications".
BO was leading dog eater, and bullied a little girl........is this what we want the election about? How about 8%+ unemployment and a soaring deficit. Nah, stick to the attacks, it's the lefts only shot.
Yes, because the Righties are so...ummm...mired in truth, honesty and transparency? Romney and his taxes. Priebus saying the POTUS has ' blood on his hands '. Rush Limbaugh and the Sandra Fluke fun-fun times. Paul Ryan and his let's gut it all and give what's left to the rich budget. Michelle Bachmann. and her war on everyone else who's not exactly like her. [ Her crazy {{ my opinion of her mental stability, so get mad at me, please }} groundless attack on Huma Abedin. ] Obama's a Kenyan, Obama's a fascist, Obama's a socialist, Obama's a thug gangster criminal Black Panther Muslim horror, etc etc. All the right Wing attacks have been about character defects, fear, ignorance, emotional knee-jerkism and outright racism.
It's been pointed out time and again that you can't fix thirty or more years of trickle-down economics in a few days. And it's been Republicans, time and again and yet time and again again, who've voted against jobs bills, raising minimum wage, or anything to do with those dirty ' parasites ', to use a Randian term, just trying to survive. Obama's also come out for women's health issues so that makes him a baby-killer, too, in case you missed it. And just what are Romney/Ryan plans for America? Other than " Trust me, I'm a man " platitudes? [ Pure snark on that last sentence, btw ]
In a few days?? He had 2 years to do whatever he wanted. Why should we "hope" anything will "change"? How many votes did Obama's budget get in the House? 0, none, nada, zip, zero from anyone not a Dem or GOP vote...at all.
Wrong again MittForBrains. Dems only had 7 weeks. Update yourself so you can educate your fellow Fox-educated wingnut ignoramuses:
President Obama DID NOT control Congress for Two Years!
New Rule: people on unemployment, welfare cannot say "I want my country back"
Nope. It's precisely those people who have had opportunity ruined by a mean-spirited, intentional, wealth redistribution determined Republican party over the last 30+ years who have the most legitimate claim to "getting their country back."
I hope you live to regret that statement. Do you think those people who got laid off are to blame for it? People like you disgust me. I pray that you lose your job so you can see what it's like, jerkoff!
The closest this crap-weasel has ever been to culture is having his throat swabbed at the doctor's office.
I love how the Right hates big government except when it comes to wombs and women's bodies in general.
I would like to coin a new phrase right here and now no pun intended.
Mitt com poop
: fool, simpleton
— nin·com·poop·ery noun
See nincompoop defined for English-language learners »
See nincompoop defined for kids »
Examples of NINCOMPOOP
Origin of NINCOMPOOP
origin unknown
First Known Use: 1676
Related to NINCOMPOOP
Synonyms: berk [British], booby, charlie (also charley) [British], cuckoo, ding-a-ling, dingbat, ding-dong, dipstick,doofus [slang], featherhead, git [British], goose, half-wit,jackass, lunatic, mooncalf, fool, ninny, ninnyhammer, nit[chiefly British], nitwit, nut, nutcase, simp, simpleton,turkey, yo-yo
Antonyms: brain, genius
[+]more
Rhymes with NINCOMPOOP
alley-oop, cock-a-hoop, focus group, for a loop, Guadalupe,Guadeloupe, open loop, paratroop, pressure group,supergroup, support group
Ryan,the shot in the foot heard all around the country!
So they say they are for small government but will strip women and gay people of almost all the rights we have fought for for the last 40 years and tell us not to have sex. Just don't do it. Sure. That's going to happen. If Mitt Romney wins I'll have more rights if I move out of the country. And better health care. That's just sad.
And Michelle, you'll notice it's the woman's fault for having sex. As usual. This is what happens when you try to impose medieval thinking on a modern world. What disturbs me is the number of women who vote republican't. Although, I've heard that the right wingers vote the way their menfolk tell 'em. So sad - I thought we've evolved. No wait, there's no such thing.
So, ayn rand is paul ryan's philosophical hero. It would be interesting to hear him try to reconcile his breast thumping catholicism with rand's atheism. ryan is confued and silly. no heavyweight there.
Literary reading list (or the start of one) for undecided voters:
David Copperfield and Hard Times by Charles Dickens
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
This is what life could be like for the average (non-wealthy) American in Romney Hood's America.