Paul Ryan had more than a few troubles last week, but one of the more interesting problems is related to his support for stimulus. For all of the far-right congressman's alleged disgust for the Recovery Act, Ryan repeatedly sought stimulus funds for his district, arguing government spending creates jobs and boosts the economy.
And then Ryan got caught lying about it.
Our friends at "Up with Chris Hayes" moved the ball forward with new revelations over the weekend.
For those who can't watch clips online, in 2002, when George W. Bush was president, Ryan loved the idea of economic stimulus from the federal government, celebrating the idea on the House floor.
"What we're trying to accomplish here is the recognition of the fact that in recessions, unemployment lags on well after a recovery has taken place," Ryan said at the time. "We have a lot of laid-off workers, and more layoffs are occurring. And we know, as a historical fact, that even if our economy begins to slowly recover, unemployment is going to linger on and on well after that recovery takes place."
Ryan's advocacy of stimulus spending wasn't limited to Washington, either. When he returned home to face constituents, he used similar language to make the case for the Bush stimulus bill. "You have to spend a little to grow a little," Ryan told constituents at a town hall in Wisconsin in January 2002, according to the Journal-Times, a local newspaper. "What we're trying to do is stimulate that part of the economy that's on its back."
You know what would make a great debate? Romney/Ryan circa 2002 vs. Romney/Ryan circa 2012.
Again, hypocrisy is the least of the problems here. What matters is the fact that Paul Ryan's vaunted economic principles, wonky approaches to government, and entire political philosophy seems to be dictated by the party of the president at the time. Ryan has principles, but they're easily discarded and replaced with contradictory ones so long as he's advancing a partisan agenda.
It's the difference between a wonk and a hack.
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Hey, listen, Benen, "both sides do it!"
Besides, 2002 was long ago, when Man walked with Dinosaurs. Also, Ryan is a young, blue eyed Republican who talks fast. (He is also white.) What was your point again?
To understand the sub species known as Republicans, here's all you have to know:
1) They play for Team Republican. There is no Team America. They are fans, loyalists, team players. They are on Team Republican and Team Republican only.
2) They want to kill the government.
Remember those and everything a Republican does makes sense. Forget it, and nearly nothing they do makes sense.
Republicans only want to kill the government when they are not the ones in charge of it. When it is their turn to hold the gavel they want to use government to put weight behind whatever backwards social policy or big business land/money grab their benefactors tell them to fight for.
They don't want to control just the government...they also want to control women's vaginas....don't forget the vaginas.
"Greetings. You have reached the Romney/Ryan 2012 For America Hotline. We do so hope for your vote in November. We'd like to share with you more about our campaign and our firm, core principles. To hear why you should vote for Romney/Ryan if you're pro-life, press 1. To hear why you should vote for Romney/Ryan if you're pro-choice, press 2. To hear why you should vote for Romney/Ryan if you believe in lower taxes and spending, press 3. To hear why you should vote for Romney/Ryan if you believe in higher taxes and spending, press 4. To hear why you should vote for Romney/Ryan if you believe in tough immigration reform, press 5. Para informacion en Espanol, oprima el seis. To hear why you should vote for Romney/Ryan if you believe in reforming Medicare, press 7. To hear why you should vote for Romney/Ryan if you believe in preserving Medicare, press 8. To hear about the failures of Obamacare, press 9. To hear about the success of Romneycare, press 0. Thank you."
"To hear details of Mitt Romney's plans, please stay on the line and your call will be answered after November 6th in the order in which it was received."
Ryan was for the stimulus before he was against it before he was against it again before he was for it again
He was for Romney Care as a national template before he was against Obama Care
He was against the Auto bailout before he was for it
He was against Medicare before he was for it
He was for Social Security Benefits before he was against them....
Jeez, I just cant keep up.
With Kerry this was a Bug
With Ryan this is a Feature.
Must be why he and his wife "inadvertently" forgot to claim $1-5 million trust money on their taxes!!
I just have to wonder, if you were a business owner, (especially a republican owner) would you hire an an applicant (Ryan) whom you knew had the same attitude in filling out his resume?
and why does this surprise? haven't you heard? since the advent of karl rove, hypocrisy is the the new integrity.
..Karl Rove is not a hypocrite ..he is a criminal
Why should we be surprised? Hypocrisy, mendacity, willing blindness and greed - that is what the GOTP stand for along with a healthy dose of sociopath thrown in for good measure. These people don't care about US, it's about how much the Oligarchy will bank-roll them to betray US! WE, US, America - these people aren't patriots, just whores and they need to be voted out of office, period!
I have yet to come across a word or phrase that clearly describes these guys...Whore is not the word I'm looking for. Whores are working girls no matter the stigma attached. These republicans in office are much much much more offensive than hard working women in a tough economy. Turd blossom, is along the lines of more accurately describing the lesser of the republicans. Asshat, @!$%# nutz, insane, just don't capture the true "essence" of these people. I don't think Webster had republicans in mind when he wrote the Bible, heh heh. See what I did there? There are no words to accurately describe these people, except "former candidate" or "former congressmen" etc.
I really meant NO disrespect to those "working girls/women" that actually do this! I actually have respect for them because they are up-front and honest! GOTP politicians are not at all honest about their prostituting for the 1%; I have NO RESPECT for them and "whore" while totally inappropriate was the "kindest, gentlest, more respectable" word that I could use without getting banned! I apologize to "working people" everywhere. :>)
Having "weak, malleable principles" really makes Ryan the perfect running mate for Romney.
Ryan was for the '30 pieces of silver' before he was against them.
I wonder if Romney and Ryan each carry a Popiel Pocket Liar? If they do ,it get's one hell of a workout. I would love to see Romney in a TV ad showing his face,side by side,each side telling what he said in the past and what he say's now.Of course it might take a full hour to get through it.I Would love to see Ryan in one too.
They each had one, but they both burned out after only a few hours of use. They were manufactured by the Republican National Committee, which refused to honor the warranties.
What a good idea. You would think that the DSCC would have come up with that idea on their own by now.
Masters of the Double Talk........
Its the difference between a Republican and a serious Republican, or is it a conservative Republican and a seriously conservative Republican?
Whatever is selected for by default, they have it covered. Hell of a way to run the country or is that run from the country?
What I find so exasperating about all of this is how if President Obama is even a little bit off on something he says -- if he "misspeaks" or is somehow in error, no matter how small, his detractors go batsh*t crazy attacking him and saying how deceitful he is. Yet if Romney and Ryan come up with something that is obviously hypocritical and dishonest, the same people act like it's no big deal. They insist on holding the president to a much higher standard than their own guys.
I suppose it's a compliment towards Obama -- maybe they realize he's far more intelligent and honest than Romney and Ryan, who are apparently the best they can do for this election and are given lots more leeway.
Somehow the whole thing reminds me of this quote:
“Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels.” Compared to the Republican slate, Obama makes it look easy.
How was it "flip / flop" is spelled again? Where is this GRAVID hypocrisy remotely justified, explainable, or forgivable? "Flippity/Floppity/Floopity!" to quote Sen. Franken!
Little could be more factually ludicrous than the premise that "both sides do it." ...And just to be echoing some righteous -Driftglass- ...leave us compare the egregiousness done by each, please! Let us list and compare the wrongs and travails -- the missteps and mistakes, the failings and the criminality, eh? Which will prosecute --read justify-- psychopathy and which does not! Moreover, there is plenty more that one side just... won't... do, -- where the other exercises that proclivity with an especially gleeful and slobbering abandon. Don't get me started. Both sides... don't! The meme is a lie!
Paul Ryan, "fiscal conservative, "deficit hawk"...
During the Bush administration:
Voted for TARP I, the Wall St. bailout; the first auto bailout bill; the prescription drug benefit, with no negotiation with drug companies on prices allowed; the pork-laden highway bill with the "Bridge to Nowhere;" two near trillion-dollar wars. No attempt was made to pay for any of this legislation, which obviously increased the deficit. And, of course, let's not forget the effect of the Bush tax cuts he voted for, too.
During the Obama administration:
Was appointed to the Simpson-Bowles Commission to reduce the deficit and avoid the "fiscal cliff" that looms next year. Ryan refused to vote with the majority, which called for drastic spending decreases and phase-out of popular tax deductions, because it called for some tax increases, too. "Hell, no!" Now Republicans are screaming because Democrats are making them honor the deal they made if the Commission failed.
Republican President: Deficits GOOOD.
Democratic President: Deficits BAAAAD.
So now Ryan is the "intellectual leader" of the Republican Party. Constant repetition doesn't make it so. From a Marx Bros. movie: Groucho points at Harpo. "He's the brains of the operation. That'll give you some idea about the operation."
Why did Tanya have to listed as Food Stamp recipient. I am a big fan of the show but that raises a brow for me. Dont wanna be negative.
Gee, just like his running mate. What a pair!
Funny how BSNBC never sees the hypocrisy of anyone else but the right. He was so young back then and obviously, based on the budget he tried to pass before offered the VP position, he is a changed man. Anything a "liberal" conservative (though Ryan is not that) could through out there is 10x better for our economy than anything an America-hating socialist. I don't see how everyone is so blind and actually still believes anything Obama puts out there. Read his handbook. WATCH 2016! Now.
Oh dear... this woman still has a show. I guess you are the 17 people who still watch it.
Damn right she's got a show, and it's a good one. Really chaps your hide, doesn't it? It's okay... unlike Faux Snooz, Rachel's show goes for quality, not quantity. We prefer people who know how to use their own brains.
Have a nice day! :o)
I am glad Rachel has her show, she tells us the truth, no lies like on Fox. Without her we would not know what the republicans are really up to. You should get out of your box and watch her every day, learn something!
Ambition and greed have turned posts of honor into a place of profit, set in an establishment paradise. "They have in many Minds the most violent Effects." The type of men which such personal incentives attract "will move Heaven and Earth to obtain" them, striving for "the infinite mutual Abuse of Parties." The men will "not be the wise and moderate, the Lovers of Peace and good Order, the men fittest for the Trust. It will be the Bold and the Violent, the men of strong Passions and indefatigable Activity in their selfish Pursuits. These will thrust themselves into your Government, and be your Rulers."
Read more at
http://lifeamongtheordinary.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-establishment-paradise-part-two.html