As last night's debate turned to the economy, Paul Ryan seemed eager to condemn the Obama administration's policies. Vice President Biden seemed even more eager to remind the Republican congressman about his record of requesting stimulus funds from the Recovery Act he claims to abhor.
"On two occasions we advocated for constituents who were applying for grants," Ryan grudgingly conceded. "That's what we do."
As it turns out, the whole story is pretty amusing, though the right may not fully appreciate why. Remember this segment from August?
It's not just that Ryan advocated for constituents who were applying for grants, as all members of Congress do; he also argued at the time that government spending creates jobs and boosts the economy -- the exact opposite that Ryan now claims to find so offensive.
Worse, the far-right lawmaker soon after got caught lying about the requests for funds.
And just to add insult to injury, our friends at "Up With Chris Hayes" uncovered a 2002 clip in which Ryan said he loved the idea of economic stimulus from the federal government. "You have to spend a little to grow a little," Ryan argued 10 years ago.
Seriously, that's what he said.
Just to reiterate a point from August, 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. When Bush is in office, government spending creates jobs and grows the economy; when Obama is in office; government spending undermines the job market and stunts growth.
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.
Update: Ryan said there were "two" occasions. In reality, it was four. He's not great with numbers.
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Hey, folks, he said, -using Joe Biden's voice,- it's just politics- okay when I do it, not okay when you do it.
For example, he said- using Paul Ryan's voice- the Iraq War was a terrific stimulus plan! Arms contractors got rich, and poor kids got a chance to see the world.
Bingo! You getting close to republican thinking. Now inject a little more Mercury into your food and wait for more brain cells to die and you may become a right winged loon.
Poor Paulie boy, he's so not ready for "prime time". I almost felt sorry for him last night cause he looked like he was "blinking back the tears" - I said almost. So LyinRyan - let me give you two pieces of advise:
1) If you must lie, you need to remember who you told what lie to.
2) When in doubt about rule 1, keep quiet, and just sit there with that stupid smirk on your face.
Not ready for prime time? he disgraced that demonic, quivering old fool. Thank GOD, America is about to be saved from, the DEVIANTS.
Biden Laughed in Ryans face because he was exposing Ryan as the inexperienced green neophyte political clown that he is. Check this out
"Hello 9 1 1? There an old man beating my child on TV" @billmaher on the VP Debate how aptly put. Biden took Ryan to the woodshed and fanned his fannie, but good. Ryan lost hands down! Biden exposed Ryan as the lying hypocrite clown that he is. No 2012 and no 2016 for him. That debate was the real game changer. Biden was masterful on the 47% remarks from the secret Florida $50,000 a plate dinner fundraiser ( a middle class yearly salary). Romney and Ryan are like "Bernie Madoff" sales men trying to sucker punch the people. now they have been fully exposed for what they are no numbers, no plan no policy no thank you no job. Ryan Romney. your application for the position is in the trash can by the door you can both fish for it on your way out the door
I don't think people should criticise Joe Bidden for not staying on point and laughing. My mother has dimentia and struggles holding my conversation sometimes. They are both about the same age now. Give Joe a break. I see this a lot with older people and dimentia. They are not as sharp as they used to be when pressured but shouldn't be criticised.
Mike, i know its eay to keep simpletons like you amused, but your boy got schooled, just like his "boss"? thank GOD America will be saved soon. As kid rock said, " we tried the black guy", lets not make that mistake again
Hideous: a new troll created just this month. How cute. Well actually, it is @!$%#ed up, but I was trying to be nice.
Two questions:
(1) Is anyone still surprised by this? Paul Ryan got vaulted to the forefront of his party for reasons of perceived---and not actual---policy chops. (Even Obama had a hand in creating this monster, sadly.) But is anyone who isn't completely unwilling to see the truth still unable to see it? If you still think Paul Ryan is a principled sharpie you must be (a) blind or (b) a member of the press?
(2) Does anyone else think this is just another (sad and frustrating) swing of the pendulum orchestrated by the press? Obama's runaway got boring, so the press turned a middling debate performance into the worst thing in 100 years. Now that narrative is petering out, so the comeback is on. I'll be happy if Obama wins, but I'll still resent the press for this obnoxious, irresponsible, but largely predictable bout of coverage. (And, yes, the vaunted NYT is as bad as anyone.)
Just remember. you clowns elected a moron soley because the quota system saif we needed to hire a black guy. Qualifications weren't important, just be black and act white when appropriate. talk about fiction gone bad. It'll never happen again
hideous new troll: your idiotic troll posts shows that you are a low-grade troll with the IQ of a hard boiled egg.
So why don't you take your KKK inbred bigoted self back to the stormfront website where you and your kind belong.
Donna, you are great! Always love your replies.
Thank you magnoliagirl,
These trolls really do piss me the @!$%# off!
His position is perfectly understandable and obvious
Government spending on Defence, war, and corporate welfare = "Good" government spending
Government spending on Health, education and the general welfare = "Bad" government spending
I think it is also worth noting that as much as the Republican party in general has opined against public works projects such as being "Fake" jobs provided by government handouts they never seem to see the jobs created by defence contracts for building more aircraft carriers or bombers that way.
(Or is it just that much harder to charge $42,000 for a shovel and an orange vest than it is for a toilet seat?)
Dragoon, Some of us were raised on the belief that being self reliant and self supporting are a good thing. Some of us liked when the high school and college rankings were made public, so that we could strive to GET BETTER. we helped make this country great, we weren't busy robbing people at gunpoint, smoking crack all day, having 6 kids with 6 whores and looking for a handout. GOD BLESS ROMNEY!
hideous post translated: "I am an ignorant bigoted troll who can't stand the fact that a black man is President."
You're welcome.
hopefully this doesn't repeat too much of what steve has already reported
"According to an Associated Press review of 8,900 pages of correspondence between Paul Ryan's office and more than 70 executive branch agencies, the congressman wrote to federal agencies supporting expansion of food stamps in his Wisconsin district. He supported city officials and everyday constituents who sought stimulus grants, federally guaranteed business loans, grants to invest in green technology and money under the health care law he opposes."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=162766196
Congressworm Pinocchio Ryan should be so ashamed of the lies he told in last night's debate with Vice President Biden . . . Oh . . . never mind . . . you have to have a conscience to be ashamed.
Biden is a CHAMPION of cross-dressers, homosexuals, predators, perverts and underachievers. Put down the bottle, stop expecting a handout, act like an adult, take care of yourself and your family.
Perhaps you should take your own advice; stop cross-dressing, stop hunting little kids, and go back to high school to get your GED. As far as you liking dudes and all, as long as they are over 18 knock yourself out.
I am very confused, sad, and a bit scared that so many people thought that Ryan "won" this debate or even that it was a draw. In my view Biden displayed all of the qualities that I could hope for in any politician who is actually fighting for the people - and not just himself and people like him. He showed intelligence with an amazing grasp of details as well as the big picture, he showed heart - I could sense his passion for doing the right thing for America, the laughing that I saw was not rude or "smugness" that many people are painting it to be but an honest display of the shock and frustration to the hypocritical and non-factual ramblings of Ryan. I could almost see the thought bubble over his head that says, "Is this guy for real? I can't believe he's spouting this nonsense so seriously...". Ryan seemed like a brainwashed robot who kept evading real answers to any question. He repeated a few of the same "catch phrases" that have no real meaning behind them and kept saying that Obama is not willing to work with the other side when it is exactly the opposite! Not only that but he says that Obama has "no record to run on" which is so not true. Obama improved the state of this country to the best of his ability considering the fact that the Republicans were in charge for 8 years and had ruined the prosperity gained during the Clinton presidency. I know that Obama could have done so much more if he had the cooperation of the Republicans but their agenda from day one was to make him look like an aweful president so they can regain power. So our president has had to not only had to try his best to fight FOR us but he's had to fight against the constant ridicule and opposition of the Republicans. And they say they want small government but they want to outlaw abortion? This is insane what is happening and I really don't understand how so many Americans feel differently. If Ryan is really worried about taxpayer money funding abortions then shouldn't he be worried about taxpayer money going towards taking care of all the children being born to people who cannot take care of them? I feel like they only care about fetuses but once you are born they don't care about you at all. If they are "pro-life", what about the lives of the people who are already here? And they want to cut education funding, so their idea of a great America is filling it with a ton of poor, uneducated people? It's ridiculous. I hope America wakes up and starts seeing into the souls of these people in politics. We are so very lucky to have a president who honestly cares for others, no matter their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socio-economic class. He is also level-headed and doesn't think that competition and domination are the way to run a country. He is an old soul. I hope we don't let these baby and young souls take over and make rules for us all that we don't need. Life is not all about power, fame, and money. There are far more important things that we need to strive for.
Breanua,
thanks for voting for a racist, underqualified, METCO reject.
Biden laughed right in Ryan's face when he said "I understand you're under duress" LOL what a maroon. Biden was laughing because he knew that he was about to expose Ryan and the green, inexperienced neophyte lying political clown that he really is. FOX NEWS was ofh excuse me, FOX soviet born propaganda machine was livid. Ryan's Grasp of foreign policy is woefully and dangerously lacking. So is Romney's. 16 warships and 3 subs a year. At what cost to taxpayers? where will he get a crew able to man 48 ships and 9 subs over 3 years? that calls for some 85,780 crew members to hire. wait. won't that increase the size of government? Why tws it would increase the size of Government. Ryan Romney two toxic candidate from a toxic party drowning in their own toxicity. Shame
Breauna, the GOP can control uneducated people. it's what the Nazis did they burned books to keep people ignorant and to accept the only knowledge the GOP wants them to learn and accept. they don't want you thinking for yourself. that's why they want to cut education funding, pell grants. they have cut so much that teacher buy supplies and equipment for their students. they cut education into ineffectiveness, then say, "Look public education does not work. Let' dismantle it and make them go to charter schools which we will control. We'll force them to learn only conservative principles and make all children into our miserable likeness and our hollow image we are gods to be honored and obeyed". And why they talk about cutting government is so they can control the education process. they understand that Knowledge is power and when a people are well educated, they can think for themselves and are not and cannot be easily manipulated, controlled and misdirected at our behest, accepting our rule as the true authority and question nothing we say. No thank you! Ryan, Romney, your application is in the file by the door, you can both fish them out as you exit the building
Wow, Michael. It is so true all the things you say and it frightens me that people would buy what they are selling. They live only from their egos, afraid of anything too different from what they are or believe, afraid of not being rich or having control over others, thinking that strength means that you have to hold down the weaker boys and cut their hair while others look on and laugh. It's amazing that even after that "secret videotape" of Romney talking at the fund raiser he is still even a threat in the polls. What does he have to get caught doing or saying for people to realize that he doesn't have good intentions and should not even be president of the pta much less the country? It boggles the mind. The only thing I can chalk it up to is that whatever percentage of votes Romney gets is for one of a few reasons. They hate Obama (he's smarter than them so they can't relate to him, he's not "white" enough, he calls himself a "democrat"), or they are so strongly anti-abortion that they think their personal belief should be imposed on everyone, or they were brought up so conservative and/or religious that they will never question anything and vote Republican until they die. I hope progressives get out and vote this election.
Thank you Michael for being so insightful and let's keep the hope alive!
As Groucho said, "Those are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others."
This is very much akin to Obama calling for higher taxes on people like him yet he pays the lower tax. Why doesn't Obama go ahead and pay a hire tax rate?
The stimulus money was enacted into law, just like the current tax rates, so Ryan was operating under that law.
For the same reason lyin ryan won't give the stimulus money back to the government.
Ryan is operating under a law all right: the "lying law."
Donna, your second grade education wont be worth much in the real world where facts matter
Donna you are astute and very intelligent and don't let a pre k student tell you any different
Maybe you can lead by example and show the President your leadership skills.
Sounds just like Romney wow you nailed it so right, Why didn't I think of that?
hideous;
You are nothing but an idiot right wing troll, who wouldn't know the truth if it kicked you in the ass, so take your right wing bull@!$%# and get the @!$%# off of this site.
@RobDon: "This is very much akin to Obama calling for higher taxes on people like him yet he pays the lower tax. Why doesn't Obama go ahead and pay a hire tax rate?"
Showing your intelligence level hun, it should be: "Why doesn't Obama go ahead and pay a HIGHER tax rate?" What amazes me, is that in reading through all the comments, the conservatives come across as bullies. Do you really get off by making snarky, rude and mean comments because someone isn't agreeing with your views? Check out the Romney/ Ryan budget plan, then go back and re-watch both debates. Romney/ Ryan lied through their teeth. Ultimately, the real reason that the President is so hated is "racism". Go on, admit it, and get over it. Scratch your itch and move on. Romney/ Ryan want to finish the job that Bush started, and that's to completely bury the United States.
Paul Ryan flip-flopping? Why, he must really admire Mitt's style.
It's Etch A Sketch and Etch A Sketch Jr. a ban china copy from one of Mitt's China Factories. shake and fake anyone (don't eat the shake and fake it's as bad as the romney-aid)
Why are Dems not bludgeoning the Republicans who voted for the tax cuts and wars that increased the deficit and debt during the Bush terms? This is the same logic as the stimulus. Ryan should have been called out for hypocrisy on his votes during the Bush years.
Biden DID effectively call him on that Mike.
Little "Richie Rich" Ryan is a pathological liar, and it showed in this debate. Big time! He showed America that he is part of the top 1%, and has no trouble continuing to lie. Again! "Richie Rich" Ryan has no problem taking the stimulus, however part of his mental illness is to still lie about it. "Richie Rich" Ryan has no idea of what Foreign Policy means, and our enemies are all hoping that he becomes our VP. The best allies of "Richie Rich' Ryan are the terrorists that are trying to destroy America. Way too go Joe!
you labeled yourself as progressive. Are you sure you didnt mean retard?
Progressive, why do the conservatives hate liberals? when you let the GOP pull the wool over your eyes, the light of truth can be blinding
One thing that has been driving me nutty is that nobody in the Obama-Biden campaign has been crowing about all of the tax cut money included in the Recovery Act, roughly $270 Billion. It included the Making Work Pay Credit, which resulted in my wife and I getting $1,600 in tax credits in 2009/10. It included the first time homebuyer credit, and some tax breaks for small businesses. The tax cut for middle-class families with kids in college is also never mentioned. They are also doing a lousy job talking about the payroll tax reduction that started in early 2011, another bonus for my family. If you look at the website set up for the Stimulus Act, you can see for yourself how many red states and companies in those red states applied for stimulus money.
Another big myth the right wingers keep pushing is Obama as a big government liberal, when he has in fact reduced the number of the federal workforce by 3% during his presidency. In 2012 alone, the reduction was 32,000 workers. Is anyone in the campaign talking about that?
The president was loudly mocked when he said recently the it seemed the private sector was doing pretty well. I have an IRA that helps me in retirement, so I can't help but have noticed that the S&P 500 Stock Market Index (500 biggest companies) has more than doubled in value since Feb. 2009, even with this week's downturn. American companies are sitting on $2 Trillion dollars, sitting idly on their books. I would call that "doing pretty well" Note that all of the job growth has been in the private sector, NOT in government! And they keep saying he is bad for small business, in spite of his 18 new or renewed small business tax cuts.
Joe was great last night! Malarky = Republican Lies
Joe set the public straight on Social Security and Medicare: Republicans want to privatize and cut them. Democrats want to preserve them.
Ryan was well prepared and well rehearsed with Republican lies and deceptive twists of phrases. He almost looked like he might believe the lies he was telling. Ryan looked like a clown trying to fill a glass with a hole at the bottom. No wonder Joe and we laughed so much last night. It was hilarious!
Bengazi was a problem because Republicans cut the budget for security. Ryan was confused about the function of Marines at embassies -- another opportunity for a good laugh at Ryan the clown!
Time after time, we laughed with Joe at Paul Ryan last night. We had a great time!