For Paul Ryan and the GOP, a moment to shine
Paul Ryan delivered a damn good speech last night.
You could argue with and dispute many of the points that he made, but that’s the thing about a speech: You don’t get to argue with it while it’s being delivered. A speech of that sort creates a protected reality, giving the speaker an unchallenged, extended moment in which to define himself, his party and his world. Ryan used that moment well.
(The best example of that phenomenon may have been Ryan’s predecessor, Sarah Palin, who in the same speech four years earlier created an attractive image of herself and her world that crumbled the moment she left the stage.)
Ryan, a creature of Washington for all of his adult life, knows his business and his role. As the enthusiastic response of his fellow Republicans demonstrated, last night he made their world his world, succeeding in linking speaker and audience in common outlook and purpose. The larger, more difficult question is whether he made a similar connection with millions of Americans watching from home.
In many ways he probably did. When he spoke of a tough economy — “23 million people, unemployed or underemployed. Nearly one in six Americans is living in poverty. Millions of young Americans have graduated from college during the Obama presidency, ready to use their gifts and get moving in life. Half of them can’t find the work they studied for, or any work at all” — it was an America that everybody in the convention hall and in living rooms recognized.
When he warned of our deepening national debt, and the fear that our children would live more cramped and difficult lives than we have, he echoed fears felt by any American who is paying attention to public life.
But the next morning, once the music has died, the applause has disappeared and the janitors are sweeping the floor of the previous night’s discards, things come into focus a bit more sharply.
For example, it was interesting to watch Ryan bewail the fact that this country’s credit rating had been downgraded, failing to mention that it was downgraded because he and his fellow Republicans conspired to create an artificial and completely unnecessary crisis over the debt ceiling. It went oddly unmentioned.
Ryan also noted that Obama had created a bipartisan debt commission whose report had come to nothing, yet somehow the congressman neglected to point out his own prominent role in its demise. He himself, as a member of the Simpson-Bowles commission, voted against accepting its recommendations and by doing so he made sure the report went nowhere.
Likewise, when Ryan accused Obama of “raiding” Medicare of $716 billion, he failed to note that in his House budget that made him famous, he too diverted $716 billion from Medicare. Instead of using it to extend health care to millions of uninsured Americans, he used it to finance more tax cuts for the wealthy. A difference in prioirities, I suppose.
Finally, in a speech that stressed responsibility and tough decisions, Ryan put the nation’s burgeoning debt entirely on the shoulders of one man.
“Yet by his own decisions, President Obama has added more debt than any other president before him, and more than all the troubled governments of Europe combined,” Ryan charged. “One president, one term, $5 trillion in new debt.”
Surely the chairman of the House Budget Committee, where all spending bills originate, must have played some tiny role in that process, did he not? Surely a politician committed to truth-telling on tough topics would not ignore the role that he and his own party played — budget-busting tax cuts that never produced promised economic growth; two wars, one necessary but badly led, the other a tragic misadventure, and both of them hugely expensive and unfunded; and an economic crisis unmatched in 80 years, touched off by a steady deregulation of Wall Street that he and his fellow Republicans insist even now must be deregulated even further.
Surely these too played a role, did they not?
And if nothing is being done in Washington, it is useful to ask whether a party that scorns compromise, that ejects from its membership any who dare question its holy agenda, and that pursues an extremist economic platform to the exclusion of all else just might, perhaps, maybe bear some responsibility for that state of affairs?
These are the kind of “details” that can be swept away, momentarily, in the emotion of a good speech well-delivered. But they do not go away forever. The next morning — this morning — they still stare all of us in the face.
– Jay Bookman
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440 comments Add your comment
The tongue can be the most wicked weapon on earth
August 30th, 2012
10:22 am
@Ivan
August 30th, 2012
10:06 am
Summary of the topic:
Democrats can blame Bush for everything. Republicans aren’t allowed to blame Obama for anything.
There. I just saved everyone 5 minutes.
*************************************************************************
Democrats blame?
Republicans lie?
Blame = Assign responsibility for a fault or wrong
Telling a lie = A false statement deliberately presented as being true;
a falsehood. Something meant to deceive or give a wrong impression.
who's fault
August 30th, 2012
10:22 am
Enter your comments here
Peter
August 30th, 2012
10:22 am
stiffie. perhaps you were out of the country while the last GOP president was running things ?
Don’t want to go back to that……. perhaps you like WAR ?
Thulsa Doom- pompous ass extraordinaire
August 30th, 2012
10:22 am
Ya’ll have fun. Gotta stop by and say hi to some folks at Kyle’s and then git to work. Got a lot of backbreaking paperwork and meetings to do. By the sweat of my brow I will be slay that paperwork monster.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the Left of me Jokers to the Right, here I am...
August 30th, 2012
10:23 am
Jay,
You are spot on about Ryan’s musings last evening.
We can truly never be sure about what is true about any numbers regarding deficit, medicare, et al because the truth is likely somewhere in the middle IMO…
The deficit is any elected officials fault as we all know we are not their primary interests.
The lie about GM plant closing is laughable to be sure. The lies will continue next week as well…I’m seeing that DEMs are beginning to pull the race card more often at this time….that’s scary and possibly suggests desperation since they know they will get outspent so the odds are against second term for Obama..
Reagans ghost
August 30th, 2012
10:23 am
Boy, I hate my old Friend Ted Kennedy has passed. I was hoping to see him and John Edwards and ole Bill Clinton on the stage at the DNC supporting women and defending them in this war. Yea, three fine generals in this war.
Newby
August 30th, 2012
10:23 am
Wobble said,
“Our country looks at entitlements as a god given right, a perk even, the more you can bilk out of the system the better. It’s what poor people do, ask them, I know lots of them”
So, you hang out with a bunch of poor people who continually tell you how they enjoy “bilking the system”?
THAT doesn’t sound suspicious…
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
August 30th, 2012
10:23 am
“going after the reputation of S&P as the Administration was attempting to defend themselves”
well, of course, there’s the fact that the S&P calculations were WRONG …
and, of course, the S&P complicity in the mortgage security debacle,
but, hey … other than that …
It's not his fault
August 30th, 2012
10:25 am
It’s not his fault, it’s not his fault, that’s all I’m hearing.
He’s the man, the big enchilada, the boss, the top dog, the leader of the free world, the prez of the most powerful country in the world, the A#1, the MVP…….but…..but…….all the bad results of the government which he runs are…….not his fault?
Who would want such a weak , uneffective leader as their president? What a bunch of suckers
Peter
August 30th, 2012
10:25 am
The tongue can be the most wicked weapon on earth ..
So What lies are OK………. Say the one about the GM plant before Obama took office ? That one is OK ?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 30th, 2012
10:25 am
Seriously, USinUK, you dont really believe that a poster who calls himself a pompous ass and repeatedly makes over the top claims and then waits to see if others are going to call him on it while he claims to be “just kidding”, “toying with you” or other disingenious responses is going to acknowledge the truth.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the Left of me Jokers to the Right, here I am...
August 30th, 2012
10:25 am
TONGUE,
Here’s another…The difference between truth and lies is belief…especially since we will never get the honest truth about anything material…
Appropos of nothing and perhaps I posted earlier but “the man with the most toys…..still dies…”
Donovan
August 30th, 2012
10:26 am
As I have said before, if the GOP nomimated Jessus Christ himself, you liberals would reject the nomination and demonize Christ for being too religious.
Paul Ryan’s background, credentials, and character stands on its own. Your choice of nomimation is in stark difference to Ryan. My God, you people cannot even defend Obama’s background, credentials, or character, let alone his presidentail record.
It’s just more of the same. Old trumpets of disdain, distraction, and diversion. You’ve got nothing. You’ve got frustration. You’ve only got loony tune Bookmans to lead your charge.
Check out the rest of your biased bunch of media goons doing your bidding. Ron Fournier (National Journal)”Blacks wouldn’t have to work under Romney”. Low class misrepresentation. By the way…he and his Democrat friends created Fact Checkers (phoney fact checkers)that Bookman gets his info from. John Harris (Politico) who is married to the former head of NARAL in Virginia. Andy Barr of Politico left Politico to work for the DNC. Johnathan Allen of Politico once worked for Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Yahoo just fired news Washington Bureau Chief, David Chalain, for talking on a live mic he didn’t know was live that “Romney had no problem partying while black people drowned”.
The point is that Bookman’s essay this morning is just another pointless condemnation and attack like the rest of his media associates who hate Republicans.
Do we need another 4 years of 8.3% unemployment, debt in the statosphere of trillions, no budgets, economic paralysis, global humiliation, reduced credit rating, Obamcare that will further gut our treasury, a bloated government, a government run by criminals, tax cheats, union thugs, and left wing freaks. RIGHT!
You people have run out of runway trying to land this crap agenda you attempted to put into motion four years ago.
Reagans ghost
August 30th, 2012
10:26 am
Who’s paying Ms. Flukes expenses. She can’t afford $4 for a month of pills? Clinton probably has some in his pocket he could give her, just say’n.
USMC
August 30th, 2012
10:26 am
“And for the record if anyone out there believes that the debt itself had little to do with the downgrade then I suppose they are living in a state of suspended disbelief.”–TD
You forget that all of these Leftwing nutjobs live most of their days on the Jay’s “perception of reality” BLOG.
They simply can’t think for themselves or learn to be self reliant; they need someone else(guvmint) to take care of them.
Peter
August 30th, 2012
10:26 am
Who would want such a weak , uneffective leader as their president?
Sure … you are for the Party that stated this…….. ” Mission Accomplished ” “Deficits Don’t Matter “………… HA HA HA………. HA HA HA !
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 30th, 2012
10:27 am
And for fun…. you have got to see the Colbert Show Star Wars opening from last night..
Christie the Hutt.
http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/wed-august-29-2012-jennifer-burns
Reagans ghost
August 30th, 2012
10:27 am
Maybe ole Clinton will talk to us about being married to one woman for 35 years and bring her up on stage.
USMC
August 30th, 2012
10:27 am
“Who’s paying Ms. Flukes expenses.”
JOHN(s)
Oscar
August 30th, 2012
10:29 am
Nothing like making a speech to a friendly and captive audience. Twist everything they want you know they want to hear and everything’s a lot of fun.
Then the cold, grey dawn comes up the next day and you are stuck with what you said when your friends go home and the cheering dies away.
Quagmire
August 30th, 2012
10:29 am
Come on Republicans – Let’s add Bush and Cheny as guest speakers tonight.
We will had Clinton and Gore at ours, oh you don’t want to play that game………………….no fair or should I say Fair and balanced
Tom Middleton
August 30th, 2012
10:29 am
Fox News: “Ryan’s speech was an apparent attempt to set the world record for the greatest number of blatant lies and misrepresentations slipped into a single political speech.”
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/30/paul-ryans-speech-in-three-words/#ixzz252TEbhiM
I mean, if even Fox is calling Ryan out for lying…
East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)
August 30th, 2012
10:29 am
GOP would never nominate “Jessus” Christ. His redistribution of fish to the masses would label him a socialist.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the Left of me Jokers to the Right, here I am...
August 30th, 2012
10:29 am
USNUK,
Bravo! At the heart of the derivatives scandle sits robustly at the doorstep of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch…the massive investment to be made to actually, with any credibility, rate the tranches of packaged mortgages, was not cost effective to they were negligent in putting forth the energy to do right….unfortunately, they have special protectiion..
Too bad Obama didn’t prosecute any from Wall Street, the telecoms etcetera as he promised….at the end he got cash from them all..
Peter
August 30th, 2012
10:29 am
Seems like the GOP voters are good with ” Gordon Gekko ” and Charlie Sheen running for President !
Makes sense since the last GOP presidential pair quoted… Mission Accomplished…….and the most famous…… DEFICITS DON’T MATTER …….
Jack
August 30th, 2012
10:29 am
Bookman’s gonna write some real salty pieces from now ’til November. And some voters with his sense of liberal righteousness will be swayed. Like Obama, he’s never run even a lemonade stand and like Obama he has never ever felt the heat from building a small business while dealing with government restraints; restraints that defeat some of the strongest willed. Some forget, but Hillary was pushing a mandate for employer-sponsored healthcare in 93-94. When asked about small businesses having a problem with affording the care, she said that if they couldn’t afford it they shouldn’t be in business. And at the same time, Ted Kennedy said that small businesses were bottom-feeders. I’ll never forget that and my vote will reflect that.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
August 30th, 2012
10:29 am
classy, grunt.
Common Sense
August 30th, 2012
10:29 am
Interesting that the left is here bashing Ryan for the very same thing Bookman said was needed just a few days ago: Compromise.
So the lesson is this. Do not compromise-ever. Because when you do, and then you go back to your deeply held principles, the fact that you compromised will be used as a sledge hammer against you.
George H.W. Bush lived that lesson. He paid the price. (Read my lips).
Imagine if Ryan had just gone along with the debt ceiling increases last year.
Today, Bookman would be bashing him for now speaking out the ever increasing debt, and how Ryan had no right to now speak out against it.
If you want compromise in the future, you should choose NOT to attack those who have tried to in the past.
Reagans ghost
August 30th, 2012
10:30 am
Riveting Oscar. Writing it down now.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
August 30th, 2012
10:30 am
Stevie Ray – frankly, there should have been a class action lawsuit … am still agog that there hasn’t been one filed for their malfeasance.
Peter
August 30th, 2012
10:31 am
USMC . why don’t you tell us how many time Bush pushed though a new debt ceiling ?
Thank you !
Here's lookin back at ya, kid
August 30th, 2012
10:31 am
You forget that all of these Rightwing nutjobs live most of their days on the Jay’s “perception of reality” BLOG.
They simply can’t think for themselves or learn to be self reliant; they need someone else(guvmint, military usually) to take care of them.
skydog
August 30th, 2012
10:31 am
“This sucker may go down”
“Your doing a heck of a job Brownie”
We are not going back!
wobble
August 30th, 2012
10:31 am
Yes, I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.
I have spoken to a lot of poor people who do everything in their power to make the most for themsleves when it comes to maximizing government handouts. This is absolutely 100% true of a lot of people.
It’s all over the headlines too, you don’t have to take my word for it.
People winning th elottery and still cashing welfare chaekc and see nothing wrong with it, was probably the most visible headline. Do you think this line of thought was unique to that lady who won the lottery? No it’s rampant.
Ever hear of Obama phones?
Newby –
Ever been behind someone in line at Wal-mart with hundreds of dollars of tatoos, $200 shoes, beter cell phones than i have, pay for Dorritos and Mountain Dew with their food stamp card?
Ever talk to a low income person after a flood? They milk the sh1t out of the govt a smuch as physically possible, even if they didn’t get flooded. I live din so. ga durring the big floods of early 90’s, it was the norm.
All good examples
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the Left of me Jokers to the Right, here I am...
August 30th, 2012
10:32 am
The idea that the DEMS will have a law student with debt to the hilt speak at convention speaks volumes…perhaps she should disclose her personal sexual resume…:-)
Perhaps they wanted filler to limit Bidens time and thus minimize exposure to more idiotic banter…??
Oscar
August 30th, 2012
10:32 am
Now its reality check time for the next two months. Then judgment day.
The tongue can be the most wicked weapon on earth
August 30th, 2012
10:32 am
I thought we were ALMOST…almost pass this:
Two Republican National Convention attendees began throwing nuts
at a BLACK CNN Camera person and saying, “This is how we feed animals.”
And the Republicans say they are the party of INCLUSION.
TaxPayer
August 30th, 2012
10:33 am
Fortunately, once the Republicans in the House came to their senses and raised the debt ceiling, any concerns over the willingess of the US to pay it’s debts were diminished.
Reagans ghost
August 30th, 2012
10:33 am
Tom………………..who said this…………..Pass the stimulus and the unemployment rate will not exceed 8% and it will cut the deficit………………you mean THAT kind of lie.
Peter
August 30th, 2012
10:33 am
Common Sense. seems like Ryan is crying about the same things he has been using the government for……. entitlements…… and seems he cries about one thing then takes advantage of them personally.
Obama is over
August 30th, 2012
10:35 am
Go ahead. Make my day.
eddy
August 30th, 2012
10:35 am
Can’t wait for the debates….Biden against Ryan and Obama against Mitt. “Let’s talk about my record says Obama .” Mitt replies “please do, cite the accomplishments.” Crickets are a chirping!!!!!
Just plain not fair to have ‘ol Joe trying to speak extemporaneously. Makings of a Saturday Night Live skit with him. But then again, the Mensa Society may be trying to find him for his induction. Election Day +1 is going to be a very bad day here on the Bookman blog and MSNBC will just “go black” and off the air never to be heard from again.
USMC
August 30th, 2012
10:35 am
Has anyone noticed how the media has downplayed the $4 per gallon for regular gasoline???
When Bush was Pres., It was Bush and his rich, white Oil buddies price GOUGING. LOL!
Reagans ghost
August 30th, 2012
10:35 am
Hey wicked….kinda of like ABC on a hot mic saying ” Republicans love to party why black people drown”””””””’ You people are righteous aren’t you?
bob
August 30th, 2012
10:35 am
Byte me, didn’t Obama say he would close GITMO within a year of being in office ?
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the Left of me Jokers to the Right, here I am...
August 30th, 2012
10:36 am
USNUK,
If you haven’t already done so, read THE BIG SHORT by Michael Lewis..he also wrote MoneyBall and Liar’s Poker…Sadly its a hilarious and bizarre account of turn of events surrounding the CDO mess…best character is a genious who also suffers from asbergers disease who figure this out and shorted them all once he figured out the insane financial puzzle..
Oscar
August 30th, 2012
10:36 am
Peter
August 30th, 2012
10:33 am
_________
He hopes voters have short memories. He didn’t count on the fact that there are people that write things down, and there will be reminders of what he said and did before.
Joe Hussein Mama
August 30th, 2012
10:37 am
B. Cassidy — ” it says a lot about the confidence of the attendees in their selection, and makes me long for the old days of the party when I was still an active member.”
I know, right? The GOP faithful used to crap a brick when the nominee was announced, even though everyone knew who it was. I’m not seeing that kind of raging enthusiasm for Romney. Maybe for Ryan, but not for Romney.
where's the response?
August 30th, 2012
10:37 am
OK, checked back and still I’m hearing nobody stand up for Obamas accomplishments, just more GOP bashing, is that all you got…nothing, nada, zip, ziltch to defend Obama and what good he has done as our leader? I’m listening, and all I here are cricketts, that’s what I thought.
Please don’t vote or reproduce
bob
August 30th, 2012
10:38 am
Tongue can be wicked, I thought we were over this ? http://www.theblaze.com/stories/ny-dem-assembly-candidate-says-crime-is-up-in-negrohood/
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the Left of me Jokers to the Right, here I am...
August 30th, 2012
10:40 am
USMC,
I learned an interesting thingy about oil and efficiency of oil companies….30 years ago plus, there was a 10-1 ratio of barrel price and gas price…ie when barrel price was $1..gas was .10 a gallon and so on…..if that same ratio applied today, at current barrel price of $95, we’d otherwise be paying $9.50 a gallon..factoid that gets lost amongst the pitiful energy policy of pushing energy at 13-17 cents per kilowat to .2 cents for oil….
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
August 30th, 2012
10:41 am
Stevie Ray – I was living it at the time (working as a financial analyst NOT for an investment house, though … and, no, I don’t miss it)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/business/24trading.html?pagewanted=all
Joe Hussein Mama
August 30th, 2012
10:41 am
Doom — “So the administration’s usual bullying tactics had no play in S&P’s reasoning for downgrading our debt? It would strain credulity to believe it didn’t.”
Maybe so, but it goes against the *publicly stated8 reasons that the rating agencies gave. Again, if you’ve got some evidence for your speculation, I’m certainly open to seeing it.
“However, it appears to me that it was the prudent thing to do, and had S&P not lowered the credit rating, one could charge them with dereliction of duty.”
One wishes they hadn’t been so derelict in the rating of MBSs and CDOs.
“The Obama Administration seemed to be using intimidation tactics in the media, going after the reputation of S&P as the Administration was attempting to defend themselves. It seems rather unfortunate that the US Treasury Secretary and the Obama Administration would use such tactics, and throw this debt rating downgrade into the media as a political football.”
Again, AFAICS, you’re speculating. But I’m still open to seeing evidence if you have any.
skydog
August 30th, 2012
10:41 am
Did ya`ll see Christine O`Donall last night?
She was more orange than the orange man. Do you think she`s been in the booth too long or rolling around with the boner?
USMC
August 30th, 2012
10:41 am
“OK, checked back and still I’m hearing nobody stand up for Obamas accomplishments, just more GOP bashing, is that all you got…nothing, nada, zip, ziltch to defend Obama and what good he has done as our leader? I’m listening, and all I here are cricketts, that’s what I thought.
Please don’t vote or reproduce”–Where’s the response
Don’t you know…. DemocRats LIE better than Repuglicans tell the truth!
Joseph
August 30th, 2012
10:42 am
stiffie:
You make an excellent point. How honestly could democrats convince thinking tax paying folks to vote again for Obama? Even dems realize he’s in over his head. Some even let it slit in interviews occasionally. i.e. Clintoon..
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
August 30th, 2012
10:42 am
“Byte me, didn’t Obama say he would close GITMO within a year of being in office ?”
he tried to
Congress said no.
what do you want him to do, override Congress and act like the tyrant you accuse him of being???
The tongue can be the most wicked weapon on earth
August 30th, 2012
10:42 am
@Peter
August 30th, 2012
10:25 am
The tongue can be the most wicked weapon on earth ..
So What lies are OK………. Say the one about the GM plant before Obama took office ? That one is OK ?
************************************************************************
What about the GM plant before Obama took office?
Newby
August 30th, 2012
10:43 am
Some points: When you threaten not to pay your debts, your creditors get nervous. It’s not the amount, it’s the threat not to pay.
And about poor Ms. Fluke – I still don’t understand why people are upset because she thinks birth control should be covered by insurance. Is it a religious belief that NOBODY should be able to use birth control, or just what?
Oscar
August 30th, 2012
10:43 am
Stevie Ray
_________
What’s the new requirement for vehicles average MPG in twenty or thirty years – 50 MPG.
Should cut down on the cost of travel very well.
Plus, people will be living nearer where they work, less travel time. Sounds good.
Joe Hussein Mama
August 30th, 2012
10:44 am
Doom — “Uh. Yes. I did read them.”
Good. Then you know I’m right.
“So are you opining as Jay did also that the main reason for the debt downgrade was due to the arguing?”
Yes. And since that’s why the CRAs *said* they were doing it, I don’t see where you’re getting this other notion.
“Or do you think the actual debt itself may of had something to do with it? For example on the link I just posted S&P went back and forth over what the O administration said was questionable accounting regarding 2 trillion dollars. They were going back and forth about the debt itself- not the arguing that was going on between Ds and Rs.”
No, they were *clearly* speaking to the intransigence and arguing, and they *said so* in their public announcement.
“And for the record if anyone out there believes that the debt itself had little to do with the downgrade then I suppose they are living in a state of suspended disbelief.”
You’re speculating, Doom. There may well be something to what you say, but it’s no more supported by facts than my wife’s scenario about Reid, Romney and the Mormon money angle.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
August 30th, 2012
10:44 am
“Please don’t vote or reproduce”
Sorry, been voting since ‘68 and i have 14 grandchildren and three, so far great grand children….all destined to be good Democrats…Gotta love it.
Newby
August 30th, 2012
10:45 am
USMC said, ““Who’s paying Ms. Flukes expenses.”
JOHN(s) ”
Sir, that is unworthy of a gentleman, and of a serviceman. What fills you with such hatred toward a woman I doubt you’ve even met? You disgrace yourself.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
August 30th, 2012
10:45 am
“Has anyone noticed how the media has downplayed the $4 per gallon for regular gasoline???”
http://gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx
(click on 5 year)
1) it isn’t $4/gal
2) it still isn’t in the same zip code as the high when W was in office
3) why do you hate the free market which sets gas prices???
The tongue can be the most wicked weapon on earth
August 30th, 2012
10:45 am
@USMC
August 30th, 2012
10:41 am
Don’t you know…. DemocRats LIE better than Repuglicans tell the truth!
*******************************************************************************************
If republicans stop telling lies about the democrats,
democrats will stop telling the truth about them.
Peter
August 30th, 2012
10:46 am
Sure USMC………. Don’t you know…. DemocRats LIE better than Repuglicans tell the truth!
Deficits don’t matter………. Mission Accomplished !
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
August 30th, 2012
10:46 am
“Sir, that is unworthy of a gentleman, and of a serviceman”
considering he’s neither …
ragnar danneskjold
August 30th, 2012
10:46 am
Hope you all saw Mallard Fillmore today – maybe the only political cartoon this season that will amuse both conservatives and leftists.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
August 30th, 2012
10:48 am
Rag – HA!
I'm a numbskull
August 30th, 2012
10:48 am
I will vote for Obama no matter what b/c I am smart
Joe Hussein Mama
August 30th, 2012
10:48 am
Whewre — “OK, checked back and still I’m hearing nobody stand up for Obamas accomplishments”
That’s because the regulars here generally don’t bother to respond substantively to drive-by trolls.
If you want a substantive response, then either become a regular or have something worth saying — not partisan drive-by bulldada.
Obama is over
August 30th, 2012
10:48 am
Dodd-Frank was supposed to address the derivitives market, the ratings agencies, and restore stability to the banking system while controlling systematic risk for the U.S. economy. What we got was another stack of hundreds of rules putting small financial service companies out of business, increasing costs and lowering access to credit for consumers, and ultimately concentrating fatal systematic risk for the economy into a handful of “too big to fail” firms. While you people assign blame for the housing crisis to Wall Street and the GOP, the GSE’s have moved from “implied guarantees” to explicit guarantees of the Federal government. In the meantime, FNMA/Freddie have hemorrhaged in exceess of $180 BILLION in losses since 2008. Obama’s solution: Let’s give homeowner’s who have defaulted on their mortgages $3000 a piece before the election. Government is just as responsible for the housing market bubble as Wall Street. Unlike the Democrats, I am more concerned about what we are going to do about it than assigning blame to Bush. By the way, 75% of U.S. mortgages are created by four giant institutions directly because of Dodd-Frank.
Peter
August 30th, 2012
10:49 am
Will the Republican’s tell us when .. Deficits matter please ?
Joseph
August 30th, 2012
10:49 am
Gov. Susana Martinez hit a point last night that resonated with many people especially minority’s. If you sit down and take issues one by one they would most likely think to themselves. “I’ll be damned”! “I’m a Republican”!
b-troll
August 30th, 2012
10:50 am
we’re not gonna take it…..
Joe Hussein Mama
August 30th, 2012
10:51 am
Joseph — “Gov. Susana Martinez hit a point last night that resonated with many people especially minority’s.”
Are you a member of a minority group?
If not, then how would you know?
Peter
August 30th, 2012
10:51 am
Oscar. ……..Do you remember when Bush came out and lowered the requirement for fuel economy in a vehicle ?
How about the tax break you got when you purchased a gas guzzling SUV ???????
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the Left of me Jokers to the Right, here I am...
August 30th, 2012
10:52 am
USNUK,
I adore that book…may have to read it again as we speak..
OSCAR,
I hear you but I really, despite what any politican may posit, have no clue what will really happen 40 years from now..Two things for sure…first without amendment taking private money out of politics, nothing in DC can possibly change excepting the two parties trading opportunities to be obstructionist and blamers…Second, given the demographics relative to boomers, the taxes our kids will have to pay into SS, Medicare, Medicaid will be staggering…
Oh yes, and my ashes will be flowing in the wind.
tiredofIT
August 30th, 2012
10:52 am
If you sit down and take issues one by one they would most likely think to themselves. “I’ll be damned”! “I’m a Republican”!
++
I wonder what they added to her kool-aide?
ZoSo
August 30th, 2012
10:52 am
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/obamas-broken-deficit-promise/
Remember this golden oldie?
bigbill
August 30th, 2012
10:53 am
By the way, when you talk about “two wars, one necessary but badly led, the other a tragic misadventure,” I cannot help but wonder, huh? Both wars were and are tragic misadventures. Both wars were and are badly led. Both wars were and are morally wrong, and sadly, a total waste of human life, the lives of our troops and the the lives of the people of these two countries. Our national security was never threatened by these countries. The plotters and executors of 9-11 came from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan (Osama Bin Laden’s home). Maybe you can explain why either war was necessary. Please be my guest. But for me and I think many people here and around the world, these two wars were and still are nothing but war for war’s sake, one more flimsy excuse to further enrich the arms manufacturers at incomprehensible cost in human life, injury, and destruction for all those directly involved. Billions in welfare for the defense contractors? – Great! Any type of welfare for the truly poor in America? – Outrageous! Socialism! No way!
East Lake Ira
August 30th, 2012
10:54 am
What is an Obama phone?
GT
August 30th, 2012
10:55 am
Joseph not true. If you buy the Republican explanation like you bought George sr’s read my lips or Palins all hat and no cattle speech you are a Republican. If you look for yourself what they really are and not what they and your friends tell you they are you will vote Democrat or you need to worry more about your own moral compass and less about others.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
August 30th, 2012
10:55 am
Stevie – “I adore that book…may have to read it again as we speak..”
daaaaaaaaaaaamn!!! another one in the firetrap that is my bedside table!!
(yes, I plan to get a Kindle … just waiting for 4G here in the UK)
Oscar
August 30th, 2012
10:55 am
Oh yes, and my ashes will be flowing in the wind.
________________
Mine will be much soon than that. so I won’t be around to see that I am proven wrong.
And there is always hope.
Oscar
August 30th, 2012
10:57 am
Peter
August 30th, 2012
10:51 am
_
I remember all that now that you remeinded me. Thanks.
I also remember seeing all those Hummers on the streets. Don’t remember seeing a any lately.
Tom Middleton
August 30th, 2012
10:58 am
Ghost
A lie means knowing better than what you say AT THE PRECISE MOMENT YOU’RE SAYING IT. And that, ghost, is the difference between a lie and an honest mistake.
And besides, since we give our presidents 6 months to a year to get their policies in place and working, President Obama has been adding jobs to our economy for the last 29 months from the time his got in place.
Everything else that came before – the crash of the economy and all the jobs lost – were straight up Republican caused with George W. Bush, and if you try to tell me it wasn’t their fault, well, that would be the perfect example of a lie! Got it now, ghost?
Oscar
August 30th, 2012
10:59 am
Second, given the demographics relative to boomers, the taxes our kids will have to pay into SS, Medicare, Medicaid will be staggering…
____________
The kids are not dumb. They will figure out a way not to have to pay that. Don’t count on the same benefits being there in another ten years.
HDB
August 30th, 2012
11:02 am
Donovan
August 30th, 2012
10:26 am
Questtion: What about Kevin Phillips, the architect of the “Southern Strategy” for the GOP who came out and said: “Black people have no place in the GOP”; has that not been made evident by the numbers? There were only 32 black delegates to the 2008 Convention….only 2 on the platform committee!!
Jamvet
August 30th, 2012
11:03 am
The profligate spender Ryan is the poster boy for the Party of No Personal Responsibility…
Paul Ryan is not the solution to our problems. Paul Ryan is the problem. ~Ronnie “It Ain’t Ever my Fault” Reagan
joe
August 30th, 2012
11:03 am
Bottom line, Obama will not do anything to improve our economy and lessen unemployment…because he has no idea how to do it. Romney, who has successfully run businesses his entire life knows how to do this and will do this. Ryan, is the numbers/math guy who can apply our revenue to lessen the 16 trillion dollar debt we face. Obama will just add another 5-10 trillion in another term.
The choice is clear. All the other issues are just a distraction for the real problems we face as a nation. Vote Romney in Nov.
Quagmire
August 30th, 2012
11:04 am
Sarah Palin & Paul Ryan:
“Somehow he’s the smartest guy in the party and she’s the stupidest woman on earth, but they agree on everything” ———-Thx Bill Maher
ZoSo
August 30th, 2012
11:04 am
“Everything else that came before – the crash of the economy and all the jobs lost – were straight up Republican caused with George W. Bush, and if you try to tell me it wasn’t their fault, well, that would be the perfect example of a lie! Got it now, ghost?”
This is called an opinion, not fact. Got it Tom???????????????
St Simons - he-ne-ha
August 30th, 2012
11:04 am
AynRyan speech summarized in 4 words – “Let em eat cake”
4 more – bu…bu…bu…Obama
what a lying punk
Oscar
August 30th, 2012
11:04 am
yes, I plan to get a Kindle … just waiting for 4G here in the UK)
________
I have a Kindle. Really like it. Highly recommend that you get one.
alittlecommonsense
August 30th, 2012
11:05 am
“Surely the chairman of the House Budget Committee, where all spending bills originate, must have played some tiny role in that process, did he not?”
Very true. I believe that person would be the Democratic congressman John Spratt for the period of time that president Obama went unchecked and the budget went out of control.
But of course you were trying to mislead by implying that Ryan has been chairman of the budget committee overseeing this massive growth in government spending when in fact he has been fighting against it since the Republicans took over the house.
Just a little slight of hand meant to mislead without actually lying. Cudos Jay.
Jym Allyn
August 30th, 2012
11:07 am
I am really looking to the Romney speech tonight and hearing tomorrow how much he resembles the guys on the Viagra and Cialis commercials.
His future career will be following in the footsteps of Bob Dole.
St Simons - he-ne-ha
August 30th, 2012
11:08 am
“No One Ever Cut Their Way to Prosperiteh”
–Ronald Reagan
cons, your positions have the consistency of my 1 yr old’s baby poop
and the credibility of same
Jamvet
August 30th, 2012
11:09 am
Romney, who has successfully run businesses his entire life knows how to do this and will do this (improve the economy and lessen unemployment).
Hysterical.
How many decades are the faux conservatives gonna fall for this??
I do think that Flip will create a lot more American jobs though.
In Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and Singapore, where he has much previous success in doing that very thing…
Reagans ghost
August 30th, 2012
11:09 am
The reaction here today is the only proof you need of how good last night went. Oh course the rebuttal is coming.
1, We hate women
2. of course, minorities
3. No taxes for the rich
4. We all the dirty air and water
5. Drill for oil in or Federal parks
6. Hate gay people
7. Loans only for those that can pay them back. ( always a crowd pleaser)
8. They want you to get a job
9. They want you to die without any healthcare
10. They want to round up illegal criminals and get them out of here. Good Democrats.