During yet another panel appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed tore into newly named GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan as a late-comer to fiscal responsibility.
Reed has often served as a test pilot for future lines of argument by the Barack Obama re-election campaign, so pay attention to the clip below. Also, note the look on Peggy Noonan’s face:
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Kasim Reed: I want to push back on this notion of Paul Ryan as a serious man. He — he voted for every budget busting measure under President Bush. He voted for TARP. He asked for money under the American Recovery and Investment Act. He voted for both wars. He put Medicare on a credit card, and then all of a sudden in last 24 months, he’s developing the stature as a serious guy, so I want to push back on that…
David Gregory: Well, so why…
Reed: …and then in terms of this week– and then in terms of this week, he has underperformed Sarah Palin. He’s contributed about a one percent bump, and according to Gallup, the Republican pick for Vice President typically performs at about five points.
Gregory: So should that be– Mr. Cruz, should that be part of the record here? I mean, why is the Tea Party so supportive of a guy who is part of, what the Tea Party thinks, was profligate spending under his predecessor, under– under President Bush?
Ted Cruz: Look I think the reason is simple. It’s because Paul Ryan has been serious about talking about these issues, about getting serious about solutions. You know, it’s ironic…
Gregory: But votes– but votes matter.
Cruz: And– and I don’t– and I don’t agree with all of his votes. But– but…
Gregory: Do we have…
Cruz: …let’s be– let’s be clear. Let’s contrast the leadership Paul Ryan has shown…
Reed: Sure.
Cruz: …with President Obama’s lack of leadership. The Senate for three years hasn’t had a budget. And so it’s very difficult for Democrats to complain, how dare the other side actually get serious about fixing these– these problems when they don’t even pretend to fix the problems.
Reed: He wasn’t serious under President Bush. Why wasn’t he serious when we were funding the war in Iraq? Why didn’t he say America should pay for the war in Afghanistan? Why didn’t he– why didn’t he say that when we have a TARP program, it needs to be available to folks on Main Street? He was for the automotive bailout.
Cruz: And, you know, I’m curious, did– did Barack Obama say any of that?
Reed: He– he was for that. No, no.
Cruz: Did the Democrats say any of that?
Reed: The Democrats did not. But I tell you what, we’re not walking around talking about a guy who has a career doing something completely different. He has a budget that doesn’t balance, and he’s– he claims that he’s a budget balancer. He’s using supply-side economics. They have a 20 percent tax policy that’s a five-trillion-dollar tax cut….
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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30 comments Add your comment
dd
August 19th, 2012
8:06 pm
and the point of this article is??? What, that’s he’s almost 10% as bad as the idiot in chief who is running against him? Seriously? How much deficit has been run up since Obama was elected? And we are back talking about the Bush years?
Seriously…get over it. The past 3 years have been a debacle. That’s like saying Mussolini was almost as bad as hitler…. not even close.
Jake
August 19th, 2012
8:07 pm
Yep. Kasim Reed. Isn’t he the same guy that put his political capital on the line telling everyone how important T SPLOST is ? With no remaining political credibility, it is a little surprising that he will still go out in public. It is a good thing that recall in Georgia is so difficult, because that cabinet job in the second Obama administration looks REAL doubtful right about now.
Lantern
August 19th, 2012
8:08 pm
TSplost – fail, beltline – off track, HJIA vendor contracts – fail (ethics reform and transparency – hilarious). How about taking care of your backyard???
Lantern
August 19th, 2012
8:14 pm
BTW, this is the same person who kicked the can down the road on the sewer system and infrastructure, takes the dollars and spends them on everything else. Well guess what people that surplus that’s being talked about doesn’t exist!!! – fail.
earache
August 19th, 2012
8:39 pm
I thought Kasim was great today, especially since Gregory didn’t push back when Cruz was praising Ryan as a great fiscal conservative. And Cruz’s lame reply (”he’s been serious about TALKING about these issues”) almost made me spit up my coffee from laughing.
Phil
August 19th, 2012
9:11 pm
It’s a mixed bag. Paul Ryan deserves credit for putting a forth a plan (any plan!) in the midst of a drought of proposals. At the time, nobody in Washington had the courage to even put down on paper a potential solution. The Senate still hasn’t produced a budget which is an epic failure of leadership.
His votes do matter though. Ryan was one of a select few leaders who served on the Simpson Bowles Commission and he voted against it! What a shame!
fairburn1
August 19th, 2012
10:06 pm
Did yall watch the Video. Looks to me like Kasim Reed kicked some ass!
ht
August 19th, 2012
10:11 pm
This is a Liberal article trying to find or dig up something bad about Ryan. Bottom line is Obama has failed as leader of this country for the past 4 years and it is time for change. I don’t like any politicians but Ryan has been different and has offered change that is desperately needed for America. Even if the Romney and Ryan ticket produce 10% of what they promise it is 10% more than what Obama has accomplished for America and I will vote for that.
Drew
August 19th, 2012
10:18 pm
This is simple. When Paul Ryan and the Republican Party wanted to establish a new entitlement – Medicare Part D, which cost $500 billion over ten years – they didn’t bother to pay for it. At all.
When Barack Obama and the Democratic Party wanted to establish a new entitlement – Obamacare, which cost under $1 trillion over ten years – they raised the revenue to pay for it.
The Republican Party does indeed “talk” about responsible budgeting. But they don’t actually do it. They didn’t pay for Bush’s tax cuts. They didn’t pay for Afghanistan. They didn’t pay for Iraq. They didn’t pay for Medicare Part D. They put every one of those on credit.
And as they are Republicans, Romney and Ryan will do exactly the same if they’re elected: they’ll raise more debt so they can give more money to rich men like . . . Mitt Romney.
Bernie
August 19th, 2012
10:46 pm
Mayor REED, May I remind You…You are the MAYOR of the City Of Atlanta. Within the past (2) weeks “THOUSANDS” of Atlanta’s most innocent citizens, Children and their Parents were told by The uncaring Administration Of The Atlanta Public School System, ” If your child lives (1) ONE MILE or less from the school they attend. The beginning of this school YEAR , they will not have school BUS service available for them.”
This UNWISE decision meant that many children of the ages of 6yrs old through 17
yrs. would be forced to walk to school or get there the best they can. Including the COLD, RAIN and the gauntlet of speeding and careless drivers daily. Not to mention the extremely high numbers of KNOWN SEX OFFENDERS and untold numbers of UNKNOWN SEX OFFENDERS that reside all around them! To add to that equation, a string of VACANT and foreclosed homes and Buildings they must past to and from school.
At “NO TIME” did any of their parents hear a WORD from YOU or your OFFICE!
However, You have found the time to go on National Television to spout your self adorned WISDOM, about our Nations Political climate and its myriad of problems.
Do you not SEE? The IRONY of such a decision!
The many concerned Citizens and Voters of Atlanta, find such a DERELICTION OF DUTY………. OFFENSIVE to its VERY CORE!
Your downward spiral of LACK of Confidence in Leadership…Continues, to leave a LOT to BE said about YOU and your Administration.
I would say that YOU owe these Children and their Parents a HEARTFELT APOLOGY for your actions.
oldfart
August 19th, 2012
10:54 pm
So if we take Reed’s idea of fiscal responsibility to a national scale he would want us to tax our surrounding countries to support our own infrastructure.
Bernie
August 19th, 2012
11:22 pm
Seems to Me that the GOOD MAYOR”S Heart and interest is to become a High Powered WASHINGTON insider, than it is to be Mayor Of The City Of Atlanta.
Mayor Reed’s concern of all of the “PESKY LITTLE THINGS” of the “small minded” people of Atlanta, are not able to see how much his INTELLIGENCE is needed there instead of Addressing the many problems and concerns of the citizens of ATLANTA!
Things like the Beltline expense reports….which he is an active BOARD MEMBER. Surely that alone says, he had access to the fact that Taxpayer’s money was being spent UNWISELY.
Then, we have the case of Atlanta’s children not receiving any support either in writing or through a spokesperson. Yet, prior too and during the APS school BOARD Member fiasco and as well as the cheating scandal, we could not SHUT HIM UP!
If, any MAYOR of Atlanta is not DESERVING of a SECOND TERM!
That very unique DISTINCTION, goes to the Honorable Mayor Kasim Reed.
mehlman rings twice
August 20th, 2012
3:51 am
Vote for Romney because all businesses deserve to file for bankruptcy protection, fire their employees, and set up shop in China.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 20th, 2012
7:14 am
Atlanta, the New Jerusalem, is the future of a restored holy and righteous America.
Good job, Mr. Mayor.
Bush and Cheney must hang for 9/11, and their Roman Anti-Christ Rockefeller-Bush Fed Scam “Big Oil” Roman Catholic CIA/FBI Fifth Column – Roman Catholics Ryan’s and Cruz’s satanic overlord – must be fully expropriated and extirpated, their 9/11-abetting Talmudic Khazarite Zionists expelled.
G-d is not mocked. Truth and Justice must rule alone in America, the People – Black and White Gentiles unchained – sovereign.
Death for Treason
Edmund Ruffin
August 20th, 2012
7:20 am
So, Ryan is a ‘late comer’ to fiscal responsibility? Better than being a ‘never comer’ as the dems are. I’ll take Ryan and the Republicans big government over the communistic and fascist democrats government.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 20th, 2012
7:37 am
Mayor Reed was being overly gentle: Ryan is a profound hypocrite, in keeping with his perverse, satanic culture, identified as “the real Anti-Christ,” “an engine for enslaving mankind,” by America’s Founder, a prophet of G-d, Thomas Jefferson.
Those who submit their offspring to priestly molestation will, of course, “disagree.”
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 20th, 2012
7:55 am
@”Edmund Ruffin, Nice “touch” using as a fake name that of an anti-Roman Catholic Southerner to try to convince yourself you’re part of the American South, while actually a minion of the Fifth Column of the Roman Anti-Christ whose symbol, the Fasces, your co-religionists nailed to the front wall of the U.S. House once their cannon-fodder had vanquished the South.
We came here to escape your Ancien Regime and Babylonian priesthood’s culture in receiving in covenant from the Creator direct this Promised Land your ilk is usurping through such zombies as Ryan and Romney, not that CIA-creation Obama is any better, but at least his color makes it appear we’re still the Promised Land “into which all nations of the world shall flow.”
are you all serious?
August 20th, 2012
11:39 am
Reed always talks big when the cameras are rolling on the national stage. He’s vying for a spot. These guys crave power and it’s that big Willy talk bravado that people are drawn to. He’s right though Ryan is a spend now, tell you he’s a fiscal conservative, think about how we’ll pay for it later kind a guy. Just like all of them. Mittens put him on the ticket to make it a tad bit more palletable to vote for them in the fall. OBAMA 2012.
Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
August 20th, 2012
12:03 pm
Baloney: Romney/Ryan is just a foil to get the unpalatable Obama, an obvious creation of the CIA who gulled us into thinking he’d hang Bush and Cheney for 9/11 but continued and enhanced all their satanic activities, re-elected beyond what the computers can’t rig.
ScottNATL
August 20th, 2012
1:12 pm
Reed clean Cruz’s clock…and the look on Peggy Noonan’s face WAS priceless because she knew Kasim Reed had kicked some tail. Cruz was obviously flustered and caught off guard…hard to play in the big leagues Mr Cruz
LI
August 20th, 2012
2:00 pm
The Mayor is doing a GREAT job! He is doing what any great leader would do, he stands up in times of conflict and controversy. I am behind the Mayor and the city of Atlanta 100%! The Mayor is doing what any GREAT leader would do, they speak up and give a voice to a cause that they truly believe in. In regards to APS, you cannot blame the Mayor or question the Mayor in regards to a cheating scandal where individual teachers and administrators cheated the students. The Mayor is the Mayor, not the savior for the school system! Parent’s serve as a child’s first educational foundation and if that support is weak, then you have a child that is behind in the race. Get off the Mayor’s back and be apart of the solution and stop complaining about things you have no control over.
Respectfully,
A Genuine Supporter
TRU
August 20th, 2012
2:09 pm
In regards to Meet the Press, the Mayor demolished Ted Cruz. That was to easy…. whose next? See you all at the DNC! Charlotte here we come!!!
Bernie
August 20th, 2012
2:39 pm
In thinking of my comments from Last night, Maybe I was being too tough on the MAYOR. However, in retrospect after viewing his Meet the Press showing, I came to this determination. Mayor REED is a Policy MAKER and a Legislator at heart. You can see that point, was made clear from his performance on Meet The Press yesterday. Being Mayor is not a good match for his style of Leadership.
This is not what the citizens of Atlanta need or desire at this time as a Mayor. The People of Atlanta needs a NUTS & BOLTS type of Leadership for this City. Someone, they can count on to get the small things done. The things that make or break the operation of this CITY. with that being said I, still stand by my initial comment!
Bernie
August 20th, 2012
2:48 pm
LI @ 2:00 pm – Pray tell, why is that You cannot blame the Mayor or question the Mayor in regards to a cheating scandal where individual teachers and administrators cheated the students.
We cannot Question the MAYOR? When did Atlanta become RUSSIA?
You mean to Say that he can not protect THE CHILDREN of ATLANTA TOO? Is He
also unable to come out and even make a STATEMENT of SUPPORT to insure the safety of ATLANTA’s Children. Could he not PRETEND that HE CARES?
Could he have not made a request from the ATLANTA POLICE CHIEF to get involved in supervising WALKING ROUTES?
So we are to JUST SIT DOWN SHUT UP and GET OFF OF THE MAYOR”S BACK Because he has failed in HIS LEADERSHIP as MAYOR?
This is even more of a reason why he does NOT NEED TO BE re-elected..
Your Comments OFFEND the MANY hard working “VOTING” citizens and PARENTS of this GREAT CITY.
Atlanta NEEDS and DESERVES better Leadership……PERIOD!
LI
August 20th, 2012
3:58 pm
Bernie, I NEVER said dont question the Mayor. You VOTE and pay taxes, by all means say what you mean and mean what you say! The policies in regards to APS BUS POLICY were policies that were already in place and ERROL DAVIS made sure they were implemented!! I dont believe any human being with decency would want any child to be injured or harmed due to lack of transportation. What type or “LEADERSHIP” would you like BERNIE? I DO NOT APOLOGIZE for “OFFENDING” you. Atlanta NEEDS and DESERVES better LEADERSHIP….that line was CUTE!!! You are more than welcome to make a trip to put your name in the hat for election in 2013! You can be on the ballot with Vincent Fort, Mary Norwood and Derrick Boazman!
LI
August 20th, 2012
4:08 pm
Bernie, when you win in 2013, what will you stand for? Let’s start the campaigning now….
Raquel Morris
August 20th, 2012
4:49 pm
Paul Ryan might be a late-comer to fiscal responsibility, but Kasim Reed is a late-comer to code enforcement, providing city services and running the airport without cronyism.
Bernie
August 20th, 2012
9:04 pm
LI @ 3:58 pm – I would suggest a re-reading of my post for a better and clearer understanding. The polices of MR. Davis were wrong and misguided on all levels. Mayor Reed failed to speak out publicly on that decision and its implementation.
The failure in Mayor Reed’s Leadership on Behalf of the many families and children throughout Atlanta, has proven beyond a shadow that we can no longer vote for and support a politician who has failed them, so monumentally.
Mayor Reed and his Administration may be of the opinion, this was just another insignificant issue. However, he is sadly mistaken in his understanding of the offense that he has made.
If, I had to express an opinion of whom I think is the NEXT best candidate for the City of Atlanta, I would say its MS. Norwood. She has the background, and the established intricate relationships more than anyone to provide the necessary Leadership to move this City forward. I want to say, I have no connection personally or otherwise to this endorsement. This is just an observation of a long term citizen of Atlanta, that have observed over the years, the contentious and incompetent political process that has been going on for years in The City Of Atlanta.
Its PAST Time for a CHANGE!
This is Not to say that Rep.Fort or Mr.Bozeman is not capable and they ARE! Its just at this time, they do not have the support of the Business community and as well as our wealthier neighbors North of I-20. In order to move this city forward those two important groups are needed, to help ALL of US make The City of Atlanta to be what it should be in 2013 and going forward.
Bernie
August 20th, 2012
9:07 pm
LI @3:58 pm – The statement of Atlanta NEEDS and DESERVES better LEADERSHIP…is not just a line….ITS THE TRUTH!
Bernie
August 20th, 2012
9:12 pm
correction:
LI @ 3:58 pm – I would suggest a re-reading of my post for a better and clearer understanding. The polices of MR. Davis were wrong and misguided on all levels. Mayor Reed failed to speak out publicly on that decision and its implementation.
The failure in Mayor Reed’s Leadership on Behalf of the many families and children throughout Atlanta, has proven beyond a shadow of dooubt, we can no longer vote for and support a politician who has failed the citizens, so monumentally.
Mayor Reed and his Administration may be of the opinion, this was just another insignificant issue. However, he is sadly mistaken in his understanding of the offense he has made.
If, I had to express an opinion of whom I think is the NEXT best candidate for the City of Atlanta, I would say its MS. Norwood. She has the background, and the established intricate relationships more than anyone to provide the necessary Leadership to move this City forward. I want to say, I have no connection personally or otherwise to this endorsement. This is just an observation of a long term citizen of Atlanta, that have observed over the years, the contentious and incompetent political process that has been going on for years in The City Of Atlanta.
Its PAST Time for a CHANGE!
This is Not to say tRep.Fort or Mr.Bozeman are not capable and they ARE! Its just at this time, they do not have the support of the Business community and as well as our wealthier neighbors, North of I-20. In order to move this city forward those two important groups are needed, to help ALL of US make The City of Atlanta to be what it should be in 2013 and going forward.