Paul Ryan "OMG"

[avonjax]

I love this article because it's so true.

Paul Ryan once said that the reason he got into public service was because he had been inspired by Ayn Rand. But as anyone who is even superficially familiar with the late libertarian knows, Rand’s philosophy left no room for “public service.” She envisioned a place in which government does not exist, where the weak are left to struggle on their own, and society is propelled forward by the John Galts of the world, or as Ryan calls them, “job creators.” Of course, for all of Rand’s philosophical broadsides against government, she had no qualms about collecting Medicare and Social Security benefits.

In truth, this hypocrisy is about the only similarity between Ryan and Rand. To say that Ayn Rand inspired him to become a public servant is tantamount to Ryan admitting that he does not actually believe in public service, except to the extent that he wants to reduce the number of services provided to the public. Though this understanding of the idea is odd, it is not necessarily a contradiction. If Ryan really believes the public is best served by a government that is limited in its powers and scopeâ€"as most Republicans claim to believeâ€"then so be it.

But what does Ryan’s record indicate?

Based on what mainstream pundits are saying, Paul Ryan is either a bold choice with a grand vision to fix the country’s dire fiscal problems, or a radical Tea Party ideologue who wants to push America’s grannies off a cliff.

Both assessments are wrong.

Paul Ryan isn’t bold, and he’s no more of an extremist than Mitt Romney. Instead, Paul Ryan is your basic pro-bank bailout, anti-civil liberties, warmongering politician who wants to finance tax cuts for the wealthy by slashing social programs. Subsequently, Ryan has the temerity to insist that we, all of us, need to have an “adult conversation” about the state of the country’s finances, as if the American public, and not Ryan, has been the one exploding the national debt with votes in favor of the Afghanistan war, the Iraq war, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act that was essentially $500 billion taxpayer-funded giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry, among other boondoggles.

In the end, Ryan’s record won’t be all that impactful because his positions mirror those of Romney’s on most major issues. The media is so desperate for new angles in this intolerably boring race between Obama and Romney, that they’re eager to portray Paul Ryan as a radical departure from business as usual, but in fact Paul Ryan is business as usual.

[avonjax]

Wow! Ryans speech at the RNC is making me sick. He is so insincere I could vomit.
When he said all Obama's ads were negative attacks I laughed out loud. That is all Romney's have been. Of course peppered with lies.
By the way the other side is not totally innocent.
If the GOP takes the White House the Dems had  better be as obstructionist as the Republicans have been.
No compromise EVER!
The Dems should make it their goal to get the loser Republican out in 4 years.
The same crap was said about Medicare by the way.

[avonjax]

And that loser is talking about Obama care taking money out of Medicare, as if he gives a crap, and putting IT in Obamacare. EVERYONE WITH A FREAKIN' BRAIN IN THEIR IDIOTIC HEAD KNOWS THIS IS A LIE.  The Dems need to blast them to bits for continuing perpetrating that proven LIE!

[avonjax]

He is talking about protecting Medicare not raiding it. He is so freakin's smug.

[avonjax]

The truth is the chances of the Affordable care act being repealed very slim.

[avonjax]

I like the fact that Paul Ryan's wealth came from his wife's family. Wow
That's a hard way to get rich.

[avonjax]

I have decided that the Republicans are just power hungry little kids. And they are mad they are not in control.

[avonjax]

I really don't see how the Republicans are going to create jobs any faster by the way. Big corporations are only going to hire who they need. Major corporations like Best Buy are on fragile ground which will eliminate thousands of jobs if they go and more large companies could follow. If a large bank fails the Republicans promise to let it go. No matter the ripple effect.  Talk about the "trickle down" effect.  How will the Republican's allow taxes to be collected from internet sales?  They have vowed no taxes. They insist on deregulation at any cost. They want to continue to cut taxes at any cost. They live in a dream world that will implode them if they don't take a harder look.
Now Ryan is talking about all the great things Romney has done in business. Sure by raping companies and outsourcing. Costing thousands of jobs.

[avonjax]

Would one of the Republicans out there tell me what they mean when they say they believe in more freedom. Freedom for what? I don't get it.

[buckethead]

Its not.

In the sane and normal universe, it would be called a reallocation for greater efficiency.

In the Romneyverse, its a cut.

I think I am starting to understand who some of our resident MJ posters are.

As far as this point goes, 700B (+/-) in "cuts" to medicare going to other resources, amounts to ... wait for it...


700B in cuts to medicare. We could say that those particular cuts are going to be made by eliminating fraud, waste and abuse if it helps to make the statement feel more realistic, but if you are a Medicare beneficiary, or provider, these are real cuts. Medicare part D beneficiaries will like it. So will Pharmacies and Big Pharma.

It is not tantamount to cuts in overall healthcare expenditures but it is a cut to Medicare expenditures. More opiates, please?

[buckethead]

Avon, I would recommend a cease and desist on watching the RNC Convention. Do you really hope to gain any knowledge from it? Do you enjoy being outraged?

I do however, recommend that you watch the DNC using the same level of scrutiny (BS filters on their "high" setting) as you are using here.

Note the platitudes. (Freedom, in this case) Platitudes are utterly useless except as a means of evoking false hope.

Review the list of Obama/Bush Campaign donors.

Review policy enactments from Bush and Obama.

Consider honestly any similarities and differences.

Have a look-see at the Romney campaign donor list.

opensecrets.org

(A lil help)

Share with us what you find.

[Captain Zissou]

Avon, please save rants like the one above for your personal diary and not a community forum.  At least there everyone will think you know what you're talking about.

[carpnter]

Avon, please save rants like the one above for your personal diary and not a community forum.  At least there everyone will think you know what you're talking about.

Agreed

[avonjax]

If you noticed I posted about Ryan while he was on. I was just giving my commentary of his smugness.
Buckethead you are wrong about the cuts. Period!
And accusing people of knowing what they are talking about is the usual accusation of the other side.
By the way I know both parties sling their share of crap.
I just agree with the progressive side way more.

[finehoe]

Avon, please save rants like the one above for your personal diary and not a community forum.  At least there everyone will think you know what you're talking about.

Agreed

Avon started the thread.  Don't read it if it offends your delicate sensibilities.