by Les Schreiber
Last Saturday the Republicans completed their ticket by giving the nomination for vice president to the intellectual father of their party, Paul Ryan, a congressman from Wisconsin. The scene in Norfolk was full of military references and took place in front of a ship that looked like it was poised for combat. You would have thought that the Republican ticket was comprised of Generals Dwight Eisenhower and U.S. Grant. The current Republican nominees have interesting backgrounds when it comes to the military. Despite their bellicose rhetoric on the Iranian problem, neither man served in the military. Both qualify for the Dick Cheney-led Chicken Hawk Wing of the Republican Party.
When Mitts’ peers were either fighting or dying in Vietnam or protesting to end that tragic war, Mitt did neither. He was on a “mission in France” for his church. As he pedaled through Provence perhaps he was seeking the souls of those victimized by the famous Vel d’Hip round up of August 20, 1941 when Jews were arrested by the French police, kept in a bicycle-racing stadium in Paris, and then sent to extermination camps. This year, some members of Mitt’s church have baptized Holocaust victims Ann Franck, and Simon Weisenthal, among others. Most find this practice of “converting” people after their death as a disgusting lack of respect for the Jewish religion. We await Mitt’s condemnation.
Paul Ryan proves his pro-military mettle by refusing to cut the Defense budget. In his “magnum opus”, a Path to Prosperity, Paul states that “military spending is not a driver of the debt.” Funny, I learned in Accounting that all debits and credits were equal. Paul, in his self-proclaimed brilliance in matters economic and financial, has changed the rules of double-entry Accounting.
What makes this Cheesehead’s position even more interesting is his lack of justification for his proposed spending levels. There is no analysis of potential threats, no discussion of whether of the current force structure containesthe proper tools to meet those and not one idea to make the military more efficient. Paul believes that a big Army is proof enough of national strength. The last group that had a similar mind-set was the Politburo of the old Soviet Union. And we all know what a strong economy they left behind.
“Mr. Economics” seems conflicted about the use of a sequester to balance the budget. According to Ryan, the budget sequester contained in last year’s Budget Control Act is a bad thing. But on page 72 of this new Republican Bible, one of his solutions to control spending by capping it is enforced by, of all things, a sequester. I guess for people as smart as this guy, consistency is not a virtue. So many ideas, so many Tea Party members to pander to.
In his budget plan, the Republicans’ new Adam Smith writes a lot about cronyism and corporate welfare without giving any specific examples. He argues that Dodd-Frank has “solidified Government control of Wall Street at the expense of tax payers” but offers no plan to break up these bank s into smaller units that would not threaten the economy should they fail. This financial guru never speaks of the role of financial futures, credit default swaps, or collateralized mortgage obligations. And what, if any, regulations should apply to these instruments. It seems that actually understanding how contemporary finance works and what type of structure is needed to prevents a recurrence of the problems of 2008-2009 wasn’t covered in Paul’s plan. I guess the editors of the latest edition of Atlas Shrugged eliminated that chapter.
Mr. Ryan broadly attacks student loans, blaming this program for the huge increase in college tuition. He cites the work of two University of Oregon economists. In fact, the study by Drs. Singell and Stone, shows that the Pell Grant program has had no effect at in-state tuition at in-state universities, and a small effect for out-of-state students at public universities. As an economist, Paul should know that increasing the skill level and academic achievement of the general populace is the cornerstone of maintaining private-sector productivity.These programs help reduce structural unemployment by matching skill level with private-sector demands. I guess that Paul fell asleep and did not finish the chapter on productivity.
A brief reading of the Ryan Plan indicates that it is not economics at all but an ideological polemic designed to please the Club for Growth and other mindless plutocrats at the far-end of the political spectrum.
C’mon, Les! Are you seriously calling Paul Ryan a “chicken hawk” because Mitt Romney didn’t fight in the Vietnam War? The guy was born in 1970. He was three years old when the U.S. pulled out from ‘Nam.
Let me follow your logic here. The fact that he never served in the military disqualifies him from making pronouncements on the subject of Iran. Did you serve in the Peace Corps? If not, does that disqualify you from pontificating about Third World poverty? Did you ever start a small business? If not, does that disqualify you from pontificating about the entrepreneurial economy? Were you ever a tax advisor? If not, does that disqualify you from pontificating about tax policy?
Excellent commentary! The selection of Ryan is going to invite an in-depth review of his philosophies and his actions and rightly so.
I’m impressed but puzzled with his selection if the goal of Romney was to peel off enough of the middle voters in the battleground states to take enough of those states away from Obama.
I’m impressed because Romney has gone into the political frying pan.
I’m puzzled because in one stroke – he has made the election about Ryan and what Ryan stands for which I “thought” was NOT center or even center-right.
It certainly appears that Romney and company believe the country as a whole has shifted right with the GOP and can win with Ryan.
I’m skeptical but they do have a better shot at it that they did with Pallin.
Yes, Paul Ryan is a pale and shallow comparison to the Democratic candidate for Vice President, Joe Biden.
Bird Brain Biden recently told a group of supporters in Danville, VA that, with their help, the Democrats can win North Carolina again this year.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2012/aug/14/picketvideo-biden-says-we-can-win-north-carolina-w/
Joe Biden is a blithering fool and an embarrassment to the United States of America.
Whether you like what Paul Ryan says or not, he is intelligent, articulate and thoughtful – a far cry from the Democratic candidate for VP.
DJ -you listen to FAUX News and their blog-alikes too much guy. Joe Biden does do “gaffs” but he clearly resonates with the Democratic Base and I predict he will wipe the floor with Ryan in their debate.
And I also predict that NC is not automatically lost to the GOP – that it is “in play” once folks in NC get to “know” Mr. Ryan and his “ideas”.
Let’s try again.
Paul Ryan is the Republican VP nominee. Joe Biden is the Democratic VP nominee.
People pillory Ryan because they don’t like his views on America’s economy. People rail against Biden because he is dim witted.
Which is better to have one heart beat from the presidency – a man with whom you disagree on economic issues or a man who doesn’t know what state he’s in when he speaks in Danville, VA?
It’s time to compare apples to apples. VP candidate to VP candidate. You may disagree with Ryan but Biden is an absolute embarrassment.
As for Fox news – they don’t manufacture the videos of Biden speaking. Biden does that all by himself.
Here is a video of Biden forgetting what century we are in:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/biden-folks-wheres-it-written-we-cant-lead-world-20th-century_650017.html
First he doesn’t know what state he’s in and now he doesn’t know what century it is.
LarryG -
Pat attention. Biden told a group of Virginians that with their help, he and Obama can win North Carolina. He didn’t know what state he was in.
Joe Biden, for all his quirks, stays out of the way. The Democratic ticket, both in ’08 and today, is the Obama ticket. The Presidential candidate is the draw. Romney, on the other hand, has picked his VP nomination to be the feature act. He picked someone to be the charisma, to be the idealogue. Reminds me a lot of McCain’s strategy in ’08. Not saying it’s right, not saying it’s wrong, only pointing out that Romney is going to be continually upstaged by his junior for the foreseeable future, and something tells me deemphasizing the lead of your ticket is a risky idea.
Neil – If Biden were Al Gore I wouldn’t have any complaints. Although I often disagreed with Gore during his tenure as VP I always thought he would be a competent president.
Joe Biden is not competent to be president of the United States. He would not be a capable president of the United States. The fact that Obama chose a man incapable of being president as his running mate illustrates a severe lack of judgement on the part of Barack Obama.
yep, we agree. Romney pulled a Pallin Lite! We know the GOP base likes it. The question is what do independent/middle voters think of it.
Giuliani is right – Biden lacks the mental capacity to be president of the United States.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/314016/giuliani-wonders-whether-biden-has-mental-capacity-presidency-robert-costa
I’ll take Biden, gaffs and all with his vision of how America should work than right-wing ideologues who hew to Ayn Rand’s views.
Ryan voted for tax cuts, Medicare Part D, two wars and both the bank and auto bailouts – with no way to pay for them.
Now he wants to play hide and seek with his record – which is going to come out.
He is no fiscal conservative. He is a right-wing ideologue who believes in big govt involved in women’s lives and big govt spending for DOD.
When people find out who he really is, I predict he’s going to be like a skunk to a picnic except for his right-wing lovers.
Once again, the Obama Campaign “screwed the pooch”. When Ryan was announced, they should have said, “VP is a side-show. This race is, first and foremost, a contest between the ideas and qualifications of Barack Obama and the ideas and qualifications of Mitt Romney.”.
But … the Obama Campaign was too arrogant, stupid, whatever to come out with that strategy.
Instead, they piled on Paul Ryan which brought out the very reasonable question of Ryan vs Biden.
Now, they have to explain Joe Biden.
Obama, et al have been completely out maneuvered in this matter.
Even Democrats are now openly worried about Joe Biden.
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/314081/trouble-joe-john-fund
DJ – the Democratic base has NO PROBLEM with Biden. You’re citing yet another right wing publication as your source. Why?
here are some of their other “objective” news:
Paul Ryan’s Mentor
He is the heir of Jack Kemp
THE WELFARE STATE
Out of Work
The real meaning of the welfare waivers.
Obama’s Mantra
Blaming Bush despite the facts.
Once again, you choose right-wing publications even as you spout pro-tax views… weird.
LarryG:
I doubt Joe Biden knows how to read. However, I have always assumed that you know how to read.
“In the Washington Post yesterday, Alexandra Petri discussed “the trouble with Joe” and took the VP to task for “periodically alarming outbursts” that are unbecoming of the second-highest office in the land. “He inspires the sort of discomfort one feels upon introducing one’s fiancé to Grandpa after he has had a Scotch too many,” Petri scolded. “His cringe-inducing gaffes . . . inspire less anger than embarrassment.”.
Is the Washington Post a right wing publication?
“Once again, you choose right-wing publications even as you spout pro-tax views… weird.”.
Because, unlike you, I am not a sheep? I don’t pledge allegiance to either the Democratic or Republican Parties?
Having a dim-wit one heartbeat away from the presidency is a problem. This has nothing to do with taxes.
Joe Biden graduated #506 in his class of 688 at the University of Delaware. He flunked a law school class for plagiarizing 5 of 15 pages in a paper he submitted.
This is the Democrats’ candidate to be one heartbeat away from the presidency.
Now, Paul Ryan is a governor.
This is one campaign step in Virginia:
1. Biden calls Virginia North Carolina
2. Biden declares that we are living in the last center
3. Biden makes Paul Ryan a governor
I haven’t even mentioned the racist “they’ll put y’all back in chains” quote.
Are you liberals really sure you want to draw attention to the VP side of the ticket?
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/biden-refers-ryan-governor
Hey LarryG -
Here’s another member of the media (Wolf Blitzer) trying to get a Democratic Congresswoman and Chair of the DNC to admit that Ryan’s Medicare plan does not change benefits for those Americans presently 55 and older.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5NJF5Fcvmg
What is it about you liberals that makes acknowledging the truth so very, very difficult?
more right-wing talking points from a guy who supports higher taxes.
Ryan does not change benefits for folks older than 55 but you were talking about Joe Biden’s gaffs using right wing talking points.
so now you switch to Medicare?
Let’s talk about Ryan’s budget and when it actually reaches balance. When?
and the 55 argument is as disingenuous as they come. The wolf is at the door here and Ryan is wearing a grandmother outfit.
You can reform Medicare instead of converting it to a voucher system.
You can guarantee the elderly access to health care even if it’s not everything they want (or need) but that’s far better than giving them a voucher and no insurance company will take it. That’s why Ryan backed down on it and said they could buy Original Medicare with their voucher.
the man is a right wing ideologue that DJ, the pro-tax guy is supporting and why not, Ryan himself helped Bush drive the country into the ditch with tax cuts while they fought two wars, passed medicare Part D and bailed out Wall Street and the auto companies. The man is no fiscal conservative – he’s masquerading as a Tea Pot than DJ – the pro gas tax guy – supports apparently.
tsk tsk
Oh… and on transportation – Ryan wants to CUT the transportation budget and use Tolls… did ya know that?
what is all of this stuff about Biden? I can assure you that the Dem base is fine with him and that the man has tons more foreign policy expertise than either of the right-wing wannabies do.
I’ll take Biden any day over Ryan as one step from the Presidency. And voters had absolutely no problem picking him over Pallin – who by the way basically agrees with and vice versa virtually every position that Ryan holds.
So in Ryan, you have Pallin as one of his biggest supporters. wow!
“sheep”? ha ha ha
“sheep” is voting for Romney because he selected Ryan while at the same time being a pro-tax kind of guy.
how does that work DJ?
the most amazing thing to me is that both Ryan and Romney believe they can just lie out their butts on the Medicare issue and that no one will find out.
Here’s the truth about Obama “cutting” Medicare:
“In an interview on the CBS program 60 Minutes, Mitt Romney said Obama “robbed Medicare” of $716 billion to pay for “Obamacare.” We found that exaggerated what Obama had done in the health care law.
While the health care law reduces the amount of future spending growth in Medicare, the law doesn’t actually cut Medicare. Savings come from reducing money that goes to private insurers who provide Medicare Advantage programs, among other things. The money wasn’t “robbed.” We rated the statement Mostly False.”
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2012/aug/15/checking-facts-700-billion-medicare-cut/
so Romney/Ryan basically are continuing to play sound-bite politics.
here’s the question:
“You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” -
— Abraham Lincoln
Lame is the best word you can put on the Romney/Ryan Medicare “spin”.
Keep believing what Obama says, LarryG:
Of all the promises Obama made in the last campaign:
1. He claims he accomplished 60%,
2. In fact, he accomplished 30% with another 9% listed as compromises
In other words, despite controlling Congress for two of the three years in question, Obama either lied about or could not accomplish 71% of what he promised.
A 61% fraud rate, LarryG.
Keep listening to the man this time, Larry.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/nov/01/barack-obama/barack-obama-says-60-percent-his-promises-are-done/
All politicians make promises – and many cannot be kept if Congress disagrees.
what is this REALLY about? Answer: more right wing talking points?
notice the promises not kept – close Gitmo, create a foreclosure prevention fund, tougher rules for retired Congress lobbying,
want an honest score card? http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/
the more salient point here is HOW we got to a 15 trillion deficit and HOW we’d move to a balanced budget and when and if you want to talk about whoppers – listen to Mr. Ryan and his “promises”. Ask Mr. Ryan WHEN his budget will reach balance and how and you won’t have to wait to find out because he admits it won’t reach balance for 20 years and is so unrealistic than even CBO thinks it not serious.
here’s how we got to the deficit: http://goo.gl/osbQF
Mr. Ryan voted for two wars without funding them, Medicare Part D without funding it, a bank bailout and an auto bailout and NOW, he’s a “fiscal conservative” who has signed the Norquest anti-tax pledge? ha ha ha
we could save a lot of time if you admit this now.
but what is this all about DJ? It seem to be about you are already deciding to vote for the GOP – and now are just spouting right-wing talking points like the Biden tripe? Is that because the right is terrified that Biden will eviscerate Ryan, gaffs and all?
But the really odd part here is that you have a stated belief in higher taxes and yet you supporting two guys who promise to cut taxes even more …and you are keeping track of promises kept?
why bother, when you already know the answer?
I love a debate on the merits but the right wing talking points – like those about Biden are just downright comical.
All politicians make promises – and many cannot be kept if Congress disagrees.
what is this REALLY about? Answer: more right wing talking points?
notice the promises not kept – close Gitmo, create a foreclosure prevention fund, tougher rules for retired Congress lobbying,
want an honest score card? http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/
…continued
the more salient point here is HOW we got to a 15 trillion deficit and HOW we’d move to a balanced budget and when and if you want to talk about whoppers – listen to Mr. Ryan and his “promises”. Ask Mr. Ryan WHEN his budget will reach balance and how and you won’t have to wait to find out because he admits it won’t reach balance for 20 years and is so unrealistic than even CBO thinks it not serious.
here’s how we got to the deficit: http://goo.gl/osbQF
continued
Mr. Ryan voted for two wars without funding them, Medicare Part D without funding it, a bank bailout and an auto bailout and NOW, he’s a “fiscal conservative” who has signed the Norquest anti-tax pledge? ha ha ha
we could save a lot of time if you admit this now.
but what is this all about DJ? It seem to be about you are already deciding to vote for the GOP – and now are just spouting right-wing talking points like the Biden tripe? Is that because the right is terrified that Biden will eviscerate Ryan, gaffs and all?
But the really odd part here is that you have a stated belief in higher taxes and yet you supporting two guys who promise to cut taxes even more …and you are keeping track of promises kept?
why bother, when you already know the answer?
I love a debate on the merits but the right wing talking points – like those about Biden are just downright comical.
admit it DJ – you have already made up your mind and now are just spouting talking points.
“Mr. Ryan voted for two wars without funding them, Medicare Part D without funding it, a bank bailout and an auto bailout…”.
And Obama became president with his party in control of both houses of Congress and he changed all that, right?
He immediately put America’s financial house in order and cut the deficit, right?
He’s been president three and one half years, LarryG. The deficit has never been higher. Obama promised that passing his multi-stimulus package would put America on the road to recovery. He told us that unemployment would be 6 percent or so by now if his stimuli were passed.
They were passed.
Unemployment is 8.3%.
Your pals have failed. Time to try something new.
I saw a great bumper sticker last night:
“In 2008 I voted for Obama to prove I’m not racist. In 2012 I will vote for Romney to prove I’m not stupid”.
Words to live by, LarryG.
Are Romney and Ryan deficit hawks?
Not according to Grover Norquist:
” But Ryan’s views are at odds with those of Norquist and other budget hawks, who argue that defense budgets can be trimmed. Ryan’s budget plan provides for increasing military spending and doesn’t suggest any tradeoff or specific defense reforms.
“Other people need to lead the argument on how can conservatives lead a fight to have a serious national defense without wasting money,” Norquist said. “I wouldn’t ask Ryan to be the reformer of the defense establishment.”
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/08/13/grover_norquist_ryan_romney_wrong_on_defense_budgets?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+foreignpolicy/thecable+%28The+Cable%29
I know you find this confusing, LarryG, but try to follow along …
I don’t care if they are deficit hawks. I don’t care what Grover Norquist thinks.
Here’s the question: Who are better able to lead the United States – Obama and Biden or Romney and Ryan?
Obama and Biden have done a God awful job over the last four years.
In my opinion, Romney and Ryan are better able to lead the United States.
All of your random quoting of Grover Norquist is non-sense.
re: did he fix the deficit.
The President can only sign or veto what Congress sends him.
They increased spending under Bush and not cannot agree on what to cut. Even Ryan and Romney do not provide a balanced budget.
They President supports the sequester – across the board cuts and expiration of the Bush Tax cuts which will, according to CBO not only balance the budget but generate enough surplus to buy down the debt.
Romney/Ryan could not lead a dog catching operation. What exactly have they provided in terms of specific proposals to balance the budget and create jobs?
Answer: ZILCH!
here’s the truth about the budget DJ:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/adding-to-the-deficit-bush-vs-obama/2012/01/31/gIQAQ0kFgQ_graphic.html
show me where Ryan or Romney proposes how to fix this.
These two guys are Bush II… in disguise. They’re chicken hawks not budget hawks in the style of Dick Cheney.
LarryG – “There you go again …”.
“They’re chicken hawks not budget hawks in the style of Dick Cheney.”.
Ok, let’s see what the facts say about “chicken hawks”.
Obama and Ryan were both way too young to go to Vietnam. Right?
Biden received five student deferments. After that, the former University of Delaware running back was declared physically unfit to fight.
Romney received several ministerial and student deferments. However, he entered the draft in 1969. However, his high draft lottery number (300) ensured that he would not be drafted.
During the Vietnam War, Biden had no comment on the war and never uttered a recorded word of protest. He was probably too busy finishing at the bottom of his class at the University of Delaware.
Mitt Romney was an outspoken critic of the war. He was quoted in 1970 in a newspaper saying, “If it wasn’t a political blunder to move into Vietnam, I don’t know what is.”.
Facts are stubborn things, now aren’t they, LarryG.
The only chicken hawk on either ticket is your pal Joe Biden.