Quote :

"GOP concerned Ryan could cost party House and Senate seats By Cameron Joseph and Alexandra Jaffe - 08/13/12 06:11 PM ET Republicans strategists are worried that Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) addition to the presidential ticket will cost their party House and Senate seats this fall. Their concern: Democrats will successfully demonize Ryan’s budget plan, which contains controversial spending cuts and changes to Medicare. “There are a lot races that are close to the line we're not going to win now because they're going to battle out who's going to kill grandma first, ObamaCare or Paul Ryan's budget,” said one Republican strategist who works on congressional races. “It could put the Senate out of reach. In the House it puts a bunch of races in play that would have otherwise been safe. ... It remains to be seen how much damage this causes, but my first blush is this is not good.”"

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/243473-gop-concerned-ryan-could-cost-party-house-and-senate-seats

8/13/2012 8:26:43 PM

I want to clarify what I said earlier. I think that Ryan is a good pick politically; I don't have a high opinion of him or his plan.

I find the media's framing of Romney's choice the most intriguing. Krugman called Ryan less of a conservative and more of an anarcho-libertarian. Listening to NPR and checking out various news aggregates, you would think the Ryan plan consists of draconian cuts across the board.

In reality, the Ryan plan is a joke. It's not ridiculous because it cuts too much - it's ridiculous because it doesn't involve any actual cuts. Do you want to know when the Ryan plan aims to balance to the budget? 2040. Put simply, the Ryan plan isn't a cut to any budgets in the next 10 years, it's a cut to projected increases in spending. And, of course, it doesn't even address our bloated military spending.

We don't have a few decades to sort this shit out. The cuts will come long before 2040 one way or another. There will be no European socialism in the United States. Sorry guys, it's just not going to happen. The ship sailed when politicians pissed everything away. The challenge now is keeping the politicians (and their buddies) from stealing everything that isn't nailed down.

8/13/2012 8:39:18 PM

^ 20 years for an improvement in the 2nd derivative? If I assume a polynomial then by the time I'm 70 we'll have a surplus of a quadrillion dollars or something! Count me in!

8/13/2012 8:58:29 PM

Quote :

"I find the media's framing of Romney's choice the most intriguing."

This kind of stuff is what I've seen the most of.



But I'm much more concerned about his social conservatism than his faux-economic conservatism.

8/13/2012 9:14:10 PM

It was a good choice, sets up the first real "issues election" since before I was born. Hopefully it will force Republicans to grow some balls and actually learn how to defend their ideas.

8/13/2012 9:22:59 PM

^ that's odd that you'd say that because I feel like I see nothing but Dems letting Republicans walk all over them. I don't think the problem is a lack of balls because they're machismo to a fault.

8/13/2012 9:34:39 PM

Haha I'm assuming it's because we're coming from opposite sides of the political aisle then? It's been ages since I hung around TSB so I don't recall/know the views of many of the players anymore

I haven't heard a politician give a decent defense of traditional libertarian economic policy... well... ever so far as I can recall. It's all about who's going to increase this entitlement or that more than the other, or an exclusive focus on social sh*t. "The gays are gonna kill us all ::rabble rabble rabble::"

8/13/2012 9:39:41 PM

i rarely post here except when i feel like its a logical person on the other end so at least take some solace

8/13/2012 9:45:30 PM

Quote :

"In reality, the Ryan plan is a joke. It's not ridiculous because it cuts too much - it's ridiculous because it doesn't involve any actual cuts."

Well if someone wants libertarian, at least there is still the Gary Johnson option. And that comes without the social conservative baggage to boot.

8/13/2012 10:24:25 PM

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/08/the-real-ryan-record-2-minor-bills-lots-of-high-profile-talk-gridlock/261069/

pretty scathing

8/14/2012 12:16:21 AM

This one's pretty bad too...

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/08/13/video-erskine-bowles-says-ryan-budget-sensible-honest-serious/

8/14/2012 12:55:43 AM

Quote :

"But I'm much more concerned about his social conservatism than his faux-economic conservatism."

same here

8/14/2012 1:07:17 AM

Quote :

"PAUL RYAN voted YES on $192B additional stimulus spending (2009), Voted YES on $15B bailout for GM and Chrysler (2008), Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent (2005), Voted YES on more gov't funding for nanotechnology R&D and commercialization (2009), Voted YES on implementing CAFTA (2005), Voted NO on withdrawing from the WTO (2000), Voted YES on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant (2006), Voted YES on requiring states to test students (2001), Voted YES on restricting independent grassroots political committees (2006), Voted YES on extending unemployment benefits from 39 weeks to 59 weeks (2008), Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage (2004), Voted YES on $23B instead of $4.9B for waterway infrastructure (2007), Voted YES on increasing fines for indecent broadcasting (2005), Voted YES on banning Internet gambling by credit card (2003), Voted NO on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq (2008), Voted YES on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date (2006), Voted YES on authorizing military force in Iraq (2002)"

This troubled me until I realized that other than a few social conservative issues. All the congressmen save a few voted for this crap. Other than nanotechnology, which is awesome and is the future of modern science. That's right folks nanotechnology, the wave of the future.

8/14/2012 1:09:57 AM

Quote :

"Wouldn't you say the delicate state of the economy right now is such that a rubber-stamp budget might not be the best possible one to ram through? A little attention to detail needed perhaps?"

Actually that sounds like a colossal waste of time, given that most of our governmental responses to economic hardship are already encoded in automatic systems like unemployment and TANF, then there can be spending bills on top of that like the stimulus.

But if you really think that the "state of the economy" demands the US National Parks budget be re-drafted from scratch, that's your dumbass belief to hold, I guess. Consider that when they do draft a new budget they (Congress) always use the old one as a baseline anyway.

Please, for the dignity of conservatives everywhere: stop acting so desperate for something to complain about, especially this one which no pundit outside of Sean Hannity bothers bitching about.


[Edited on August 14, 2012 at 9:32 AM. Reason : .]

8/14/2012 9:30:54 AM

Quote :

"TGD It was a good choice, sets up the first real "issues election" since before I was born. Hopefully it will force Republicans to grow some balls and actually learn how to defend their ideas. "

You really think so?

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/martin-bashir/48665660/
Romney won’t talk Ryan budget

8/14/2012 5:45:47 PM

Yep

50% Now View Paul Ryan Favorably; 43% Say He Was Right Choice
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/august_2012/50_now_view_paul_ryan_favorably_43_say_he_was_right_choice

[Edited on August 14, 2012 at 7:03 PM. Reason : ---]

8/14/2012 7:02:46 PM

I was referring to the "issues election" part.

Romney still seems to be shying away from talking about actual issues, and is sticking pretty close to the "i'm not Obama" line.

8/14/2012 7:07:24 PM

LMAO @ MSNBC... they are like the mirror image of Fox News.

8/14/2012 7:13:00 PM

^^
I mean just a week ago the buzz was about Mitt Romney being a murderer. Now at least folks are debating the Ryan budget and Medicare cuts.

8/14/2012 9:11:24 PM

MITT ROMNEY MURDERS PEOPLE.

PAUL RYAN PUSHES GRANDMAS OFF CLIFFS.

MURDER HE WROTE.

OBAMA 2012.

8/14/2012 10:13:22 PM

Paul Ryan Heckled at Iowa State Fair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4bNAUORtwo

8/15/2012 4:14:25 AM

Quote :

"Nate Silver ?@fivethirtyeight Romney's Ryan bounce across 11 polls thus far: +5, +5, +2, +2, +2, 0, 0, 0, -2, -2, -2. So, take your pick. +0.9 on average. "

FEEL THE EXCITEMENT

8/15/2012 4:57:13 PM

Sarah Palin did the same thing.

8/15/2012 5:42:19 PM

Polls are so fucking stupid. How the hell can we trust official polls that say he is winning and losing at the same time.

8/15/2012 6:47:08 PM

Romney will get a real bounce after Ryan wipes the floor with Biden in the VP debate.

8/15/2012 7:13:41 PM

^ Yeah, Biden is not great at debating. Sarah Palin was a birthday gift for him last election cycle.

8/15/2012 7:15:34 PM

obama has 22 days to replace biden.

biden whose mental capacity is apparently diminishing fast.

8/15/2012 7:53:04 PM

He will be fine.

Reagan brain was pretty much gone by his second term and he did pretty well.

8/15/2012 10:34:19 PM

Quote :

"Polls are so fucking stupid. How the hell can we trust official polls that say he is winning and losing at the same time."

house effects (among different pollsters) and random variation
I mean those particular numbers are varying just 3.5 percentage points from the middle of the range, so it's not terribly volatile.

8/16/2012 1:35:25 AM

CNN TV Host Soledad O'Brien was caught yesterday by conservative activists when she used a liberal blog's article on Paul Ryan to argue with a Republican House Delegate from Virginia.




http://viralread.com/2012/08/13/soledad-obrien-uses-liberal-blog-to-attack-ryan-plan/

8/16/2012 4:59:52 AM

i posted that pretty much immediately after it happened (because i hate that woman), and i didnt post a giant picture of it to boot.

8/16/2012 7:40:07 AM

Presented With Letters, Ryan Admits Requesting Stimulus Cash

By Gregory J. Krieg | ABC OTUS News – 9 hrs ago


After repeated denials, Paul Ryan has admitted he requested stimulus cash even after sharply criticizing the program.

As recently as Wednesday in Ohio, Mitt Romney's running mate told ABC's Cincinnati affiliate, WCPO, he did not.

"I never asked for stimulus," Ryan said. "I don't recall… so I really can't comment on it. I opposed the stimulus because it doesn't work, it didn't work."

Two years ago, during an interview on WBZ's NewsRadio he was asked by a caller if he "accepted any money" into his district. Ryan said he did not.

"I'm not one [of those] people who votes for something then writes to the government to ask them to send us money. I did not request any stimulus money," the congressman answered.

But as we've now learned, Ryan did write letters. He did request stimulus funds.

http://news.yahoo.com/presented-letters-ryan-admits-requesting-stimulus-cash-234025910--abc-news-politics.html


Anyone could see there is nothing wrong with Ron Paul. He was robbed of the nomination by fraud. We shouldn't have to put up with this bullshit and pretend like the people actually wanted Romney/Ryan.

8/17/2012 4:44:47 AM

LOL Paul Ryan caught in an outright lie:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/presented-with-letters-ryan-admits-requesting-stimulus-cash/

Do you really think Romney and Ryan are looking out for you and that there will be any dramatic change in how Washington works?

8/17/2012 10:12:59 AM

Deja vu

8/17/2012 1:24:02 PM

^^Are any politicians looking out for you? Washington will not change no matter who is in office.

8/17/2012 2:51:55 PM

Looks like you have to look in the mirror to get the only person who can make real change happen.

8/17/2012 3:26:53 PM

RICHMOND, Virginia—Paul Ryan says he's a big fan of the band Rage Against the Machine, but not surprisingly, it's an unrequited love.

Rage guitarist Tom Morello penned a 467-word rant in Rolling Stone against the Republican vice presidential candidate Thursday night:

Paul Ryan's love of Rage Against the Machine is amusing, because he is the embodiment of the machine that our music has been raging against for two decades.

...

Ryan claims that he likes Rage's sound, but not the lyrics. Well, I don't care for Paul Ryan's sound or his lyrics.

8/17/2012 4:33:43 PM

Someone posted this on FB, i don't actually go to huffingtonpost


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/tom-morello-paul-ryan-rage-against-the-machine_n_1795607.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

8/17/2012 4:41:26 PM

Deja Vu

8/17/2012 4:46:55 PM

(i was posting a link, which you failed to provide, smart guy)

8/17/2012 4:53:23 PM

backpedaling at its finest.

8/17/2012 6:27:13 PM

from facebook:

Quote :

"A vote not for Obama is a vote against gays, woman, and everyone not in the 1%!"

For some people, Facebook and politics shouldn't mix.

8/17/2012 8:33:09 PM

Good Lord was GeniuSxBoY really bringing up Ryan's wife on p2?

Clearly he thinks Jill Biden is sexy.

Reason #100001 I don't venture into SB often.

8/17/2012 11:37:18 PM

In fairness, Jill Biden is pretty hot for an older woman.

8/18/2012 12:01:50 AM

Dub

[Edited on August 18, 2012 at 12:02 AM. Reason : le]

8/18/2012 12:01:50 AM

Quote :

"^^Are any politicians looking out for you? Washington will not change no matter who is in office. "

vote libertarian.

i don't believe in a fully libertarian society, but we definitely need a shift more in that direction.

8/18/2012 7:40:03 AM

More Paul Ryan FAIL:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/paul-ryan-gm-federal-funds_n_1799515.html

GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan took a swipe at President Barack Obama on Thursday for failing to rescue a General Motors factory in his Wisconsin congressional district, calling it "one more broken promise" on the Democratic administration's record.

"I remember President Obama visiting it when he was first running, saying he'll keep that plant open," Ryan said during a campaign stop. "One of the reasons that plant got shut down was $4 gasoline. You see, this costs jobs. The president's terrible energy policies are costing us jobs."

The attack has already received a fair amount of ridicule because the Janesville, Wis., plant actually closed during the last year of George W. Bush's presidency. What hasn't really been emphasized is whether Ryan clearly knew this and made the charge nonetheless.

8/18/2012 9:32:20 AM

^ Yeah, President Obama isn't completely to blame for the price of gasoline.

That's the FED's fault, which was allowed to inject TRILLIONS of dollars into the economy with no real increase in production.

The FED was allowed to inject that money under both President Bush and Obama.

8/18/2012 12:54:21 PM

Quote :

"Good Lord was GeniuSxBoY really bringing up Ryan's wife on p2? Clearly he thinks Jill Biden is sexy. Reason #100001 I don't venture into SB often."

Oops! I didn't get the memo. What page should I have posted it on?

8/18/2012 4:43:48 PM

joe biden's wife is fully hot

8/18/2012 4:44:49 PM