reported by Jack Lee
Rep. Paul Ryan shown left.
Taken from their stump speeches this weekend – it kinda sums up their major differences:
“We promise equal opportunity, not equal outcomes,” Paul Ryan
“A New America In Which Prosperity Is Shared’…” Barrack Obama
Now for the latest polling on Romney’s choice for VP…
“A plurality — 48 percent — believed Ryan is qualified to take over as president, while 29 percent did not.
Neil Newhouse, a pollster for the Romney campaign, told USA Today in a statement that the poll showed Ryan wasn’t yet a household name.”
It doesn’t surprise me that the USA polling showed Paul Ryan with the lowest numbers since the VP polling began. This only reinforces my belief that American’s are amazingly and deliberately ignorant and more so than at any other time since the newspaper was invented.
The typical American couldn’t name 6 past presidents, but they are a real whiz on song titles.
We’re in so much trouble….
The New Yorker seems to have seen this coming.
The bio they did on him recently got some coverage. I heard an interview with the author.
Ryan (wouldn’t you know) was a big fan of Ayn Rand in his youth. Re his choosing, the New Yorker has blogged:
“While Ryan may be distancing himself from Rand now, the Democrats will surely argue that her views on the virtues of selfishness have left a more lasting legacy in the policies that he and Romney embrace. In his dbut today, Ryan stressed that We promise equal opportunitynot equal outcomesa philosophy that telegraphed a tough message to those who are worst off. Ryan also signalled a Rand-like celebration of the winners, and dismissed complaints from the losers, saying, We look at one anothers success with pride, not resentment. Rands language was tougher still. She used words such as refuse and parasites to describe the poor, while celebrating millionaire businessmen as heroes. She abhorred government social programs, such as Social Security, at least until she reached the age of eligibility, and reportedly signed on for both its benefits and those of Medicare.
And Ryan himself … his Dad died when he was a teenager and, though the family was comfortably off, his Mum and he collected SS Survivors’ benefits which were banked for him and used to pay for his college.
And he now wants to rip it all to shreds. Somebody explain this to me. Blind? Selfish? Stupid? What?
The machine did not act right. I’m not sure this went through:
The New Yorker seems to have seen this coming.
The bio they did on him recently got some coverage. I heard an interview with the author.
Ryan, wouldn’t you know, was a big fan of Ayn Rand in his youth. Re his choosing, the New Yorker has blogged:
“While Ryan may be distancing himself from Rand now, the Democrats will surely argue that her views on the virtues of selfishness have left a more lasting legacy in the policies that he and Romney embrace. In his dbut today, Ryan stressed that We promise equal opportunitynot equal outcomesa philosophy that telegraphed a tough message to those who are worst off. Ryan also signalled a Rand-like celebration of the winners, and dismissed complaints from the losers, saying, We look at one anothers success with pride, not resentment. Rands language was tougher still. She used words such as refuse and parasites to describe the poor, while celebrating millionaire businessmen as heroes. She abhorred government social programs, such as Social Security, at least until she reached the age of eligibility, and reportedly signed on for both its benefits and those of Medicare.
And Ryan himself … his Dad died when he was a teenager and, though the family was comfortably off, his Mum and he collected SS Survivors’ benefits, which were banked for him and used to pay for his college.
And he now wants to rip it all to shreds. Somebody explain this to me. Blind? Selfish? Stupid? What?
The machine did not act right. I’m not sure this went through:
The New Yorker seems to have seen this coming.
The bio they did on him recently got some coverage. I heard an interview with the author.
Ryan, wouldn’t you know, was a big fan of Ayn Rand in his youth. Re his choosing, the New Yorker has blogged:
“While Ryan may be distancing himself from Rand now, the Democrats will surely argue that her views on the virtues of selfishness have left a more lasting legacy in the policies that he and Romney embrace. In his dbut today, Ryan stressed that We promise equal opportunitynot equal outcomesa philosophy that telegraphed a tough message to those who are worst off. Ryan also signalled a Rand-like celebration of the winners, and dismissed complaints from the losers, saying, We look at one anothers success with pride, not resentment. Rands language was tougher still. She used words such as refuse and parasites to describe the poor, while celebrating millionaire businessmen as heroes. She abhorred government social programs, such as Social Security, at least until she reached the age of eligibility, and reportedly signed on for both its benefits and those of Medicare.
And Ryan himself … his Dad died when he was a teenager and, though the family was comfortably off, his Mum and he collected SS Survivors’ benefits, which were banked for him and used to pay for his college.
And he now wants to rip it all to shreds. Somebody explain this to me. Blind? Selfish? Stupid? What?
This is the shi$$ that makes me mad and ashamed of what my country has become. Regulations that prevented this boy from helping his family is now homeless because some restaurant didnt want the competition.
http://www.ijreview.com/2012/08/12695-13-year-olds-hot-dog-stand-shut-down-boy-now-homeless/
It is annoying, but I won’t go “heart rending” because I resist all attempts at manipulation by the media.
Nathan’s parents should be on SSI and in public housing. Nathan should be in school, or at camp … and not advancing the right-wing, white-washing of child labor.
You wanna be ashamed, check this out:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rebeccaelliott/horror-hospital-the-most-shocking-photos-and-test
Ruined my weekend, that did. This next will get you all the filthy details without the groady pictures.
http://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Geller-Statement.pdf
I want General Caldwell dishonorably discharged. and it has to be possible to jail the man … it just has to. Then, I want all these highly ranking Afghan thieves Black Opp’d. You heard me. I want them disappeared. And I want it made plain to Karzai that if we don’t start seeing substantive improvement, he’s next.
“Then, I want all these highly ranking Afghan thieves Black Opp’d. You heard me. I want them disappeared. And I want it made plain to Karzai that if we don’t start seeing substantive improvement, he’s next.” Libby
Now you’re talkin!
Libs did you know that since the first of year we have had 29 sneak attacks on US soldiers by either Afghan soldiers or police officers, the very ones we were training and helping?
We’ve lost a lot of really decent American’s to suicide attackers in friendly uniforms.
Recently there was a spate of 14 Taliban suicide attacks in one day targeting US forces. When you have this many people willing to die to take us out and you’ve got front line troops saying how hated we are and how little kids throw rocks at our vehicles, it’s a sign of something majorly wrong with our mission.
The corruption within the Kazai’s regime is nothing short of stunning. They are thieves!
Who can we trust over there? No one… and no place is safe.
Our billions of tax dollars to help build infrastructure for the Afghan people is always siphoned by dirty hands up and down the food chain to the point almost nothing get to the people it was intended to help… and if it does, it gets torn up because they don’t want our filthy American money tainting their sacred holy land.
It’s a stupid, pointless war unworthy of our sacrifice. At this point we owe them nothing. They and I mean 99% of the government of Afghanistan has sold us out many times overs. There’s no dishonor in telling them to shove it and bring our troops home, before one more life is lost. A couple of passes with B-52’s doing select carpet bombing runs should celebrate the last of our troops are now gone. This place sucks…it’s a rat hole and there is no reason for us to be there. Bring the troops home, they deserve better.
That’s sad Peggy, I’m with you.
“Libs did you know that since the first of year we have had 29 sneak attacks on US soldiers by either Afghan soldiers or police officers, the very ones we were training and helping?”
And it has been suggested that conditions in that hospital, since before 2005 reportedly, probably have something to do with this. That Afghan soldiers might experience such “training and helping” and get really, really angry is not to be wondered at.
I’m having a horrible, horrible feeling that the exposure of the hospital is just the tip of a damned, dirty iceberg.
Libby, what upsets me is the city regulations and the single complaint from one restaurant that didnt want the competition that prevented this young man, and I do mean man, from helping his family without govt assistance.
He spent thousands to buy that hot dog stand and had the permission to put it in front of a store. The greed of another is what stopped him.
Scratch off another future individuals drive to provide for himself and his family. Instead hes being forced to live off of the assistance of the government.
Libby would not be sounding so radical if this was happening under GWB…in fact she would be slamming GWB.
I also seem to recall her being all up in arms about those who engage in black ops…criminals they were…needed to be strung up by the peaceful collective.
Why are you not blaming OBMAMA for this terrible outcome of the war Libby? His leadership has something to do with this. And why have you suddenly changed your tune about those black-ops guys?
Libby: And Ryan himself … his Dad died when he was a teenager and, though the family was comfortably off, his Mum and he collected SS Survivors’ benefits, which were banked for him and used to pay for his college.
This statement may not be true and here is why based on my own personal experience during this time.
Paul Ryan was born in 1970 which means it was 1986 when his father died, when Paul Ryan was 16 years old.
My husband died in 1988 and the Soc. Sec. survivor benefits during that time only allowed for children of deceased parents to receive benefits until they turned 16 or graduated from high school, whichever came last.
My youngest son was born in 1974 and turned 16 in 1990, just four years after Paul Ryan. My son only received his dads survivors benefits for just over two years before it ended. He did not qualify for them after he graduated from high school and started college at CSU, Chico.
My oldest son being disabled did receive his dads benefits until his death in 2000.
In 1988 I also didnt qualify for widows benefits because I had a job that paid $20k a year, which was above the maximum allowed at that time.
Benefit qualification had obviously changed between the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1970s I did enrollment verifications at the community college I worked for to the Soc. Sec. office confirming or denying students unit enrollment and completion requirements to receive their survivor benefits.
Explanation given to me at the time I applied in 1988 was because of the huge number of boat people and refugees that flooded in from Vietnam and the other countries fleeing the communist takeover of their countries had put a huge strain on the social security and welfare systems during the 1980s.
Regulations have changed again. Believing I still didnt qualify for widows benefits from what my husband had paid into the system I never applied again until last year when I was informed I did qualify under the new requirements.
My point being do not assume Ryan received any of his dads SS survivors benefits or if he did it was very little and short term at best. Qualifying factors and requirements did change. What holds true today didnt in the past.
“Libby would not be sounding so radical if this was happening under GWB…in fact she would be slamming GWB.”
First, who was minding the store in 2005 through 8?
Second, this Caldwell asshole apparently stalled any action and/or investigation on account of our Prezzy election. Obama was all for “fighting the good fight” as you’ll recall, and the general put the financing of his enterprise above everything. If solid Caldwell-Obama ties can be made, Obama is in big, big trouble with his base.
And Tina, someday you are going to abandon all this simple-minded partisanism, and the shock is gonna kill me.
And I still say, he’s not a man, he’s 13. And a society that puts a 13-year-old in the position of “bread winner” is the shameful thing.
The greedy manipulation, by some, of perfectly sensible regulation of the food service industry … that he can come to terms with after, at least, a couple of years of community college.
You go try and make your world, and I will continue to make mine.
According to Wikipedia the survivors benefits today are the same as they were in the 1980s. Benefits ended at age 16 since he is not disabled. So, Paul Ryan did not receive any benefits from his dad’s SS.
From Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_%28United_States%29#History
Children’s benefits
Children of a retired, disabled or deceased worker receive benefits as a “dependent” or “survivor” if they are under the age of 16, or are over the age of 18 and were disabled before the age of 22.[23] In a landmark case, the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decided that a child is entitled to survivor benefits even though she was born two years after her father’s death, having been conceived by in vitro fertilization.[24]
Benefits
The largest component of OASDI is the payment of retirement benefits. Throughout a worker’s career, the Social Security Administration keeps track of his or her earnings. The amount of the monthly benefit to which the worker is entitled depends upon that earnings record and upon the age at which the retiree chooses to begin receiving benefits. For the entire history of Social Security, benefits have been paid almost entirely by using revenue from payroll taxes. This is why Social Security is referred to as a pay-as-you-go system. Around 2021, payroll tax revenue in combination with accruing interest on the Social Security Trust Fund is projected to be insufficient to cover Social Security benefits and the system will begin to withdraw money from the Social Security Trust Fund.[14] The existence and economic significance of the Social Security Trust Fund is a subject of considerable dispute because its assets are special Treasury bonds; i.e. the money in the trust fund has been lent back to the federal government to pay for other expenses.
[edit] Totals By Year
Year Beneficiaries Dollars[15]
1937 53,236 $1,278,000
1938 213,670 $10,478,000
1939 174,839 $13,896,000
1940 222,488 $35,000,000
1950 3,477,243 $961,000,000
1960 14,844,589 $11,245,000,000
1970 26,228,629 $31,863,000,000
1980 35,584,955 $120,511,000,000
1990 39,832,125 $247,796,000,000
1995 43,387,259 $332,553,000,000
1996 43,736,836 $347,088,000,000
1997 43,971,086 $361,970,000,000
1998 44,245,731 $374,990,000,000
1999 44,595,624 $385,768,000,000
2000 45,414,794 $407,644,000,000
2001 45,877,506 $431,949,000,000
2002 46,444,317 $453,746,000,000
2003 47,038,486 $470,778,000,000
2004 47,687,693 $493,263,000,000
2005 48,434,436 $520,748,000,000
2006 49,122,624 $546,238,000,000
2007 49,864,838 $584,939,000,000
2008 50,898,244 $615,344,000,000
(Note the large increase for dollars but not benefactors from 1970 to 1980)
Im unable to locate additional specific information for SS benefits awarded during the 1980s.
Pulled these couple paragraphs off Salon today, just another little logical inconsistency in Mr. Ryan’s political philoosophy:
“When Paul Ryan took to the stage in Mooresville, North Carolina, as Mitt Romneys running mate, he attacked President Obamas you didnt build that remark about the role of government in supporting private innovation. But while Republicans have been clamoring to make this election a false dichotomy between the private sector and the public sector, Paul Ryan heir to a private fortune made by building public highways is a gaping pothole in that plan. Paul Ryan is a living, breathing GOP example of how public infrastructure and private entrepreneurship work hand-in-hand.
“Paul Ryans great-grandfather started a construction company to build railroads and, eventually, highways. According to the Web site of Ryan Incorporated Central, the company was founded in 1884 with a single team of mules building railroad embankments in Southern Wisconsin. And in the 1800s, railroad construction was subsidized by the federal government. Mid-century, President Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act into law, providing taxpayer dollars to fund the construction of a transcontinental railway. All railroads thereafter connected to, and benefited from, that public investment.”
See, what this boils down to (though you could boil them and not get them to admit it) is: “It’s fine and dandy to spend public money to benefit us, you know, the white boys … but don’t you be spending public money on THEM, those others, the brown people. That we will not have.”
Libby quoting Salon: “…while Republicans have been clamoring to make this election a false dichotomy between the private sector and the public sector…”
What an idiot. Obama set the stage and delivered the set up line…”You didn’t build that…somebody else made that happen.”
Obama’s the one that spent more than three years waging class (and race) warfare.
Obama’s the one that has been on the attack with regard to certain business, particularly coal and oil. He’s the one that thinks government should pick winners and losers.
Obama’s the one that favored unions over individual private businesses and bond holders in the GM bailout.
“the company was founded in 1884 with a single team of mules building railroad embankments in Southern Wisconsin. And in the 1800s, railroad construction was subsidized by the federal government.”
With money that got from the mule team owners pockets!
Government has no money it hasn’t taken from those who produce it!
Also not sure you’re right about the railroad:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Northern_Railway_%28U.S.%29
” “It’s fine and dandy to spend public money to benefit us, you know, the white boys … but don’t you be spending public money on THEM, those others, the brown people. That we will not have.”
Man Libby…you are some piece of work. Them “brown people” can build their own fortunes small and large and run rings around that poser in the WH using people like they was so much meat. Shame on you and him for this racist pig slop!
Oprah Winfrey $2.7B
Romesh T Whadwani $2.B
Kavitark Ram Shriram $1.6B
a few more very successful “brown people”
http://www.businessinsurance.org/10-most-successful-african-american-ceos-of-all-time/
Kenneth Frazier CEO of Merk
Ursala Burns CEO of Zerox…raised in the projects.
Robert L. Johnson former CEO of BET and first black billionaire
Madam C J Walker –
How about Hispanics:
http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2001/10/12/victor_mayer_and_luis_durazo_founders.htm
http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2001/8/1/david_and_rick_cantu_cofounders_of.htm
It isn’t a black, white, brown, red or yellow thing…it is an opportunity thing!
Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is. Ernest Hemingway
Oh…and if Hemingway doesn’t fit the bill how about Ann Coulter:
http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/15/why-liberals-behave-the-way-they-do/#ixzz23gHd8Q5k
As of last June “brown people” were not doing so hot under Obama’s watch:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/hispanic-unemployment-stuck-110-percent_648175.html
Burns yer butt don’t it! Jack and I toild you what would happen with a true believer in charge.
What an idiot. Obama set the stage and delivered the set up line…”You didn’t build that…somebody else made that happen.”
He was not talking about the private enterprise, Tina, he meant about the public infrastructure that enabled the private enterprise. I admit, as a matter of clear syntax, it was not his finest moment. But we’re all getting very tired of the Right’s, and even Romney’s, insistence that he said something that he did not.
I know you’re getting tired of it, Libby. I got tired of you bashing Bush and referring to him as the shrub but it didn’t (doesn’t) stop you. Why should you expect us to give you relief? I said long ago I will do this until your side changes its ways. (And Bush’s economic policy was nno where near as destructive as Obama’s)
I disagree with you. THis isn’t just a syntax error. This sentence goes to the very root of Obama’s ideology and heart. He believes in the collective and has no appreciation for individual effort or the contribution it makes inn our society. He has the cart before the horse and to those of us who think this country was built and thrives because of individual effort, and that cooperative effort begins with individual urge, creativity and design, his comment is a huge insult. It shows he is not aligned with America…his thinking is foreign in nature.
He has to go.
Tina: “(And Bush’s economic policy was nno where near as destructive as Obama’s)”
Laughable. The recession began under Bush. The recovery began under Obama. These are facts.
Libby is right: Republicans are running on a false dichotomy, pitting the concept of “government” against the concept of “individuality.” This is America. Such a division should barely exist. In this country, the people ARE the government. We all pay taxes and we all have representation.
Obama praised individual effort in the very speech you can’t stop harping on, Tina. You’ve chosen to take one half-sentence out of context in order to demonize him, and you’ve falsely claimed that he never talks about individual effort and drive even though he did in that very. same. speech. It’s extremely dishonest and it needs to stop.
“It shows he is not aligned with America … his thinking is foreign in nature.”
I know. “European”, right? That was a good chuckle, that was. I’m really getting a great deal of enjoyment out of the campaign so far … except when I wonder just how many people don’t think it’s ludicrous or embarrassing … they think it’s true.
Oh, well. I’ll find out in November.
Schrub? Hey, his Dad’s cronies in Texas give him that nickname. They just had no idea how truly apropos is was.
And I bashed Bush for real stuff, like starting a war for no good reason. God, that still irritates me. Every time one reason proved bogus, he’d make up another, and you all just … bent over. And then he waged the war without raising taxes to pay for it. And you’ve got the gall to give Obama grief because cleaning up the mess is proving to be extremely difficult. Nerve!
You go find something real to grouse about, e.g., that Guantanamo is not closed, that he didn’t have the balls to go single payer, that the Afghanistan situation is a complete and total mire of piss.
All I ever get out of you is snivellings about your “freedoms”, but when pressed, all that turns out to be is “I don’t want to fund welfare.” I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again … tough noogies.
Chris: “. The recession began under Bush.”
Big whoop…recessions have begun the presidencies of nearly all of the presidents in recent times going back to Carter. Bush’s recession was followed by 911, Katrina and several other natural disasters all of which had devastating effects on the economy…and Bush managed to keep debt to GDP in the average zone and unemployment in the normal range. His failure…he solved a problem in the Medicare entitlement by adding another entitlement and failed to hang on to Congress in 2006. After Democrats took hold of the House spending shot up and messed up the debt reductions that were occurring. Also He warned the Congress to do something about lending in the housing market; congress chose to do nothing. Barney Frank stood on the floor of Congress and insisted the programs were working and there was not a problem. the bubble burst, the financial sector collapsed and the rest is history.
“The recovery began under Obama.”
What recovery? By what measure do we have a recovery? What “facts” do you use to back this laughable claim?
Unemployment 8.2% (real unemployment between 15% and 25% depending on area and demographic) More people on food stamps than ever before. More people falling below the poverty line. Middle class savings wiped out. Homes sitting empty in foreclosure. Lackluster stock market with low volume. Businesses cutting back and closing. Inflation spikes in food prices and other commodities. Idiot politicians thinking this is a good time to spend tax money that these people must produce on bullet trains and windmills. The national debt climbing faster than ever before in the nations history (even under record low interest rates).
“In this country, the people ARE the government. We all pay taxes and we all have representation.”
The people are divided as to what they believe the role of government is. That is not a false dichotomy it is simply the truth.
Those who wear the blue hats want government to be all powerful to take from those according to their ability to give to give to those according to their need. Blue hats think what we as individuals earn is the governments to take at will for the benefit of the collective.
Those who wear the red hats want government to have a limited role as defined in the Constitution. They expect representatives to act only in support of the people striving in freedom to create and achieve for the benefit of themselves and others. The red hats believe what we as individuals earn is personal property to be invested, donated or spent as the individual sees fit.
“…and you’ve falsely claimed that he never talks about individual effort and drive even though he did in that very. same. speech.”
The rest of his comments are both obvious and irrelevant.
Obvious, because we all are aware of the roads and bridges that have been built through government intervention…some are more “aware” than others since they pay the bulk of the taxes that pay for big government.
Irrelevant, because his policies reflect favoring the collective over the individual. His policies and intentions favor taking from hard workers and wealth producers so that he can redistribute that wealth as he sees fit. And in a more personal way it was really D.U.M.B. to insult the very people that put Kobe steak on the plates at his fancy WH dinner parties and that send you and your family on fancy vacations while they stand in the unemployment line.
From ABC via Yahoo this morning:
“In 2009, Ryan wrote to Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis asking for stimulus money to cover costs on two energy conservation projects in his home state of Wisconsin. In the letter, Ryan said the funds would help create jobs and reduce “energy consumption” in the state. At least one of the companies received the requested cash.
“The letters were first obtained by The Wall Street Journal through the Freedom of Information Act back in early 2010. The Boston Globe turned them up for the first time during this campaign season Wednesday. At that point, a Ryan aide referred ABC News back to what a Ryan spokesman said when the letters first went public.”
Oh, yes … I am having lots of fun. Shall I spend a few more lines berating you for dwelling in eternal suckerdom? Nah.
Gee Libby, what a crime…imagine a state senator doing what state senators do. The fed has already decided to spend like crazy and Senators do their part to bring some of the money home. Is it smart when the country is in so much debt. Depends on how its spent but in general no.
Was the money Ryan’s state got spent wisely or dumped down a Solyndra rat hole? Let’s see:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ryan-says-did-seek-economic-stimulus-money-080532766.html?ugccmtnav=v1%2Fcomments%2Fcontext%2F5f780630-446b-3a7e-912c-90c71c658cc8%2Fcomments%3Fcount%3D20%26sortBy%3DmostReplied
If that means they put in insulation, better windows, etc. at least there is something to show for the expense: Jobs (albeit temporary) and more efficient buildings.
Solyndra ($535 million), and others like it, bought us temporary jobs and now they are bust and the money went into some wealthy guys pocket (some of which was later sent to the DNC?).
And don’t worry Libby, we all know why you don’t go on about suckerdom: You voted for the biggest scam artist this country has seen in years and you are apparently willing to be suckered again!
With respect to green energy solutions a lot of people have changed their minds the science has come under scrutiny for being quite bogus and the politicization was over the top. Green energy expenditures need to be nipped in the bud.
“Is it smart when the country is in so much debt.”
I see. It’s smart to spend stimulus money (which you howl about) thereby increasing the deficit (which you howl about) on green energy projects (which you also howl about).
Tell me more. Tell me that you don’t REALLY care about any of this. What it REALLY is, all you’re REALLY fussed about, is that brown boy in the White House spending money on us, when there should be, alway has been, a white boy in the White House spending money on you! … or so you quite irrationally believe.
Because, Tina, they spend money on them. You, Toby, even Jack with his investment porfolio … you are an “us”. I know it pains you, but you have to face it. And anything that might trickle down to us is entirely incidental to them and their interests.
We are talking class warfare. Things are going to change.