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Political Hay

Ryan Rocks Republicans

He was so good last night he’ll be an impossible act to follow.

(Page 2 of 2)

In addition to “carving up” President Obama, as the Hill put it, future VP Ryan spoke about the Republican ticket, both personally and politically.

On the subject of Mitt Romney as a person, Ryan said that his “decency is so obvious,” and that he lives his life (and will govern) “without excuses and idle words.” After making fun of Mitt Romney’s music preferences (heard on the campaign bus as well as in hotel elevators), Ryan noted that “Mitt has not only succeeded, but he has succeeded where others could not. [Romney] is not only a fine businessman, he’s a fine man.” Ryan added another appeal to young adults by mentioning his own music preferences: “my playlist starts with AC/DC, and ends with Zeppelin.”

Touching on an issue that former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee also broached, Ryan said of his Catholicism and Romney’s Mormonism that “our faiths come together in the same moral creed.… Each one of us was made for a reason, bearing the image and likeness of the Lord of Life.”

In the only part of his speech that touched on foreign policy, Ryan offered “the clearest possible choice” between the Republican ticket and the man currently occupying the White House: “Instead of managing American decline, leaving allies to doubt us and adversaries to test us, we will act in the conviction that the United States is the greatest force for peace and liberty that this world has ever known.”

Paraphrasing Ronald Reagan’s seminal question about Jimmy Hussein Carter, Congressman Ryan asked the obvious but rarely-stated rhetorical question: “Without a change in leadership, why would the next four years be any different than the last four years?” Speaking of change, Ryan made another pledge: “In a clean break from the Obama years, and frankly from the years before this president, we will keep federal spending at 20% of GDP or less because frankly that is enough.” It is refreshing to hear a prominent politician honestly lay at least a little of the blame at the feet of his own party, and it reinforced the perception of Ryan as a sincere man willing to tell the truth.

Near the end of his Wednesday remarks, Paul Ryan offered one of the great lines in my memory of convention speeches: “If you’re feeling left out or passed by, you have not failed. Your leaders have failed you. None of us should have to settle for the best this administration offers, a dull adventure-less journey from one entitlement to the next, a government-planned life, a country where everything is free but us.” Again quoting my wife, “He just explained ‘Socialism for Dummies’ in one sentence.”

As Congressman Ryan and his beaming family waved goodbye from the stage, two things came inevitably to mind: Mitt Romney made a tremendous choice in running mate…and now Mitt Romney has a very high hurdle to clear in his Thursday evening nomination acceptance speech in order to avoid being eclipsed by his junior partner. For now, my Australian wife would gladly be waving a “Ryan for President” sign.

Page:   12

About the Author

Ross Kaminsky is a self-employed trader and investor and is a senior fellow of the Heartland Institute. He is the host of The Ross Kaminsky Show on Denver’s NewsRadio 850 KOA at 11 AM on most Sundays. You can reach Ross by e-mail at rossputin(at)rossputin(dot)com.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (265) |

FarmersDaughter| 8.30.12 @ 6:54AM

Soon-to-be VP Paul Ryan nailed it, plain and simple. If America wants brains, youth, looks, great husband and father, honorable son, work ethic, man of faith, we've got our man.

The only edit needed in this article is the suggestion that Paul Ryan is the GOP's only rock star. He's the lead singer, for sure, but conservatives have a very deep bench: Aaron Schock, Mike Lee, Allen West, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Rand Paul, Susana Martinez and newcomers Mia Love, Ted Cruz and a host of others. Sen. DeMint has a list of 8 candidates that all will move our Senate from stale, go-along-to-get along, business as usual, to being a body willing to do the hard work before us.

The Republican Party has fallen heir to a long list of relatively new faces on the political scene that are taking politics in a whole new direction. These are people of faith, family values, pro-lifers, pro-2nd Amendment, fiscal hawks, defenders of freedom, believers in American exceptionalism--- very proud, patriotic Americans. These are grassroots candidates, launched into office first by their own merit and by the millions of average Americans that work and raise money for them.

There's a bright future in store for the conservative movement which is the path to restoring America. While we're on the subject, the GOP of days gone by would do well to add some new music to their playlists, embrace them and welcome their supporters.

Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.30.12 @ 7:01AM

But Romney is a liberal, isn't that what you don't want?
Or perhaps you don't know what it is you want so you nominate a liberal as president?

rightasrain| 8.30.12 @ 7:26AM

Even irritants like you can't dampen our enthusiasm or dim the glow we feel after Ryan's triumph last night. We know exactly what we want: to send Obama back to the private sector.

Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.30.12 @ 7:38AM

That's it?
Send Obama back to the private sector he was never a part of in the first place? That is your worldview, your strategy?

rightasrain| 8.30.12 @ 8:18AM

Although you're being deliberately obtuse, I'll explain anyway. My worldview is freedom, pro-growth economic agendas, smaller government, less government intrusion in my life, balanced budgets, personal responsibility---everything Obama rejects. My strategy is to work tirelessly and donate money so we will see the back of Obama come November.

vtwin| 8.30.12 @ 1:26PM

And when was the last time we had "balanced budgets?"

That's right when Clinton was in office.

benny havens| 8.30.12 @ 2:59PM

No, it was when Newt Gingrich and the Republicans took control of the Congress, that is what balanced the budget. Clinton signed onto seven of the ten items in the Contract with America that Gringrich formulated. Up to that point Clinton was busy soaking cigars.

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 8:21AM

He has no interest in the private sector.

He'll "retire" to academia, and then relocate to a Muslim country where he'll announce his conversion to Islam.

loulou| 8.30.12 @ 9:44AM

Will he take Michelle with him? I don't think she'd want to go around wrapped up in a black tablecloth. She likes her designer clothes.

Seriously though, the only proper thing for him to do is leave the country he tried to destroy.

Kwan| 8.30.12 @ 10:37AM

How about Zimbabwe. Seeing how he was trying to convert our country into a replica of Zimbabwe he must have some sort of affinity for the place.

vtwin| 8.30.12 @ 1:29PM

Please Kwan, tell us what you know about Zimbabwe.

Oh, I get it Zimbabwe in Africa and Obama black.

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 1:53PM

What do YOU know about Zimbabwe?

R Martin| 8.30.12 @ 4:33PM

Here's what I know about Zimbabwe--it ranks dead last in all measures of economic freedom and personal liberty. Kwan is correct; it's where Obama's vision would take us.

Peter| 8.30.12 @ 8:49AM

You and Obama have nothing to offer this country nothing,, except more government, nothing else, no opportunity, no prosperity, no hope...My dream a world where the Left is completely elmininated from society

Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.30.12 @ 8:59AM

But you knew from the beginning the Bushes were ultra-Statists.

Ross Kaminsky| 8.30.12 @ 9:02AM

I am searching the news for anyone named Bush running for major office anywhere in the country...

Gary B| 8.30.12 @ 9:26AM

Maybe the Romney administration will help relegate the Bush clan to obscurity where they belong. "Compassionate Conservatism" was the dumbest possible slogan and fully revealed Republican fear of the press. Ryan, Rubio, et al know exactly how to deal with the press. When Obama loses, the enemedia will also lose. A veritable twofer.

Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.30.12 @ 9:52AM

"Maybe the Romney administration will help relegate the Bush clan to obscurity where they belong. "Compassionate Conservatism" was the dumbest possible slogan and fully revealed Republican fear of the press."

But Romney is more liberal than the Bushes, that is why he chose Ryan- to balance out the ticket. You wont admit it?

Tom Kyba| 8.30.12 @ 7:58PM

"Romney more liberal-You won't admit it". Right, no one on this site, author or commenter, has ever questioned whether Romney is too liberal. WTF?

Gary B| 8.30.12 @ 10:02PM

We'll see...

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 9:27AM

George W. Bush is the Left's Emmanuel Goldstein...

vtwin| 8.30.12 @ 1:32PM

The left's? George W. Bush is America's Emmanuel Goldstein...

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 1:53PM

See???

Man, I'm good!

TeaPartyNow| 8.30.12 @ 10:41AM

Tell me where in Ryans' speech he talked about his record, Ross. And where he offered solutions that were solid, and not illusions to federal spending at 20% GDP with no way of getting there. People looking for answers about Ryan got nothing last night. 90% of his speech was on Obama. That doesn't cut in in the real world. And Romney will be more of the same.

Ryan has never worked outside of the nations capital. He has been a fixture there for twenty years, and he could not give us one word of what he has done? The American People deserve better than your blatant right wing bias. The American People deserve the truth about who Romney/Ryan are. They won't get the truth from you.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 10:56AM

So exactly what is your complaint about right wing bias, MISTER TEAPARTYNOW?

Have you forgotten which alias you are posting under?

Or do you just know that Tea Party is cool and you want to be cool?

And if Obama had done a single solitary thing to help this country, then your argument that talking about Obama's failure might hold a little water - but he has nothing but failure, so your argument has fallen apart and you are all wet!

Not to mention totally confused - or stupid - or trollish.

Don't Tread On Me

Lyneuss Fields | 8.30.12 @ 11:45AM

Your glowing review of Paul Ryan's speech is nothing but trash Mr. Kaminsky. Here's some exposure to the facts about this skinny 42-year-old lying prick. During the W. Bush administration he voted for TARP, part D of Medicare, both wars that were not funded, tax cuts and the auto bailout. In addition, Ryan has spent his entire life in government. Unless all your investments have gone dry, maybe you should stick to day trading. I’ve never seen more of a crap article in my life!
http://lyneussfields.blogspot......their.html

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 12:32PM

Troll alert

vtwin| 8.30.12 @ 1:36PM

Hear, Hear!

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 1:54PM

Sorry, Mr. Paul-Bot!

Dr. Ronnie's career is OVER!

Stephie| 8.30.12 @ 12:38PM

It's all they have Ross. I bet Biden had to change his Depends last night after hearing Ryan's speech!
My fav of the night though, was Condi. She was the best!

Mars the Avenger| 8.30.12 @ 1:03PM

Condi Rice exudes class.....compare that to what's coming next week at the quadrennial Democrat Freak Show.

vtwin| 8.30.12 @ 1:42PM

Mars the Avenger, Condi Rice exudes something and I like to bed the bitch myself but lets not forget she was at the center of America’s greatest foreign policy disaster in modern American History

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 1:55PM

She only likes men; that leaves out liberals.

vtwin| 8.30.12 @ 5:53PM

Are you sure Doc? Condi and a woman named Randy Bean and been “friends” for twenty-five years, co-own a home in Palo Alto, CA, and share a line of credit.

Skippy| 8.31.12 @ 2:57PM

WGAS?

Peter| 8.30.12 @ 9:29AM

Ah still trying to bring up Bush who (along with Rove) were and still are diasters for conservatives. You echo the sentiments of the failed one in the White House, you have NOTHING to point to that could even resemble success. He is a failure along with his the proven failure of his idealogy

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 9:56AM

Let me get this straight Alan. You'r saying the Bush's failures were because they were not conservative enough, yet you want us to believe the country should stick with a Liberal simply because he has a (D) next to his name and not a (R)?

You do realize this is a conservative web site don't you?

TeaPartyNow| 8.30.12 @ 10:35AM

Obviously these people here don't care what Ryan is, if they liked his speech last night. Ryan does nothing but talk about Obama. Ryan says zero of his own record, and has zero solutions for our problems. I think that the people here are just desperate. I'll be curious to see what Levin thinks. But this speech is a loss politically. The people want answers, he gave none last night. Only the illumination of people other than himself.

Paul McGrath| 8.30.12 @ 10:59AM

I guess you maybe didn't notice the several budgets he wrote and that were passed by the House. These would be considered part of his "record."

You're not fooling anybody, TeaParty.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:00AM

TPN,

You don't like people complaining about Obama's failures. Then you must want Obama to succeed in destroying our free market capitalist system.

YOU ARE TROLL!

Or just, really, really stupid. Well, which is it?

C'mon, we don't have all day. Or are George Soros's checks still clearing the bank? Or are you this stupid for free?

DTOM

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 11:13AM

I agree. I think TPN just likes to bitch and moan. Has been asked many times for their plan to fix things. Not a peep. Suspicions are another fake Troll Identity. Suspects include Anna from Emory, Purp, or even Margie/Tim

Cpm| 8.30.12 @ 12:56PM

Your analytical skills are pathetic. And you clearly haven't been paying attention.

Anti-Statist| 8.30.12 @ 11:13AM

No, they were/are not. But they are establishment Republicans, who do fit the old description of being tax collectrs for the welfare state. GW was less so than his father, but his 2000 campaign comment about being a "compassionate conservative" gave the game away there. He was still better than Gore or Kerry, such as it was.

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 9:29AM

Au contraire!

Alan is a FAB dresser!

(That counts for something...right?)

Joellen| 8.30.12 @ 10:27AM

Truth is he never worked in the private sector. Let's send him and his cronies a one way ticket to one of the communist countries they endear so much.

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 7:39AM

Ooooooh! Oh, no!

I feel so discouraged!

What will I do??? Maybe there's no point in voting at all?

LOL! Yeah, right!

Nice try with the talking-points, Alan! Hate to tell you, but there are two groups of people you need to worry about in this election:

1. Those voting FOR Romney/Ryan
2. Those voting AGAINST Obama

The anti-incumbent vote hasn't been this strong since 1976.

Your guy is a loser, and you know it.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 8:46AM

Doc, you meant 1980, dindja?

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 8:46AM

Carter v Reagan, not Ford v Carter...

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 9:28AM

Yes.

My bad...

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:01AM

No sweat, just making sure we don't confuse anybody...

DTOM

squalis| 8.30.12 @ 10:24AM

I think an argument for 1976 can be made, on the heels of Watergate. That's how Carter got their in the first place.

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 10:29AM

...I dunno'....

I look at 1976 as being similar to 2008; in both cases, the public had been whipped into an anti-Republican frenzy for several years.

A Democrat victory in '76 was inevitable after Watergate and the ensuing brou-haha.

And there was slim chance for a Republican in '08.

FiddlerBob| 8.30.12 @ 3:50PM

If Obama wins you'll be able to change that date to 1776.

cowgirl| 8.30.12 @ 10:05AM

I really hate to burst that liberal mentality, but if Romeny/Ryan pull this off - get elected, trash Obamacare, drill baby drill, lower corporate taxes, abolish most entitlments or at least minimum make those who get welfare work, downsize government, fix the housing bubble and student loan debt and fix Social Security Medicare, Romeny will be re-elected to a second term and then VP Ryan will become President Ryan. Just remember.. all those 20 somethings with an old Obama poster hanging above their bed in their parent's home and no job - are never going to forget this no will they let their children forget. Liberalism/Progressivism/Demos are history.

Now, voters make my day and get rid of Pelosi, Boxer, and Reid.

Minuteman78| 8.30.12 @ 11:24AM

If Chris Christie wasn't such a decent guy, I'd say get him to hire a couple of Jersey guys that could put Harry Reid in a pair of cement overshoes... What a bunch of numbskulls out there in NV that stuck us with that pr*ck for another 4 years...

Abu Nudnik| 8.30.12 @ 9:29PM

I think he won a hundred thousand youth votes with that one line. He showed he understands how they feel. There's no way to fake that understanding. The real deal, both these guys. Exciting!

TeaPartyNow| 8.30.12 @ 10:29AM

Obviously the people here do not care what Ryan omitted last night. Ryan has never had a job outside of Washington D.C., and he said exactly zero about his own record. All that Ryan talked about was Obama. He said at one point that Romney/Ryan would bring federal spending to 20% of GDP, but failed to say how. He went on with his claims that by giving a small percentage of our federal entitlements (medicare) his unpopular fix, that will fix everything. You should watch it, he literally talks about Obama 90% of the time, has zero of his career, and leaves any one with questions wondering why the right loves him so much. He lost the medicare debate with the American People, yet he continues to let that be his only talking point.

He actually started out saying that Obama can not run on his record, and then proceeded to furnish nothing. This site will lose it's credibility with stories like this, to discerning Americans.

Watch Romney tonight, he is supposed to hail Bain and the Olympics as Romney accomplishments. As if the people don't know what Romney did with those.

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 10:30AM

...Thanks, Clint!

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 11:14AM

If it is clint at least he learned not to capitalize every word.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:05AM

TPN Troll,

Are they paying you for this or are you just that stupid?

I'm thinking because you keep posting the same bologna that you are being paid. Talking points are a Democrat tradition and all. (Can you save gravitas?)

I hope George doesn't see what a lousy job you are doing - if he does, the checks will stop in a New York minute...

Dolt!

Don't Tread On Me!

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:06AM

Dag rat it!

Can you SAY gravitas?

DTOM

Paul McGrath| 8.30.12 @ 11:11AM

AS I've said previously, Romney has a more impressive CV than just about any presidential nominee I can think of. Mormon missionary for thirty months in France, a Jeus-in-the-desert period that certainly must have humbled him. Graduate degrees in business and law from Harvard achieved simultaneously! He came to Bain when Bain was just a tiny enterprise, and built it into the national powerhouse that it is. And although some companies were shut down, many more were rejuvenated. Staples, for example.

The Olympic achievement was not just a lucky blip. It was in debt and was swirling in controversy. Who better to fix it than the proven successful business man, and a man who also was so obviously incorruptible?

Then Governor of Massachusetts, and although there is quite a bit of grumbling about Romneycare, he did manage to balance the budget, something we most desperately need on a national level.

And the man himself. Generous to a fault, as his tax returns show; a family man with five successful children; educated; thoughtful; humble; and undeniably successful. Every single thing he's done in his life has been an unabashed success.

I'm going to say it again: he is a great man.

Alej| 8.30.12 @ 12:20PM

Scared spitless, aren't you. Two months from now, you'll have to get off the porch and look for a job.

Abu Nudnik| 8.30.12 @ 9:27PM

Go ahead! Taunt! A lot of good it will do. This is the real guy and the next president. Romney 8 years, Ryan 8 years! We're excited! Your taunts only show how deeply bitter you are.

Pecos Pete| 8.30.12 @ 7:42AM

FD: Well said!

And, ignore The Village Idiot(s).

R Martin| 8.30.12 @ 7:58AM

I agree; there a lots of bright, impressive Republicans out there. Now they need to elbow aside the barnacles like McConnell and Boehner (in the nicest possible way, of course).

Loved the standing ovation Martinez got when she mentioned packing a .357 magnum while on parking lot security duty.

pogybait| 8.30.12 @ 8:25AM

I don't think elbow is the word, how about push aside or retire as the likes of McConnel and Boehner have been and continue to be part of the problem as well.

Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.30.12 @ 8:34AM

Possibly Romney would do better on foreign policy than Obama: in the Postwar period you had Ike, Nixon and Bush 41 doing positive foreign policy.
But domestic policy goes nowhere. For four decades you have discussed education reform, fiscal responsibility, etc;
nothing substantial came from it and now you run another candidate who augers stagnation? In other words your campaign is pro forma yet you can't admit except to yourselves.

Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.30.12 @ 8:36AM

"in the Postwar period you had Ike, Nixon and Bush 41 doing positive foreign policy."

And Reagan, I forgot to include him.. a guy could get horsewhipped for that!

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 9:07AM

Unless Alan, you are still angry that the RWR took down the USSR...

Oh Alan, your allegiance is showing...

DTOM

Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.30.12 @ 9:55AM

but is the Cold War ongoing? Someone at AS told me:
"the Cold War never ended! The Russians are still our enemy."

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 10:35AM

True, but I wouldn't really call Russia our enemies.

The Soviets were strategic AND ideological enemies; Russia in 2012 is a strategic adversary.

And frankly, this is something that bothers me, greatly, because we have mutual interests, namely in containing the growth of communist China and stopping the spread of Islam.

Putin is a problem, but any student of Russian history will tell you that his type of "leadership" is what the Russian people always seem to prefer, despite a stated preference for "democracy." For pete's sake, they still speak kindly of Stalin, and they worship Ivan the Terrible as a Saint.

In truth, most Russians (who still live in Russia) don't really understand the western concept of "democracy;" that's not meant as a put-down, it's merely a cultural observation.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:17AM

I'm not real eager to start entering unverifiable treaties with the Russians.

They have been probing our air defenses over the Arctic and they have sent nuclear subs into the Gulf of Mexico. They need an enemy and we are a better one than China: too many Chinese people, too totalitarian Chinese governance, too close to Russia...

I also don't think that Putin is a one-off problem actor. If he were to fall, somebody over there would succeed him...we need to be ready for a two-front war - China and Russia.

If we can establish energy independence the middle east with its islamic problem will abate, somewhat. They will be very busy pacifying their own people, when they find themselves in a world of twenty dollar oil. (This is not that farfetched!) After Britain, Islam was this country's first foreign enemy and it will always be so.

And I don't think that the Russian people have preferred much, if any, of the governance they have enjoyed for at least 150 years.

We need a strong defense more than ever!

DTOM

Anti-Statist| 8.30.12 @ 11:17AM

The cold war is inside the country now, between liberty and statism, and those who want one but not the other.

Anti-Statist| 8.30.12 @ 11:16AM

I had no problem with GW's foreign policy. Nor did Obama in reality, since he did little to change direction (except surrendering our hard-won strategic gain with Iraq).

Von Mises Jr| 8.30.12 @ 8:42AM

Well said, FarmersDaughter, even if you are sometimes the target of jokes. But what you say is not a joke at all.
The youth of the New Conservative Republican movement can identify with the educated youth in our society. Obama stealing $716B from Medicare is a teachable moment for the young.
Today's average income of about $50K equates to $43,500 in Medicare Premiums over thirty years. Social Security with both personal deductions and matching employer contributions is $186K.
If they do not help elect Romney/Ryan, Social Security is going broke in 25 years or less even if Obama doesn't steal that too for redistribution to buy votes.
So any young educated person that votes for Obama/Biden should have his head surgically removed from his posterior.

Jacob McCandles| 8.30.12 @ 9:14AM

I thought SS was already out of money, unless you count IOUs.

Von Mises Jr| 8.30.12 @ 9:31AM

The Trust Fund is broke Jacob. Social Security is a Ponzi scheme currently operating as a transfer of wealth from those paying in 10.4% of their total income (counting matching 6.2% employer contributions) and going back to 12.4% in January.
The tipping point is 2037 or before where the funds coming in will be insufficient to send out the checks.
So that was a very good question. The younger people must understand that they are NOT saving for their own retirement at this point, but paying for their parents. With Baby Boomers retiring and a very low Birth Rate, it collapses before any current college graduate gets one thin dime.

Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.30.12 @ 9:58AM

"Today's average income of about $50K equates to $43,500 in Medicare Premiums over thirty years. Social Security with both personal deductions and matching employer contributions is $186K."

But Romney wont risk doing anything about it, will he?

Von Mises Jr| 8.30.12 @ 11:08AM

troll alert.

Sonata| 8.30.12 @ 10:07AM

Paul Ryan say, "my playlist starts with AC/DC, and ends with Zeppelin."

Not only does the man have bad taste, but he's probably brain-damaged from listening to this hellish, adolescent heavy-metal trash.

Reason enough not to vote for him.

Sonata| 8.30.12 @ 10:08AM

Make that says--with an s.

Alej| 8.30.12 @ 12:26PM

"Paul Ryan say... ." Wrote it like you talk it in da hood, sista ?

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 10:37AM

Yeah...that's an intelligent critique..."I don't like his music, I'm votin' for Obama!"

Do you realize how dumb that sounds?

Skippy| 8.31.12 @ 4:37PM

"Be hip-hoppin to teh bad rap nigga wotchoo lookin at muthafutha."
Obama music.

vtwin| 8.30.12 @ 1:17PM

Ryan lied about the GM plant in Janesville, the plant closed in 2008 while Bush was still in office.

Ryan lied about Obama Medicare plan, Ryan’s budget the one the Republican controlled House passed would have replaced Medicare with a voucher leaving our elderly with adequate healthcare.

Ryan lied about credit rating downgrade, the credit rating downgrade was the result of Ryan and the Republican controlled House’s shenanigans over raising the national debt ceiling.

Ryan lied about the growing deficit, the result of Bush’s tax cuts in 2001 and 2003, Bush’s wars, and Bush’s opening of the treasury to the Drug industry ALL of which Ryan supported and voted and passed when the Republican controlled the House and the Senate. And lets not forget the economic collapse occurred under Bush policies ALL of which Ryan supported.

vtwin| 8.30.12 @ 1:19PM

Sorry that's without adequate healthcare.

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 1:57PM

Lied about the GM plant? I think your fact checkers got their facts wrong again. From the newspaper in Janesville. It closed in 2009

http://www.gazettextra.com/new.....comes-end/

vtwin| 8.30.12 @ 4:59PM

"Janesville, Wisconsin, will cease production of medium-duty trucks by the end of 2009" -- GM Press Release June 3, 2008

http://archives.media.gm.com/a.....61_pr.html

spike59| 8.31.12 @ 6:33AM

nice try, but the plant was still open until 2009-JUST like Ryan said

vtwin| 8.30.12 @ 5:07PM

Yes my drunken friend, Ryan lied; GM announced its decision to close the Janesville plant on June 3, 2008, 6 month before Obama was elected, 8 months before Obama assumed the Presidency.

Nick| 8.30.12 @ 7:43PM

Why didn't President "You Didn't Build That" save all those jobs, vtwit?

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 1:57PM

Wrong, again!!!

You really are a joke.

spike59| 8.31.12 @ 6:32AM

sorry, vtwin...but you're the liar here. ryan's facts about the Janesville plant are completely accurate-your assertion about Ryan's Medicare plan is a lie; everyone over 55 keeps their plan 'as is', and everyone OVER 55 has the option to go vouchers or continue with the present plan. you lied about the credit rating downgrade; it was the result of our government spending far more money than it could take in. you lied about the deficit; it was the result of the Federal government spending money it didn't have. and let's not forget that the economic collapse occured as soon as the Democrat took control of Congress and started passing budgets SIGNIFICANTLY larger than what even Bush proposed spending

Jack in Wi| 8.30.12 @ 4:39PM

The Packers are on tonight and so is Romney's speech. Which should I watch?

vtwin| 8.30.12 @ 5:20PM

The Packers will play again but this is Romney’s last big speech before he joins the ranks of the could-have-been.

Nick| 8.30.12 @ 5:46PM

I'm sure Jackboot the Nazi will be watching his Leni Riefenstahl film collection, like he does every night.
You forgot to praise your hero, Adolph Hitler, Jackboot.

Jack in Wi| 8.30.12 @ 7:12AM

I have been following a lot of conservative blogs. There isn't a lot of enthusiasm for this ticket. I think Ryan was a good addition to the ticket. But Romney is still a hard sell. I live in by far the most Republican area in this state. I see virtually zero signs for Romney in either yards or on cars. The only guy in my neighborhood who has a Romey sign is the hated twerp who lets the cops hide on his property for giving trickets. That alone almost makes me want to vote for someone else.

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 7:35AM

Leave it to Jack to throw cold water on what was, in fact, a great night at the convention.

Jack...listen up, because I'm only goi g to say this one time:

Romney/Ryan will win Wisconsin.

You and the other 5 disaffected Paul-bots in Wisconsin are irrelevant; nobody cares what you think.

Anyone still stupid enough to vote for Obama is incurable and unreachable.

Anyone voting for someone other than Romney/Ryan out of spite is a despicable, Un-American fool.

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 8:25AM

Although I share your disdain for Jack's thinly veiled anti-Semitism, your oft-stated desire for him to kill himself is equally disturbing.

You're probably just being over-the-top, but it's still in very poor taste.

Ross Kaminsky| 8.30.12 @ 9:03AM

Chuck, I won't tolerate comments like "eat a bullet" (other than about terrorists).

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 9:30AM

Thank you.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:19AM

I'm with you on that, too, Ross.

Skippy| 8.31.12 @ 6:01PM

They are so hard to chew.

Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.30.12 @ 10:01AM

"Chuck, I won't tolerate comments like "eat a bullet" (other than about terrorists)."

Your friend Mike Rosen at KOA likes that sort of 'eat a bullet' thing.

Pensacola reader| 8.30.12 @ 10:14AM

After reading this blog for some time, I am convinced that Doctor Right is sitting at home drawing a disability check.

He's on this page every day, all day long, and late into the night.

Yes, it appears that Doctor Right is riding the Disability Train, and Medicaid is probably paying for his psychoactive drugs.

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 10:38AM

Interesting theory.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:19AM

Maybe he just reads, thinks, and types a lot faster than you do...

DTOM

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 8:59AM

Doc,

If you think about it, people who argue in support of Obama at this point are basically shouting at the top of their lungs:
"Yes, I am stupid! Wanna make something of it?"

I say the best response is, "I'm sorry, couldn't hear you, could you speak up, please?"

Jack, Alan, really! Can you name ONE thing that Obama has done to help anyone other than his cronies? And the sad fact is, the minute Obama is no longer in a position to help his cronies, they'll stop following his tweets, de-friend him, lose his e-mail address, forget his cell number, and not remember where he lives.

Barack Obama is going to be lonelier than Jimmy Carter who's stuck on the peanut farm with his shrewish Rosalyn, who constantly reminds him of how no one respects him.

Would not want to be BHO - how long before Moochelle and the money run out? Surely his 3-point shot and his short (golf) game will desert him soon. He IS over 50 and all...

Oh, that's right, Barry will look up his buds, Alan and Jack- they'll be a swell bunch. Biggest problem? Who's gonna get stuck with the check?

I say ignore Jack and Alan and the other trolls. They are no longer a danger - not even firm idiots would believe their malarkey these days.

See ya!

DTOM

loulou| 8.30.12 @ 9:48AM

I simply do not understand why you waste time and effort replying to Jack and Alan. They have no value and show no interest in learning.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:21AM

loulou,

Because arguments that are not rebutted tend to stand. The bigger the lie, the stronger it can become. Propagandists rely on good men doing and saying nothing.

That's why.

Don't Tread On Me!

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 2:00PM

'Cuz it's fun..?

Besides...Alan is harmless, and even occasionally funny if you can laugh at yourself. He likes to tweak people, so for the hell of it, I tweak him back.

Jack is not really harmless. He's an anti-Semitic twit with some very ugly ideas, and a BIG chip on his shoulder.

The Bruce| 8.30.12 @ 12:21PM

Jack, the reason why you don't see many Romney signs or bumper stickers is because we simply don't want to see our property defaced.

C. Vernon Crisler | 8.30.12 @ 7:57AM

I think Ryan did the right thing by going negative against Obama. There's so little positive to say about Romney that the best strategy is to highlight Obama's failures.

BTW, here's a line that Bill Nye, the anti-science guy, should memorize:

"Each one of us was made for a reason, bearing the image and likeness of the Lord of Life."

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 9:01AM

CVC - How could you talk about BHO WITHOUT going negative? There's nothing good to say, absolutely nothing.

Okay, he does seem to have kept his hands and cigars off the interns. But then one look at Moochelle's "guns" and that shrinks that accomplishment done to less than size...

Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.30.12 @ 10:04AM

"There's so little positive to say about Romney that the best strategy is to highlight Obama's failures.."

Now the truth comes out.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:24AM

Cutting taxes in Taxachusetts with a balanced budget. Nothin!

Rescuing Salt Lake City Olympics on trainwreck course, nothin!

Saving how many jobs at firms re-organized by Bain Capital, nothin!

Al, your problem is you don't know nothin!

DTOM

CJW| 8.30.12 @ 10:38AM

Any descripiton of Obama's record will be negative because he has broken all his campaign promises, such as reducing the deficit and reducing unemployment.

Minuteman78| 8.30.12 @ 11:27AM

I know Ross couldn't repeat ALL the great lines Paul Ryan had, but the one that got me was him talking about defending the weak and helpless. That to me was Pro-Life, plain and simple.

Mimi | 8.30.12 @ 9:20AM

I'm not alone I know..but ..I have always liked Paul Ryan and to see him give that speech last night and do such a great job was fabulous!
When he finished all I could think was...MY GOD WE JUST WON!
Choosing who to hire was to me the most important job any good manager had. By Mitt Romney choosing Ryan he PROVED to the COUNTRY he is near genious !
Knowing we are this close to ending this trail of MISERY gives tears of JOY and confidence ....and strong HOPE!
Thank God the founders made it possible that we could re-hash our plight and choose different LEADERS every 4 years via an ELECTION!
Congratulations Republicans....You done GOOD !!

Mike G| 8.30.12 @ 9:34AM

"Choosing who to hire was to me the most important job any good manager had. By Mitt Romney choosing Ryan he PROVED to the COUNTRY he is near genious !"

Romney has showed why he was successful in business. Successful businesspeople surround themselves with smart people. I'm beginning to think Romney/Ryan can win.

Gary B| 8.30.12 @ 9:35AM

Talk about tough acts to follow... the Democrat convention ought to be a hoot. The press will certainly have their work cut out for them, as they spin themselves into a tizzy. I'm sure many of them will be nominated for creative writing awards.

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.30.12 @ 9:43AM

Mimi,
I'm with you!

O think all but the stupidest will be delighted with Romney tonight. I have made it a point to scrounge through local TV coverages aroud the country. In each case, Romney blew their socks off on the stump.
In reality, Romney's only perceived "weakness" has been his reluctance to brag about "his own self".
Well guess what...with Ann and Ryan bragging on him so eloquently, he can now move on to "OK, let's get to work".

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.30.12 @ 9:47AM

PS: Romney has NO problem being "overshadowed". As Board Chairmen of many companies...he was ALWAYS stepping back into the shadows and letting his CEOs shine.

Alan Obama Fan Brooks | 8.30.12 @ 10:05AM

"As Board Chairmen of many companies...he was ALWAYS stepping back into the shadows and letting his CEOs shine."

He had much to be modest about.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:25AM

Al,

Less than you.

DTOM

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:27AM

And whole train cars, train loads, shiploads less than our littlest socialist President.

Name one thing that Obama can be modest about!

Name one thing that Obama HAS been modest about!

Alan,

This is not working. Try something else.

DTOM

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 2:01PM

Yeah, it must be hard be sooooo unsuccessful while making money hand-over-fist...

Purp| 8.30.12 @ 9:56AM

Yeah, he lights up the base, and I might vote for him for President - oh, wait, it's Mitt the Twit running for President. Too bad .... wait 'til next time I guess.

Gary B| 8.30.12 @ 10:55AM

Purp, you're cuter than a bug's ear. The children's table is over there.

TeaPartyNow| 8.30.12 @ 11:05AM

That only goes to show you how gullible the base is, not how good Ryan is. These idiots will believe anything if they liked his speech last night, you should watch, lies, lies, cheats, zero of his career, zero solutions, only his pathetic obsession with obama. It is far worse than anything I could have imagined. The right thinks that the American People are stupid enough not to see what these people really are. The American People beg to differ.

rightasrain| 8.30.12 @ 11:16AM

You are like a raspberry seed stuck in a tooth. Those of us with more than a nodding acquaintance with reality know that this November there are 2 choices: Romney/Ryan or Obama/Biden. What's it going to be TPN?

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:31AM

rightas...

Spit out a raspberry seed and you might get a raspberry bush.

Spit out the Troll TeaPartyNow and you will have soiled and spoiled the sidewalk...on the sidewalk TPN will become like old gum - icky, yucky, sticky, and utterly, utterly worthless.

Ya, that's you, you stupid troll, TeaParty Now.

It was the communists who perfected the "false flag" operation - and now democrat trolls perfect it. False flag is the true sign of cowardice.

Don't Tread On Me!

CScott| 8.30.12 @ 10:02AM

Congressman Paul Ryan succeeded in delivering a solid, well-written speech that was very persuasive. He was articulate, and exuded the confidence and passion that all voters want from their politicians. Unfortunately, in my personal opinion, his misleading statements on President Obama taking money from Medicare and unfair characterization of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also took away from his speech. There were others instances where was deceptive as well as instances where he made good points in his attack on current administrations polices and efforts. Overall it was a very effective speech.

Ross Kaminsky| 8.30.12 @ 1:02PM

What part of Ryan's statements about taking money from Medicare is misleading?

CScott| 8.30.12 @ 3:39PM

It’s misleading, in my opinion, because Congressman Ryan is attacking President Obama on Medicare cuts that he also supports. He proposes many of the same Medicare spending cuts in his last two budgets. Congressman Ryan wordage paints the picture as if the cuts in Medicare are to pay for The Affordable Healthcare Act and it’s at the “expense of the elderly.” The Medicare cuts are to slow the growing trend spending, which both parties agree is necessary.

Ross Kaminsky| 8.30.12 @ 3:47PM

Not true. Obama's cuts are to Medicare Advantage in large part, and Obamacare pretends that other cuts to doctors' reimbursement will stick, which they won't, in order to lie about Obamacare's true cost.

The way Obama cut Medicare will hasten, not slow, its bankruptcy.

Details matter.

CScott| 8.30.12 @ 4:31PM

What isn't true about my statement? Congressman Ryan and fellow Republicans support these same cuts that reduce the reimbursements to health care providers that is in The Affordable Healthcare Act. They want to get rid of the Act but want to keep this part which is where the majority of the President Obama's plan to curb spending will occur.

George S| 8.30.12 @ 5:08PM

No. Ryan's budget is a grown-up budget so its has to take the law into account. When ObamaCare was passed, that 700 plus billion transfer from Medicare became the Law. Congress and the President cannot make that disappear in their budget forecasts.

Ryan's budget followed the law. Don't conflate that with agreement or hypocrisy.

Pensacola reader| 8.30.12 @ 10:21AM

As for Romney/Ryan, I can muster no enthusiasm. All Romney wants is the presidency to feed his insatiable ego. Ditto for Ryan.

At least Obama is sincere, and I think in his second term he will really turn this country around financially.

I considered Romney for a while, but quickly lost interest when I read the Republican platform.

One last thing: It's a sure bet that Romney will not be elected.

Houdini| 8.30.12 @ 10:35AM

Obama is to sincere as Stalin was to compassion.

CopyKatnj| 8.30.12 @ 10:51AM

A priceless comment. You've stated more in those few sentences than all the other comments combined. Romney\Ryan 2012.

TeaPartyNow| 8.30.12 @ 11:00AM

I agree. Ryan last night came off as a liar and a cheat. The things that he said have already been shown to be false, yet he continues to talk about them. He gave zero of his career. He has never had a job outside of Washington D.C., yet can expose no detail as to what he has done. He gave zero solutions.

I thank you for you honesty. I believe that Romney will lose. The only thing that they have is the peoples fear of obama care. But that fight can be won by the left too. All Romney wants to do is run with the American Peoples money.

Anti-Statist| 8.30.12 @ 11:21AM

You sharted. Go clean yourself up.

Ross Kaminsky| 8.30.12 @ 1:04PM

TPN,

Ryan came across as the most sincere politician on either ticket. I realize "sincere politician" may be an oxymoron, but having known Ryan for some years I am convinced he is absolutely sincere. Indeed, he sincerely believes that Medicare is a legitimate function of government -- which I don't believe.

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 2:04PM

You're not now, nor have you ever been a member of the Tea Party.

Gary B| 8.30.12 @ 11:03AM

"At least Obama is sincere, and I think in his second term he will really turn this country around financially." Just curious... what evidence do you have for that? Let's see, Romney is a proven financial and business expert and Obama is a specialist with a bullhorn. Do you, by any chance, think of yourself as a "pseudo intellectual?" If not, perhaps you should.

TeaPartyNow| 8.30.12 @ 11:09AM

Why, after his whole adult life was spent in Washington D.C., could Paul Ryan say nothing of what he has done there? John Boehner cut nothing, and raised federal spending, Ryan was there to help. What have the republicans done for us lately? They take more away from the American People than the left. And there were zero paths to recovery in his speech last night.

You take your life in your hands and throw it in the gutter when you trust those that you do not know like Romney/Ryan.

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 11:19AM

Sincere? Really???? I guess all the broken promises and lies were just unfortunate flukes of circumstances.

You sound like another Alan alias.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:39AM

Pensacola;

So he wasn't trying in his first term?

Was Obama sincere when he said that GW Bush's half trillion dollar deficit increase over eight years was unAmerican, in comparison to Obama's FIVE TRILLION dollar deficit increas in four years? Pensacola, you might be math challenged, but let me help you out. Obama called GW Bush unAmerican for deficits and then created deficits twenty times faster? Where is this Obama sincerity?

Obama took $716 billion dollars from Medicare for his pet Obamacare and did not replace it. Then he complains that Ryan's attempt to fix Medicare is going to bankrupt it? Because Ryan is going to end Obamacare and restore the $716 billion to Medicare?

Pensacola, if you are unaware of these facts, you are uninformed, ignorant. You can easily resolve that problem. But if you know these things and think that is "sincerity" you are either stupid or evil.

What's it going to be Pensacola, ignorant, stupid, or evil?

You have no excuse now.

Don't Tread On Me

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 2:03PM

"At least Obama is sincere, and I think in his second term he will really turn this country around financially."

Stand back, folks...we are dealing with a TRULY deluded individual experiencing serious hallucinations...He may be dangerous.

Keep your fingers and hands away from his mouth, and call the authorities.

fmm| 8.30.12 @ 10:33AM

The trolls on this site are so pathetic but good for many laughs.

squalis| 8.30.12 @ 10:36AM

Check out this headline from HuffPo:

RYAN SPEECH BUILT ON DEMONSTRABLY MISLEADING ASSERTIONS
FULL TEXT.. WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS.. LATEST UPDATES

I could barely read it. Have no idea if their claims are true, but it's about little stuff. If true, this gives detractors something to grab on to...perhaps the speach should have been examined more closely beforehand.

TeaPartyNow| 8.30.12 @ 10:47AM

Ryans speech last night was horrible. You should watch it. He has zero of his literally life only in D.C., and zero solutions. He spends his time talking about how bad Obama is, but merely says that we need better leadership, and has no answers as to what that supposed leadership looks like.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:44AM

TPN:

Why don't you spend thirty minutes and tell us about all of Obama's accomplishments?

Okay, how about five minutes.

Okay, a minute.

Thirty seconds?

Two seconds?

Yeah, we know Obama took out Osama.

And another thing, "We welcome the debate on Medicare"

"We will limit federal spending to 20% of GDP."

TPN, you ignorant troll, you wouldn't know leadership, if took you by the hand and dragged you out of a burning building.

Moron.

DTOM

squalis| 8.30.12 @ 12:27PM

No need to watch it..I'm voting Romney / Ryan...just saying if there were obvious errors that were included in the speach, they could have been eliminated without changing the overall message.

Butch| 8.30.12 @ 5:27PM

The "lies" stuff is pure desparation. It's a bunch of very misleading hair-splitting. Get on over to NR (sorry AmSpec) to see the "lie" gambit debunked. They'll exploit it all they can, of course: it's all they have. They are terrified because Ryan zeroed right in and said it better than its been said up to now. Relax.

TeaPartyNow| 8.30.12 @ 10:53AM

If Paul Ryan has only worked in our nations capital, that is more than twenty years he has been there, and yet there was zero of his own career. He talked about the stimulus again last night, after being caught lying about how he personally wasted millions of Obama stimulus funds himself. Paul Ryan is a liar and a cheat, and it will be sooo easy to make the case. He lost the medicare debate. All that Romney/Ryan really has is the American Peoples fear of Obamacare. And if they take that away, and keep the money that has been taken for it, that is another net loss for the American People. The right can no longer look at its own candidates objectively. I will be curious what Mark Levin has to say. But last night was a huge fail, people wanted answers. Last night Ryan, all he did was blow smoke.

Anti-Statist| 8.30.12 @ 11:24AM

You really are over the top. Let me guess- you're a Ron Paul-bot.

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:47AM

A-S;

My diagnosis is that this is a paid-for Soros's funded troll. He keeps repeating how bad Ryan is because he's got a long string of victories in a Democrat heavy Congressional district.

Paul-bots do at their heart share with conservatives a respect for the Constitution which ToiletPaperNow does not. Witness love of Obamacare!

Carry on, valiant citizen!

DTOM

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 2:05PM

BWAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH!!!!!

Libs are getting sooooooooooo desperate, it's hilarious!

Louis Jenkins| 8.30.12 @ 10:54AM

When Ryan termed Obama "the man assumed office almost four years ago- isn't it about time he assumed responsibility?" I about dropped off the couch laughing. Mowing grass and waiting tables is more of a job than anything Obama or the trolls ever did. At least there's responsibility in mowing grass or waiting tables. Obama was a community organizer before he went into state government, so accusing Ryan of only having been involved in government is a little weak. The only good thing the trolls have done is making us a little more miserable here, and after Ryan's speech last night, misery is not part of our vocabulary. Obama only wants consolation, and votes, from his fellow les miserables'.

TeaPartyNow| 8.30.12 @ 10:54AM

Like they say in North Dakota, don't piss on a rock and tell me that it's raining. Ryans speech is a huge failure.

Pensacola reader| 8.30.12 @ 11:07AM

Righto.

The Republican quest for the presidency is already doomed.

The upcoming Democratic Convention--in constrast to the Republican Convention-- will focus squarely on what will be done to make the country better, and articulate precisely the sequential steps to accomplish the goals--something the Republicans have failed to do .

Gary B| 8.30.12 @ 11:15AM

So, are we to assume the past 3-1/2 years has only been a warm-up act? We've seen Obama's "sequential steps." Unfortunately, he failed to mention them during the '08 campaign. Are we to now expect honesty from the congenital liar in chief and his all-American staff?

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:49AM

Obama is going to finally get his over-the-back slam dunk perfected - gonna get his short (golf) game down, too. Going to outlaw private property, too.

Pensacola, I asked nicely: Are you ignorant, stupid or evil? Which is it? We want to know?

Don't Tread On Me!!!

PS. "DTOM" Is my handle for a reason! DTOM

Gary B| 8.30.12 @ 11:10AM

Are you feeling kinda' lonely? Because you're hugely outnumbered here and out in the world. By what criteria have you judged Ryan's speech a failure? Perhaps you're more highly evolved and intellectually superior to most of us here and we just don't understand.

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 2:06PM

Just because you say something over and over again - even believe it - doesn't make it true.

Louis Jenkins| 8.30.12 @ 4:43PM

I believe it was "Don't piss down the back of my neck and tell me it's raining." A Clint Eastwood movies I believe. And yes, Obama's bladder should be about dry by now and the American worker is drenched.

Who Knows?| 8.30.12 @ 11:07AM

Whoever wrote Ryan’s speech deserves the highest FREEDOM praise! So many memorable lines, it’s going to be tough to single out one. My guess is-- the image of 22-year-old college grads still at home in their childhood bedroom looking up at a fading photo of Obama.

Witty truth sells.

What really gave me chills, though, was the killer ap on immigration, code for Hispanics---Governor Susan Martinez of New Mexico. Too bad every American couldn’t have seen and heard her story!

What does America MOST need, at the bottoming out of the current crisis?

Converts!

One person at a time, the ONLY hope for freedom’s rejuvenation is for a big switch, from unconscious Democrats to awake Republicans---or from liberals to conservatives.

Martinez’s tale of how she was willing to listen to someone who, sans party labels, questioned her belief in various areas, and how she realized she was REALLY a Republican, brought tears to my eyes.

I’m sure that the overwhelming percentage of self-proclaimed Democrats are actually deluded. O, at least many, or most of them. Toilet trained to be jackasses, they need a swift kick in THEIR memory bank, or belief center.

Kingofthenet| 8.30.12 @ 11:07AM

How can it be a 'Great Speech' if the vast majority of the specific supposed Obama 'Failures' were lies and distortions? I guess you 'could' say it was Reaganesque, he was also fond of making things up.

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 11:21AM

The trolls smell of desperation.

Gary B| 8.30.12 @ 11:21AM

If there was a train heading straight for you, with horn blaring, would you step off the tracks if your ideology called for you stay put? I honestly think you'd just stand there, denying reality to the last second. Luckily, abortion, combined with serial stupidity, will continue thinning out the ranks of liberals.

rightasrain| 8.30.12 @ 11:37AM

It must be very frustrating to try to dupe people into believing that 8%+unemployment, record numbers of foreclosures and nonexistent economic growth aren't Obama's failures but really evidence of a roaring economy. Obviously Rush was right when he posited that Obama is going after the moron vote. I could (almost) understand being fooled once by all the hope and change rhetoric but how anyone with an IQ higher than his neck size would want to give Obama four more years is beyond belief.

Kingofthenet| 8.30.12 @ 11:40AM

From Fox news(So you know it's true)

On the other hand, to anyone paying the slightest bit of attention to facts, Ryan’s speech was an apparent attempt to set the world record for the greatest number of blatant lies and misrepresentations slipped into a single political speech. On this measure, while it was Romney who ran the Olympics, Ryan earned the gold.

Fact: While Ryan tried to pin the downgrade of the United States’ credit rating on spending under President Obama, the credit rating was actually downgraded because Republicans threatened not to raise the debt ceiling.

Fact: While Ryan blamed President Obama for the shut down of a GM plant in Janesville, Wisconsin, the plant was actually closed under President George W. Bush. Ryan actually asked for federal spending to save the plant, while Romney has criticized the auto industry bailout that President Obama ultimately enacted to prevent other plants from closing.

Fact: Though Ryan insisted that President Obama wants to give all the credit for private sector success to government, that isn't what the president said. Period.

Fact: Though Paul Ryan accused President Obama of taking $716 billion out of Medicare, the fact is that that amount was savings in Medicare reimbursement rates (which, incidentally, save Medicare recipients out-of-pocket costs, too) and Ryan himself embraced these savings in his budget plan.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion.....z252nY2q13

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 11:48AM

Great minds think alike King - we both posted some of the lies at 11.40. Nice spot with Fox - as this New yorker blog notes:

Ryan Launches Campaign Theme of Lying About Everything

In his speech to the Republican National Convention last night, Vice-Presidential nominee Paul Ryan test-drove what the Romney-Ryan campaign says will be a major theme for the 2012 Republican campaign: “lying about everything.”
“The question was, how many whoppers could you pack into one speech?” the campaign adviser Tracy Klugian said. “All I can say is, when Fox News accuses a Republican of lying, you know you’ve witnessed something historic.”

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/onlin.....z252qMOrQc

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:56AM

Boy King of the net and Jack London!

That's a list of truly towering intellects.

Somehow you two have made feel a little uneasy - you are so bereft of reason, logic, facts that taking you apart feels a little too easy...

Aw what the heck, Don't Tread On Me's mascot is a rattlesnake.

Naw, calling you guys dumber than rocks is an insult to rocks, everywhere.

Please tell me a single promise Obama made before November 2008 that he has kept. That he has even tried to keep. That he can even remember?

I know one! If we can't get the deficit down this (presidency) will be a one term proposition.

Barry, live up to your promises, please!

DTOM

Pensacola reader| 8.30.12 @ 12:31PM

If these people are "trolls," there is one striking feature that identifies them, and that's the ability to express coherent ideas withour resorting to bullying and adolescent vulgarity, so typical of some of the regular commenters on this site.

Are you regular commenters capable of expressing calm, reasoned opinions? If not, please make the attempt to cool down your inflammatory tones.

Otherwise, we will all have headaches.

George S| 8.30.12 @ 1:09PM

No, the one striking feature that identifies them is the ability to cut and paste. That's what makes them coherent. Just read what they write on their own -- coherency is the last adjective that comes to mind.

Gary B| 8.30.12 @ 3:37PM

"Ryan Launches Campaign Theme of Lying About Everything." Should get him elected. Worked for Obama...

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 11:54AM

And you guys say Fox is not fair and balance. Come on, they even paid the person who wrote the article to the link you provided. And she is about as liberal as they come.

Sally Kohn:
Previously, Kohn was Senior Campaign Strategist with the Center for Community Change, where she served as co-Director. She also previously served as Executive Director of the Third Wave Foundation. Kohn held a program fellowship at the Ford Foundation, helping to manage more than $15 million in annual grants. She was also a distinguished Vaid Fellow at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute. Kohn has consulted at organizations such as the Urban Justice Center. She was also a strategic adviser to the Social Justice Infrastructure Funders.

She is also a contributor to The Huffington Post.

Kohn met her partner, Sarah Hansen, at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2003.

Her site:http://sallykohn.com/

Come one, she even refers to herself on her blog as a Pragmatic Radical.

And we are supposed to believe she has no axe to grind here.

Pathetic.

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 11:54AM

This was for the Queenie and Jackie above.

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 11:59AM

What Ryan says is either true or false, I'm sure you'd agree. We expect a few lies in a GOP speech, but the consensus it seems is that he has stepped over the line with the sheer number of lies - no media outlet is prepared to give him a pass on this otherwise they just look stupid.

The main lie he didn't repeat is Obama removing work for welfare - but I expect we'll get that from Romney.

Be honest - aren't you even a bit uncomfortable about being lied to?

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 12:16PM

They are only lies if your looking through liberal eyes. Not sure where you get your consensus from (though I have a pretty good idea) or where you get the "no media outlet is prepared to give him a pass" talking points from but I see very little negatives being put out there from the MSM
about his speech.

Even CNN thinks he nudged Independents into the Romney/Ryan column.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/30/.....?hpt=hp_t2

Hear that sound? It's the bell tolling for your canidate.

George S| 8.30.12 @ 12:07PM

Ahem... those "facts" are in a piece in the OPINION section of Fox. O...p...i...n...i...o...n is not fact. Consult a dictionary if you are still confused.

Doctor Right| 8.30.12 @ 2:07PM

'Cuz they weren't lies and distortions. They were stone, cold FACTS.

David| 8.30.12 @ 11:20AM

Ryan readily admitted that he has been in government most of his adult life. Then contrasted himself with Romney as the person with load of private sector experience.

So to those who are bitching about Ryan not having private sector experience, he acknowledged that, and also believes the private sector/free market is the solution to the problems facing this country.

I'll bet Romney has more private sector experience than every cabinet member, their assistants, and every one of the 40 or so czars that the Boy has appointed - combined.

Minuteman78| 8.30.12 @ 11:29AM

Overall, I loved how he absolutely took a figurative baseball bat to Obama.

Kingofthenet| 8.30.12 @ 11:45AM

When you line up Straw Men, they are EASY to knock down.

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 12:11PM

Your dead on. Ryan knocked down all of Obama's straw men.

That is what you meant isn't it?

John II| 8.30.12 @ 11:35AM

2012 Democratic Convention Schedule Charlotte, NC

4:00 PM - Opening Flag Burning Ceremony

4:05 PM - Singing of "God Damn America" led by Rev. Jeremiah Wright

4:10 PM - Pledge of Allegiance to Obama led by Joy Behar

4:30 PM - Tribute to "Occupy Wall Street" movement - Harry Reid

4:45 PM - Jobs seminar - " Successful Careers Without Work." - Al Sharpton/Jesse Jackson

5:30 PM - "Family Values" Seminar - Eliot Spitzer via satellite

6:00 PM - "Home Mortgage" Seminar - Barney Frank

6:30 pm - "Kindly Domestic Terror Techniques" - Bill Ayers

7:00 PM - Film Tribute to Freedom Fighters incarcerated at GITMO - Michael Moore

7:45 PM - "Personal Finance Seminar" - Charlie Rangle

7:50 PM - "Commitment to US Border Security" - Eric Holder

9:00 PM - Denunciation of Bitter Gun Owners and Bible readers - Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

9:15 PM - "Energy Plan Symposium and Green Investments" - Al Gore

10:00 PM - Ceremonial Waving of White Flag for Iraq & Afghanistan.

10:20 PM - Obama accepts Congressional Medal of Honor for Bin Laden capture

10:25 PM - Obama accepts Greenpeace Hero Medal for instant cleanup of Gulf oil spill

10:30 PM - Official Nomination of Obama by Bill Maher and Chris Matthews

*** Break for installation of additional teleprompters ***

11:00 PM - Obama Accepts Nomination as Lord and Savior

12:00 AM - Food stamps distributed to departing delegates

1:00 AM - Convention Hall clean-up

3:00 AM - Biden Delivers Acceptance Speech

DTOM| 8.30.12 @ 11:57AM

John II

Fess up. You lifted this. Don't be a Biden...

It's good though!

Don't Tread On Me!!!

John II| 8.30.12 @ 1:39PM

Okay--I confess, Tommy. It's been going the rounds on the internet, and I couldn't resist sharing after a friend passed it along to me.

But the original is about three times as long, so the only way I could post it was to spend a hour or so editing it down so that it fit the space limits enforced by TAS. Some of the juicier parts wound up on the cutting room floor, I'm afraid, but I think I improved the prose here and there.

And now back to "How the West Was Won" (1962), narrated by Spencer Tracy back when liberals were still patriots. The somewhat choppy character of the flick is the result of aggressive editing.

Nick| 8.30.12 @ 12:14PM

Ha-ha! Very funny, John II.

CJW| 8.30.12 @ 1:03PM

Excellent, John

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 11:40AM

Ross - I see you didn't have space to fit in Ryan's lies. Let me plug this gap with a list from here:

http://thinkprogress.org/elect.....ns-speech/

1. “A downgraded America.” Ryan blamed the president for the nation’s credit downgrade in August 2011 after Republicans threatened to allow the government to default on its debt for the first time in history. But the ratings agency explicitly blamed “Republicans saying that they refuse to accept any tax increases as part of a larger deal.”
2. “More debt than any other president before him, and more than all the troubled governments of Europe combined.” Romney has made the almost identical claim, that Obama has amassed more debt “as almost all of the other presidents combined.” But their math doesn’t add up: when Obama took office, the national debt was $10.626 trillion. It has increased to slightly above $15 trillion.
3. Shuttered General Motors plant is “one more broken promise.” Ryan described a GM plant that closed down in his hometown, Janesville, Wisconsin, and blamed Obama for breaking his promise to keep the plant open when he visited during his campaign. But Obama never made that promise, and the plant shut down in December 2008, before Obama even took office.

George S| 8.30.12 @ 12:23PM

1. "The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a Sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills... Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally." -- Senator Barack Obama 2006

2. 10.6 trillion over 232 years, a 50 percent increase in less than four years. A technical distinction when you do a math equation; a devastating pattern when you look at the time frame.

3. "A lot of guys I went to high school with worked at that G.M. plant. Right there at that plant, candidate Obama said, "I believe that if our government is there to support you, this plant will be here for another 100 years.'' That's what he said in 2008. Well, as it turned out, that plant didn't last another year. It is locked up and empty to this day. And that's how it is in so many towns where the recovery that was promised is no where in sight."

Prove Obama never said that.

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 11:40AM

Part 2

4. Obama “did exactly nothing” on Bowles-Simpson. Ryan said, “He created a bipartisan debt commission. They came back with an urgent report. He thanked them, sent them on their way, and then did exactly nothing.” In fact, Ryan was instrumental in sabotaging the commission, leading the other House Republicans in voting against the plan.
5. “$716 billion, funneled out of Medicare by President Obama.” Ryan’s favorite lie is a deliberate distortion of Obamacare’s savings from eliminating inefficiencies. Furthermore, Ryan’s own plan for Medicare includes these savings. Romney has vowed to restore these cuts, which would render the trust fund insolvent 8 years ahead of schedule.
6. “The greatest of all responsibilities is that of the strong to protect the weak.” Ryan closed the speech with an invocation of social responsibility, saying, “The truest measure of any society is how it treats those who cannot defend or care for themselves.” However, numerous clergy members have condemned Ryan’s budget plan as “cruel,” and “an immoral disaster” because of its devastating cuts in social programs the poor and sick rely on. Meanwhile, Ryan would give ultra-rich individuals and corporations $3 trillion in tax breaks.

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 12:18PM

Think progress talking points? Come on your not even trying hard anymore.

George S| 8.30.12 @ 12:36PM

4. "Urgent" commission reports are not the way the Constitution divides power. The president proposes a budget and the Congress votes on it. Obama's budgets were rejected by all Democrats in the Senate -- not just Paul Ryan and the House. Ryan was doing his job while Obama sought to pass the buck to a commission.

5. Why didn't Obama remove those inefficiencies when he took office? What exactly are those inefficiencies? That 714 billion was funneled to the CBO to score ObamaCare under a trillion dollars (lest it go into the sunset provision). By reducing Medicare's funding, the government "saves" an equal amount, thus creating a future 714 billion credit by not borrowing that 714 billion. This is double counting is what sent Enron execs to jail.

6. We the People do not elect faceless nameless "numerous clergy". Where in Ryan's plan is the word 'ultra-rich' used? Where does the 3 trillion number come from in your supposed fact-filled missive? Anyway, rhetorical flourish is not fact based speech. You should know that, after all what exactly is Hope And Change?

As usual, you fail to impress.

John II| 8.30.12 @ 1:57PM

Jackie! It's you again! What an unpleasant surprise.

Anyhow, I remain fascinated by your choice of nom de internet. If you get a chance for a breather, you might want to bone up on your namesake: a fierce socialist of goofy parentage and rootless background, intermittently bright and bold, but erratic and undisciplined, hugely self-centered and clownishly self-important, a flamboyant man who died rather young without ever having acquired a sense of proportion or shame. Indeed, his epitaph might plausibly have read: "At his best when things were going his way."

In short, Jack London was among the many forerunners, and in retrospect the perfect avatar, of the Obamanation: a thin man of colossally chubby disposition.

And now back to "Call of the Wild" (1935), in which Clark Cable plays a somewhat chummy version of John Thornton in a VERY loose adaptation of the 1903 London novel. But at least Buck the dog is closer in breed (a mix of St. Bernard and sheep dog) to the original canine lead. In the 1972 Charlton Heston version, the plot is closer to the novel's, but Buck is played by a German shepherd who acts like Rin Tin Tin.

London would have whined that there is no justice.

Nick| 8.30.12 @ 12:06PM

The reason the O'Bama regime will lose the election is because they lie constantly. They're incapable of telling the truth.

They accused Mitt Romney of killing a steelworker's wife.
They lied about knowing the steelworker.
They are trying to gut the work requirement for welfare, and lying about it.
They are lying about the $716 billion O'BamaCare is stealing from MediScare Advantage. (The only part of MediScare that could be called somewhat successful.)
They are lying about the actual unemployment rate. It's really about 12%.
They are lying about how much they have increased the national debt. They've spent in under 4 years what it took President Bush 8 years to spend. Taking the national debt to $16 trillion.

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 2:52PM

"They are trying to gut the work requirement for welfare"

Just out of interest, Nazi, what's your evidence for this?

CJW| 8.30.12 @ 3:00PM

Purpie/commie Jack,

Poor attempt at diversion.
You know it is true.

George S| 8.30.12 @ 5:02PM

Allow me...

From the July 12, 2012 HHS memo (TANF-ACF-IM-2012-03):

Section 1115 authorizes waivers concerning section 402. Accordingly, other provisions of the TANF statute are not waivable. For example, the purposes of TANF are not waivable, because they are contained in section 401. The prohibitions on assistance are not waivable, because they are contained in section 408.

While the TANF work participation requirements are contained in section 407, section 402(a)(1)(A)(iii) requires that the state plan “[e]nsure that parents and caretakers receiving assistance under the program engage in work activities in accordance with section 407.” Thus, HHS has authority to waive compliance with this 402 requirement and authorize a state to test approaches and methods other than those set forth in section 407, including definitions of work activities and engagement, specified limitations, verification procedures, and the calculation of participation rates. As described below, however, HHS will only consider approving waivers relating to the work participation requirements that make changes intended to lead to more effective means of meeting the work goals of TANF.

There is the evidence. Let Jack argue with a piece of paper.

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 5:14PM

Well George, did you read what you posted? It seems not:

"HHS will only consider approving waivers relating to the work participation requirements that make changes intended to lead to more effective means of meeting the work goals of TANF."

The waivers were asked for by five states, including two run by the GOP. This wasn't the idea of the federal administration - the states want some flexibility to get more people into work, and I believe the requirement is for 20% more in work for a waiver. So - how is that 'gutting the work requirement'?

George S| 8.30.12 @ 6:27PM

Let's walk this through together.

Q: What are the "work goals of TANF"?
A: That is irrelevant; it is the LAW that governs.

Q: What is the law?
A: Social Security Act 407:

(a) Participation Rate Requirements.—
(1) A State to which a grant is made under section 403 for a fiscal year shall achieve the minimum participation rate specified in the following table for the fiscal year with respect to all families receiving assistance under the State program funded under this part or any other State program funded with qualified State expenditures (as defined in section 409(a)(7)(B)(i)):
(2) A State to which a grant is made under section 403 for a fiscal year shall achieve the minimum participation rate specified in the following table[..]

(c) Engaged in Work.—
(1) General rules.—
(A) For purposes of subsection (b)(1)(B)(i), a recipient is engaged in work for a month in a fiscal year if the recipient is participating in work activities for at least the minimum average number of hours per week specified in the following table during the month, not fewer than 20 hours per week of which are attributable to an activity described in [paragraph...]

So far so good..? The law is blindingly clear on work requirements. Agreed.

George S| 8.30.12 @ 6:33PM

Now lets look at section 402(a)(1)(A)(iii) shall we?:

(A) In general.—At the option of the State, a certification by the chief executive officer of the State that the State has established and is enforcing standards and procedures to—

(i) screen and identify individuals receiving assistance under this part with a history of domestic violence while maintaining the confidentiality of such individuals;

(ii) refer such individuals to counseling and supportive services; and

(iii) waive, pursuant to a determination of good cause, other program requirements such as time limits (for so long as necessary) for individuals receiving assistance, residency requirements, child support cooperation requirements, and family cap provisions, in cases where compliance with such requirements would make it more difficult for individuals receiving assistance under this part to escape domestic violence or unfairly penalize such individuals who are or have been victimized by such violence, or individuals who are at risk of further domestic violence.

Do you see a theme? Why yes, the waivers are pursuant to domestic violence! Not a word about waiving the actual work requirements. THIS is the section that Sibelius says gives her the power to waive Section 407's work requirements.

A trick of the legal pen, Jack. A trick of the legal pen.

We cool?

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 6:47PM

What you're ignoring is that Republicans - including Romney when he was at MA - have been campaigning for flexibility in TANF. Now that it's arrived you're whining about it because it's come from the Dems and are telling gross lies about 'gutting' the program when it is being improved at the request of states.

If this had come from a GOP administration we would not have heard this pathetic attempt to stamp on getting more people into work in the name of attacking the Dems. This is why you won't win - even the ideas that come from your own base you crap on from a great height. Good luck with that George.

George S| 8.30.12 @ 6:59PM

Jack, I give out more honest information than you will ever get from a talking points website. No one is arguing the goals of TANF with respect to the victims of domestic violence, incapacity or disease. But what you are missing is that the goals of TANF with respect to the able-bodied are made more difficult by the current economic climate. During the Bush years, when Mexicans (nationals, not race) were doing jobs Americans didn't want to do, there was no excuse for not finding a job. Today, there are plenty of excuses thanks to the Light (weight) Worker.

So, yes, there is a need to try to com-ply with the law by seeking waivers based on trying economic conditions. But that is not the HHS's intent. Read the memo again -- it wants to redefine what is work so that the guts of Section 407 become meaningless.

CJW| 8.30.12 @ 8:24PM

GeorgeS
Excellent.

Purpie/Commie Jack know the facts but their, or his, job is to divert attention from the miserable Obama record, and so he/they lie and try to mislead.

For example, Purpie/Jack kept insisting that Obama passed a law to prohibit discrimination against women in employment. That has been the law since 1964. Obama signed a law to extend the statute of limitations to file suit.

Now they deny the $716 billion Medicare Heist, Rezko paying for Obama house, Solyndra, and Michele getting a raise from $100,000 to $317,000 per year courtesy of Obama's earmark request.

As noted they serve one useful purpose, they post the Obama drivel that everyone here takes a turn at demolishing.

Purp| 8.30.12 @ 11:09PM

Thank you, George - that is NOT an indictment, but a confirmation that this is not waiving the work requirement unless "HHS will only consider approving waivers relating to the work participation requirements that make changes intended to lead to more effective means of meeting the work goals of TANF."

Nick| 8.30.12 @ 5:07PM

It's called the law, Jack'o. Try reading something about it. Instead of repeatedly regurgitating lefty talking-points.

The O'Bama regime & HHS have NO AUTHORITY to waive ANYTHING. O'Bama is trying to gut the work requirement in TANF. The regime's proposal would allow HHS and states to redefine what the word "work" means.

"The Obama Administration is now illegally claiming authority to waive the TANF work requirements through a legal device called the section 1115 waiver authority under the Social Security law (42 U.S.C. 1315). Section 1115 states that “the Secretary may waive compliance with any of the requirements” of specified parts of various laws. However, this is not an open-ended authority. Any provision of law that can be waived under section 1115 must be listed in section 1115 itself. The work provisions of the TANF program are contained in section 407 (titled, appropriately, “Mandatory Work Requirements”). Section 407 and most other TANF requirements are deliberately not listed in section 1115 and hence are explicitly not waiveable."

Purp| 8.30.12 @ 11:10PM

that is NOT an indictment, but a confirmation that this is not waiving the work requirement unless "HHS will only consider approving waivers relating to the work participation requirements that make changes intended to lead to more effective means of meeting the work goals of TANF."

Nick| 8.30.12 @ 5:10PM

Continued....

"Of the roughly 35 sections of the TANF law, only one is listed as waiveable under section 1115: section 402, which describes the reports that state governments must file to HHS describing the actions they will undertake to comply with the requirements established in the TANF law. The authority to waive section 402 provides the option to waive state reporting requirements only, not to overturn the core requirements of the TANF program contained in the other sections of the TANF law.
"The HHS directive asserts that because the work requirements (established in section 407) are an item that state governments must report on in section 402, and HHS has the authority to waive section 402, all of the work requirements can be waived. This removes the core of the TANF program; TANF becomes a blank slate that HHS bureaucrats and liberal state bureaucrats can rewrite at will."

http://www.heritage.org/resear.....we-know-it

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 5:18PM

As your friend George helpfully posted above:

"HHS will only consider approving waivers relating to the work participation requirements that make changes intended to lead to more effective means of meeting the work goals of TANF."

You do understand that two GOP states put the case for more flexibility on this?

Nick| 8.30.12 @ 5:36PM

So what?

I don't care which states are asking for waivers, Jack'o. The law says that there can be NO WAIVERS, period.
If you read the link, you will see it doesn't matter what HHS says in a memo. The O'Bama regime is attempting to change what qualifies as "work" in the law. This is illegal.
This is why I wrote that President "You Didn't Build That" is trying to gut the work requirement, not that he has gutted it.

Excuse me, if I'm dubious that a bunch of liberals, who hated Welfare Reform to begin with, are really interested in removing more people from the public dole.

You asked for the evidence, and I provided it, Jack'0.
Are you still pushing your LIE, from yesterday, that the lady from Puerto Rico was be shouted at by the Texas delegation?

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 5:45PM

No you are wrong - there is one section of TANF that permits waivers, as you helpfully posted above!

And see below for Utah's governor - is he some kind of commie?

And what do you thing my nasty nazi friend about the racist Texas voter ID law being struck down? You must be sick that you're not putting blacks back in the past.

Nick| 8.30.12 @ 5:57PM

Can't you read, Jack'o? Is English your second language? Can you comprehend what you read, brainiac?

Only the reporting requirement (Sec. 402) can be waived, Einstein.
Not the work requirement, nor, the definition of what constitutes "work" in the law.

I realize that too much reading must hurt your brain, but, really, read the whole link from Heritage. Then you won't keep making such ignorant statements, Jack'o.

The O'Bama regime is trying to gut the work requirements for welfare.
Romney/Ryan are going to keep saying it from now until the election.
And, you lefties can't refute it!

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 6:06PM

Here's more that shows how idiotic you are;
From http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07.....icans.html

In 2005, 29 Republican governors, including Mr. Romney and Mr. Huckabee, asked Senator Bill Frist, the majority leader, for more “flexibility to manage their TANF programs and effectively serve low-income populations.”

“Increased waiver authority, allowable work activities, availability of partial work credit and the ability to coordinate state programs are all important aspects of moving recipients from welfare to work,” the letter read.

Peter B. Edelman, a professor at the Georgetown University Law Center and director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy, called Republican opposition to the waivers “totally ridiculous.”

“This is an advisory that is all about making it easier to get a job, which I thought is what the Republicans wanted,” Mr. Edelman said. “To say that this is somehow against the concept of TANF is bizarre, because what we have here are restrictions that Congress enacted that, on the ground, make it harder to get from here to there.”

George S| 8.30.12 @ 6:53PM

Easier to get a job? No, Jack, easier not to work by redefining what a "job" is. That is the point of the HHS waiver memo. But Sibelius is locked in by Section 407 so she hangs by the domestic violence exception in Section 402. It is an end run to to work as per 407.

Nick| 8.30.12 @ 7:28PM

Oh, yes, Jack'o, like the marxist New York Slimes tells the truth! Ha-ha! Good one.

You've basically admitted, to me and George S, that you & your lefty propagandists are full of garbage, and, that you didn't know what the law actually says.
Gee, what a shock.

The O'Bama regime is trying to GUT the work requirement for welfare, PERIOD.
They are going to lose about 5-10% in the popular vote because of it. And, the fact that they are STEALING $716 BILLION from MediScare Advantage.
Choke on that, Jack'o.

Purp| 8.30.12 @ 11:12PM

Can you explain why GW Bush got away with over 700 signing statements, picking and choosing what parts of laws he would execute faithfully? When you do, then you'll know that he created what you don't like. You should have done something about it then, it's too late now. The next President will do the same, thanks to Republicans.

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 5:28PM

Oh and read Utah's governor on this - he's a Romney supporter, of course. This is a Utah press release:

Governor Defends State Flexibility to HHS
Flexibility Essential to Increase Work-related Outcomes for TANF recipients
Salt Lake City – Amid national controversy regarding state options for public assistance program administration, Governor Gary R. Herbert sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius late Monday defending Utah’s waiver request for state flexibility to achieve work-related outcomes for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients.
“Utah is very proud of the comprehensive work-centered approach we take to moving adults from dependency to self-sufficiency,” Governor Herbert said in the letter. “The cornerstone of Utah’s philosophy is that all who can work should work, and that states are laboratories of innovation. Utah actively promotes these core beliefs by advocating for state and federal policies that support these principles.”
Utah, according to Dept. of Workforce Services data, boasts one of the strongest work programs in the nation. Because Utah has no exemptions in how the State characterizes data – meaning Utah does not cherry-pick who is measured – Utah actually out-performs other states in moving TANF recipients into employment.

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 5:29PM

Cont.

According to the Governor, any reauthorization proposal should include the following two principles: 1) flexibility to customize work-focused solutions, and 2) complete accountability for employment-related outcomes. These principles are not mutually exclusive.
Utah’s request for a waiver stems from a desire for increased customization of the program to maximize employment among Utah’s welfare recipients – allowing for evaluation to be determined based on the State’s success in placing customers in employment.
“Underlying Utah’s core principles regarding TANF programs is the basic objective that all customers must achieve full participation and employment,” Governor Herbert said. “Utah would only support waiver authority where work and self-sufficiency were the basis for the program waiver.”
# # #

Nick| 8.30.12 @ 5:42PM

Again, SO WHAT?
No waivers are allowed, according to the LAW.
It is irrelevant which party the governor is from Jack'o. No waivers means NO WAIVERS. Get it?

Jack London| 8.30.12 @ 6:00PM

So what you're saying is that while TANF reauthorization is stalled in Congress for years you see no value in improving it on the ground to get more people into sustainable work? Whatever the legal point - this is not about 'gutting welfare for work'.

This article is the best at explaining it I've seen:

http://povertyandpolicy.wordpr.....f-waivers/

"But states can ask for waivers from the regular work activity requirements if they offer a promising alternative approach to “helping parents successfully prepare for, find and retain employment,” plus outcome-focused targets and related evaluation plans.

"You’d think Republicans would stand up and cheer. Aren’t they constantly telling us states need more flexibility to “design programs around the needs of their own citizens?”

"Not apparently when the Obama administration offers it."

George S| 8.30.12 @ 6:47PM

Read my response to you above, quoting the law. Governors have no legal leg to stand on to ask for Section 407 waivers unless domestic violence prevents the law from being complied with.

Besides, you are saying this is all a lie, now you are arguing interpretation. I hope I presented enough evidence to show you that it was you who was mistaken... in both cases.

Nick| 8.30.12 @ 7:39PM

Excellent job, George S. You've done yeoman's work on explaining the law.
Thanks for informing me of the domestic violence exception, by the way.
Keep up the good work!

Purp| 8.30.12 @ 11:07PM

1) "They" was an ad that didn't run and wasn't sanctioned by the President
2) Who cares - "they" don't matter.
3) Medicare Advantage was a giveaway to insurance providers, and they used the money to give back to Seniors preventive care and the drug benefit to close the donut hole.
4) Unemployment figures are never quite right - EVER. So what? You see any trucks, cars on the roads? Something is being built, moved, sold - now isn't it?
5) Reagan and the Bush Twins added 10 Trillion to the national debt, when we didn't face another Great Depression - Why did they do that?
5)

Nick| 8.30.12 @ 11:59PM

"Blah, blah, blah, belch!, blah, blah...."

The O'Bama regime is trying to GUT the work requirement for welfare, PERIOD.

Vic| 8.30.12 @ 1:04PM

Ryan is rocking. He is the only honest advocate we have in America telling us about these Ponzi entitlement schemes being run by the Feds and how we seriously need to reform them. The loser Mitt Romney is hanging on to Ryan's coatails and is so lucky to have this capable fellow as his running mate. All he needs to do is ride the tailwinds generated by Ryan into 2 terms. Looking forward to 2020 and President Ryan. That will be the real Golden years for America. God Bless!

Vasu Murti | 8.30.12 @ 2:01PM

If you've seen any coverage of Paul Ryan's speech in Tampa, you know that the consensus among journalists and independent observers is that it was ... factually challenged.

He lied about Medicare. He lied about the Recovery Act. He lied about the deficit and debt. He even dishonestly attacked Barack Obama for the closing of a GM plant in his hometown of Janesville, Wisconsin -- a plant that closed in December 2008 under George W. Bush. He also failed to offer one constructive idea about what he would do to move the country forward.

John II| 8.30.12 @ 2:53PM

When I was in the Army back in the Cold War era, I was stationed awhile in a command headquarters in Germany. Across from my office in G3 (organization and materials requisition) was G2 (intelligence and security), wherein a young captain and I would gab now and then during (numerous--hey, it was a government operation) coffee breaks.

The captain's job as an Army intelligence officer involved the classified business of keeping an eye on the Soviets. He couldn't talk much about his job, but he told me about a standard technique of intelligence gathering that I will never forget, principally because I've found it applicable to so much of my experience long after my military service.

He said that a basic technique of preliminary guesswork about the intentions of the Soviets was to listen very closely to the accusations publicly made by the Soviets against the West: "Whenever they accuse us of something bad--it's always a useful clue about what they themselves are doing or planning."

Thanks, then, to Vasu and Jackie and "journalists" and "independent observers" and all the other shills of the Professor and his retinue for the particular character of your slanders. You tell so much about yourselves when you accuse Paul Ryan of "lies."

And now back to the Third Season of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1957-58), in one episode of which an ex-con covers his intended treachery by accusing others of treachery.

Paul McGrath| 8.30.12 @ 6:13PM

BINGO! Nailed it. Whenever a leftist accuses a conservative of something, you can be sure he's already done it himself, or is about to do it. It works every time.

The lies coming out of the Obama convention are truly going to be something to behold.

Ross Kaminsky| 8.30.12 @ 3:52PM

Reminds me of a guy I knew who accused everyone around him of lying...because he was always lying. Not sure whether it was a diversionary tactic or whether it was just how his brain worked, projecting his bad behavior on to others.

Drunken Sailor| 8.30.12 @ 3:57PM

It's amazing how many of you liberals are out trolling the conservative websites today

George S| 8.30.12 @ 4:52PM

Does the chief actuary of Medicare think Paul Ryan is lying? I can find no evidence that the chief actuary supports the 716 billion cut as a means to reduce "inefficiencies".

What was the lie about the Recovery Act? The 831 billion part? That Solyndra got any of it? That it did not add to the deficit?

What was the lie on the deficit or debt? Are you denying the BEA summaries that Obama is responsible for 5 trillion in debt, one-half of the deficit spending over the past 200 years!? That he is doing nothing to address the issue? Just what is the lie?

Obama did not close the plant and Ryan did not say that Obama closed the plant. He merely quoted what Obama said on the campaign trail.

Personally, I think you find Ryan believable and all this comes as a shock as he penetrated your mainstream media protective bubble. And you know that a large number of people not only like Ryan but that he changed the minds of undecideds.

Boss Hog| 8.30.12 @ 4:28PM

FOR GOD'S SAKE,
CAN'T YOU ALL JUST SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!

SHUT YOUR STUPID MOUTHS JUST FOR A MINUTE! I MEAN THE HELL ALL OF YOU!

Ollie Oop| 8.30.12 @ 4:31PM

I'm with you, Boss.

These people are making me sick. It's their shrill tones and their nastiness.

After reading these comments, I feel like I need to pop a Valium.

123 Buckle My Knee| 8.30.12 @ 4:34PM

Many of these self-righteous assholes are on here all day long.

All day long they sit and spew their vomitous thoughts.

Enough!

456 Dorothy Dix| 8.30.12 @ 4:36PM

Agree, 123.

Makes me ashamed to call myself a conservative.

Where do these nuts come from?

789 Rancid Wine| 8.30.12 @ 4:39PM

Well, they're not respectable--that's for sure.

They sound like trailer trash to me. Trailer trash from one of them red states.

John II| 8.30.12 @ 6:09PM

Vomitous? That can't be right. Don't you mean "vomitive"? Or perhaps "vomitory"?

The trouble in your diction may be a confusion with "nauseous," which is often misconstrued to mean "nauseated" but in fact means "causing nausea."

One day many years ago, my wife was going through her (okay--our) fourth or fifth pregnancy (one loses count of these things in big families), and she remarked that she was "feeling nauseous."

To which I responded, "That's impossible--you're charming and very beautiful."

To the precision of which she responded sharply, "Save that English-teacher crap for your students!"

And now back to "Ball of Fire" (1941), in which Gary Cooper is a bit out of character as a fussy English professor leading a team of scholars writing a new encyclopedia.

789 Rancid Wine| 8.30.12 @ 8:44PM

John II,

vomitous: adjective 1. of, pertaining to, or causing vomiting . 2. Informal . repugnant; disgusting; nauseating: vomitous business methods.

John II| 8.30.12 @ 9:08PM

Excuse me, but the lexicon of my authoritative Junior Woodchucks Guidebook of Universal Knowledge is adamant: there is no such word as "vomitous."

What you're defining is the adjective "vomitive." The lexical creature permitted by the Guidebook and closest to your vagrant neologism is "vomitus," a noun (from the fourth declension Latin noun) meaning "vomited matter."

In short, your callow attempt to correct your betters is sheer vomitus.

Now stop interrupting my serious viewing of "Ball of Fire" (1941). I'm at the part where Richard Haydn delivers a sweet recollection of his lost love, prompting Gary Cooper to come to grips, so to speak, with his feelings for Barbara Stanwyck.

789 Rancid Wine| 8.30.12 @ 9:26PM

John II, please stop the pretentiousness. You are not a wordsmith.

vomitous [ˈvɒmɪtəs]
adj
1. arousing feelings of disgust a vomitous ending
2. relating or connected to feeling or being sick a vomitous night on the town
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

John II| 8.30.12 @ 9:58PM

What's a "wordsmith"?

Anyhow, Collins publishes an excellent (abridged) Latin-English lexicon. And if your citation is from a truly unabridged source, then you've cited a proper authority for the observation that the silly word is now in use.

I always trust the abridged sources for matters of good taste in usage, however. To save space, they leave out words that are pretentious. That's why one does not find "vomitous" in the Junior Woodchucks Guidebook of Universal Knowledge.

Is "pretentiousness" a word? I'm certain that "humorlessness" is, but "pretentiousness," like "vomitous," seems unnecessary.

Now will you PLEASE let me finish "Ball of Fire" (1941)?

789 Rancid Wine| 8.30.12 @ 11:23PM

Are you, by chance, obsessive-compulsive? Anal retentive?

You definitely have attention deficit disorder. By all means get back to your movie, and stay away from your computer. What you obviously need to do is focus on one thing at a time.

123 movie you must see

456 Dorothy Dix| 8.30.12 @ 11:28PM

789 watermelon rine

Finis

John II| 8.31.12 @ 1:38AM

"Are you, by chance, obsessive-compulsive? Anal retentive?"

I don't know. But I'm certain that, even if I were one or the other, or both (isn't the latter term a dated Freudian way of saying the former term?), it would be impossible to determine whether the condition alluded to occurs "by chance."

Professional psychologists apparently have neither the wit nor the inclination to plumb such depths. That's why I always try to encourage my students who profess an interest in psychology to study literature and philosophy instead.

"You definitely have attention deficit disorder."

Don't you mean, rather, "apparently"? I mean, the way I used "apparently" in the preceding response?

"What you obviously need to do is focus on one thing at a time."

Obviously? But what if I'm capable of focusing on several things at once? What "need" would I meet by suppressing that capability?

You have a very strange way of expressing yourself. And, uh, I don't mean "strange" in the sense of interesting.

Anyhow, "Ball of Fire" (1941) is a great flick, and seems to get better with each subsequent viewing. I heartily recommend it. And I agree that I need to get one of those super-computer thingies that allow you to switch from internet commentary to movie-watching with the flick of a mouse.

And now back to "Harvey" (1950), a terrific send-up of the pretensions of psychiatry, which screenwriters and other literary types seem gifted to spot and poke fun at.

Paul McGrath| 8.30.12 @ 6:20PM

Excuse me for repeating this, but it hasn't gained any traction, and I would truly like to hear some feedback. All summer, the theme of this website has been that Romney is the lesser of two evils, but nothing more. I think differently:

"As I've said previously, Romney has a more impressive CV than just about any presidential nominee I can think of. Mormon missionary for thirty months in France, a Jeus-in-the-desert period that certainly must have humbled him. Graduate degrees in business and law from Harvard achieved simultaneously! He came to Bain when Bain was just a tiny enterprise, and built it into the national powerhouse that it is. And although some companies were shut down, many more were rejuvenated. Staples, for example.

The Olympic achievement was not just a lucky blip. It was in debt and was swirling in controversy. Who better to fix it than the proven successful business man, and a man who also was so obviously incorruptible?

Then Governor of Massachusetts, and although there is quite a bit of grumbling about Romneycare, he did manage to balance the budget, something we most desperately need on a national level.

And the man himself. Generous to a fault, as his tax returns show; a family man with five successful children; educated; thoughtful; humble; and undeniably successful. Every single thing he's done in his life has been an unabashed success.

I'm going to say it again: he is a great man."

Paul McGrath| 8.30.12 @ 6:21PM

Really and truly, everything he's done in his life has been a success. And he says he wants to abolish Obamacare and balance the budget. Who better to accomplish these things?

Paul McGrath| 8.30.12 @ 6:23PM

Time to get on the bandwagon.

John II| 8.30.12 @ 8:47PM

Okay, here's some "feedback, " Paul.

You're right about the crucial point that Romney is a good man--warmly endorsed as well by such indisputably good men as Marco Rubio and Paul Ryan.

The decency is entirely evident--and entirely relevant to his qualifications for office. As Aristotle says, the bad man can be a good citizen, but not a good leader; only the good man can be a good leader. (So much for Obama and his retinue of power-gluttons.)

The humility makes it very likely that Romney will adjust his previously foolish views on, for example, abortion and heath-care policies. He seems unburdened by any of the character flaws that we associate with RINO's. His intermittent queasiness in the face of the Left's vicious hostility can be taken as the decent man's speechless astonishment that other people can behave so rottenly.

Perhaps most important, America desperately needs a truly good man at the helm just now, a man who naturally projects quiet dignity and unassuming competence--the kind of man our friends abroad can respect and our enemies (VERY bad men) will fear.

If Romney loses to such an obvious fraud as the Professor in November, the nation will have crossed a threshold into a grisly decline from which it will not be able to return.

And now back to "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939), a Frank Capra vehicle in which Jimmy Stewart anticipates with disarming clumsiness the good (and somewhat clumsy) Mitt Romney.

Pecos Pete| 8.30.12 @ 7:50PM

Paul, I agree with you. No one is perfect and Mitt is the man now. I support him.

Paul McGrath| 8.30.12 @ 8:21PM

He needs to hit a home run tonight, and to hit a home run he's going to need to be a little bit--a little bit--fiery. C'mon Mitt baby. I am rooting for you big time.

Abu Nudnik| 8.30.12 @ 9:19PM

He hit it out of the park, Ross. 8 years of Romney, 8 years of Ryan as presidents and America should have this big ship of state turned around again!

Oldefarte| 8.30.12 @ 9:59PM

There is a little over two months until each of us arrives at the largest fork-in-the-road possible, either left or right, east of west, survival or destruction. This country will die if Romney/Ryan do not win this election, and I hope and pray that you join me in voting for its survival!!

Paul McGrath| 8.30.12 @ 11:52PM

Romney's speech tonight was prevent defense. He's ahead, by a little, and now he's playing it safe. Don't mean to drag down the team, but, fuuuuh.

C'mon, Mitt, goddamnit. C'mon.

Kingofthenet| 8.31.12 @ 1:22AM

Why won't the Mormon Religion let my Dad see his daughter get 'sealed' (We call it Married) in the Mormon Temple?

Kingofthenet| 8.31.12 @ 1:48AM

Does EVERYONE know if your daughter wants to Marry (Seal they call it) a Mormon you will NEVER get to see it first hand, unless you join?

Carroll | 8.31.12 @ 4:06AM

An obligation we have to our parents and grandparents is being sacrificed all to pay for a new entitlement we didn't even ask for. The greatest threat to Medicare is Obamacare, and we're going to stop it. Medicare is a promise and we will honor it."

Mickle | 9.2.12 @ 10:43PM

" Instead of dealing with jobs and the economy, Obama gave us "a long, divisive, all-or-nothing attempt to put the federal government in charge of health care.

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