Editorials & Other Articles

Bill USA

(6,436 posts) Sat Apr 7, 2012, 04:42 PM Apr 2012

Paul Krugman on Ryan Apologists

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/07/on-ryan-apologists/

the continuing defense of Paul Ryan is a remarkable phenomenon. He’s still being treated by many pundits as a man deeply concerned about deficits, when the fact is that his policy proposals are all about redistributing income upward, and make no serious effort to curb debt. He’s even given credit for advocating higher taxes on the rich when he has more or less specifically rejected the things for which he’s given credit.

What’s going on here? The defenders of Ryan come, I’d argue, in two types.

One type is the pseudo-reasonable apparatchik. There are a fair number of pundits who make a big show of debating the issues, stroking their chins, and then — invariably — find a way to support whatever the GOP line may be. There’s no mystery in their support for Ryan.

The other type is more interesting: the professional centrist. These are people whose whole pose is one of standing between the extremes of both parties, and calling for a bipartisan solution. The problem they face is how to maintain this pose when the reality is that a quite moderate Democratic party — one that is content to leave tax rates on the rich far below those that prevailed for most of the past 70 years, that has embraced a Republican health care plan — faces a radical-reactionary GOP.
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7 replies

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Paul Krugman on Ryan Apologists (Original Post) Bill USA Apr 2012 OP

Krugman is right on here. The media gives Ryan a pass. Faygo Kid Apr 2012 #1

I say Ryan has a hatred of the elderly atreides1 Apr 2012 #3

Ryan getting more than 20% of the vote in November would signal the electorate is certifiably indepat Apr 2012 #4

A deep truth hidden DonCoquixote Apr 2012 #2

It's sad... jade3000 Apr 2012 #7

Ryan Is All Hat And No Cattle DallasNE Apr 2012 #5

ALL republican introduced bills get passed in the House...otherwise you're a sympathizer. Moostache Apr 2012 #6

Faygo Kid

(21,478 posts)

1. Krugman is right on here. The media gives Ryan a pass.

Reply to Bill USA (Original post)

Sat Apr 7, 2012, 04:45 PM

Apr 2012

Ryan is a radical redistributionist, out to destroy every program that benefits the poor and middle class while enriching the Kochs. Of which he is a wholly owned subsidiary, as is the entire Republican Party and too many of the Dems ("blue dogs&quot .

atreides1

(16,093 posts)

3. I say Ryan has a hatred of the elderly

Reply to Faygo Kid (Reply #1)

Sat Apr 7, 2012, 04:57 PM

Apr 2012

This is his way of getting back ay his grandmother for all the time he had to take care of her...I truly think his twisted feelings are beginning to surface, and though he can't get back at the woman who he thinks made his life miserable...he can get back at those just like her.

Just an opinion...a sociopath can maintain a level of control, until they find themselves among people of like mind and then their true selves come out...in Ryan's case he waited until this moment, and with people like Boehner and Cantor and the rest of the Repuke members of the "Let's fuck over the Middle Class Club", he found willing allies.

indepat

(20,899 posts)

4. Ryan getting more than 20% of the vote in November would signal the electorate is certifiably

Reply to atreides1 (Reply #3)

Sat Apr 7, 2012, 10:31 PM

Apr 2012

blind, ignorant and stupid beyond all reason and any comprehension imv: he is a cancerous malignancy on society.

DonCoquixote

(13,616 posts)

2. A deep truth hidden

Reply to Bill USA (Original post)

Sat Apr 7, 2012, 04:49 PM

Apr 2012

Paul, there was a time when YOU were called a centrist, especially when you supported the mandate and HIllary Clinton, but the truth is, the balance is so off that any attempt to reach right results in nothing more than a hard slide right. We cannot call them the right wing, but hard reactionary.

jade3000

(238 posts)

7. It's sad...

Reply to DonCoquixote (Reply #2)

Sun Apr 8, 2012, 09:48 PM

Apr 2012

... that the GOP has reached this level of, shall I say, backwardness. I mean could they at least try to offer something with a little bit of hope for the future.

DallasNE

(7,403 posts)

5. Ryan Is All Hat And No Cattle

Reply to Bill USA (Original post)

Sun Apr 8, 2012, 12:00 AM

Apr 2012

Ryan has basically said "trust me" when it comes to quantifying Ryan's claims on taxes, where he claims it is done by eliminating all kinds of loopholes. One giant problem, he doesn't identify a single one of the loopholes he would close. Even with this total lack of transparency House Speaker John Boehner brought Ryan's budget up for a vote. All of the Republicans voted for this pig in a poke charade by Ryan.

Moostache

(9,897 posts)

6. ALL republican introduced bills get passed in the House...otherwise you're a sympathizer.

Reply to DallasNE (Reply #5)

Sun Apr 8, 2012, 02:07 PM

Apr 2012

The purity purge of the Republican Party was been conducted in earnest since 2008 and what remains is much like the way Obi-Wan described Vader - more machine than man...twisted and evil.

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