This Republican conundrum maybe the birth pangs of a New Party - The Democratic, The Republican and The Tea-Party!! Ryan, where art thou in this scheme of things?
2
Is this a tactic by the "Freedom Caucus" to give the impression that Ryan is not a far right wing radical who aims to dismantle Social Security and Medicare?
6
With Obama endorsing Ryan, pretty much tells us that the democrat party believes they can control him like they did Boehner.
It's the Democratic Party. That's what it's called.
12
The Tea Party/Freedom Caucus are not Republicans, not even conservatives. They're Anarchists. All of their threats and stunts to close down the government and defund things aren't ploys -- it's the policy of Anarchists to literally have no government, because in their mind, government is an evil.
6
There is only one solution: The Republican Party must cut off its right-most arm and tell it that there is no place in American politics for fascism. In a democracy, the political leadership does what the majority wants (within the Constitution), not what a vocal minority insists upon. That means getting some votes (not necessarily very many) from Democrats.
6
It seems that the GOP has its own ISIS in the Freedom Caucus and similar extreme organizations. If there still is a moderate republican party, they better find a leader who can stand up, speak the truth, and shed the extremists.
6
The Young Guns are dead or gone, apparently taken out by friendly fire.
Cantor - gunned down by his own people.
McCarthy - shot himself.
Ryan - took cover, then ran from hail of gunfire from his rear.
Memo to Trump and Carson: Tone down the gun theme. Old guns are at greater risk than young ones.
Cantor - gunned down by his own people.
McCarthy - shot himself.
Ryan - took cover, then ran from hail of gunfire from his rear.
Memo to Trump and Carson: Tone down the gun theme. Old guns are at greater risk than young ones.
5
With their former vice presidential candidate repudiated as too liberal the GOP has become a circular firing squad. Saint Ronald Reagan has already been sidelined except in name only. What is left other than to acclaim Rush Limbaugh as their Grand Master?
5
Are you kidding? Ryan is just one of the many, many Republican right-wingers who want to force rape and incest victims to carry their rapist's pregnancy to term.
Some people have, apparently, very short memories.
Some people have, apparently, very short memories.
9
If Paul Ryan is too liberal for the GOP, then we've got a serious problem.
The GOP's disarray underscores its inability to function as a party, which makes it unreliable to provide leadership in governance. Compromise is a non-starter. Creative solutions to difficult problems can't happen when thinking has become ossified.
Let's stop believing that there is dysfunction in both political parties or that both parties are to blame for the inability of Congress to get anything done. By the GOP's disarray, it should be abundantly clear that the GOP can't govern.
The GOP's disarray underscores its inability to function as a party, which makes it unreliable to provide leadership in governance. Compromise is a non-starter. Creative solutions to difficult problems can't happen when thinking has become ossified.
Let's stop believing that there is dysfunction in both political parties or that both parties are to blame for the inability of Congress to get anything done. By the GOP's disarray, it should be abundantly clear that the GOP can't govern.
12
Curiouser and curiouser.
Remember when belief in science, data based results, and opinions based on reality were qualifications for office, not a disqualifier?
Remember when belief in science, data based results, and opinions based on reality were qualifications for office, not a disqualifier?
14
Irregardless of who is elected this time around as President, even if Obama where to stay in office illegally there will be no change. The direction this country is taking is out of the control of the American people Until Americans Acquire a soul and reanimate their Government, well the likely hood of that occurring is, left up to ?
I personally think the far far right have no policies but only an agenda to destroy the US government and the constitution and replace it with something closer to a dictatorship of the few( a oligarchy ). The many who support this crowd will march with them right of the cliff with all the other lemmings and into the sea!
17
These attacks show that Ryan was right in saying ‘no’ to the Speaker’s job. He shouldn’t accept that position unless the majority of the caucus agrees to do away with the ‘Hastert rule’. Unless Ryan can be assured that he’ll be free to govern and put together workable coalitions, he’d be vilified and marginalized in the same way that Boehner has been. Unless Ryan can get assurances of cooperation, the best thing for the GOP conference and the country would be for Boehner to stay on for a while.
Since Boehner has already indicated his willingness to retire, he can’t successfully be threatened with a primary challenge. Boehner is 65 years old and he’s already a millionaire. He won’t be bullied unless he wants to be. Now he can show the country what (if anything) he really stands for.
Since Boehner has already indicated his willingness to retire, he can’t successfully be threatened with a primary challenge. Boehner is 65 years old and he’s already a millionaire. He won’t be bullied unless he wants to be. Now he can show the country what (if anything) he really stands for.
7
So basically, anyone who has ever strolled through the halls of Congress wearing a suit and tie is automatically a leftist.
Good luck with that, GOP. I have bad news for you. A majority of Americans continues to believe that their representatives do, in fact, serve a purpose, which is to actually help govern America.
Good luck with that, GOP. I have bad news for you. A majority of Americans continues to believe that their representatives do, in fact, serve a purpose, which is to actually help govern America.
11
You say "Young Guns" was with two other leaders - it is important to mention who those two guys were - Eric Cantor who was "Tea Party-ed" out in a Primary, and Kevin McCarthy who was recently tarred and feathered out of the running for Speakership.
Anyway, it is fun to watch these clowns be exposed as the hollow souls in empty suits they really are. It is sad that they represent the majority in the House and are the "leadership" of a major political party.
Anyway, it is fun to watch these clowns be exposed as the hollow souls in empty suits they really are. It is sad that they represent the majority in the House and are the "leadership" of a major political party.
10
If Paul Ryan is too far left in the eyes of the GOP, we are doomed as a country.
8
While the Democrat Party Machine and big Progressive Media Outlets such as The New York Times and WaPo's Politico are doing everything they can to protect Hillary's floundering candidacy (through the lock-step adoption of top-down propaganda messaging), the Republicans are demonstrating the classical and once-American ideal of holding an open and democratic debate on the Issues and the Candidates.
I'm giving 2 to 1 odds that Biden will not declare his candidacy due to... 1) his age 70+ years, and 2) the schism it would open up within the Democrat ranks.
And if Elizabeth Warren jumps in, she would then truly become the Candidate of the "Far Left" and alienate large blocks of Voters within the Democrat's fragile constituencies.
I'm giving 2 to 1 odds that Biden will not declare his candidacy due to... 1) his age 70+ years, and 2) the schism it would open up within the Democrat ranks.
And if Elizabeth Warren jumps in, she would then truly become the Candidate of the "Far Left" and alienate large blocks of Voters within the Democrat's fragile constituencies.
2
If The Times is propping anyone up, it's Jeb Bush. Thoughtful! Cerebral! Catholic!
4
Why would anyone with a brain be the Robespierre the crazy right wants? The obvious question is if they want a speaker, why doesn't one of them step forward to do it?
7
Adherence to Tea Party right-wing dogma is analogous to religion. King Henry IV of France is said to have declared "Paris is worth a Mass," in deciding to convert to Catholicism and end France's religious wars with the Edict of Nantes guaranteeing religious freedom. That's apparently not the Republican way. They will fight to the end to achieve adherence among the faithful to doctrinal purity, and any attempt to achieve reconciliation is an abomination, blasphemy and cause for excommunication. Odd, seems strangely like another religion I can think of whose zealots issue "fatwas".
8
When you are as far out to the right as the Freedom Caucus, then naturally, everyone else appears to be way out to the left. There are very few people on the planet far enough to the right for these ideologically-fossilized extremists. If they manage to get one of their own in the Speakership, the government will become completely dysfunctional, nothing will happen, the government will cease to govern. And, sadly, they will be just fine with that outcome, completely oblivious of the wheels falling off of their clown car.
7
The Republican Party and its "conservative values" have a stranglehold on democracy in America. https://dispatchesfrombabel.wordpress.com
5
How very interesting to read all the comments about the Radical Right Wing yet somehow the last 7 years amounts to a veritable joining of the hands and solicitous co-governing by Obama.
Hmm, wasn't Sen Scott Brown ignored so ObamaCare could be passed. What about Mr. Pen & Phone. Try looking in the mirror.
Hmm, wasn't Sen Scott Brown ignored so ObamaCare could be passed. What about Mr. Pen & Phone. Try looking in the mirror.
So you are saying you like your no good freedom caucus, and the 40+ obstructioners, their only goal is to destroy America as we know it. Think they were elected to be the overseers of morality.
5
A TP/FC/AN that is willing to conduct an internecine war with the GOP (as well as with the USA) is sure as heck not going to compromise with a Dem POTUS.
2
Heaven forbid! A legislator that actually wants to govern and get stuff done.
4
The Tea Party War on Reality continues.....
14
It is not about "Left" or "Right"... it is about REALIT-BASED versus lie-based, cynical radicalism. Ryan hardly qualifies as reality-based himself. The fact that his well-documented credentials as a man who effortlessly spins radical right-wing fantasies out of whole cloth are being challenged by those 'more conservative' is itself insane.
7
Paul Ryan of the of the voodoo economics fame, cutting of all social services by the Government which would help the 99%, reducing taxes on the 1%, tax break for the wealthy Corporations, deregulating everything and throwing our entire system in jeopardy is too left, then heaven help us from the maniacs, right of this new left. The Republican Party seems to be in the throes of - death? If Paul Ryan is the so called pragmatic, charismatic and economic wiz is the best the Republicans can come up with, it shows the low bar of these erstwhile raucous Party of Parties.
9
We're there, insanity is a qualification!
8
This alone should be proof enough that we are in a world of hurt,
5
Leaders on the Far Right might like:
1) Kim Davis--Davis holds elected office and is experienced in government. Unbending as any filibusterer, she will block votes, and is guided only by her God, who does not like gay people.
2) Martin Shkreli, Chief Executive, Turing Pharmaceuticals--for profit, he overnight raised the cost of one pill from $13.50 to $750. This "pay or die" principal dovetails nicely with Republicans who hate Obamacare.
3) Ann Coulter, author of “¡Adios, America!–-The Left’s Plan to Turn Our Country Into a Third World Hellhole”. Her book's 89 pages of endnotes cite white nationalists, anti-Muslim activists and anti-immigrant groups as her chief suppporters.
4) Roger Cagle, CEO, Soco Oil--known for oil drilling in the Congo’s Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cozy with the Congolese government, Cagle has stated that Virunga’s boundaries can be redrawn. Oil companies' love of profit and environmental disdain mesh nicely with the Right's global warming denyers.
5) Sean Connolly, President, Chief Executive, ConAgra--for those on the Right who favor selling antibiotic, hormone-laced and GMO foods to the world, who forbid OSHA inspections of ConAgra, who love to bust unions and have received huge donations from Monsanto, this guy's for you.
6) The Grim Reaper--nothing says leadership like Death. Neutral, happy gatherer of the poor, homeless, aged and addicted--the costly undeserving--who on the Right could not support him?
1) Kim Davis--Davis holds elected office and is experienced in government. Unbending as any filibusterer, she will block votes, and is guided only by her God, who does not like gay people.
2) Martin Shkreli, Chief Executive, Turing Pharmaceuticals--for profit, he overnight raised the cost of one pill from $13.50 to $750. This "pay or die" principal dovetails nicely with Republicans who hate Obamacare.
3) Ann Coulter, author of “¡Adios, America!–-The Left’s Plan to Turn Our Country Into a Third World Hellhole”. Her book's 89 pages of endnotes cite white nationalists, anti-Muslim activists and anti-immigrant groups as her chief suppporters.
4) Roger Cagle, CEO, Soco Oil--known for oil drilling in the Congo’s Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cozy with the Congolese government, Cagle has stated that Virunga’s boundaries can be redrawn. Oil companies' love of profit and environmental disdain mesh nicely with the Right's global warming denyers.
5) Sean Connolly, President, Chief Executive, ConAgra--for those on the Right who favor selling antibiotic, hormone-laced and GMO foods to the world, who forbid OSHA inspections of ConAgra, who love to bust unions and have received huge donations from Monsanto, this guy's for you.
6) The Grim Reaper--nothing says leadership like Death. Neutral, happy gatherer of the poor, homeless, aged and addicted--the costly undeserving--who on the Right could not support him?
11
Ryan is a straight forward old-fashioned archconservative who blames employees not market conditions nor employers for high unemployment during recessions. He feels that starving people should find some food for themselves rather than asking others for help. Genghis Kahn was more progressive than he at the height of his power, yet, the wealthy and influential conservatives in the Republican Party consider him a bleeding heart leftist wimp. Who are these people? Medieval barons who like to hunt peasants when the other game is scarce?
12
It seems to me that that the crazies in the right wants us to fight the Civil War all over again, They didn't learn the lesson last time. I am sure the insurgency is only temporary and the good people in this country will certainly take care of these nut jobs once for all.
8
When conversing with someone who insists that 2+2=5, you could scream at them or.... you could just walk away.
It is obvious that a number of our fellow Americans have chosen to live in an alternative reality. They have chosen to be irrational. The rest of us really can't hope to communicate with them.
Max Planck once said of science that it progresses "one funeral at a time." I fear that the same is true of American politics at the moment. The far right tends to be a little older than the rest of us. As a country we will get through this, but it will take a while.
It is obvious that a number of our fellow Americans have chosen to live in an alternative reality. They have chosen to be irrational. The rest of us really can't hope to communicate with them.
Max Planck once said of science that it progresses "one funeral at a time." I fear that the same is true of American politics at the moment. The far right tends to be a little older than the rest of us. As a country we will get through this, but it will take a while.
9
If Ryan is 'too far right' for you. You probably are a crytpo-fascist.
He wants to dismantle entitlements.
He has the priority on cutting taxes above and beyond fiscal responsibility.
He is anti-union. What more do you want?
Oh right, you want a Mussolini or Franco.
He wants to dismantle entitlements.
He has the priority on cutting taxes above and beyond fiscal responsibility.
He is anti-union. What more do you want?
Oh right, you want a Mussolini or Franco.
7
Anger and hatred is what drives many far right, tea-party type, conservative Republicans. Hatred of liberals and progressive policies in spite of the fact that take Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits but somehow can't grasp that these are big Government programs.
The hatred and anger is especially about President Obama and the fact that he is black. Racism and bigotry in America has boiled to the surface especially in the Old Confederate South that seems to look upon slavery as the good old days.
A big part of the problem is "gerrymandering" of Congressional districts wherein conservative, far right Congressman can't get re-elected unless they basically take an oath that they hate President Obama, hate Democrats, hate liberals, hate anyone who isn't conservative, hate Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, hate Government, and of course, believe that Obama is a Muslim born in Kenya who was "planted" here to become President and destroy America.
It's all quite bizarre.
The hatred and anger is especially about President Obama and the fact that he is black. Racism and bigotry in America has boiled to the surface especially in the Old Confederate South that seems to look upon slavery as the good old days.
A big part of the problem is "gerrymandering" of Congressional districts wherein conservative, far right Congressman can't get re-elected unless they basically take an oath that they hate President Obama, hate Democrats, hate liberals, hate anyone who isn't conservative, hate Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, hate Government, and of course, believe that Obama is a Muslim born in Kenya who was "planted" here to become President and destroy America.
It's all quite bizarre.
13
GOP, reaping what it has sown.
9
They had help. Democrats didn't get out and vote when they should have.
2
Paul Ryan is an empty suit, with the intellectual dishonesty and vacuity common to so-called conservatives. Those even further to the right who think him too liberal are so utterly clueless regarding how a democracy functions and what responsible governance is that their judgement on pretty much anything isn't worthy of consideration. None are qualified to occupy the offices that low-information voters elected them to.
Eclectic Pragmatist — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
Eclectic Pragmatist — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
8
“Anyone who attacks Paul Ryan as being insufficiently conservative is either woefully misinformed or maliciously destructive”
Does "conservative" mean "plutocrat?" If it did the "ism's" principles would be clear and coherent.
But clearly "conservative" does not mean "keep safe and avoid waste"--as in conservation of natural resources--air, water, soil.
What does it mean? Well--it's a Humpty Dumpty word--meaning whatever you want--so really, logically--nothing.
It is but a proper noun--a name like Tom, Dick or Harry--except they imply male; or Chevy, Ford, Dodge--except they imply automotive. More like ideology X.
Journalists and politicians throw the labels around when they don't know what they are talking about. Although like many brand names--it has a loyal following. They don't know what it means either.
Does "conservative" mean "plutocrat?" If it did the "ism's" principles would be clear and coherent.
But clearly "conservative" does not mean "keep safe and avoid waste"--as in conservation of natural resources--air, water, soil.
What does it mean? Well--it's a Humpty Dumpty word--meaning whatever you want--so really, logically--nothing.
It is but a proper noun--a name like Tom, Dick or Harry--except they imply male; or Chevy, Ford, Dodge--except they imply automotive. More like ideology X.
Journalists and politicians throw the labels around when they don't know what they are talking about. Although like many brand names--it has a loyal following. They don't know what it means either.
2
There is a difference between talking the talk and walking the walk.
Ryan talks the right wing talk but he sure as hell doesn't walk the walk.
As far as the "far right" label that is being stuck on Tea Party and Constitutional conservatives... you people are delusional. Tea Party members are not far right nor are the Constitutionalists. Perhaps your own denial about your Utopian Socialist ideas and lack of introspect cloud what you think the rest of of see you as? which would be Communists.
Ryan talks the right wing talk but he sure as hell doesn't walk the walk.
As far as the "far right" label that is being stuck on Tea Party and Constitutional conservatives... you people are delusional. Tea Party members are not far right nor are the Constitutionalists. Perhaps your own denial about your Utopian Socialist ideas and lack of introspect cloud what you think the rest of of see you as? which would be Communists.
2
The Tea Party, the Freedom Caucus and their ilk are not conservatives.
They are anarchists. Petulant, narcissistic anarchists.
They are anarchists. Petulant, narcissistic anarchists.
12
I don't know enough of procedure in Congress but have watched similar situations elsewhere. If the Republican party ousted the extremist Tea Partiers, the latter could no longer rely on cover from the GOP. Republicans would lose their majority to the Democrats and presumably do not wish to face that. However, politics could revert in the chambers to give and take, compromise, to do what is considered best for the country. Under those circumstances perhaps the GOP would gain more credence.
6
The Democratic debates tonight will be a paradigm of stability, calm and adult behavior. The contrast will be incredible. The GOP is behaving worse than children. The Dem debates will discuss issues and concerns for Americans. The GOP race is consumed with Donald and the rabid tea party.
I hope that Dems can capitalize on this GOP meltdown. This is no time to stand aside and watch. Dems, see that GOPer on the ground? Boot heel to the neck. "Oh, does that hurt?" Push harder.
I hope that Dems can capitalize on this GOP meltdown. This is no time to stand aside and watch. Dems, see that GOPer on the ground? Boot heel to the neck. "Oh, does that hurt?" Push harder.
11
Ha,ha, ha...Good One. Democrats need a spine, and some good hard skills in martial arts.
Hopefully Hillary has done some polling so she knows what the majority is thinking so she knows what to say.
She flip-flops so often than anyone with any sense knows that she is just saying what she thinks people want to hear. The only issues and concerns she has is getting elected.
I just wish someone would ask why her so called foundation takes millions of dollars from countries where women have no rights while proclaiming herself a strong advocate for those same rights.
How about asking if she will repeal NAFTA and reinstate Glass-Steagall? Both products of her husband's term in office.
She flip-flops so often than anyone with any sense knows that she is just saying what she thinks people want to hear. The only issues and concerns she has is getting elected.
I just wish someone would ask why her so called foundation takes millions of dollars from countries where women have no rights while proclaiming herself a strong advocate for those same rights.
How about asking if she will repeal NAFTA and reinstate Glass-Steagall? Both products of her husband's term in office.
Rage always makes mistakes. Is John Boehner crafty enough to game his hand into a win in this House of Cards?
1
Just love the spin about Ryan spending time with his family in Wisconsin contemplating the big decision. Poppycock. What is it?...some sort of zen exercise involving meditation and mental gymnastics or plotting his best course for a WH run in 2020.
2
Suppose a group of about 40 movement conservative Republicans told the Freedom caucus they had a choice: work with them to select a speaker agreeable to the entire GOP caucus, OR the 40 of them would make a coalition with the Democrats to set an agenda and select a speaker. Would they swallow the bitter compromise or go down to glorious defeat? Probably defeat, but it would certainly be what the founders had in mind for how the House was supposed to work.
8
Paul Ryan, the admirer of Ayn Rand, is too liberal? At some point heading right, the Freedom Caucus and right-wing media have to hit a wall, don't they? Heading rightward politically, who remains after you pass Ayn Rand and Nietzsche? Is there no limit to this madness?
8
It is time for the Republican Party to tell the Freedom Caucus / Tea Party that they are no longer one party. The Republican Party is truly a “house divided against itself”. The chasm between them needs to be acknowledged and acted on before any real governing can be done.
6
If a House Republican shows "flashes of pragmatism" or other indications of good sense he is unfit for the leadership according to the Tea Party. The Know Nothings of the 1800's are back in force.
8
Only Hitler would be far enough to the right for them. And even he would probably be suspect.
11
Headline: Republicans Forced to Construct a Golem to Serve as Speaker
9
more evidence of the painful inevitable death throes of the republican party. the entire world is suffering for this.
5
If Obama wants him he must be an absolute toady.
The tail of 40 is wagging the republican dog of 200.
7
“Anyone who attacks Paul Ryan as being insufficiently conservative is either woefully misinformed or maliciously destructive,” said Representative Tom Cole.
This is not an either/or situation: these guys are woefully misinformed and also maliciously destructive.
This is not a win/lose situation for our country: it's lose/lose when these radical extremists choose among themselves.
This is not an either/or situation: these guys are woefully misinformed and also maliciously destructive.
This is not a win/lose situation for our country: it's lose/lose when these radical extremists choose among themselves.
4
Tom Cole says, “Anyone who attacks Paul Ryan as being insufficiently conservative is either woefully misinformed or maliciously destructive,”. That's exactly correct Mr. Cole. Although I would add "actively ignorant". This is your party Mr. Cole. Congratulations you reap what you sow. Unfortunately so do the rest of us.
12
How can Ryan be too far left? He's not anywhere near the middle moderate. He's a right wing nut job. But not extreme enough for others. OMG
7
This could be a headline from THE ONION.
13
After so many other false starts, it is apparent that those who criticize Ryan are not interested in good governance, nor the success of our nation, nor reality. Were they, then they'd work deliberately to appoint a new House leader and get onto legislating before the Congressional session is over. To do that requires diplomatic skill, knowledge, and respect for the voters who elected them.
The inability to get over one's self is the most common trait among extremists in both parties. They do not serve anyone, including themselves, well at all.
Moving the bar of acceptability so far, and planting it so intractably, denies accomplishment. Stridency of this kind makes hubris appear attractive. To stretch that far away from the core principals of the good governance that our forefathers envisioned, is frightening. Our nation, and we the people, deserve much, much better.
Let's hope the Republican Party and its Members of Congress do not crumble to bits from the heavy weight of an ill-tempered discordant wing. We need them to be better behaved, and to work primarily for us, instead of against each other.
The inability to get over one's self is the most common trait among extremists in both parties. They do not serve anyone, including themselves, well at all.
Moving the bar of acceptability so far, and planting it so intractably, denies accomplishment. Stridency of this kind makes hubris appear attractive. To stretch that far away from the core principals of the good governance that our forefathers envisioned, is frightening. Our nation, and we the people, deserve much, much better.
Let's hope the Republican Party and its Members of Congress do not crumble to bits from the heavy weight of an ill-tempered discordant wing. We need them to be better behaved, and to work primarily for us, instead of against each other.
2
Oh please! We need to elect Congressional representatives who are willing to work for the money that we taxpayers are paying them, not those who engage in endless childish skirmishes.
Paul Ryan is a very fine individual and well-respected legislator who understands and practices well the art of compromise. His adept skills are needed in our current worn, torn, and stagnant Congress -- a Congress that is lost within itself. At this point, Ryan is better than any House Republican can hope for...
Paul Ryan is a very fine individual and well-respected legislator who understands and practices well the art of compromise. His adept skills are needed in our current worn, torn, and stagnant Congress -- a Congress that is lost within itself. At this point, Ryan is better than any House Republican can hope for...
4
Because of gerrymandering, House Republicans have to worry more about being challenged from the right in the primary than they do about winning the center after they have won the primary. The Senate and Presidency are not subject to gerrymandering. That's why this problem is focused in the House. Senatorial and Presidential candidates move to the extreme at their general election peril.
Gerrymandering and voter suppression win seats for the Republicans in the short run, but they cause precisely this kind of political dysfunction in the long run. Democracy works -- if it's allowed to work.
Gerrymandering and voter suppression win seats for the Republicans in the short run, but they cause precisely this kind of political dysfunction in the long run. Democracy works -- if it's allowed to work.
9
I suspect that if the mainstream republicans nominated a moderate member of their caucus, they would have no problem getting the 218 votes they need to elect them as speaker...
6
Paul Ryan is a liberal? Then sun rises in the north, fish live in tree, fire is soothing cold and ice is hot. These Freedom Caucus members are crazy crazy crazy insane and stupid stupid and stupid.
14
Ryan is a RINO, any Representative that submits to his requirements are as crazy as Democrat voters voting for that lying Obama.
I think your definition of the "R" in RINO must be way, way off. Did you mean "radical" or "reactionary" because there are lots of ways to be a Republican, or at least there used to be. If you and the far-right don't like difference of opinion or different types of Republicans why not form a new political party? The beauty of America is that you can do just that. Or would you prefer we all march in lock step with you and become a fascist state?
1
The problem is that the Republican party has become taken over by entertainers in conservative media. These people must constantly say outrageous things and keep pushing a more harsh, radical conservatism in order to keep listeners tuned in. There's a sort of contest to see who can be the most extreme. A small bunch of very gullible people who consume this product are blissfully ignorant that it is just formulaic entertainment tailored to keep them tuned in. As a result, the party is increasingly becoming, as Bobby Jindal put it, the "party of stupid."
President Eisenhower must be turning in his grave to see what the party has degenerated into.
President Eisenhower must be turning in his grave to see what the party has degenerated into.
7
The Republican Party is in complete disarray, and yet... it holds a majority in both the House and Senate, most of the nation's governors are Republican and so are majorities in State legislatures. What does that say about the electorate??
10
it's past time for republican office-holders to collectively denounce right wing talk radio, etc.
what a joke! a mainstream political party being ruled by radio and internet interests, financially controlled by billionaires.
and, n.y. times, it's good to see you're finally addressing this pernicious problem--as even david brooks has acknowledged that the republican party became controlled by the crazies soon after talk radio, etc., began to grow.
what a joke! a mainstream political party being ruled by radio and internet interests, financially controlled by billionaires.
and, n.y. times, it's good to see you're finally addressing this pernicious problem--as even david brooks has acknowledged that the republican party became controlled by the crazies soon after talk radio, etc., began to grow.
11
When Tom Cole is the voice of reason, you know Washington has gone completely off the deep end. Once the radicals have smashed the American government to pieces (or drowned it in the bathtub to use their own favorite metaphor), what then? Ordinarily, the way they roll is to denounce FEMA until the next hurricane strikes their state, or to complain about the size of the government until they want to send the biggest military in the world off on the latest engagement overseas. But what happens when there is no FEMA and no functioning oversight of the military, or anything else? What then? Answer is they don't have a clue - though their oligarch funders just might. There's money to be had in the dismantling.
13
We can always hope that one morning the Republican 'Establishment' will wake up and say: enough.
5
The venomous spleen vented on President Obama is now being directed toward their own.
21
I am getting tired of this mess in the Republican Party but I don't think it will end until the South and a few other states have a major change in their demography.
Seriously, in these states people say thing openly that would cause them to be ostracized in the rest of the country. But these states are trying to cling to an outmoded way of life where men govern and women and minorities are their slaves. Nice for the guys!
The Hispanics are slowly forcing change in most of these places. No wonder they don't want them to be able to vote! But trying to stop time is always a losing battle.
Seriously, in these states people say thing openly that would cause them to be ostracized in the rest of the country. But these states are trying to cling to an outmoded way of life where men govern and women and minorities are their slaves. Nice for the guys!
The Hispanics are slowly forcing change in most of these places. No wonder they don't want them to be able to vote! But trying to stop time is always a losing battle.
9
The issue isn't so much the state demographics, as the way the states are gerrymandered to pack white conservatives into protected House districts. More district drawing reform, as is happening in Florida now, should help.
3
Spoken like a true demagogue - you are on the wrong side of the fence, my friend. Your comments are derogatory and biased, and you obviously ARE NOT a Republican NOR a conservative. Why don't you just admit you're a closet demagogue and get it over with, or shut up???
How long will it take for the NY Times to state the obvious: the Republican Party broke in two last week. Of course, the newborn party, the Freedom Party, split off the way a glacier is calved, has no philosophical compatibility with its mother.
Paul Ryan is therefore being presented as a proof to the media that there still exists a Republican Party that encompasses a minority faction called the Freedom Caucus. This is analogous to the way that the government of East Germany continued to insist in 1989 and 1990 that it was still a distinct country with a distinct foreign policy. Never mind those people pouring through the vanishing fences of the Iron Curtain and through the holes in the Berlin Wall.
Paul Ryan is therefore being presented as a proof to the media that there still exists a Republican Party that encompasses a minority faction called the Freedom Caucus. This is analogous to the way that the government of East Germany continued to insist in 1989 and 1990 that it was still a distinct country with a distinct foreign policy. Never mind those people pouring through the vanishing fences of the Iron Curtain and through the holes in the Berlin Wall.
14
If by right wing they mean off-his-rockers then Paul Ryan still qualifies.
(btw - Why do journalists always put all the opposition on Democrats?)
A majority of economists agree with Democrats; the policy's of Paul Ryan and the GOP are not good for depressed economies. (Stated explicitly by the GOP, Mitch McConnel et.al. when Obama was elected.)
Also reduced budgets during recessions are economic headwinds to recovery. A proven fact for -oh about 80 years now and spelled out for us by IMF, WB and other respected analysts.
(btw - Why do journalists always put all the opposition on Democrats?)
A majority of economists agree with Democrats; the policy's of Paul Ryan and the GOP are not good for depressed economies. (Stated explicitly by the GOP, Mitch McConnel et.al. when Obama was elected.)
Also reduced budgets during recessions are economic headwinds to recovery. A proven fact for -oh about 80 years now and spelled out for us by IMF, WB and other respected analysts.
4
Alice, meet Wonderland.
11
Ayn Rand's anti-religion is of course anathema to both the religious right and left.
I've not kept up with Romney's V.P. nominee choice enough to know whether his reputed staunch Rand proclivity/advocacy is moderated, negated, or what.
I have to think many GOP voters were/are simply unaware of Ryan's heresy.
How Christians & Jews synthesize Rand's radicalism confuses this elderly, cynical, agnostic, obssessed student of meta-physics & ideology.
I recall conservative Wm F. Buckley, Jr., as certainly no friend of Rand, while Alan Greenspan was (at least previously) thought a devout student.
I've not kept up with Romney's V.P. nominee choice enough to know whether his reputed staunch Rand proclivity/advocacy is moderated, negated, or what.
I have to think many GOP voters were/are simply unaware of Ryan's heresy.
How Christians & Jews synthesize Rand's radicalism confuses this elderly, cynical, agnostic, obssessed student of meta-physics & ideology.
I recall conservative Wm F. Buckley, Jr., as certainly no friend of Rand, while Alan Greenspan was (at least previously) thought a devout student.
3
How quickly the Republicans eat their young!
16
Those who can be convinced that Paul Ryan is "too far left" can probably be convinced also that Eric The Red and the Wright brothers were too timid.
9
If the Times likes him I can't help but think he is flawed as a conservative. That said I don't know enough about him yet to make a fair judgement.
The NY Times has a well known liberal bias just as the NY Post has a bias to the right.
An endorsement from the NYT is like the kiss of death for a conservative.
The NY Times has a well known liberal bias just as the NY Post has a bias to the right.
An endorsement from the NYT is like the kiss of death for a conservative.
1
I don't think the Times is endorsing Ryan, but just describing his possible candidacy in a neutral way.
2
If an endorsement of Ryan by the NYT would be the kiss of death for a conservative, Obama would be able to play the Freedom Caucus in particular, and the GOP in general, like a fiddle, by endorsing every so-called establishment member of the GOP, forcing them to either go rudderless, or appoint someone from the Freedom Caucus a speaker. This would be a disaster for the GOP. Be careful what you wish for.
Ryan is a closet Marxist-Leninist. Why do liberals not understand?
4
Calling Ryan a closet Marxist-Leninist seems more appropriate for the comment threads of various right-wing websites. If you could provide some facts for us, it would be greatly appreciated, unless, of course, facts have a liberal bias, which means facts are anathema to you.
2
Very snarky! Bravo!!!
1
he wasn't being serious. relax.
The republican leadership is looking for a hard right wing candidate to take over as speaker and then take away more rights of ordinary people in the u.s., while enriching the wealthy elite even more!! They are ambitious!!
13
Trust me. It did not take any prompting from any media or web sources to trigger a firestorm of opposition to Ryan. Conservative voters began contacting their Reps the moment Ryan's named was raised.
Amnesty, cromnibus and several other factors have made Ryan a non-starter among conservatives. The author of this article attributes too little to the voters and too much to "Far-right media figures..." We don't need Mark Levin to point out what is obvious to all of us.
The key factor is so-called "immigration reform". The GOP establishment cannot seem to get it through their heads. Amnesty, in any form or degree, is absolutely unacceptable to a huge number of voters. Including voters who would never consider themselves to be conservative or Republican.
Amnesty, cromnibus and several other factors have made Ryan a non-starter among conservatives. The author of this article attributes too little to the voters and too much to "Far-right media figures..." We don't need Mark Levin to point out what is obvious to all of us.
The key factor is so-called "immigration reform". The GOP establishment cannot seem to get it through their heads. Amnesty, in any form or degree, is absolutely unacceptable to a huge number of voters. Including voters who would never consider themselves to be conservative or Republican.
2
I certainly acknowledge that immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship, is anathema to a great number of voters.
However, that "huge number of voters" isn't by any measure a majority of citizens. Last I looked, when it comes to legislation, that is how things are supposed to work in this country. So perhaps that is the real idea that so many can't seem to "get through their heads" anymore.
However, that "huge number of voters" isn't by any measure a majority of citizens. Last I looked, when it comes to legislation, that is how things are supposed to work in this country. So perhaps that is the real idea that so many can't seem to "get through their heads" anymore.
1
The Freedom Caucus are bullies - pure and simple. They also remind me of hostage takers. Or, the kids on the playground who say 'play by my rules or I'm I'm not playing.'
9
Is it time for a third party? It seems that the Republican party can no longer control its fringe. Perhaps the Freedom caucus should be cast free to form their own party and we can return to some semblance of sane government where we realize that there is more than one position on a given issue and compromises need to be reached to continue the work of the people.
5
Phyllis Schlafly is still around? And enough people anyone actually care what she thinks for her to be quoted in the Times? Wow.
21
Paul Ryan is Scott Walker - with a college degree. He talks a bunch of abstractions, can't balance a budget, wants to starve the workers to feed the .01% and tells lies with a blue-eyed intensity of false innocence. Is it any wonder they're from the same state and same party?
But now he's in the crosshairs of both his own constituents in Janesville (a Democratic stronghold, gerrymandered just for him) and also the rabid right in congress.
Couldn't happen to a better hypocrite, who gorged on social security growing up and has been sucking on the govt teat ever since, but wants to deprive the rest of us of the benefits of our labor so and the good healthcare he enjoys as a longtime govt. "pull the wool over your eyes" Rep.
But now he's in the crosshairs of both his own constituents in Janesville (a Democratic stronghold, gerrymandered just for him) and also the rabid right in congress.
Couldn't happen to a better hypocrite, who gorged on social security growing up and has been sucking on the govt teat ever since, but wants to deprive the rest of us of the benefits of our labor so and the good healthcare he enjoys as a longtime govt. "pull the wool over your eyes" Rep.
15
I thank the Republican Party for sparing me the effort of learning more about their candidates for the 2016 Presidential Election. They are showing that the ill-informed, often immigrant-hating, anti-government hooligans are on the brink of taking control of the supposedly "grand old party". They are doing a very good job of convincing someone like me (non-white, Roman Catholic with old-fashioned values) that there's no room for me in their party. They're also showing me that in their unwillingness to compromise and work with the Democrats that they have absolutely no interest in resolving national issues that impact my life. Thank you for making it very easy for me to say that I should be voting for the Democrats from this point onward. You are a disgrace and if this country should collapse one day, please don't point your fingers at anybody else but yourselves for making it happen. Adios!
17
The 'Freedom Caucus' is comprised of members who are following the mandate of their constituency which is to sabotage the federal government while maintaining their own personal entitlements under threat of quickly being 'primaried' by an even more radical bomb-thrower. Every congressperson knows this and knows that this effectively makes each of these FC members' job something of a kamakazi mission. As voting to pass any legislation would require some consensus thereby marking them as 'weak' or 'too leftist', they are in a catch-22 situation. Since the number of them is enough to thwart anything the remainder of the Republican can accomplish without significant Democratic support, their party is basically doomed on the national level.
3
Those of us who still think we can save this country only pray that the American people who put these Bozos in office will now see them as in it for the money and damn the Republic. What difference will it make who the speaker is? You can be sure it's a "he" and you can be sure he will be incompetent.
Just get rid of them.
Just get rid of them.
6
Our government is being held hostage by extremists. These are not internal party squabbles or debates between conservatives. There are 35 radical extremists in Congress who for the past two years have been preventing Congress from governing.
That no one in power is acknowledging this is madness.
Our debt rating has gone down, and our government has shut down - and threatens to do so again - because we do not have a functional government. Like a failed state, we are being held hostage by extremists - and yet Congress continues to try and negotiate with people who are not interested in compromise, whose sole aim is to tear down our government. This is legitimately frightening stuff.
That no one in power is acknowledging this is madness.
Our debt rating has gone down, and our government has shut down - and threatens to do so again - because we do not have a functional government. Like a failed state, we are being held hostage by extremists - and yet Congress continues to try and negotiate with people who are not interested in compromise, whose sole aim is to tear down our government. This is legitimately frightening stuff.
6
I can only imagine what these people think of (soon-to-be-former) Conservative Saint Ronald Reagan!
How about some serious investigative journalism that sticks before we all fall off the cliff? The media is partly responsible for letting this insanity get to this point. Do something about it!!!
8
There are now two wings of the Republican party: the Adults and the Children.
The Adults know that in order to govern you have to work hard, compromise, play nice and wait your turn. The Children want what they want and expect to be given it NOW. They don't want to work hard, compromise, play nice, or wait their turn.
There was a time (before we were all so self-absorbed) when children were expected to behave or they were sent to their room. I say send the Children to their room. Let them form their own party. If they're so grown up, let's see how well they govern on their own.
The Adults know that in order to govern you have to work hard, compromise, play nice and wait your turn. The Children want what they want and expect to be given it NOW. They don't want to work hard, compromise, play nice, or wait their turn.
There was a time (before we were all so self-absorbed) when children were expected to behave or they were sent to their room. I say send the Children to their room. Let them form their own party. If they're so grown up, let's see how well they govern on their own.
6
As they say, the Republicans continue to eat their children.
6
must we refer to fox as "news media"?
15
I know things have gotten out of hand when I defend Paul Ryan and agree with Tom Cole. Cole's comment is a perfect summation of the problem with the Republican party--it is being held hostage by about 40 House members, who collectively received probably fewer than 3 million votes in their respective elections, who are radical populists with no interest in the democratic process.
20
To get a sense of the cloud-cuckoo-land the Republican Party might be headed a history of the French Revolution as it spiraled into its "Reign of Terror" phase might prove prescient.
Fervent Republicans though they were it was their misfortune to "live in interesting times", when "extremism in the defense of Liberty" was "no vice". So, when roving mobs of sans-culottes set in motion by "les enragés" -- rabble rousers like Jacques Roux and Jacques Hébert -- roamed Paris' streets, attacked others whom their leaders recognized, usually dragging them off to private dungeons or simply murdering them out of hand, neither prior service to The Cause, protestations of loyalty nor ideological fervor carried much weight.
Well-hidden in all the chaos was a coup d'état. A clique in the small Jacobin Republican faction seized power by creating, within its caucus and the National Assembly, a "Committee of Public Safety". That committee stampeded the rest of the Assembly into a domestic war against their personal rivals. In its final stages The Terror saw entire factions, like the "Girondists", tried and condemned en masse because -- as revolutionary and ideologically pure as they were -- by Jacobin standards it wasn't enough. They weren't pure enough.
Which begs this question: who among our modern-day Jacobins might emerge as their Danton, St. Just, Robespierre, Marat, Roux, Hébert, Corday, Chaumette, and Jean-Baptiste Carrier?
Fervent Republicans though they were it was their misfortune to "live in interesting times", when "extremism in the defense of Liberty" was "no vice". So, when roving mobs of sans-culottes set in motion by "les enragés" -- rabble rousers like Jacques Roux and Jacques Hébert -- roamed Paris' streets, attacked others whom their leaders recognized, usually dragging them off to private dungeons or simply murdering them out of hand, neither prior service to The Cause, protestations of loyalty nor ideological fervor carried much weight.
Well-hidden in all the chaos was a coup d'état. A clique in the small Jacobin Republican faction seized power by creating, within its caucus and the National Assembly, a "Committee of Public Safety". That committee stampeded the rest of the Assembly into a domestic war against their personal rivals. In its final stages The Terror saw entire factions, like the "Girondists", tried and condemned en masse because -- as revolutionary and ideologically pure as they were -- by Jacobin standards it wasn't enough. They weren't pure enough.
Which begs this question: who among our modern-day Jacobins might emerge as their Danton, St. Just, Robespierre, Marat, Roux, Hébert, Corday, Chaumette, and Jean-Baptiste Carrier?
11
And yet, sadly, this is what makes the NYT, and maybe even the front page. Not substantive discussion of policy really, but one more idiotic article about who's "side" which one of them is on. We all know good and well by now that even a supposed "liberal" in the eyes of the NYT is damned near considered too radical to even talk about. But here we go, adding to the spin of Lyin' Ryan being anywhere near a centrist, much less liberal. Just one more item to push the status quo here? Or at the very least to make the uninformed wonder, sowing a few seeds of woefully misinformed doubt?
10
The late Senator Joe McCarthy would have certainly approved of these cleansing investigations.
What was said to McCarthy that took him down? Something about decency?
What was said to McCarthy that took him down? Something about decency?
13
Paul Ryan is probably the only Republican that can succeed in uniting his party enough to keep the government open and functioning, but the chances of his success are very low and are likely to end his political career. He knows this. If he takes the job it's because he put his party first before his future, and I respect that. I hope, for the sake of the country that he succeeds.
But we all know this is just going to get worse before it gets better, especially if a Democrat wins the presidency in 2016.
The anger I see on the right today is frightening.
But we all know this is just going to get worse before it gets better, especially if a Democrat wins the presidency in 2016.
The anger I see on the right today is frightening.
5
Unfortunately, todays Democrats do not seem to realize that the Tea Party is the result of the move of their leaders to the left. Obama was one of the (or the?) most US leftist in the Senate. Hillary Clinton's rethoric is moving to the left because of the success of the socialist views of Sanders. These extremes are not good for the stability of our country.
1
The Dems haven't been left of anything, they never articulated a true left wing agenda. Obama opposed the Iraq war, so what? That hardly constitutes socialism. As for Hillary, she should address Bernie's positions, as these have some substance, even though you may think they are somehow "socialist." Actually, Bernie is pretty tame by socialist's standards. I'm a socialist, Bernie's barely there.
1
Unfortunately, todays Democrats do not seem to realize that the Tea Party is the result of the move of their leaders to the left.
could it be that there are social, economic and demographic forces that are striking fear into the members of this party (who are, for all practical purposes, white, male and over the age of 50)?
could it be that there are social, economic and demographic forces that are striking fear into the members of this party (who are, for all practical purposes, white, male and over the age of 50)?
1
Healthcare is such a leftist idea...
3
“Paul Ryan has played a major role in advancing the conservative cause and creating the Republican House majority. His critics are not true conservatives. They are radical populists who neither understand nor accept the institutions, procedures and traditions that are the basis of constitutional governance.”
Sorry's the day I have to agree with OK's Tom Cole, but he's said it neatly: the right wing of the GOP are traitors so enraged by being drug by the heels into modernity that they are eager to overthrow our for of government (the problem!!) and wish to install a strongman who can "get things done" to their satisfaction.
Too bad Mussolini is dead, he'd be perfect.
Sorry's the day I have to agree with OK's Tom Cole, but he's said it neatly: the right wing of the GOP are traitors so enraged by being drug by the heels into modernity that they are eager to overthrow our for of government (the problem!!) and wish to install a strongman who can "get things done" to their satisfaction.
Too bad Mussolini is dead, he'd be perfect.
12
Mussolini wouldn't be conservative enough.
1
If the GOP has proven that a no-on-everything strategy can translate to a house majority, it is no surprise that some of its own firebrands are applying the same strategy to their leadership.
The irony ...
The irony ...
9
Two quick points.
1. Commenters are being lazy writers when they use "insane" or "insanity" to describe conduct or remarks they don't approve of. Please save the psychological evaluations for the likes of James Holmes and Charles Manson.
2. Extremists on the far left are properly described as "Radicals" (wanting to change things and go to what might be). Their counterparts on the extreme right as "Reactionaries" (wanting to resist change or return to what was.) Please don't contribute to misuse of the terms, which leads to misunderstandings and degradation of our language.
Thanks!
1. Commenters are being lazy writers when they use "insane" or "insanity" to describe conduct or remarks they don't approve of. Please save the psychological evaluations for the likes of James Holmes and Charles Manson.
2. Extremists on the far left are properly described as "Radicals" (wanting to change things and go to what might be). Their counterparts on the extreme right as "Reactionaries" (wanting to resist change or return to what was.) Please don't contribute to misuse of the terms, which leads to misunderstandings and degradation of our language.
Thanks!
3
Larry, nobody is "misusing" those terms. Your "correct" usages of "radical" and "reactionary" no longer apply, now that the political poles have completely reversed, and it is the right-wing that wants sweeping change from the status quo, and the left that is trying to maintain our traditional governing processes and policies. Language should reflect reality, not the other way round.
The Tea Party doesn't want to return to what was (which would be a functioning bipartisan federal government where compromise and collegiality were the norms, even if not always achieved). They want to break the system so they can recreate it more to their liking with themselves in charge. This is why people like David Brooks are casting them as "radicals" as opposed to "conservatives." And their destructiveness is insane. Both in substance and manner they are impulsive, irrational, and heedless of consequences. They have gone too far.
Just name who you think is the leader of the Republican Party today. You will get a migraine headache before you can come up with someone. It has been that way for eight years and will bee that way for many more years. Nihilism, by nature, does not produce leadership.
16
If Boehner wants him, thats our clue that he is not the right person for the job.
2
Oh how my Democratic heart sings!!!
6
Its nice that you are so partisan that you are happy to see the country in such a state because you are a Democrat and the problem is with the Republicans.
Another reason I became an Independent.
Another reason I became an Independent.
So who is their Goldilocks candidate? Attila the Hun? And what about "too right wing?" Have to look to the fiction section for that one. Actually, no, scratch that. John Galt is entirely what they're about. Absurd, bad fiction masquerading as deep, philosophical thought. Sort of like the reactionary mirror of the drivel rushed into print in Stalin's Russia as part of the state's propaganda effort.
15
Paul Ryan...liberal? Playboy without naked ladies?
What's going on????????
What's going on????????
22
This is no surprise, really. His rejection has nothing to do with his voting record and everything to do with his religion. Ryan is a Catholic. There's massive historical precedent that demonstrates how those who believe the true Founding Fathers were the Puritans of Plymouth Rock would never allow a Catholic to lead their cause. Catholics who have previously thought the Religious Far Right of the U.S. would ever allow them to lead were making a complete fools bet. These Catholics turned their back on Catholic social teaching to further a causes of the Religious Right, while neglecting to make note that the agenda of the Religious Right is to turn the country into the first fully Protestant Theocracy on the planet. Of course no one wants to mention this little fact, and it's all danced around by political pundits, but the evidence of the desires of the Religious RIght are there on all the websites of all the different little sects and churches out there. Couple that with the historic hatred of Catholics and with the revised history they have been teaching their homeschooled and religious schooled kiddies, who pledge allegiance to the Christian cause, not the U.S., and you have the political disaster that is now come to bear. Sorry to tell y'all but we have our own Taliban to worry about now.
5
This is not historically accurate. For starters, there were no Puritans at Plymouth; they were Pilgrims (the two groups did not get along). But in any event, the Southerners who dominate the far Right today are neither the literal nor the spiritual descendants of the Massachusetts Puritans (those would be today's Congregationalists, Unitarians, Church of Christ, and northern Episcopalians). The forebears of today's Southern Protestants were the English and Scots-Irish who settled in Virginia and the Carolinas and moved westward into Tennessee and points south and west. They were largely Episcopalians and Presbyterians, and ironically not religiously motivated like the Puritans to the North. Much of the cultural divide between the North and South persists today - such as the fact that the Puritans and their descendants in the 19th century were heavily invested in education (Harvard, Yale, Amherst, Bowdoin, Bates, Oberlin, etc., and the first public schools for children), while Southerners were far less so.
I suspect a grand Machiavellian play unfolding: The Freedom caucus wants to dominate the Republican Party in over a decade or two; or maybe in 3 or 4 election cycles. If the party cannot be subjugated, just tear it asunder. The reaction to that would be that - perhaps they hope - the far left Democrats spin out in a cluster. That leaves the middle of both the parties - confused, contained, and in a panicked state - exposed to be hunted down by the far far right. I suspect they (the far right) think that would be a more prudent and promising long term strategy since there is no hope for a third party.
If it is by design, one can appreciate the genius. Thus recognizing, opponents can counter it with an equally ingenious political craft. (Although ingenuity seems rather scarce on either side). If it's running by fluke, and merely on the shallow or the usually misogynistic belief systems of the far right, they are doomed and so are we as a country.
If it is by design, one can appreciate the genius. Thus recognizing, opponents can counter it with an equally ingenious political craft. (Although ingenuity seems rather scarce on either side). If it's running by fluke, and merely on the shallow or the usually misogynistic belief systems of the far right, they are doomed and so are we as a country.
1
Paul Ryan seems to have learned something (although not much) from his turn as a vice presidential candidate. Apparently, for the right-wing extremists that Breitbart and crew seek to inflame, that's a problem. That he then acts on the basis of this new perspective makes him intolerable. It says a lot about the radical right in this country.
4
Spurn the Tea Party at one's peril ... They're all thinking of Eric Cantor. If that hadn't happened, we'd be in a very different political time. But it happened.
1
My last line from the previous message got dropped: "In short, we're doomed either which way."
2
I feel like I am in lala land reading The Times today. One article reports how ISIS is fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, presumably because the Taliban is not extreme enough. This article reports that members of the Republican party believe Paul Ryan, yes, Paul Ryan, is too liberal... What? And to boot, Playboy is doing away with nude content... For a minute I thought I mistakenly accessed the Onion.
14
These are traitors. When will they be tried as such?
14
And the prion disease that is the Republican Party consumes still more of its adherents. When will anyone notice that the Republican Party is, unquestionably, officially, insane?
8
Some one needs to tell the Teapartiers...perhaps they should focus on building their brand and gaining momentum, where they are the majority and then make demands.
The new guy on the block demanding he is given a seat at the table is a bit of arrogance gone amok!
Why would they expect anyone to take a job that the person would lose any power to govern? It makes no sense.
The new guy on the block demanding he is given a seat at the table is a bit of arrogance gone amok!
Why would they expect anyone to take a job that the person would lose any power to govern? It makes no sense.
3
That's some interesting use of the phrase "center-right Americans" by Alex Marlowe. It seems to me that the conservative movement is a fractious coalition of people with one of three basic aims: keep the wealthy on top and hoarding the capital; keep women oppressed; keep non-white people oppressed. This first is reflected in an obsession with lower taxes, higher corporate subsidies, reducing any payments to those in need, gutting regulations on anything, etc. The second is best reflected in abortion bans, and this group is the same one that most hates the idea of marriage equality and so on - the "religious freedom" crowd. The third seems to think that immigrants are all drink driving, drug dealing rapists and that they need their assault rifles because the government wants to give their homes to black people.
For the most part, what we may have in the past referred to as the "mainstream" Republican Party offered a bait and switch to the second and third groups to give themselves the numbers to support the agenda of the first group. Now we have a movement of people so far to the right that they will tolerate no budging on any of these three broad areas. The fact that a country run along these lines would not only be heinously immoral, but would also collapse, seems to be of no import whatsoever.
For the most part, what we may have in the past referred to as the "mainstream" Republican Party offered a bait and switch to the second and third groups to give themselves the numbers to support the agenda of the first group. Now we have a movement of people so far to the right that they will tolerate no budging on any of these three broad areas. The fact that a country run along these lines would not only be heinously immoral, but would also collapse, seems to be of no import whatsoever.
5
Delusion, in denial and insane! What more can anyone expect of the next "Leader" or the Republican Tea Party.
But this NYT header to another irrelevant story covers all the bases.
"Playboy to Drop Nudity as Internet Fills Demand."
Think and then understand. What was porn yesterday is now sex education today. What was wrong for America is now the solution.
And now back to the news.
Man bites dog...........
Another pre-teen shot and killed.......
The war in Afganistan is being won says the Pentagon........
Because there is no inflation in America, Social Security payments will not receive a cost of living adjustment.........
Clinton and Trump, but who will be on top of the ticket........?
But this NYT header to another irrelevant story covers all the bases.
"Playboy to Drop Nudity as Internet Fills Demand."
Think and then understand. What was porn yesterday is now sex education today. What was wrong for America is now the solution.
And now back to the news.
Man bites dog...........
Another pre-teen shot and killed.......
The war in Afganistan is being won says the Pentagon........
Because there is no inflation in America, Social Security payments will not receive a cost of living adjustment.........
Clinton and Trump, but who will be on top of the ticket........?
2
Now is the time for a third party bid- Assuming Tea Party minded people are seriously invested in change, becoming an independent third choice would let the numbers speak for themselves. We need to get out of the resisting game and on to effective government. Current strategies leave our nation in a downward spiral that serves us little at home or abroad.
1
Maybe the grown ups in the Republican Party (if there are any left) need to start thinking about spinning off the Party.
I am not surprised anymore, however, this Republican Party civil war is getting too old and harming this great country of ours.
I am not surprised anymore, however, this Republican Party civil war is getting too old and harming this great country of ours.
1
All of these Tea Party members should read today's David Brooks column
3
No pictures.
I guess this is analogous to a good portion of the Democratic party that thinks Hillary is too far right.
You have to love it the way the Republicans keep shooting themselves in the foot. They have demonstrated by their actions, far better than any Democratic criticism, that they are unfit to govern the country.
I think we're closer to shooting themselves in the head.
Don't compromise, Far Right! Hold out for someone as extreme as you are, and let the voters see what you have in mind for them in 2016.
2
"And then they came for me..."
This rabid self-destruction of the right is exactly what its founders (My Ryan included) wanted when they filled their chambers with charlatans and extreme right wing reactionaries in the last two rounds of elections. They wanted anyone, regardless of their ability to govern, who would do anything to "make Obama fail". And now they have it. Unfortunately for them, they have created a monster that they can't control.
In the words of Edward R. Murrow, "Have you no shame, sir?"
This rabid self-destruction of the right is exactly what its founders (My Ryan included) wanted when they filled their chambers with charlatans and extreme right wing reactionaries in the last two rounds of elections. They wanted anyone, regardless of their ability to govern, who would do anything to "make Obama fail". And now they have it. Unfortunately for them, they have created a monster that they can't control.
In the words of Edward R. Murrow, "Have you no shame, sir?"
5
Unexcuse me, but...
How about:
"Ryan is too inexperienced and lacking in personal accomplishments or mettle to be Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives?"
The man has essentially never held a job aside from a brief stint with his families business when he worked in tele-marketing and sales, briefly.
What ever happen to the likes of 20th Century Speakers like Tip O'Neill or legions of others that earned their stripes, came up through the system, had some scares, were connected to ordinary people and they erred on the side of the common good and humility, instead of personal ambition? SF
How about:
"Ryan is too inexperienced and lacking in personal accomplishments or mettle to be Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives?"
The man has essentially never held a job aside from a brief stint with his families business when he worked in tele-marketing and sales, briefly.
What ever happen to the likes of 20th Century Speakers like Tip O'Neill or legions of others that earned their stripes, came up through the system, had some scares, were connected to ordinary people and they erred on the side of the common good and humility, instead of personal ambition? SF
1
Anyone who thinks that Mr. Ryan is too far to the left is really not fit to be in the House. He is also far from a Pragmatist, (now a dirty word to the Freedom Caucus members in the House). If anyone studied his past actions, ie; the Budget he proposed back in the day which was available in the CBOs report at that time would recognize his actions as leading the U.S. to actually line up as a Banana Republic. The Programs that he cut were clearly listed that would far reduce Tax Revenues to the Treasury, (which while he maintained they would be made up for in Economic Growth), - BUT - he showed only asterisks where there should have been explanations as to where exactly that Economic Growth would come from.
I truly believe that he has reached the Peter Principle when it comes to Economics, (whereby you have reached a level where you can no longer advance)!
Even if he had an ounce of Pragmatism in him, the Freedom Caucus would see that he received an enema to erase all signs of what they consider to be a major problem in Legislating, before he became Speaker. I recently saw that ANYONE - even a sitting Senator could perforrn the role of Speaker of the House. The Freedom Caucus types should recruit Senator Ted Cruz who has continuously shown that he has absolutely not a GRAM of Pragmatism and is as one Senator from Arizona titled people like him as WHACKO BIRDS! My simple question to these types of Representatives, - have you never read Machiavelli?
I truly believe that he has reached the Peter Principle when it comes to Economics, (whereby you have reached a level where you can no longer advance)!
Even if he had an ounce of Pragmatism in him, the Freedom Caucus would see that he received an enema to erase all signs of what they consider to be a major problem in Legislating, before he became Speaker. I recently saw that ANYONE - even a sitting Senator could perforrn the role of Speaker of the House. The Freedom Caucus types should recruit Senator Ted Cruz who has continuously shown that he has absolutely not a GRAM of Pragmatism and is as one Senator from Arizona titled people like him as WHACKO BIRDS! My simple question to these types of Representatives, - have you never read Machiavelli?
1
Calling Paul Ryan "too far left" is like saying Vlad the Impaler had a temper problem. Ryan's vision of America reads like an Ayn Rand novel--a land of dire poverty for those in need, no social safety net, and no extrinsic rewards for scholastic merit. His extremism was part of the reason Mitt Romney lost in 2012. And if the Tea Party thinks he is a liberal, then we have an insight in what they want for the rest of the country, and that scares me!
5
Well, after years of scare tactics and dog whistles, the GOP has created a monster it can't control. Who would have thought? This will make Goldwater look like Trotsky. It's scary to see that the government will be dragged into default because of a handful of revanchists.
3
Paul Ryan, Mr Voucher Program is too far left? Wow. Now I've seen it all.
2
Paul Ryan is another Boehner RINO ! Even Obama supports Ryan because he knows he can control him ! Thus showing the voters that the GOP is nothing but a branch of the democrat party and not worth supporting.
I often find myself wishing that a hacking group would permanently take down sites like Breitbart.
2
I just took a look at Breitbart.com that is mentioned in the article. It's a trash website. Simply amazing if Americans consider it a way to receive news. David Brooks latest column helped to sum up the political problems of the Republican Congress but what about the American electorate? Scary!
Well, from the left: we don't want him! Red rover red rover, send Paul Ryan right back over. All puns intended.
1
"Influential members of the conservative news media" - just who are these flies on a rotting carcass? Drudge? Schlafly? Alex Marlow? Really? (Talk about title inflation!) When will the rank-and-file Republicans squash these mindless ideologues and anarchists in their midst like a bug?
Imagine if Abraham Lincoln spent more than a few seconds a week contemplating what his numerous detractors had to say. While we're imagining, is it too much to ask that Americans (who also happen to be Republican office-holders) refuse to tolerate anarchists, misogynists, racists and bullies, especially when the "cost" to do so is so trivial? Does anyone really think that Tea Partiers are going to defect to the Democrats if they don't get their own way? More likely, they'll just stay home. Which would be a win for America, whether one is a Republican, Democrat or independent.
There is a prime space reserved on the scrapheap of history for the Tea Party. It's well past time for the Republicans to throw them there.
Imagine if Abraham Lincoln spent more than a few seconds a week contemplating what his numerous detractors had to say. While we're imagining, is it too much to ask that Americans (who also happen to be Republican office-holders) refuse to tolerate anarchists, misogynists, racists and bullies, especially when the "cost" to do so is so trivial? Does anyone really think that Tea Partiers are going to defect to the Democrats if they don't get their own way? More likely, they'll just stay home. Which would be a win for America, whether one is a Republican, Democrat or independent.
There is a prime space reserved on the scrapheap of history for the Tea Party. It's well past time for the Republicans to throw them there.
3
The dilemma of the Republican leadership:
How can we continue to serve our corporate owners while securing the votes of those for whom we do nothing?
News flash, boys! Corporate campaign contributions are not votes.
Out here in the hinterlands, we're sick of a Republican party that refuses to fight for what we want. A party that surrenders to the opposition before the battle even begins will no longer enjoy our support.
How can we continue to serve our corporate owners while securing the votes of those for whom we do nothing?
News flash, boys! Corporate campaign contributions are not votes.
Out here in the hinterlands, we're sick of a Republican party that refuses to fight for what we want. A party that surrenders to the opposition before the battle even begins will no longer enjoy our support.
I simply don't think Paul Ryan is going to be the next Speaker, regardless of what the article stated about the far-right thinking he's too far left.
Ryan can become Speaker if he so chooses. But Ryan simply hasn't had any experience running the House on a day-to-day basis. He's unprepared for that - and, frankly, he'll be eaten alive. It's like running into the tent at the start of "The Hunger Games" and getting massacred.
Sure, Ryan has been the face of the congressional Republican/Tea Party's fiscal policy all this decade, first as chairman of the Budget Committee and now as chair of the Ways and Means Committee.
His credentials as a numbers and legislation wonk with an unusually deft touch as a policy salesman may be nonpareil at the Capitol. And his turn as the party’s last candidate for VP has helped convince both his mainstream conservative and combative conservative colleagues he’s their best available option to become a unifying force.
But, after almost 17 years in office, Ryan has demurred time and again when urged to run for either speaker or any of the House leadership positions.
Each of those positions can be a proving ground for those with aspirations for the top spot.
Ryan has proven experience in drafting provocative budgetary blueprints, shaping tax policy and a solid record as a party fundraiser.
But there's one gap in his resume: he has no experience running the House or attending to the day-to-day needs of his colleagues (eg, stroking egos).
Ryan can become Speaker if he so chooses. But Ryan simply hasn't had any experience running the House on a day-to-day basis. He's unprepared for that - and, frankly, he'll be eaten alive. It's like running into the tent at the start of "The Hunger Games" and getting massacred.
Sure, Ryan has been the face of the congressional Republican/Tea Party's fiscal policy all this decade, first as chairman of the Budget Committee and now as chair of the Ways and Means Committee.
His credentials as a numbers and legislation wonk with an unusually deft touch as a policy salesman may be nonpareil at the Capitol. And his turn as the party’s last candidate for VP has helped convince both his mainstream conservative and combative conservative colleagues he’s their best available option to become a unifying force.
But, after almost 17 years in office, Ryan has demurred time and again when urged to run for either speaker or any of the House leadership positions.
Each of those positions can be a proving ground for those with aspirations for the top spot.
Ryan has proven experience in drafting provocative budgetary blueprints, shaping tax policy and a solid record as a party fundraiser.
But there's one gap in his resume: he has no experience running the House or attending to the day-to-day needs of his colleagues (eg, stroking egos).
american politics are wackier than a 3 stooges movie
if you try to 'figure it out' youve missed th point entirely
just watch it and laugh
if you try to 'figure it out' youve missed th point entirely
just watch it and laugh
Maybe the media could do a better job interviewing the constituents who elect members of the Freedom Caucus... I want to hear them explain what their elected officials are doing for them and for the country. Which they couldn't, as the answer is nothing. Expose these fools for what they are--and I mean both the constituents who are lemmings and their "handlers," the delusional "Freedom Caucus" who could not articulate what they stand for besides uttering some nonsense about guns, God and freedom. The fourth estate used to call people out and reveal such baloney for what it was. But our increasingly corporate press prevents all but a few media outlets from reporting on the idiocy of non-ideas and anti-intellectualism. And so-called journalists persist in interviewing utterly irrelevant people like Phyllis Schafly instead. Brilliant. Shine some light on these backward thinking folk--light and air will reveal to most what some of us already know: there is nothing there but empty rhetoric, whether from Paul Ryan or anyone to the right of him. The Freedom Caucus buffoons are merely gadflys seeking to someday make millions, via some corporate board or lobbying gig after they've plundered their way through our government and destroyed institutions and reputations. Expose them! Be journalists! Fair and balanced reporting is anything but.
3
The word "conservative" means moderate, sober, measured, tending to preserve the status quo. The Tea Party, or the Freedom Party, or whatever it they call themselves this week, are conservatives. This is a loose-knit association of extremists, tending towards good old fashioned 20th century fascism, 19th century racism and xenophobia, with a healthy dose of 16th/17th century religious zealotry that smacks of the Inquisition.
The United States was once a democracy, which relies on a reasonably educated and thoughtful electorate, capable of rational thought and of stringing words together in complete sentences. A substantial portion of our electorate now appears to be composed of angry, truculent overgrown children, whose primary mode of communication is the temper tantrum.
America is now an "idiocracy," which I define as government by and for the lowest common denominator, as determined by opinion poll, and as a bizarre form of "infotainment," as opposed to a system of government. Should you doubt me, please see Exhibit 1: the crude circus that is the current Republican scrum for the Presidential nomination, and the ascendancy of the reality TV freak show Donald Trump as a potential candidate for President of the United States. Or consider the politics of that Looney Tunes cartoon character, Sarah Palin. Name recognition, polling numbers, entertainment value, pandering to the basest instincts of the mob - these are now the requisites for success in this idiocracy of ours.
The United States was once a democracy, which relies on a reasonably educated and thoughtful electorate, capable of rational thought and of stringing words together in complete sentences. A substantial portion of our electorate now appears to be composed of angry, truculent overgrown children, whose primary mode of communication is the temper tantrum.
America is now an "idiocracy," which I define as government by and for the lowest common denominator, as determined by opinion poll, and as a bizarre form of "infotainment," as opposed to a system of government. Should you doubt me, please see Exhibit 1: the crude circus that is the current Republican scrum for the Presidential nomination, and the ascendancy of the reality TV freak show Donald Trump as a potential candidate for President of the United States. Or consider the politics of that Looney Tunes cartoon character, Sarah Palin. Name recognition, polling numbers, entertainment value, pandering to the basest instincts of the mob - these are now the requisites for success in this idiocracy of ours.
4
Dear NYT: do you realize how nutty this headline is?
4
Boehner chose to leave because he wasn't willing to fight for reasonable causes. He, and the others in this debacle, should read Profiles in Courage, even though a Democrat wrote it. Sometimes doing what's best for the country takes precedence over doing what's best for some special interesting group.
Let's face it: the 40 renegades will never field a viable speaker. Coalition presents the only remaining choice, and a centrist Republican with a secure moderate district would need to govern through that coalition. He or she would go to the Democrats and start passing things that are necessities (the debt ceiling, the transportation bill, a budget). And then if his or her Republican colleagues and the right-wing extremist media scream, that person would answer: do you want to fall in line and have some influence or lose your influence altogether? This requires some sadly absent backbone.
Let's face it: the 40 renegades will never field a viable speaker. Coalition presents the only remaining choice, and a centrist Republican with a secure moderate district would need to govern through that coalition. He or she would go to the Democrats and start passing things that are necessities (the debt ceiling, the transportation bill, a budget). And then if his or her Republican colleagues and the right-wing extremist media scream, that person would answer: do you want to fall in line and have some influence or lose your influence altogether? This requires some sadly absent backbone.
1
The far-right wing nuts of the Republican party need to be as marginalized as possible. The only way out of this is to form an alliance of centrist representatives of both parties and proceed without tea partiers. Perhaps then some of these gerrymandered reps will just quit in frustration and go back to ranting in conservative media and destroying some less consequential institutions.
2
The establishment Republicans have no one to blame but themselves for the monster they created to their right. Years of mainstream GOP anti-government and anti-institutional rhetoric laid the groundwork for these right-wing ideologues who see no need for compromise. Add to that the extremely conservative, gerrymandered districts that the GOP leadership was only too happy to help their state-level allies create. The establishment GOP brought this on themselves, and only they can end it - by accepting their mistakes, cutting off the hard-right representatives, and getting back to building coalitions with the Democrats in order to actually govern the country.
3
I wish I could take solace in the fact that the ugliness, paranoia, xenophobia, and truth-twisting of the far right is coming back to haunt it own party. In truth, though, it's just not good for anyone at all. The party of Lincoln, of Wendell Willkie, of Nelson Rockefeller, and of so many other civilized, broad-minded people is utterly gone -- not even a Lincoln Chafee left. Now it's far right Republicans who suddenly aren't far right enough. Whom do we blame here? FOX news? The awful state of American education? Rush Limbaugh? Good old American racism and nativism? And how do we effectively fight it?
5
More evidence that extremism eats it's own.
3
The GOP needs to chew off its own leg here and get out of this bear trap. Form a moderate party and get rid of these people who seriously are just an End Times religious death cult who want to hole up in their bunker and shoot it out with the Feds.
Go Home, GOP- you are seriously playing with fire with these folks.
Go Home, GOP- you are seriously playing with fire with these folks.
5
The "Law of Unintended Consequences" is at play here. The Speaker's job, and indeed the Majority's influence, in Congress went out with the bathwater when earmarks were eliminated. I was one of those Liberals during the "W" administration who cried afoul at the corrupting influence and undemocratic nature of earmarks. I underestimated their usefulness for rewarding congresspersons who get in line behind the Speaker. In my state in the last election cycle a moderate Republican congressman of long-standing "retired" rather than face a primary against a hair-on-fire Tea Party candidate who had the support of these right-wing media crazies, and who ran on a simple platform: "Oppose Everything"
What a sorry lot. Republicans are a joke.
4
Ryan is Obama's choice for speaker; Ryan is more interested in caving into Obama than promoting conservative values. The reason Republicans and Conservatives are frustrated is that Congress has a Constitutional duty to help shape national policy. Obama rules as a dictator ignoring law and precedence and the Republican leadership fearful of being blamed for any Obama selective Federal shutdown rolls over. Congress should be challenging Obama and forcing him to compromise and allow constructive input to Federal policy. Obama's Marxist, anti American, pro 3rd World agenda is destroying the US from within and without. Let Obama close down the Federal Government as 90% of the domestic Federal budget actually supports liberal and Democrat constituencies; such as welfare recipients, the Federal civilian bureaucracy, the UN, illegal immigrants and the EPA. Social Security should not be included as it is self funded and not part of the Federal budget process; if Obama tries to hold up Social Security checks he should be impeached. Actually Ryan want's to turn Social Security into a straight welfare program by cutting benefits to people who have other income.
Over here in the real world, people can see a majority party in name only collapsing under the weight of its own hubris.
"Obama rules as a dictator"
And right there is when your post becomes impossible to take seriously.
Words do mean things, after all.
And right there is when your post becomes impossible to take seriously.
Words do mean things, after all.
1
If we take a long hibernating sleep perhaps this charade called the modern Republican Party will be gone when we wake up.
3
Barry Goldwater and Saint Ronald Reagan would be so far left, they couldn't possibly pass the purity tests for the current republicans.
3
You can't be too crazy for this crowd.
3
A man who has built a career preaching small government who went to public school, used Social Security benefits to pay for his college degree, and has spent his entire adult life working for the government.
A man who champions the greatness of the private sector, and beats his drum on the evils of government, who has never really held a job in the private sector—but has made quite a life for himself as a government employee.
Paul Ryan is a self proclaimed "fiscal conservative" who:
- Voted for both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
- Voted, and publicly lobbied, for stimulus bills while George W. Bush was in office
- Also voted for the $152 billion 2008 stimulus package passed under Bush
- While publicly condemning the 2009 stimulus passed under President Obama (which he voted against) he then privately sought funds from that very same stimulus for his district
- Voted for the Medicare Part D plan passed under Bush, which will end up costing tax payers trillions
- Voted for the Bush Tax Cuts, while voting for both wars
- Voted for the $700 billion TARP (Wall Street) bailout
- Voted for the auto bailout as well
A worshipper of Ayn Rand (an atheist who preached selfishness and considered religious people to be fools) and while claiming to be a devout follower of Jesus Christ.
Paul Ryan defines what the Republican Party has become—a shallow entity built on propaganda, hypocrisy, thriving on ignorance and lacking any true substance that supports their rhetoric.
A man who champions the greatness of the private sector, and beats his drum on the evils of government, who has never really held a job in the private sector—but has made quite a life for himself as a government employee.
Paul Ryan is a self proclaimed "fiscal conservative" who:
- Voted for both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
- Voted, and publicly lobbied, for stimulus bills while George W. Bush was in office
- Also voted for the $152 billion 2008 stimulus package passed under Bush
- While publicly condemning the 2009 stimulus passed under President Obama (which he voted against) he then privately sought funds from that very same stimulus for his district
- Voted for the Medicare Part D plan passed under Bush, which will end up costing tax payers trillions
- Voted for the Bush Tax Cuts, while voting for both wars
- Voted for the $700 billion TARP (Wall Street) bailout
- Voted for the auto bailout as well
A worshipper of Ayn Rand (an atheist who preached selfishness and considered religious people to be fools) and while claiming to be a devout follower of Jesus Christ.
Paul Ryan defines what the Republican Party has become—a shallow entity built on propaganda, hypocrisy, thriving on ignorance and lacking any true substance that supports their rhetoric.
8
This just proves that conservative media outlets are simply in it for the money. They don't have to compromise to pass legislation or sway moderate voters. They just have to score ratings to bring in advertising dollars.
So of course conservative politicians don't care about governance. The people voting for them are (mis)informed and motivated by media that have no interest in governance whatsoever.
So of course conservative politicians don't care about governance. The people voting for them are (mis)informed and motivated by media that have no interest in governance whatsoever.
2
Ryan is by no means "liberal."
That the Tea Party views him as such speaks only of its own extremism.
That the Tea Party views him as such speaks only of its own extremism.
4
They should call back saint ronnie from the grave.
3
That's exactly why millions of Republicans go to church every Sunday and pray.
Thanks to the creation of utterly safe congressional districts in 2010 by the Republican landslide of that year, the GOP hard right wing members of Congress can scream with impunity that the majority of their fellow members is not of sufficiently conservative values to be given leadership.
Moreover, the internet seems to have been the key tool in the ubiquity of the hard right's clamoring for virtually killing the federal government.
It may be that for the first time, "establishment" GOP and the Democrats must act together to pass legislation. Boehner, ever fearful of his own job, so far still refuses to allow floor votes on key issues which the Senate has already passed. He is key to any solution, even now, and any new Speaker will have the same problem.
As it stands, the tail is wagging the dog inside the Republican Party. The real question is who has the courage to confront the "Freedom Caucus."
Place your bets.
Moreover, the internet seems to have been the key tool in the ubiquity of the hard right's clamoring for virtually killing the federal government.
It may be that for the first time, "establishment" GOP and the Democrats must act together to pass legislation. Boehner, ever fearful of his own job, so far still refuses to allow floor votes on key issues which the Senate has already passed. He is key to any solution, even now, and any new Speaker will have the same problem.
As it stands, the tail is wagging the dog inside the Republican Party. The real question is who has the courage to confront the "Freedom Caucus."
Place your bets.
10
Hillary will be able to thank the de facto 3rd party which calls itself the "Tea party". George HW Bush versus Ross Perot all over again...
10
Unless it's Truman versus Thurmond. I think this outcome is far less likely, but it's precedent, too.
All of my adult life there has been a steady march to the extreme right by Republicans, with yesterday's hero now derided as not being a "True" Conservative. As has been pointed out by others Eisenhower, Dole, Baker, Reagan, Bush (Sr), Goldwater, Ford and Nixon would not be welcomed in today's GOP as not conservative enough.
For a season this nonsense was entertaining for those who appreciated the schadenfreude of watching the Republicans self destruct. But as their power has grown, these right wing extremists now threaten the ability of the majority party to organize itself. We can no longer afford such ignorance.
Governments are formed by people to collective do things that are not well served by private enterprise- it is by function and structure collectivist and socialist. Radical Republicans so divorced from reality so as to- by obstruction- destroy the ability of our legislature and executive to function are nothing less than traitors to the American nation and it's people. They have hamstrung regulatory agencies with rules and budget restraints, denied ratification of appointments and outright refusal to meet in such a way as to harm our economy, public safety and domestic order.
It is way past time to call these charlatans for that they really are- traitors. They seek to destroy our government as they cannot get the votes to change it through democratic means.
Enough.
For a season this nonsense was entertaining for those who appreciated the schadenfreude of watching the Republicans self destruct. But as their power has grown, these right wing extremists now threaten the ability of the majority party to organize itself. We can no longer afford such ignorance.
Governments are formed by people to collective do things that are not well served by private enterprise- it is by function and structure collectivist and socialist. Radical Republicans so divorced from reality so as to- by obstruction- destroy the ability of our legislature and executive to function are nothing less than traitors to the American nation and it's people. They have hamstrung regulatory agencies with rules and budget restraints, denied ratification of appointments and outright refusal to meet in such a way as to harm our economy, public safety and domestic order.
It is way past time to call these charlatans for that they really are- traitors. They seek to destroy our government as they cannot get the votes to change it through democratic means.
Enough.
18
Paul Ryan really wants to be President Ryan, not Speaker Ryan.
3
It it seems that the Tea Party and the Freedom Caucus are the real RHINOs.
9
Paul Ryan is a national disgrace as his Ayn Rand "philosophical"
position that we balance our budgets on the backs of the poor, the sick and the elderly.
The only hope remaining is for John Boehner to step up and stand up to the 40 obstructionists in the House of Representatives, by first calling them out for the extremists they have been, and second building a bridge to passing bills in concert with moderate Republicans and Democrats in the House who have failed to unite against the Tea Party.
We simply cannot tolerate such extremism any longer and their has been such abject cowardice to call them out. If Boehner does this,
he will go down in history as a man who helped to save American democratic governance. If not, shame on him.
mlm
position that we balance our budgets on the backs of the poor, the sick and the elderly.
The only hope remaining is for John Boehner to step up and stand up to the 40 obstructionists in the House of Representatives, by first calling them out for the extremists they have been, and second building a bridge to passing bills in concert with moderate Republicans and Democrats in the House who have failed to unite against the Tea Party.
We simply cannot tolerate such extremism any longer and their has been such abject cowardice to call them out. If Boehner does this,
he will go down in history as a man who helped to save American democratic governance. If not, shame on him.
mlm
5
"We simply cannot tolerate such extremism any longer and their has been such abject cowardice to call them out."
That's rich after 7 yrs of President "Pen and a Phone", and Ms. "We need to Pass It to See what's in it"!
That's rich after 7 yrs of President "Pen and a Phone", and Ms. "We need to Pass It to See what's in it"!
i hope he takes it, maybe it will rule him out for any further chances to be president after they destroy him.....
7
While I don't support Donald Trump I do agree with his recent statement that "Republicans always lose." Most of us learn from our failures to enable better outcomes the next time but not so the fringe elements of the Republican Party.
Responsible leaders of both parties, rhetoric aside, understand that effective governance is from the middle - sometimes slightly to the left or to the right. So, while Rush, Laura, Glenn and Matt do share the common trait of narcissism in the extreme they also share the failure gene. Only they would call Paul Ryan too liberal and still believe they can elect a Tea Party candidate when they know they will never have the numbers necessary.
Responsible leaders of both parties, rhetoric aside, understand that effective governance is from the middle - sometimes slightly to the left or to the right. So, while Rush, Laura, Glenn and Matt do share the common trait of narcissism in the extreme they also share the failure gene. Only they would call Paul Ryan too liberal and still believe they can elect a Tea Party candidate when they know they will never have the numbers necessary.
4
I'm from Holland and what is happening in the US, has happened to us 40 years ago. The extreme right and the moderate right (and the extreme left and the moderate left) have split in different parties and it works fine. These parties are a true and democratic representation of the voters. To me the Republican party should split in two or three parties and the US should prepare themselves for a multi party democracy. This feels like a stalemate that will just end in complete chaos.
13
The best thing tat the moderate Republicans can do for the survival of their party is to kick out the Tea Party and they Talking Heads. Tell them to form their own right wing party and see how much backing they might get from the voters. For 40 odd members of the House to "rule" their party's status and policies is ridiculous. We pretend to be a country where the majority rules, not a vocal small minority. Divorce the Tea Party from the Republican party. When somewhat more moderate, center right, many Independents (30-35% of the electorate) might join them.
10
Rolling on the floor laughing!
8
A sure sign of extremists: they winnow the ranks looking for apostasy. To put it in a more Russian context, they purge.
14
This insane clown posse has taken over the Republican party if you truly think Paul Ryan is too far left...
Then again, Republicans think any judicial nominee that's not to the right of Robert Bork is too far left...
The Republican party of 2015 has gpme so far right that moderate Republicans of the past ie; Nelson Rockefeller, Jacob Javits, Bob Packwood, Olympia Snowe, etc would be considered Democrats if they were around today..
Then again, Republicans think any judicial nominee that's not to the right of Robert Bork is too far left...
The Republican party of 2015 has gpme so far right that moderate Republicans of the past ie; Nelson Rockefeller, Jacob Javits, Bob Packwood, Olympia Snowe, etc would be considered Democrats if they were around today..
8
I doubt that 53% of repubs support citizenship for illegals, though perhaps that many support a form of legalization.
1
Many Republicans want to force the next speaker to be elected by a bipartisan group consisting mostly of Democrats, then viciously attack the Republicans that participate in the next election.
What we are seeing is the governed retracting their consent to this government.
1
So the Republican Mullahs on the far right really do want an airtight, rigid theocracy. If they prevail, we will simply be known to the world as Sharia-West. Cowgirl burkas? Not a fashion I imagined in this country, but it's on the agenda, apparently. And if this fistful of hardliners does take over, I will be on the streets -- if there are any streets. Maintenance will be sketchy with the national treasure devoted to war, policing, and suppression.
8
So much in this article is hyperbole without clear definitions, from referring to the "far right" to claiming that Ryan backed "drastic cuts to food stamps". Care to define and quantify so that the readers can decide what is "far" or "drastic"? An all too typical formula.
If you read the news you would know how drastic Ryan's plan was. It was drastic enough for his church to call him out on the harm he wanted to do to the elderly, children and disabled.
The Republican Party should stop negotiating with terrorists. They have lived under the constant fear of being lambasted by the extreme right's radio and internet programs for too long.
I fear that for the Republican Party it will take them too long to man up and throw the Tea Party nut jobs out on their butts. I wonder how many votes they lose from middle of the road constituents who are just simply appalled by what they hear coming out of the extreme right.
I fear that for the Republican Party it will take them too long to man up and throw the Tea Party nut jobs out on their butts. I wonder how many votes they lose from middle of the road constituents who are just simply appalled by what they hear coming out of the extreme right.
10
Conservatives are tired of Republicans trying to out-liberal the liberals
1
The world is being hijacked by the ultra conservative of all religions! Its time to say NO - Religion and harmony are almost an oxymoronic combination.
The Tea Party nuts need to be marginalized by the Republicans and Democrats who are here to serve their country and not their ideology!!
The Tea Party nuts need to be marginalized by the Republicans and Democrats who are here to serve their country and not their ideology!!
10
Boehner Drama Continues...
Ryan's Nope
Ryan's Nope
4
I must say I enjoy watching the republican party implode, but a little scary that so many of them are so eager to destroy our system of government.
17
Stand by for the Rapture.
The inmates are running the institution. They got what they wanted and now they are on a tear. Fits into the category of "be careful of what you want." The only way out is to align with the Dems to get things done. Quite a pickle.
13
anyone who has not opposed Obama with racist undertones is too far left according to the nutcakes who are running the GOP clown enterprise, simple as that. A good resume would have to contain outrageous and crazily desperate hold ups of the whole nation like Cruz did with his 24-hour speech in the Senate, supporting of the flying of the confederate flag, being staunchly involved with birtherism, etc. So Ryan, despite being a total hypocritical nutcake stemming mainly from his worship of the mother of all nutcases, Ayn Rand, fails to fit the bill. He is just a different type of nutcake.
19
It is not the Confederate flag. It is the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. It was not a National flag. It is also not the Stars and Bars which was the first National flag.
You might want to look at all the atrocities committed under the US flag while you are at it.
You should remember the wholesale slaughterr of the Indians both in the East and West and the stealing of their lands. The Trail of Tears comes to mind as well as Sand Creek and Wounded Knee.
How about slavery which existed for over 80 years under that flag? Did you know that there was a slave auction in Washington DC still going on in 1861? It was located about two blocks from the White House. There was still slavery in Delaware until 1865.
Child labor in the North where children of 6 or 7 years old had to go under moving Mule Spinners to re-tie broken yarn? If they lifted an arm or their heads a little too high they would be maimed or killed. Many were.
How about the internment of innocent Japanese citizens during WWII?
There are more things that could be mentioned but I think that is a good start.
It amazes me that people who object to the battle flag don't object to the US flag which is so much worse. Shouldn't it be banned as well?
You might want to look at all the atrocities committed under the US flag while you are at it.
You should remember the wholesale slaughterr of the Indians both in the East and West and the stealing of their lands. The Trail of Tears comes to mind as well as Sand Creek and Wounded Knee.
How about slavery which existed for over 80 years under that flag? Did you know that there was a slave auction in Washington DC still going on in 1861? It was located about two blocks from the White House. There was still slavery in Delaware until 1865.
Child labor in the North where children of 6 or 7 years old had to go under moving Mule Spinners to re-tie broken yarn? If they lifted an arm or their heads a little too high they would be maimed or killed. Many were.
How about the internment of innocent Japanese citizens during WWII?
There are more things that could be mentioned but I think that is a good start.
It amazes me that people who object to the battle flag don't object to the US flag which is so much worse. Shouldn't it be banned as well?
"Far right, far left" are meaningless clichés, that have been simplified for the US "folks" who do not understand words that contain more than one syllable. How far is "far"? One inch? Can't be more than 10 inches, or the "folks" get confused by math of numbers higher than their ten fingers.
5
The US is a nation simpletons from reducing everything political to a single dimension.
Tea Party members are deeply alienated from government, from which they believe they gain little benefit while paying high taxes. They tend to be middle class and many, over their lifetimes, will collect more from the government than they pay in. But that generally starts only when they reach age 65. Meanwhile, their tax burden and the perceived coddling of the working poor infuriates them. They are attacking Ryan on immigration and his willingness to compromise with the Democrats. Both are anathema to the Party. But these do not seem to be sufficient cause for paralyzing the government. What the middle class Tea Party members should most resent about Ryan are his proposals to gut Social Security and reform Medicare. Why they have chosen to focus on issues that don't much matter to them while ignoring those that do is entirely beyond me.
12
This reminds me of how, in the end, the French Revolution guillotined one of its early leaders, Robespierre. As the frenzy grew, he was not considered revolutionary enough.
15
No matter what position any Banana Republican takes - including the Freedom Caucus - it will never be radical enough for Breitbart et al. After all, they have found a nifty living in excoriating leadership as heretics, and by requiring adherence to an orthodoxy that shifts constantly to the right. It is a prerequisite for their business model.
Ryan's dilemma proves my point.
Ryan's dilemma proves my point.
9
in addition to the numerous forms of psychiatric illnesses contained in the DSM Manual, I suggest that whatever ails the GOP be added to the list. If ever there was a clear example of collective insanity, they fit the bill.
8
I'm shocked, shocked to hear that Republicans cannot effectively govern.
The plethora of misinformation propagated by these right wing-nuts acts only to further the notion that their are children on a playground, not seeking cooperation but only to get their way. Governing is not getting your way; governing is responsibility to act in the best interest of the entire population of the United States. They are elected members of the Congress of the United States of America. Mr. Obama is the president of the United States, not just the people who agree with him.
The plethora of misinformation propagated by these right wing-nuts acts only to further the notion that their are children on a playground, not seeking cooperation but only to get their way. Governing is not getting your way; governing is responsibility to act in the best interest of the entire population of the United States. They are elected members of the Congress of the United States of America. Mr. Obama is the president of the United States, not just the people who agree with him.
9
How funny that Saint Ronnie, Nixon, and even Goldwater would now be considered rinos--far too liberal for these extremists to consider worthy of consideration.
8
I think the Republican party has reached the point of detachment--they would rather engage in showboating tactics that hold their followers suspended in fear. At the same time, they would prefer to govern without the voters. In that cynical view, attaining office is all that's needed. Cronyism and established networks take over to pursue interests that the public process of electing representatives would be seen to obstruct.
5
A friend suggested that Obama should troll Ryan by proclaiming that he is someone he could work with, someone who is willing to compromise in order to get important legislation passed.
6
As the division and blame game continues on these pages, it would be fruitful to note the extremism and absolutism on both sides of the aisle. The mirroring of the political divide practically suggests a natural order (or disorder in effect as the case may be).
"the extremism and absolutism on both sides of the aisle".....Nice try, but unless you can provide specific concrete examples the statement isn't even remotely credible.
1
If you think both sides are doing it, you're not paying enough attention. The GOP doesn't have any leaders, just cowards waiting to sink a knife in the back of pretty much anyone.
1
Extremism and absolutism on both sides of the aisle? If people would listen to Bernie Sanders, comprehend what he means by Social Democrat, realize that he is like that great President Franklin Roosevelt, that he is for the 99%, for all americans, that he could be a great President. If you get your so-called news -- propaganda -- entertainment -- from Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and all the others, you're missing the whole story. Google Bernie Sanders and read various points of view. Very educational.
1
Some mischievous fairy must have mixed the emblems up: giving the wise and patient elephant to the Republicans, and the braying donkey to the Democrats.
2
All agree, no sane person wants this particular job. Today's GOP consist of various factions in a circular firing squad. White supremacist hate groups, bible thumpers, war mongers, corporate elites and a smattering of regular folks.
#Laughingstock
#Laughingstock
9
It appears to be a schizophrenic country if you look at the House. But the reality is due to an outdated Constitution which grants equal power to small states as to large ones and allows gerrymandering together with all the other election tricks in the bag of Republicans amazingly they have captured Congress. But is kind of like the barking dog chasing a car. When they catch up with it, they
don´t know what to do with it. It will take more than an election that elects a guy like Bernie to change this system with its constant penchant for war and more armaments. It is as Tuchman wrote the March of Folly politically and militarily. Yossarian would feel right at home.
don´t know what to do with it. It will take more than an election that elects a guy like Bernie to change this system with its constant penchant for war and more armaments. It is as Tuchman wrote the March of Folly politically and militarily. Yossarian would feel right at home.
6
Yikes. So the guy who wants to eliminate Medicaid, Social Security, and any form of welfare is all the sudden too far to the left? Are you kidding?
What form of utter lunacy has taken over the Republican party? Half of our Congress (and therefore our national business) is now held hostage to ignorant extremists looking for that One True Scotsman.
What a pathetic junction we have arrived at. I sincerely hope the American voters remember this in 2016 and boot out any and every politician with an R next to their name.
What form of utter lunacy has taken over the Republican party? Half of our Congress (and therefore our national business) is now held hostage to ignorant extremists looking for that One True Scotsman.
What a pathetic junction we have arrived at. I sincerely hope the American voters remember this in 2016 and boot out any and every politician with an R next to their name.
9
Paul Ryan was my US Representative when I lived in WI. I by no means am a political activist and am as about as liberal as one can be. Paul Ryan had a reputation for being very low key and a guy who likes to get things done by working in the background.
Most of the super right bunch are all about not having a government that works - if they can't get their way then nothing will happen. IMHO it would be great if the super right pols got their wish and elected one of their own and then the country could see what it cost to have this bunch in control.
Most of the super right bunch are all about not having a government that works - if they can't get their way then nothing will happen. IMHO it would be great if the super right pols got their wish and elected one of their own and then the country could see what it cost to have this bunch in control.
1
Yes, Ryan likes to quietly go about depriving people of food and health care and a living wage, the Tea Party is a lot more open about their plans to leave people to die.
The House Republican Conference is in the midst of sectarian violence caused by a minority wing that has adopted the tactics of parliamentary terrorism.
The 'misinformed and destructive' wing, as Mr. Cole put it, did not first become misinformed and destructive, and then act.
Instead, they are well-informed and, at as they won elections, peaceable, authoritarian thugs who believe ideas that are anathema to the American Way and to Western Morality, not just the 'Democrats.' (One example: They believe that all who are sick or poor or who are exploited or abused deserve their condition, and none could be possibly victims to whom government has a duty to protect and provide justice.)
They have become radicalized as their appalling ideas have been rejected, first by voters, later by political opponents in other parties, and then by the leaders of their own party (who may yet agree with them, but realize that the ideas, unless hidden within lies and slick marketing, are doomed on Election Day.)
It is as a radicalized minority that they have increasingly chosen lies and distortions (Mr. Cole is ignorant to think their rhetoric comes from mere ignorance) and parliamentary terrorism as their tactics.
In legislative terms, they take hostages, they threaten chaos, they drop verbal bombs, they assassinate characters -- what is it but a kind of terrorism?
And poor, Boehner, who like Reagan, incompetently fought them and later vainly tried to negotiate with them.
The 'misinformed and destructive' wing, as Mr. Cole put it, did not first become misinformed and destructive, and then act.
Instead, they are well-informed and, at as they won elections, peaceable, authoritarian thugs who believe ideas that are anathema to the American Way and to Western Morality, not just the 'Democrats.' (One example: They believe that all who are sick or poor or who are exploited or abused deserve their condition, and none could be possibly victims to whom government has a duty to protect and provide justice.)
They have become radicalized as their appalling ideas have been rejected, first by voters, later by political opponents in other parties, and then by the leaders of their own party (who may yet agree with them, but realize that the ideas, unless hidden within lies and slick marketing, are doomed on Election Day.)
It is as a radicalized minority that they have increasingly chosen lies and distortions (Mr. Cole is ignorant to think their rhetoric comes from mere ignorance) and parliamentary terrorism as their tactics.
In legislative terms, they take hostages, they threaten chaos, they drop verbal bombs, they assassinate characters -- what is it but a kind of terrorism?
And poor, Boehner, who like Reagan, incompetently fought them and later vainly tried to negotiate with them.
3
The extreme right wing tail wagging the GOP dog.
1
If Paul Ryan is too far right, it can mean only one thing. The GOP sold their soul at the political crossroads, and now they're stuck an untenable contract that includes satisfying all the marginal right wingers. It might be time to trim the Republican caucus before it's too late. Then again, usually one is doomed after signing a contract at the crossroads. Bring out Charlie Daniels and the fiddles.
4
The resulting outcome will be that mainstream Republicans will work with Democrats to get legislation passed and the extreme Right will be shut out in the cold. You will see the biggest temper tantrum in the world and that will be fine with me.
These people are nuts. Period.
8
If Ryanis considered by the Freedom Causus and others as too far left, our nation could be in for serious trouble.
If Paul Ryan is too liberal then Atiila was too warm and cuddly.The chaotic Republican Party is on the verge of extinction as a Presidential party. The Senate majority will evaporate.They will retreat to their enclaves of Gerrymandered house districts and rail against the increasing pluralistism of American society.
4
“Anyone who attacks Paul Ryan as being insufficiently conservative is either woefully misinformed or maliciously destructive,” said Representative Tom Cole, Republican of Oklahoma. “Paul Ryan has played a major role in advancing the conservative cause and creating the Republican House majority. His critics are not true conservatives. They are radical populists who neither understand nor accept the institutions, procedures and traditions that are the basis of constitutional governance.”
Nuff said. I wonder if this article wasnt more filler than substance. It really had no basis in reality, as poignantly observed by Rep. Cole.
Nuff said. I wonder if this article wasnt more filler than substance. It really had no basis in reality, as poignantly observed by Rep. Cole.
2
I'm not surprised that the extreme-right win of the GOP considers Paul Ryan too "left." He's definitely not a moderate but when you see the rhetoric of Ben Carson and Donald Trump in the last months, I understand why he's considered to be too soft for some in the republican party.
The GOP has become a joke and incapable to govern from the inside let alone lead the government.
The GOP has become a joke and incapable to govern from the inside let alone lead the government.
7
The Republican far right - controlled by the media are anarchists - so let's cut the far right definition - they believe in forcing the will of a few on the majority - fascism not democracy. Congress needs to stand up to these few bullies - ignore them - plain and simple - can you imagine the harm to the country with an extremist third in line to the Presidency? Remove them from committees, ban them from the party. Let them start a third party. Come on Republicans - show some courage!
4
Dang, is this 1932 Germany? Those people are so scary that I'd advise liberals to buy guns for self defense--no joking.
4
This can't be true, because during the last election cycle you explained that he is furiously, evilly right wing.
2
Dear heavens. There really is no hope for the Republican Party. And no hope for us if they take the White House in 2016.
3
I had no idea we still could call a Republican liberal. I thought that species could only be found in museums. Maybe Moderate but never a Liberal. This is a shocking discovery and I hope the Smithsonian scientists are documenting this for prosperity.
4
• I had no idea we still could call a Republican liberal.
@ jjbasl
• I had no idea we still could call a Republican liberal.
You CAN'T, not since Lincoln – not even "moderate", not even "center right".
Actually, Democrats in the US, except for those in name only because they need a party brand to attach themselves to – i.e.: Bernie Sanders – are 'center right'.
There is no Left left in the US to speak of.
@ jjbasl
• I had no idea we still could call a Republican liberal.
You CAN'T, not since Lincoln – not even "moderate", not even "center right".
Actually, Democrats in the US, except for those in name only because they need a party brand to attach themselves to – i.e.: Bernie Sanders – are 'center right'.
There is no Left left in the US to speak of.
Who do we have to thank for the absolutely ludicrous wave of country paralyzing conservative recalcitrantic childishness: Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Lars Larsen and an assorted collection of neo-liberal political hacks. Only in a time when the national debate is pushed so far out of whack to the right (which they all planned) can these people even find gainful employment. Of course they all spew so many verbal malignancies that the question of whether a political storm trooper like Paul Ryan is conservative enough would now be on the plate.
Hey "conservatives" (I hate giving them a word that should be reserved for positive purposes), this is the bed of poison you built, now sleep sleep sleep in it! You're about to have your hopes for the white house run snatched by someone who isn't beholding to any of your machinations - the equally selfish and wrongfully wealthy, Trump. Again, sleep sleep sleep well so you can continue to dream those broken dreams of a white only or white acting only country of self interested, climate change denying, don't take my guns away, black fearing, women marginalizing, old world longing fantasies.
The changing face of this country will eventually put you on the shelf of "remember when". And that's where you all should be.
Hey "conservatives" (I hate giving them a word that should be reserved for positive purposes), this is the bed of poison you built, now sleep sleep sleep in it! You're about to have your hopes for the white house run snatched by someone who isn't beholding to any of your machinations - the equally selfish and wrongfully wealthy, Trump. Again, sleep sleep sleep well so you can continue to dream those broken dreams of a white only or white acting only country of self interested, climate change denying, don't take my guns away, black fearing, women marginalizing, old world longing fantasies.
The changing face of this country will eventually put you on the shelf of "remember when". And that's where you all should be.
4
PauL Ryan is not an intellectual nor is he a political moderate. He believes the fictional world of Ayn Rand is a realistic template for society and he is very good at creating budgets chock-full of imaginary numbers. He balances the budget by using the block grant scenario for Medicaid whereby the cost of providing nursing home care for the elderly and the disabled mostly vanishes from the federal budget. On social issues he wants to rewrite the definition of rape to require that women/girls be required to show physical assault in order to be considered victims of rape and that abortions not be allowed to rape victims.
I had a teacher in 6th grade who gave out only 2 grades on spelling tests.You could get either 100 or a zero. It felt a bit like the Spanish Inquistion except you didn't get burned at the stake. The Freedom Caucus is operating like a GOP Inquistion. They have created a GOP Political Creed which requires that all members adhere to every dictum. One less than satisfatory mark makes you a zero. Paul Ryan has GOP Inquistion flaws. He talks to democrats and doesn't believe we need to deport 12 million people. Paul Ryan fails the perfect dictum.
He gets a zero.
I had a teacher in 6th grade who gave out only 2 grades on spelling tests.You could get either 100 or a zero. It felt a bit like the Spanish Inquistion except you didn't get burned at the stake. The Freedom Caucus is operating like a GOP Inquistion. They have created a GOP Political Creed which requires that all members adhere to every dictum. One less than satisfatory mark makes you a zero. Paul Ryan has GOP Inquistion flaws. He talks to democrats and doesn't believe we need to deport 12 million people. Paul Ryan fails the perfect dictum.
He gets a zero.
2
Maybe the people rejecting Paul Ryan as too liberal ought to look elsewhere in the world to see what conservative rejection of anything that hints of conciliation
leads to. It is sickening to see how this once great country can be held hostage by a few people in the party of old ideas.
leads to. It is sickening to see how this once great country can be held hostage by a few people in the party of old ideas.
8
ah!!! the smell of gunpowder and the barricades during the french revolution. the sounds of the guillotine thunking home, the heads hitting the basket and the click of the knitting needles of the watching women who keep track. the terror turns on its own and gobbles up the creators of the revolution and their young. but even these "i'm more conservative than thou" hard rightists have their nemesis: the survivalists hunkered down with their guns, dried food in their bunkers. they are the true right, they shall inherit the last wind of the right wing revolution. and they won't be coming with votes, who needs votes when you have guns. the ultimate revolutionary :mao tsetung said it best, "power grows out of the barrel of a gun" when the hard right survivalists come, these "real" conservatives may rue the day they toppled boehner, mccarthy and ryan. glenn beck for speaker!!!! i'm just going with the right wing flow here and pointing to where it leads via history which if you don't know it you are doomed to repeat. as did our last true conservative incompetent war criminal president did in afghanistan: the graveyard of empires as evidenced by the british and the russians.
3
It is ironic, at least, that a party which has shut down the government now finds itself incapable of finding someone to lead the House of Representatives. Why would anyone trust the Republican party to lead the country when they cannot even lead themselves?
4
The "Freedom Caucus" is about a lot of things but "freedom" it is not. Americans need to stop voting for politicians who don't believe in governance. In a democracy it is imperative that our elected officials believe in government and the people they serve.
The Republican Party right now does not believe in anything. Those Americans that support right wing candidates are doing the country a great disfavor. Both the lack of insight and the level of their ignorance isn't welcome. They are the most un-American Americans.
The Republican Party right now does not believe in anything. Those Americans that support right wing candidates are doing the country a great disfavor. Both the lack of insight and the level of their ignorance isn't welcome. They are the most un-American Americans.
3
According to Tom Cole of Oklahoma, “Paul Ryan has played a major role in advancing the conservative cause and creating the Republican House majority. His critics are not true conservatives. They are radical populists who neither understand nor accept the institutions, procedures and traditions that are the basis of constitutional governance.”
Oh, the irony of it all. That a conservative Republican should find it necessary to defend "constitutional governance." Next thing you know he'll come out in favor of voting rights.
Oh, the irony of it all. That a conservative Republican should find it necessary to defend "constitutional governance." Next thing you know he'll come out in favor of voting rights.
3
This is the reason why Republicans trying to out-conservative each other would always blow up in their face. When they sold their souls to the ultra-far right, they opened themselves up to a McCarthy-ist manhunt any time they decided to act like adults and not just pander to the Tea Party.
Conservatives are cannibalizing each other.
Conservatives are cannibalizing each other.
1
The Republican Party has started on a slow trajectory to implosion, by the time the final implosion comes American political landscape will see a rebirth.We can now see reason with Speaker John Boehner when he said Republicans should beware of "false prophets".Paul Ryan will not take the job of speaker, this I know, but rather an extreme right candidate will take the position. American political landscape needs a correction and it will start from the Republican party, we wait to see the outcome.
I'm still confused how a left-leaning state like ours can elect a radical like Scott Garrett, a member of the Freedom Caucus. They are essentially anarchists unwilling to govern. It's definitely given us Democrats even more incentive to throw these crazies out in 2016.
2
It's not that he's too conservative, too liberal, or too leftish, too hawkish...it's just that he's grossly hypocritical, misinformed or otherwise duplicitous. What's amazing is that anyone would look at this poor fellow as the "savior" of the party.
The absurdity of our political labeling system is astounding. Calling the brand of imbecility that Mr. Ryan and the Tea Party / Freedom Caucus, etc., practice "conservatism" flies in the face of the term. To be conservative in fiscal matters means basing decisions on solid fact and avoiding risk. The budgets and fantasies that Mr. Ryan's team have based them on are the antithesis of those basis, ignoring a centuries' worth of financial experience and basing expectations of growth on forces that will arise by magic.
The American people, meaning all of us, deserve better from our Congress. Our nation and its posterity deserve more than the obstructionist, absurdist nightmare we've been living in. We deserve a legislative body that bases its positions on facts and science, not personal beliefs and mythology. We deserve a body that works for the betterment of our nation and which seeks to uphold the principles upon which it stands. We've not always been "exceptional" or always done the right thing. But we aspire to the right things and it's in that aspiration that we are exceptional. Mr. Ryan - not exceptional.
The absurdity of our political labeling system is astounding. Calling the brand of imbecility that Mr. Ryan and the Tea Party / Freedom Caucus, etc., practice "conservatism" flies in the face of the term. To be conservative in fiscal matters means basing decisions on solid fact and avoiding risk. The budgets and fantasies that Mr. Ryan's team have based them on are the antithesis of those basis, ignoring a centuries' worth of financial experience and basing expectations of growth on forces that will arise by magic.
The American people, meaning all of us, deserve better from our Congress. Our nation and its posterity deserve more than the obstructionist, absurdist nightmare we've been living in. We deserve a legislative body that bases its positions on facts and science, not personal beliefs and mythology. We deserve a body that works for the betterment of our nation and which seeks to uphold the principles upon which it stands. We've not always been "exceptional" or always done the right thing. But we aspire to the right things and it's in that aspiration that we are exceptional. Mr. Ryan - not exceptional.
14
i think we get and have gotten just what we deserve
1
There is no leader in the farce called politics in Washington, nor anywhere else in politics in the US, just incompetent, naive, and insecure people who look out for themselves, and are where they are due to a disturbingly, easily manipulated public.
1
I may be fooling myself, but my guy tells me Bernie Sanders is one of the politicians today with both the courage of his convictions and the practical ability to get things done. He does not blow around with the fashions but had been pushing the same message since it was practically heresy in both parties.
Sanders also knows that a president needs the power of a movement behind him to get things done in the oval office and is working with movement leaders to build it.
No other candidate seems at all presidential to me. I hope I'm right about Sanders.
Sanders also knows that a president needs the power of a movement behind him to get things done in the oval office and is working with movement leaders to build it.
No other candidate seems at all presidential to me. I hope I'm right about Sanders.
americans arent ready for bernie
when millions are living under freeway bridges and eating from dumpsters, then maybe
and that time is coming sooner than many think
when millions are living under freeway bridges and eating from dumpsters, then maybe
and that time is coming sooner than many think
Many of these Freedom Caucus members want to upend the system of power in the House of Representatives in order to give themselves more power. By saying principles should come before seniority, they want their influence to be outsized because of their fervent beliefs, not because of anything they have done, or earned while in office. This is never going to fly with those in power because politics is all about horse-trading votes and about compromise. If you aren't willing to trade votes, and won't compromise, you will be passed over and ignored.
5
Republican OK senator Tom Cole states that those who attack Paul Ryan are, "radical populists who neither understand nor accept the institutions, procedures and traditions that are the basis of constitutional governance." Is this not what those of us in the middle have been saying for at least a decade now about the far right wing of the Republican Party? Cole's words will have no meaning to most contemporary Republicans because they have been trained to tune out such criticism as liberal media bias. So, nice try Cole, but this is a toothless truth advocated far too late to be of any meaningful significance. You've brought this on yourself. The question is how much will we, as a nation, pay for your lapses? With autocratic Putin banging at our Middle Eastern door we may not have much time for damage control which is exactly the reason he is trying so desperately to push through. A nation at war with itself shows its vulnerable belly, a fact the wily Putin intends to exploit.
4
"....Ryan is Too Far Left"
That says it all; everything that's wrong with American politics today.
That says it all; everything that's wrong with American politics today.
4
At this point it seems impossible not to draw from GOP internal politics, especially in the House, comparisons with some of the extremely conservative and reactionary foreign political movements and regimes. The comparisons are not direct, of course, but there is nonetheless a sense of behavioral similarity. The unyielding stances, the intolerance of dissent, the near-charge of apostasy against those deemed insufficiently orthodox; the willingness to battle for a pyrrhic victory regardless of how costly to themselves, and, worse, recklessly to disregard the risk to the rest of the nation; all these behaviors are emblematic of a senseless anger bordering on delusion and madness, and that is ultimately self-destructive.
It all sounds so much like what passes for governance in theocratic Iran, in tribal-ruined Iraq, as well as the politburo infighting among China’s reactionaries and Russia’s hopelessly corrupted and undemocratic Duma. And of course the most extreme comparison, yet which most vividly illustrates the ideology as religion attitude and near-cannibalism occurring of the GOP, is the one to be made with ISIS as a political entity.
The internecine warfare now breaking out in the GOP has been waged as political guerrilla warfare for quite some time. That it will become revolutionary and run the same course as so many before it, French, Russian, Chinese, or Iranian, is the drama that we are all about to witness and unfortunately also risk becoming fellow casualties.
It all sounds so much like what passes for governance in theocratic Iran, in tribal-ruined Iraq, as well as the politburo infighting among China’s reactionaries and Russia’s hopelessly corrupted and undemocratic Duma. And of course the most extreme comparison, yet which most vividly illustrates the ideology as religion attitude and near-cannibalism occurring of the GOP, is the one to be made with ISIS as a political entity.
The internecine warfare now breaking out in the GOP has been waged as political guerrilla warfare for quite some time. That it will become revolutionary and run the same course as so many before it, French, Russian, Chinese, or Iranian, is the drama that we are all about to witness and unfortunately also risk becoming fellow casualties.
Atila the Hun would be too Liberal. So would Ronald Reagan. Eat your own.
3
Man you sure can tell the Progressives and RINO's are in mortal fear of the "Ultra Right" which doesn't exist except in their shallow and very closed minds. To be factual, the Dreaded Tea Party is Americans, Democrat, Republican, and independent, who are fed up with the good old boy and girl club of back slapping cigar chomping DEMOCRATS and Republicans that make rules and laws to justify their worthless existence. The fact that Conservatives are finally standing up to these useless morons in both parties is wonderful and refreshing and you can tell by the comments of the sheep and lemmings, they aren't used to it. No, they are the ones that do all the trashing and when it's turned on them, they don't know what to do. You fools need to get over yourselves, there are other people who have different views than yours and they are demanding to be heard. I's very obvious this has you upset, but deal with it. We've had to for years, now it's yur turn you whiners!
There is some truth to this. The actual grass roots part of the Tea Party (as opposed to the billionaire funded astro turf wing) really is interested in ending crony capitalism and returning democracy to the people. Likewise the anti establishment left, is also trying to end crony capitalism, and return democracy to the people.
The right complains about government and the left complains about corporations, but we both know that it is the melding of the two into a corporate state that is destroying our economy and our democracy. The real middle is where the far right and the far left meet, not the corporate media's "moderate centrists" who always back regulations and subsidiesthat give the advantage to global corporations over small business and small farms.
The right complains about government and the left complains about corporations, but we both know that it is the melding of the two into a corporate state that is destroying our economy and our democracy. The real middle is where the far right and the far left meet, not the corporate media's "moderate centrists" who always back regulations and subsidiesthat give the advantage to global corporations over small business and small farms.
That Ryan is being accused of being "too liberal" is laughable. But it appears that the current GOP/TP has entered it's Reign of Terror phase, complete with Girondist vs Jacobin rhetorical excesses.
3
Oh, how I hate it when the Republicans tear each other apart! They've got all the hard-core ideology of a revolutionary cell, and none of the organization. It really makes you wonder if they're capable of governing anything.
2
Astounding!
Unfortunately its the wingnuts and whackos of the country that vote most often, hence anyone looking to get elected has to pander to those crowds. Maybe its time to consider a random selection process for congress, randomly drafting members from citizens at large without regard for "party affiliation" couldn't produce any worse results than we see now.
This concept is similar to a successful stock picking strategy. In most instances a monkey throwing darts at a list of stocks will outperform professional investors. That is because monkeys use NO information to make their picks while professional investors use outdated and incorrect information. I think our government would work much better if monkeys picked our representatives. It might even work better if monkeys were our representatives.
The assorted media types and news sources influencing the internal Republican Party divisions also have their impact on various constituencies in the nation. Some radio commentators are self-described entertainers. Some websites are profit driven content - whatever will garner the most hits and looks at their ads. Two aspects of this concern me: our educational institutions are failing miserably at producing discerning citizens and our culture has deteriorated into an advertising-driven value system.
3
The scary part is that when chasing ad dollars and web hits is not the priority, pushing the propaganda of the billionaire class is.
So the only time the unvarnished truth makes it into corporate media is when regular people with something real to say go viral.
So the only time the unvarnished truth makes it into corporate media is when regular people with something real to say go viral.
I am NOT a fan of Paul Ryan - he uses "creative math" to arrive at budget magic that only promises to shortchange the 99% for the benefit of the 1%. However, I have to say that what I hear from his party members who are rejecting him is that his major flaw is that "he has agreed to govern in some way." The ultra-conservative wing of the Republican party will not be satisfied until we've given anarchy a real try to see how that works!
8
The far right are out of the ball park . They eat their own. No one can tame them.
1
Seeing this play out is like seeing a snake eat its own tail. Horrifying, but you still want to snort and say, "Idiot."
4
Whoever wants to lead the republican party in Congress or be the speaker should start making atrocious and crazy statements now. Even if they don't intend to go that way. That's the only way to please extremists within the party who have proclaimed themselves as "Freedom Caucus". It's more like they want "Freedom" from responsible behavior and "freedom" to act irrational and crazy. So Ryan or whoever, should start taking extremist positions till they are elected, and once in power, should go after and rout the "Freedom Caucus" extremists.
2
It's time to bring back earmarks. I'm in favor of withholding federal monies to these congressional districts that elect these crazies.
5
Yes! yes! bring back the earmarks. As long as the government spends each year what it brings in and the national debt has been reduced to a trickle; I'm with you.
I can't wait until someone in the Republican party, like Mitch McConnel, Bob Corker, Reince Preibus, Jeb Bush, or John Boehner, utters these words: The Freedom Caucus are not Republicans.
When that happens, the split will be on. Then these 40 reactionary ideologues can sit together, talk about their delusions among themselves, and join with Ted Cruz to plan their takeover of the country. Nobody has to tell them how much of a minority they are and will always be. Just let them live in their alternate universe. They can call their new party The Flat Earth Society.
When that happens, the split will be on. Then these 40 reactionary ideologues can sit together, talk about their delusions among themselves, and join with Ted Cruz to plan their takeover of the country. Nobody has to tell them how much of a minority they are and will always be. Just let them live in their alternate universe. They can call their new party The Flat Earth Society.
8
Conservative voters elected a majority and now conservatives want equally conservative representation. It's that simple. Deal with it.
1
He's left, no question about it. People keep score, his is an "F".
He can't side with Obama on important issues and expect conservatives to support him.
He can't side with Obama on important issues and expect conservatives to support him.
1
Paul Ryan is an enemy of freedom and a traitor. Why else would he be in government which exists only to imprison us all in foreign socialist ideologies. Government's only true purpose is to protect and preserve the freedom to property and wealth, especially mine, preferably with lots of guns. Freedom!!! And America!!!
Please tell me that you're trying to be funny.
It should come as no surprise that not unlike the (less than) 1% who control a disproportionate percentage of the financial wealth if the US...the Koch Brothers are part of the usurpation of our government by the very few:
A must read:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/inside-the-koch-brothers-toxic...
A must read:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/inside-the-koch-brothers-toxic...
1
Less than total enthusiasm about allowing the US government to default on its debt + unwillingness to embrace government shutdowns of indefinite length=far left socialist radical, according to the new Republican calculus.
1
Reality check why people complain about our representatives we have best politicans money can buy . Evil flourishes when good people stand idle an allow evil people gain power over weak
3
Gresham's Law sure has been comprehensively neglected in the US.
So sad, what is happening to our Country. We used to be great and thanks to these fanatics we are becoming pathetic.
"We the people" can only do one thing :
Vote Democrat!
Go out and VOTE
Lets end the lunacy (or at least contain it).
"We the people" can only do one thing :
Vote Democrat!
Go out and VOTE
Lets end the lunacy (or at least contain it).
4
You don't have a real Democratic Party to vote for, and the money that front-runs stooge candidates knows it.
Just as many liberal media commentators seem dumbstruck at Trump's and Carson's polling numbers, I am beginning to sense these numbers may represent the pre-eruption ground-swelling of a conservative volcano in 2016, the likes of which few of us have seen before. A rising tide of conservatism so huge, its dimensions so vast, it's even affecting the normal governance of the House in its present hunt for a new Speaker.
2
Don't confuse conservative with reactionary.
The reactionaries have looked down and seen they are well past the edge of the cliff.
The reactionaries have looked down and seen they are well past the edge of the cliff.
More like the eruption of a large pimple.
Huge rising tide? No. The polls are incredibly limited in scope and the internet "news" echo chambers make lots of noise but still don't represent a majority of the country.
Maybe the attacks on Paul Ryan from other conservatives are really about his having become part of the establishment on other grounds not stated -- kind of like when a formerly union guy starts working in management. Perhaps it is by virtue of his chairmanship, his access to other establishment figures, his having been in a position to negotiate with Senator Murray at all, etc. that has made Ryan akin to someone who has become "over 30" (as in, "Don't trust anyone over 30") and hence not to be trusted any longer.
4
Mr. Ryan needs to be asked and he needs to answer about what in his past shaped his position on health and welfare programs.
He needs to do this so that we can learn from his explanation how he, - - who it is reported, (if correct?), collected Social Security Survivor Benefits in order to pay for at least some of his college education and he who it is reported, (if correct?), was deeply involved in his family when a very near and dear family member needed social services for their health- - , how he has come to the conclusions he has about national and state health and welfare programs.
It is Mr. Ryan's obligation to do this because he holds an elected office in our nation and, and he has presented public positions and plans effecting these kinds of programs.
He needs to do this so that we can learn from his explanation how he, - - who it is reported, (if correct?), collected Social Security Survivor Benefits in order to pay for at least some of his college education and he who it is reported, (if correct?), was deeply involved in his family when a very near and dear family member needed social services for their health- - , how he has come to the conclusions he has about national and state health and welfare programs.
It is Mr. Ryan's obligation to do this because he holds an elected office in our nation and, and he has presented public positions and plans effecting these kinds of programs.
3
So now it is "far right" to want a border? Liberal democrats and establishment republicans may not agree on much but they find common ground with their desire to flood the country with illegal aliens and h-1b visa holders. The democrats are simply looking for the votes and the establishment republicans are looking for cheap labor. It's no mystery why both sides aren't very popular with the majority of sane people in this country.
1
The Republican Party is truly a ship of fools.
5
Word choice: "where seniors would get government subsidies to purchase private insurance and move away from government-run health care."
This is the language of the right. Currently, the only "government-run healthcare" in America is that which is provided by the United States military.
This is the language of the right. Currently, the only "government-run healthcare" in America is that which is provided by the United States military.
5
The Republican Party is in disarray. Which is why a personality like Donald Trump can lead the national polls for the party's nomination for President.
3
It is amusing that some commenters here suggest that the Freedom Caucus should form their own party, and the 'far left' of the Democrats should do the same.
When it comes to the supposed far left of the Democrats, they would be considered center left in other advanced countries. Contrary to that, the advent of the Freedom Caucus would be looked upon in horror as a resurrection of last century's fascism.
When it comes to the supposed far left of the Democrats, they would be considered center left in other advanced countries. Contrary to that, the advent of the Freedom Caucus would be looked upon in horror as a resurrection of last century's fascism.
6
I hope and pray these people put their money where their mouth is, break away from the Republicans, and form their own far-right party, like the National Front in France or the BNP.
Come on, guys. Wouldn't that feel good? Ideological purity. No more compromises, no more dealing with people in your party you consider loathsome sellouts, compromisers, and turncoats. "Nay" every time.
The fact that this hasn't already happened points to an on-going fantasy element in the American far right. They are willing to dream about ideological purity but never willing to go all in with it.
Come on, guys. Wouldn't that feel good? Ideological purity. No more compromises, no more dealing with people in your party you consider loathsome sellouts, compromisers, and turncoats. "Nay" every time.
The fact that this hasn't already happened points to an on-going fantasy element in the American far right. They are willing to dream about ideological purity but never willing to go all in with it.
5
I am really curious to know that once these extremists have all but dismantled the federal government, what's the plan then? Have they taken a look at the story that is modern Europe anytime lately? Loosely allied regions with no federal authority who have similar economic interests still cannot get anything meaningful done--just look at how they've utterly folded under the migrant crisis. So I'd love to hear what ultra conservatives will replace the bogeyman of hated federalism with once they have trashed it.
2
Throw out the Hastert Rule. Let people from both parties caucus together and compromise.
9
Yet another example of just how delusional the Mad Hatter Tea Party people have become- or always were. To say that Paul Ryan is too liberal is hilarious. If the tea party people want to have their own way- let them break away from the Republican party and form their own party. They won't of course because they know they wouldn't win one election and they enjoy the financial backing from the GOP apparatus. I don't feel bad for the GOP- they created this Frankenstein monster and now it has turned on them.
4
The Republican Party today is where the Democratic Party was in the late 1960s when Hubert Humphrey, President Johnson's VP, was running for the presidency in 1968.
Before being VP, Humphrey was favorable to socialism and helped found the liberal Americans for Democratic Action. In 1964, The Stanford Daily ran an article on Humphrey as Johnson's VP:
"The issue of extremism lias been interjected into tin's Presidential campaign and rightly so. If Lyndon Johnson is elected in November and dies in office, his successor will become the first socialist President of the United States. Hubert Horatio Humphrey is hailed as a legislator and scholar...."
By 1968 when Humphrey was running as the Democratic presidential candidate, he was excoriated by leftists, far leftists, & radical revolutionaries for being too conservative and mainstream.
The infamous 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention turned into a melee outside the arena, as Mayor Daley's police force bashed the heads & bodies of the screaming, battling young leftists protesting Humphrey and the Democratic Party. Humphrey lost the 1968 election to the infamous conservative Richard Nixon, and the rest is history.
Now the factional warfare and purity assaults from uncompromising radical right-wing extremists are fracturing the Republican party. It seems the GOP center cannot hold.
Perhaps this will be the end of the reign of Reagan conservatism and far right. Can't happen soon enough! They did it to themselves
Before being VP, Humphrey was favorable to socialism and helped found the liberal Americans for Democratic Action. In 1964, The Stanford Daily ran an article on Humphrey as Johnson's VP:
"The issue of extremism lias been interjected into tin's Presidential campaign and rightly so. If Lyndon Johnson is elected in November and dies in office, his successor will become the first socialist President of the United States. Hubert Horatio Humphrey is hailed as a legislator and scholar...."
By 1968 when Humphrey was running as the Democratic presidential candidate, he was excoriated by leftists, far leftists, & radical revolutionaries for being too conservative and mainstream.
The infamous 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention turned into a melee outside the arena, as Mayor Daley's police force bashed the heads & bodies of the screaming, battling young leftists protesting Humphrey and the Democratic Party. Humphrey lost the 1968 election to the infamous conservative Richard Nixon, and the rest is history.
Now the factional warfare and purity assaults from uncompromising radical right-wing extremists are fracturing the Republican party. It seems the GOP center cannot hold.
Perhaps this will be the end of the reign of Reagan conservatism and far right. Can't happen soon enough! They did it to themselves
3
As far as I can see, the only way to marginalize these right wing crazies is for a group of moderate Republicans to begin working with the Democrats to craft reasonable legislation. Ignore these right wing nuts who, once they have no influence and power, will take their anger elsewhere. As long as they are allowed to have voice they will continue screaming.
That would be an example of real leadership from Republicans.
That would be an example of real leadership from Republicans.
6
Real conservatives never would have allowed their political party to be over-run by narcissistic psychopaths like these.
Good lord, these people are completely out of their minds. Benito Mussolini would be a little too "pink" for them. Guess we won't have a speaker for a while, unless the semi-moderate Republicans decide to support Pelosi.
6
And so it begins. The cannibal caucus smells fresh blood.
9
Now the radicals they recruited for power are bringing them down one by one. Lovin' it.
5
I'm not sure what is driving this speculation over Ryan - other than Republican desperation. There is absolutely ZERO chance Paul Ryan will be the next Speaker. And for one simple reason; what would be the point?
The Speaker has no control over the Republican Caucus as a whole - so why would the chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee give up a truly consequential position for one of total inconsequence?
The Speaker has no control over the Republican Caucus as a whole - so why would the chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee give up a truly consequential position for one of total inconsequence?
4
Paul Ryan is the pretty boy for the Republican Party. Romney's choice of Ryan for Vice President was an incremental improvement upon Mc Cain's public relations choice of Sarah Palin who was another empty pretty face capable of spewing Tea Party nonsense like a backwoods preacher including parading her teenage unwed pregnant daughter out as a tribute to her opposition to abortion. Nothing like a gun totting woman uttering sheer nonsense like a cheerleader when she said "drill baby drill" as her energy policy as governor of Alaska. It doesn't matter what Ryan thinks about GOP policy since as Obama noted back in 2008, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. Same analogy could apply to Paul Ryan or any other strawman trotted out as the lipstick for the GOP's nasty brand of ruinous public policy.
8
Why is anyone surprised by this? The other day, Rush blamed Obama for the hurricane forecast not being specific enough for him...too many possible choices.
Maybe the Freedom Forum can take over the weather on the planet and fix it.
I sure hope so as we all need Rush to be right, right?
Maybe the Freedom Forum can take over the weather on the planet and fix it.
I sure hope so as we all need Rush to be right, right?
3
I am often amazed at the naivete of the left, in their analysis of the positions on the right. I find this to be an excellent example, and will comment on only one facet.
In both 2012 and 2014, the majority of Americans favored more control of the borders: GOP congressional aspirants uniformly promised action in this direction. A platform position, really!
The common GOP voter has been angered that this issue has been largely ignored. Paul Ryan has been quite vocal in his support of open borders, the antithesis of the stated platform! Hence, Ryan must be rejected. Even Democratic voters have favored more control of the borders! Is the Times bowing to the Democratic elites in this matter?
In both 2012 and 2014, the majority of Americans favored more control of the borders: GOP congressional aspirants uniformly promised action in this direction. A platform position, really!
The common GOP voter has been angered that this issue has been largely ignored. Paul Ryan has been quite vocal in his support of open borders, the antithesis of the stated platform! Hence, Ryan must be rejected. Even Democratic voters have favored more control of the borders! Is the Times bowing to the Democratic elites in this matter?
The current Republican party is a dysfunctional ship of fools that has left the harbor and is going nowhere. They are stuck ( actually sinking) in a no man's land. They are an embarrassment to this country's reputation worldwide. This article is further proof of the inherent incompetence of the majority of Republicans in office. They can't agree on anything, they can't accomplish anything. And with regard to President Obama, they have proven themselves to be a group of miserable racists who don't belong in Congress serving the people. They are an abysmal failure and should be voted out in the next election cycle. These facts are underscored by the fact that they can't even unite to choose a speaker to replace Mr. Boehner. What a truly pathetic situation.
11
The all seem to agree that a miracle will arise from the ashes of the federal government after they burn it down.
1
I agree with this commenter but feel compelled to point out that they are nothing more than a reflection of a large and activist minority of the American people who have figured out the same mechanisms created in the beginning within our Constitution used to gain disproprtionate power. Back at our founding it was all about protecting the rural conservative economic landscape including preserving slavery. Replace the idea of preserving slavery with the idea of preserving wealth through govt policy and economic discrimmination and you have today's Republican Party. It has become more un American than American when measured against the mandates established in the Preamble to that same Constitution. The GOP needs replacement.
My late mother, a lifelong moderate-to-liberal Republican, would not recognize the party she loved. She died two years after the 1992 GOP convention, where Pat Buchanan gave his "culture war" speech. Mom was so totally mortified by that speech, she apologized to me, a Democrat since the early '70s. (She called Buchanan a "nasty, horrible man.") I'm glad she never knew exactly how irrational, anti-intellectual, and rightwing her party became.
28
A moderate Republican in the House appears to be as rare as a Syrian moderate willing to take up the fight against Islamic extremists.
5
The "Freedom caucus" wants the freedom to do whatever they want with 21st century technology to make money, and to hell with anyone who they affect. Pollution in India harms the lungs of millions of their children and raw sewage pollutes their water supply. as the Times reported a few months ago in the story about the American Ambassador to India sending his family home to America a while ago. No restrictions on chemicals put into food we eat, the drugs we take, the water we drink, or the air we breathe outside or in the workplace. Take the workplace back to the meat packing plants in Upton Sinclair's day. No taxes for civilization--enforce what you want with a gun. The right wing of the republican party would turn America into India, and take us back to the 19th century, if we were lucky to stop there. The loudest and most dim-witted of people control one of America's oldest political parties. American history tells us that it will take a generation but the national republican party is dying and the question is whether we turn America into the terrors of no-government Robespierre's France after their revolution a few years after ours in the late 1700's, or something that allows all of us to have conditions in which families can prosper and live a good and decent life.
3
Phyllis Schlafly is still alive?!
14
Bravo to you severely conservative Republicans for rejecting this running dog of Moscow/Beijing commie rat to be the Speaker of the House. I think you should start exposing the other pinkos in the Republican Party. Keep up the good work guys.
10
The preamble to the U.S. Constitution states that we Americans will..."ensure domestic Tranquility,...and..."promote the general Welfare,..." of our people. The Republican party has steadfastly worked to thwart the fulfillment of these fundamental guaranters held dear by our Founding Fathers, and, in my mind, are guilty of treason.
5
You reap what you sow. They have no one to blame but themselves.
9
He took took ride on backs of TPers for easy 15 minutes fame & fast track popularity. He got it,moved to extreme right & gutted many great social programmes meant to help voiceless poverty stricken families. We don't need to shed any tears if his militants friends now kick on his butts.
On foreign policy matters,we did the same thing,walked & still trying to walk with notorious states like Turkey,Pakistan,Saudi Arabia,Iran & few more middle eastern buddies who indirectly still working against our interests & our cozy politicians never cared for it for own personal interests. In return,entire globe paying for terror attacks.
On foreign policy matters,we did the same thing,walked & still trying to walk with notorious states like Turkey,Pakistan,Saudi Arabia,Iran & few more middle eastern buddies who indirectly still working against our interests & our cozy politicians never cared for it for own personal interests. In return,entire globe paying for terror attacks.
1
I really don't know what centrism really means. There is a basic decision that politicians must make: do they actually think that letting economic forces control society in the expectation that somehow natural conflicts
and competitions will resolve all problems,
taking no measures about poverty, economic downturns, the health of millions and the degradation of the environment, among others, or do they abandon this fatalistic view and develop rational programs to remedy disruptive conditions. All invocations of economic principles are nothing but a dependence on dubious theories that people have proposed.
The reality is that problems and crises exist in our lives and governments are established to maintain order in society and to work for the well-being of its citizens. Allowing all-powerful
economic entities whose sole goal is profit to regulate the lives of millions of human beings and determine their fate is not the purpose of government.
and competitions will resolve all problems,
taking no measures about poverty, economic downturns, the health of millions and the degradation of the environment, among others, or do they abandon this fatalistic view and develop rational programs to remedy disruptive conditions. All invocations of economic principles are nothing but a dependence on dubious theories that people have proposed.
The reality is that problems and crises exist in our lives and governments are established to maintain order in society and to work for the well-being of its citizens. Allowing all-powerful
economic entities whose sole goal is profit to regulate the lives of millions of human beings and determine their fate is not the purpose of government.
3
All of a sudden Paul Ryan as Speaker of the House appears to be the palliative that will cure the Republicans aches and pains (but what about the nation's problems). AND the obnoxious radio Rights think he is 'too far left'.....we are close to witnessing a cane whipping by some Far Right Representative of some uppity liberal Representative who unwisely argues against the Far Right agenda.....electing an African American President was apparently that final straw.
3
All right, time for all media people to start using the actual terms for these people: They are REACTIONARIES and RADICALS, not merely conservatives nor Republicans.
If you start to tell their followers what they (the followers) actually ARE , they just MAY take a moment to stop and think that they really don't like BEING that far-out fringe thing.
If you start to tell their followers what they (the followers) actually ARE , they just MAY take a moment to stop and think that they really don't like BEING that far-out fringe thing.
5
“Many [ad-supported news start-ups] aren’t public and don’t produce earnings statements and aren’t required to release information on revenue or profit margins.”
And how is this relevant? Because the Times is a public company and has to report earnings, their news is somehow more credible and less biased. Considering the heavily slanted inflammatory rhetoric of this article I don’t think so. For example, this article clearly “whipped their readers into frenzy” just as the Times accuses Breitbart.com of doing.
And how is this relevant? Because the Times is a public company and has to report earnings, their news is somehow more credible and less biased. Considering the heavily slanted inflammatory rhetoric of this article I don’t think so. For example, this article clearly “whipped their readers into frenzy” just as the Times accuses Breitbart.com of doing.
2
The House Republican Caucus is being held hostage by its Freedom Caucus wing. What are the mechanics of expelling Freedom Caucus representatives from the congressional Republican Caucus. A simple vote among caucus members? Marginalize their roles in Congressional business. Republicans can't count on them anyway.
After expelling Freedom Caucus members from the House Republican Caucus, Republicans would still have 207 seats in Congress. Could their ideas not get even 11 votes from Democrats?
After expelling Freedom Caucus members from the House Republican Caucus, Republicans would still have 207 seats in Congress. Could their ideas not get even 11 votes from Democrats?
6
I was pretty sure that Mr. Ryan was not going to run because of the damage he would suffer from being Speaker in control of this Congress. After reading this I would be willing to put money on it.
It's become apparent that no one in their right mind would take this job on, so I think that we shall see Mr. Bohner keep steering this ship onto the rocks.
I know the Republican establishment is wringing their hands in private, but to them I say, "You built this monster, you fed it, and loved it and taught it, now that it is out destroying everything in sight, you can't escape the damage."
It's become apparent that no one in their right mind would take this job on, so I think that we shall see Mr. Bohner keep steering this ship onto the rocks.
I know the Republican establishment is wringing their hands in private, but to them I say, "You built this monster, you fed it, and loved it and taught it, now that it is out destroying everything in sight, you can't escape the damage."
8
Don't be fooled by diversionary tactics like this article. Paul Ryan is about as right-wing as you can get. His last budget had vouchers to gut medicare, make deep cuts in social security, and increase spending with military contractors.
2
The President has supported deep cuts in Medicare that is essentially gutting it. The President also supports increases in military spending.
The article says, "Ryan was the author...move away from government-run health care."
It seems that the characterization of the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") as "government-run healthcare" has seeped into common and reportorial parlance.
It seems that the characterization of the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") as "government-run healthcare" has seeped into common and reportorial parlance.
3
That's a reference to Medicare, not the ACA. You can tell because it says Medicare in the sentence.
Thanks Brian. I stand (mostly) corrected. Despite my error, I suggest that calling Medicare "government-run" healthcare is part of the seepage. Yes, government pays, but patients choose doctors and doctors are overwhelmingly, self-employed, private corporations or they work for private corporations. Yes, government sets standards and payment schedules but patients have the ultimate choice.
Nonetheless, while I thank you for pointing out the error of my generalization, I still think "seepage" is correct.
Nonetheless, while I thank you for pointing out the error of my generalization, I still think "seepage" is correct.
Everyone seems to be upset that the majority party can't do anything. Imagine if President Bush had done nothing after 9/11 other than ask the Justice department to do it's job.
They are a hopeless and helpless majority. That seems to sum up the American public who these people actually represent. The system of representative government seems to be working as intended.
They are a hopeless and helpless majority. That seems to sum up the American public who these people actually represent. The system of representative government seems to be working as intended.
If anyone or anything has ever experienced death by 1,000 cuts, it's today's GOP; only about 73 to go.
3
I always turn to the New York Times to determine if a politician is conservative enough for me to support.
2
The House GOP shot themselves in the foot when they changed the rules and made unanaimous agreement by GOP members a requirement for the House Speaker to move legislation forward. This effectively killed bipartisanship and gave a small minority disproportionate and unhealthy power. It is time to reverse this rules change.
5
Its called the Haskert ruled, you know the guy that paid off the kid he molested and is now facing federal fraud changes. That says it all, that the GOPTP has hijacked the order of the House for that guy
4
The monsters the Republican Party created have turned on them. American citizens who voted in radical right members are accountable for the actions of their elected representatives -- unless they tell them to stop this nonsense and start governing then we all lose.
4
If Ryan really is too far left for the Tea Party, he might make the perfect House Speaker. He and the centrist candidates of both parties could work together to implement sensible and much needed changes for the long term benefit of the country as a whole, something that cannot be done when there is nothing but partisan bickering and gridlock. Wouldn't it be refreshing to see someone taking care of the people of this country instead of spending their entire time in Congress gaming the system so they can get elected again. And wouldn't it be a welcome change to see the extremists in both parties left out in the cold with their self serving agendas?
1
There is zero anything centrist about the guy. Its like saying in Attila was just doing a little urban renewal.
Ryan won't take the Speakership. His eye is on the White House one day and the job of Speaker is a losing proposition. It will just cast him in a bad light to the general electorate.
4
Ryan will never get to the White House.
1
To call these media sources conservatives is a misuse of the word. There positions are based on intuition rather than facts and they consider compromise as a dirty word. They have damaged our political system and our government.
6
I wouldn't do it if I were him unless he gets the support of the other two candidates and a promise from the tea partiers that he can work out some agreement regarding going forward. If the president doesn't want another stop gap then the stoppage is on him, and congress should just go about its business. Otherwise, they should go ahead with the election as is and let the chips fall as they do.
Personally, the two parties have long been repellent to me and I am reluctant to vote for any of their candidates, even if it means a wasted vote. It depends on circumstances and the candidate, of course. I think a plurality of Americans would like a relatively fiscally conservative/socially liberal party, but it would be hard to find even one good candidate unless he/she were already a celebrity or self-funded.
Personally, the two parties have long been repellent to me and I am reluctant to vote for any of their candidates, even if it means a wasted vote. It depends on circumstances and the candidate, of course. I think a plurality of Americans would like a relatively fiscally conservative/socially liberal party, but it would be hard to find even one good candidate unless he/she were already a celebrity or self-funded.
"Our focus on issues like spending, trade and particularly immigration are a reflection of the fact that there are massive populations of center-right Americans who do not favor the policies most often associated with the Republican Party establishment.” says Alex Marlow, of Breitbart. Massive populations? I live in a fairly conservative area, and I have not seen anything like the rabid far-right Mr. Marlow represents. More and more, this seems like a small number of people who are opposed to the American form of government demanding to get their way by screaming the loudest. They refuse any notion of compromise, while championing people who have little or no idea how to run things based on consensus.
These people seem willing to sacrifice the United States in order to get their way, anxious to destroy anything which they do not support. Yes, I believe that we have problems in this country, but shutting down the government and/or letting it default will not solve them. Putting people out of work, keeping people from getting paid, these are not the ways to elicit support for your position. Although I consider myself an independent, I am saddened to see the Republican party being ripped apart by the radical right.
These people seem willing to sacrifice the United States in order to get their way, anxious to destroy anything which they do not support. Yes, I believe that we have problems in this country, but shutting down the government and/or letting it default will not solve them. Putting people out of work, keeping people from getting paid, these are not the ways to elicit support for your position. Although I consider myself an independent, I am saddened to see the Republican party being ripped apart by the radical right.
2
It has been clear for a while that the Republican party needs to split into two. Philosophically they have done that already. Short term it will weaken the republicans, but long term they can't survive as they are.
2
According to Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK),Paul Ryan's "critics are not true conservatives. They are radical populists who neither understand nor accept the institutions, procedures and traditions that are the basis of constitutional governance.”
Absolutely. And this shows that teahadisim ultimately is a totalitarian movement, one in which only teahadists have power all other infidel/socialist Untermenschen are consigned to second-class status. These people simply cannot accept that others have a say in our government or even in our society. They are to American politics as ISIS is to Islam.
And unfortunately for Mr. Cole, teahadism now IS conservatism.
Absolutely. And this shows that teahadisim ultimately is a totalitarian movement, one in which only teahadists have power all other infidel/socialist Untermenschen are consigned to second-class status. These people simply cannot accept that others have a say in our government or even in our society. They are to American politics as ISIS is to Islam.
And unfortunately for Mr. Cole, teahadism now IS conservatism.
2
Bernie said the other day that until the corporate media starts doing its job in calling out these radicals, we will have what we have. They legitimatize the radicals. Because its sensationalistic and sell ads. Money rules twice: once in the donation process, once in information dissemination.
At some point, the corporate media needs to put country first. Serious stories about crackpots must end.
At some point, the corporate media needs to put country first. Serious stories about crackpots must end.
4
As McCarthy was deemed unfit for higher Republican office because he told the truth about the conservative's Bemghazi witch-hunt, it would seem that being more or less conservative holds second place to being a capable liar to the radical Republican minority.
Posted 7:25AM 1013/15
Posted 7:25AM 1013/15
3
Remember my rule. If Freedom, Liberty, Patriot or Constitution is in the masthead. Head for the hills!
3
Calling Mr. Ryan too liberal is like calling Marie Antoinette too sensitive to her peoples needs. This is the problem when a political party solely comes from two regions of the country, within which the congressional districts are so gerrymandered that there is no need to moderate a single view or even try to govern. Their only risk is losing in a primary where only the most conservative members vote.
6
Too far left? I don't think there is no need to prove that the GOP believes the earth is flat and 6000 years old.
1
Mr. Ryan is not acceptable as Speaker, not because he is too far to the left, which he clearly isn't, but because his compass is guided not by political beliefs, but by ambition. Intellectually dishonest, Mr. Ryan spun all sorts of dreamed up budgets for reputation enhancement alone, but clearly never expected his never-land budget plans to become law, and clearly would always vote for Wall Street or the Chamber of Commerce. He is their man, and his re-election funds are theirs.
9
It's shameful what the "Freedom Caucus" has done to our government. It's shameful that we as Americans have trashed our own citizens and our Congress with these maniacal elected officials who do not care for their own constituents. The right-wing voters have spoken. And the right-wing voters have damaged our nation. One can only hope that we won't do the same with the presidential election in 2016. Hope and hope and a little more hope, just for good measure.
3
America, you could become the next Texas, and take it from us, you could do better.
lol
2
Leaders on the Far Right might like:
1) Kim Davis--Davis holds elected office and is experienced in government. Unbending as any filibusterer, she will block votes, and is guided only by her God, who does not like gay people.
2) Martin Shkreli, Chief Executive, Turing Pharmaceuticals--for profit, he overnight raised the cost of one pill from $13.50 to $750. This "pay or die" principal dovetails nicely with Republicans who hate Obamacare.
3) Ann Coulter, author of “¡Adios, America!–-The Left’s Plan to Turn Our Country Into a Third World Hellhole”. Her book's 89 pages of endnotes cite white nationalists, anti-Muslim activists and anti-immigrant groups as her chief suppporters.
4) Roger Cagle, CEO, Soco Oil--known for oil drilling in the Congo’s Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cozy with the Congolese government, Cagle has stated that Virunga’s boundaries can be redrawn. Oil companies' love of profit and environmental disdain mesh nicely with the Right's global warming denyers.
5) Sean Connolly, President, Chief Executive, ConAgra--for those on the Right who favor selling antibiotic, hormone-laced and GMO foods to the world, who forbid OSHA inspections of ConAgra, who love to bust unions and have received huge donations from Monsanto, this guy's for you.
6) The Grim Reaper--nothing says leadership like Death. Neutral, happy gatherer of the poor, homeless, aged and addicted--the costly underserving--who on the Right could not support him?
1) Kim Davis--Davis holds elected office and is experienced in government. Unbending as any filibusterer, she will block votes, and is guided only by her God, who does not like gay people.
2) Martin Shkreli, Chief Executive, Turing Pharmaceuticals--for profit, he overnight raised the cost of one pill from $13.50 to $750. This "pay or die" principal dovetails nicely with Republicans who hate Obamacare.
3) Ann Coulter, author of “¡Adios, America!–-The Left’s Plan to Turn Our Country Into a Third World Hellhole”. Her book's 89 pages of endnotes cite white nationalists, anti-Muslim activists and anti-immigrant groups as her chief suppporters.
4) Roger Cagle, CEO, Soco Oil--known for oil drilling in the Congo’s Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Cozy with the Congolese government, Cagle has stated that Virunga’s boundaries can be redrawn. Oil companies' love of profit and environmental disdain mesh nicely with the Right's global warming denyers.
5) Sean Connolly, President, Chief Executive, ConAgra--for those on the Right who favor selling antibiotic, hormone-laced and GMO foods to the world, who forbid OSHA inspections of ConAgra, who love to bust unions and have received huge donations from Monsanto, this guy's for you.
6) The Grim Reaper--nothing says leadership like Death. Neutral, happy gatherer of the poor, homeless, aged and addicted--the costly underserving--who on the Right could not support him?
5
Breaking: The Freedom Caucus has officially changed their name to "The Freedom from Thought Caucus."
4
The Tea Party, the Trump Rump, the evangelical chorus and the NRA combine to create a party structure in which the tail consistently wags the dog. It makes for interesting entertainment and legislative paralysis. It used to be that as a nation, most people wanted to bridge what divides us. Today, too many seem to simply want to burn the bridge. The choice still remains with the voters. We will get the kind of government we deserve.
2
Dear America:
You are being held hostage by a radical faction within the Republican Party who wants to destroy the United States government. They are committed idealogues who want to destroy ADA, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the EPA, etc. If you elect a Republican President you empower these people. If you continue to elect other Republican's to Congress you empower these people. The only solution for moderates and independents -- even those who, for legitimate philosophical reasons, dont trust the Democratic Party -- is to punish the Republican Party by electing a Democratic President and Democratic majorities in both Houses of Congress. People like Ryan don't deserve any sympathy. They created this problem in the hope of gaining power. Democracy empowers us -- the people who want a government that works -- to get rid of Ryan and the wackos he helped bring into office. Do your duty to your country. Vote these bozos out of office.
Sincerely,
The Future
You are being held hostage by a radical faction within the Republican Party who wants to destroy the United States government. They are committed idealogues who want to destroy ADA, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the EPA, etc. If you elect a Republican President you empower these people. If you continue to elect other Republican's to Congress you empower these people. The only solution for moderates and independents -- even those who, for legitimate philosophical reasons, dont trust the Democratic Party -- is to punish the Republican Party by electing a Democratic President and Democratic majorities in both Houses of Congress. People like Ryan don't deserve any sympathy. They created this problem in the hope of gaining power. Democracy empowers us -- the people who want a government that works -- to get rid of Ryan and the wackos he helped bring into office. Do your duty to your country. Vote these bozos out of office.
Sincerely,
The Future
5
• The only solution for moderates and independents -- even those who, for legitimate philosophical reasons, dont trust the Democratic Party....
Is there any other choice?
Is there any other choice?
1
This is a joke, yes? Paul Ryam is insufficiently conservative? What, was this article lifted from The Onion?
Solution: next election, vote against every Republican, for every office, at every level. Be patriotic. Save the country.
Solution: next election, vote against every Republican, for every office, at every level. Be patriotic. Save the country.
5
It makes sense, though. The far-right has been spreading bizarre misinformation (the government has been running false flag operations to take your guns! climate change is a hoax!) and those ideas have taken hold so thoroughly that people are outraged at the federal government as an entire concept. So this guy, whose budget was based on getting rid of school lunch programs so he could give more tax cuts to millionaires, is viewed as not being radical enough because he isn't trying to dismantle the federal government wholesale. It's madness. But again, it makes sense. The Deep South's experience with the federal government has been unpleasant -- because the federal government keeps trying to get involved in "local matters" like forcing them to give voting rights to black people. But they can't admit they have problems with the federal government because they're backward, unpleasant racists. They have to come up with some kind of scenario where they're the heroes. They know the truth! They alone have access to what's "really going on!"
It's pathetic, but also terrifying. They've been whipped up to being close to armed insurrection -- and literally over nothing. Our economy is doing fine; we just need to get more money back from the billionaires to the middle class and people will be totally fine. We are not on the brink of national disaster. The billionaires are just making people think so, to resist a 10% tax increase.
It's pathetic, but also terrifying. They've been whipped up to being close to armed insurrection -- and literally over nothing. Our economy is doing fine; we just need to get more money back from the billionaires to the middle class and people will be totally fine. We are not on the brink of national disaster. The billionaires are just making people think so, to resist a 10% tax increase.
1
Ah the truth be told! Rep Cole notes that the critics of Ryan are not true conservatives ... Could it be time to admit they are so far to the right that they are not even Republican? Could it be that we have finally found the illusive RINO? What better tag for those who carry teabags in their dreams while destroying all attempts to demonstrate leadership. Its time for the GOP to cut off these cancerous appendages before they kill the entire party. If the GOP wants to show they can lead its time to take back control and do it!
2
When the Republicans start bashing each other as 'liberal', it reminds me of how Communists would oust each other from power with the label 'counterrevolutionary'. It's the worst insult you can hurl at the other guy, but it means nothing.
6
For me personally it has been kind of fun watching the Republican Party's implosion. I am from one of the reddest of the red states with Jim Bridenstein from my district being a member of the inaccurately named Freedom Caucus and the infamous Senator Jim Inhofe and his understudy James Lankford (what's with the Jim's in this state?). But make no mistate. These guys are NOT CONSERVATIVES. THEY ARE FANATICS. Anyone who wants this job should be deemed mentally ill and therefore inelligible.
1
What we are seeing is the downside of true democracy as opposed to representative democracy. The internet allows the crazies to talk to each other, inflame, and confront each other without the moderating influence of responsible representatives. The internet is more disruptive to basic principles of human interaction than we imagined. We need to create new political process and procedures that account for this sea change. Time to think outside the 2 party system box. We need to find another way for opposing viewpoints to come together constructively.
Without reading 600 comments, I am certain that others feel as I do:
The GOP and its many enablers in the political-media ecosystem discardrd reality and empirical thinking long ago.
It often feels like they are in the late stages of the French Revolution or even the Mad Hatter's Tea Party.
How fitting.
The GOP and its many enablers in the political-media ecosystem discardrd reality and empirical thinking long ago.
It often feels like they are in the late stages of the French Revolution or even the Mad Hatter's Tea Party.
How fitting.
2
It's about time the centrist Freedom Caucus/Tea Party reveal Paul Ryan as the flaming liberal that he is. Since the Oregon shooting, I haven't heard him utter one word about my God-given, 2nd Amendment right to own what I like to call my private little arsenal. Nor has he said whether he will strongly support a government shutdown (a moderate proposal if I ever heard one).
If Paul Ryan was a true conservative, he wouldn't be giving block grants for so-called entitlements to states. He'd get rid of them! (How those people are ever going to get ahead with all the free stuff they get - Bush got it right, although he's a leftist radical in my book - is beyond me.)
I've heard that anyone can be Speaker of the House. How about my boy Ted Cruz? He talks sense, he knows what America needs, and he's god-awful handsome!
If Paul Ryan was a true conservative, he wouldn't be giving block grants for so-called entitlements to states. He'd get rid of them! (How those people are ever going to get ahead with all the free stuff they get - Bush got it right, although he's a leftist radical in my book - is beyond me.)
I've heard that anyone can be Speaker of the House. How about my boy Ted Cruz? He talks sense, he knows what America needs, and he's god-awful handsome!
25
"...the brown acid that is circulating around us isn't too good. It is suggested that you stay away from that. Of course it's your own trip. So be my guest, but please be advised that there is a warning on that one, ok?"
Dear Eric, thank you for turning tears into laughter.
Thanks for the chuckle.
When the always conservative South was Democratic, they were balanced by liberal faction of the party. Now, as Republican, the South is unrestrained and has led the party to the far right.
3
The Republican Party is no more - the elephant is dead, killed by parasites that call themselves the "Tea Party" of the "Freedom Caucus."
4
Any effort at an actual government is now "liberal"? I sometimes wonder what would happen if the Republicans had the House the Senate and the Presidency... would they even then be able to pass a budget?
5
Another world heard from. Let the GOP continue to eat it's own. They will be amazed when the minority party will effectively take control.
1
All this kind of journalism proves is how much in danger our country is at this moment in time. A right wing that seeks to slash and burn citizens who meet their obligations goes too too too far right and needs to be exposed for who and what they are.
If these control freaks think Ryan is too far left, that only shows how over the edge in sanity they really are. If the right is that desperate to control the government and the people of this country, you are looking at their real back room agenda: dictatorship.
If these control freaks think Ryan is too far left, that only shows how over the edge in sanity they really are. If the right is that desperate to control the government and the people of this country, you are looking at their real back room agenda: dictatorship.
4
I have to agree with former Congressman Eric Cantor of VA when he said that the Extreme Right doesn't seem to understand that the other side gets to vote too.
10
This has stopped being funny. No amount of self-congratulatory, "get the popcorn, they're eating their own" snark can mask the truly frightening reality this sort of delusional ideology represents.
First, that the GOTP sees Paul Ryan as any sort of "reasonable" savior. He is fully marinated in the myth that Ronald Reagan was an economic god and Ayn Rand a moral compass.
Then the true movers and shakers - Freedom Caucus, Breitbart, Coulter, etc - declaring that Ryan's fantasy world is not conservative enough??
This isn't funny - it's terrifying.
First, that the GOTP sees Paul Ryan as any sort of "reasonable" savior. He is fully marinated in the myth that Ronald Reagan was an economic god and Ayn Rand a moral compass.
Then the true movers and shakers - Freedom Caucus, Breitbart, Coulter, etc - declaring that Ryan's fantasy world is not conservative enough??
This isn't funny - it's terrifying.
11
The Republicans are their own worst enemy. If they keep on the track they currently are on the Republican party will end up the same as John Adam's Federalist Party.
3
These far right fools are looking to start a Dirty War so they can torture and kill all of the liberals. I just got back from Argentina, and I saw that happening there when I first went there. These creeps want blood.
3
Paul Ryan too "liberal"? Too funny. I think this is a ruse to make us forget Ryan wants to end Medicare and Social Security.
6
I suggest that people who are so far right politically that they find Mr. Ryan too liberal should seriously consider leaving our country. There are countries controllled by extreme right wing dictators which would be much more to their liking. The United States is a pluralistic society composed of people with widly varied points of view, which gives this country its strength and vigor. If they do not apporove of that they are living in the wrong country and I for one would be happy to see them emigrate.
5
From December of 1859 into February of 1860 the Republican majority in the House of Representatives found itself unable to elect a Speaker.
Driving this was the great sectional divide -- with the future of slavery at its center -- that threatened the future of the Union.
Professor James McPherson, in his book "Battle Cry of Freedom" (1988) cites a letter from a Southerner who found virtue in the deadlock: "Better the wheels of government should stop [and the Union] demonstrate itself to be a failure and find it end."
Ultimately a compromise candidate -- described by McPherson as "lackluster" -- gained election as Speaker.
Summarizing this protracted struggle, Professor McPherson tells his readers: "Nothing yet had so dramatized the parting bonds of Union . . ."
Driving this was the great sectional divide -- with the future of slavery at its center -- that threatened the future of the Union.
Professor James McPherson, in his book "Battle Cry of Freedom" (1988) cites a letter from a Southerner who found virtue in the deadlock: "Better the wheels of government should stop [and the Union] demonstrate itself to be a failure and find it end."
Ultimately a compromise candidate -- described by McPherson as "lackluster" -- gained election as Speaker.
Summarizing this protracted struggle, Professor McPherson tells his readers: "Nothing yet had so dramatized the parting bonds of Union . . ."
5
Obviously he does not want to take the job of speaker. Who would? It is a position that by its nature requires compromise when the tea party flank of Republicans want nothing other than to shut he government down.
3
Given that the fanatics are attacking him even before he becomes Speaker makes it less likely he will accept. In addition to his concerns about giving up time to be with his family and chair Ways and Means, he should now see that the fanatics will continue to try to weaken the position of the Speaker and make it less likely he will be able to propose and pass budget and tax legislation with any hope of becoming law.
2
The speaker of the house is third in line for the presidency. That is two shots away from running the country. There is no one in the GOP clown car that can come close to being qualified to run the country. And Ryan wants to end Medicare and Medicaid and social security as we know it. Maybe the house can come together on a compromise candidate that reflects the will of the citizens of the country. Say, Nancy Pelosi, you were good at that job.....
99
Second in line
Obviously the "political conversation" has become so "toxic" to leftists that they are willing to trot out their original leftist nerve gas, Nancy Pelosi. They don't understand that the average voter is still in recovery after the last gassing by Nancy. The leftists are feeling so insecure with all this talk about "conservative principles" and the "constitution" that they need some comfort
food, some leftist jabberwocky, some "Nancy" and what better place than a conservative blog discussing serious subjects to pull out their disgusting comfort food and foul the airwaves! Please take your garbage to the Huffpost where it will be acceptable.
food, some leftist jabberwocky, some "Nancy" and what better place than a conservative blog discussing serious subjects to pull out their disgusting comfort food and foul the airwaves! Please take your garbage to the Huffpost where it will be acceptable.
If it were not so sad it would be funny.
3
It's like the rattlesnake who bit his own tail once said, "This will be the end of me." Good riddance.
3
Help us understand. Democracy is government of, by , and for the people. We elect our representatives. They choose our leaders to run the House and Senate based upon simple majorities. Where do pundits come in to make their double vote who becomes Speaker of the House? Is there something I missed in the constitution? Or are they following another constitution? Say, one from the Confederate States of America. Who are these people who think they are more American than anyone else. And who are the Republican House of Representatives responsible to besides Grover Norquist (not a Muppet)? Are the Republicans on a quest to destroy our democracy to create a "Whites Only" government? Why does that thought even come to mind?
5
This is hilarious. Inmates in charge of the asylum. And it definitely says in the constitution that taxes are unconstitutional. And that our freedoms include freedom to be poor, hungry, homeless and without healthcare. Oh. And also to be education free and fact free in our thinking. Yay for the constitution
3
I wish I could agree that it is hilarious. It is sad -- even tragic -- bordering on disaster. As fond as I am of black comedy, that dramatic form is not a solution for running a country. The "I have mine. I don't give a damn about you" philosophy compromises so many principles that have made our country worthy of respect. The world is laughing AT us, not WITH us. A government needs to govern, not be so obstinate at every point that nothing gets done. A recent blog on the Internet read, "Refusing to vote because you can't get everything you need isn't protest. It's surrender." It's time for sensible Americans from all sides of the political spectrum need to take it back from the dogmatists and the obstructionists, before it's too late.
If Ryan is too far left, I'm a Communist. Every time they reject someone who just the other day was vaguely acceptable, you can see where this is going. Only the most ignorant (Gomert) or the most manipulative (Cruz, even though he's a senator) will be chosen to rule.
Many here are afraid this country is losing its soul. I fear it's losing its sanity and the lower the education levels of those who elect these zealots, the more we cede to other nations in terms of success. The rise of the oligarchy who are encouraging this dissent has arrived much sooner than I thought.
The problem is, we've passed the time where middle and lower classes will accept economic serfdom. I think 2016 will be a pivotal election, not only for the candidates, but for what the eventual choice says about the future of this country.
Many here are afraid this country is losing its soul. I fear it's losing its sanity and the lower the education levels of those who elect these zealots, the more we cede to other nations in terms of success. The rise of the oligarchy who are encouraging this dissent has arrived much sooner than I thought.
The problem is, we've passed the time where middle and lower classes will accept economic serfdom. I think 2016 will be a pivotal election, not only for the candidates, but for what the eventual choice says about the future of this country.
9
With such clear evidence that a vocal - and voting - lunatic fringe will hold our government hostage for the foreseeable future, why on earth isn't the NYT doing more sophisticated coverage of gerrymandering and how, if at all, it can be fixed??? Instead of the puerile horse-race approach to the campaigns.
If we just laid a grid over the U.S. map and made every little square a district, precious few Repugs would ever be elected. How can we at the local level fix what they have rigged?
If we just laid a grid over the U.S. map and made every little square a district, precious few Repugs would ever be elected. How can we at the local level fix what they have rigged?
2
Democrats need to get out and VOTE! They stayed home in 2010, and this gerrymandering is what we have now.
That Ryan would not pursue the Spekaership speaks volumes about him and his party. That Ryan would not seek the job indicates his lack of faith in both the Republican Party and, most importantly himself. Yes this might involve some self-sacrifice on Ryan's part but the Republican Party no longer has a culture of service to our country, in fact we can see all too clearly that the opposite is thre case. Rather they demean those that do serve their community and their country mocking them as 'community organizers' and that old, trite phrase "bleeding heart liberals". Indeed the Republicans use their authority to pursue political gains again and again. "Moving the cones" in Fort Lee, voucherizing Medicare, Ryan's proposal, opposing a fundamentally conservative so that all citizens may have health insurance. What I asked myself is where is the soul of the Republican Party?
1
It seems to me that the sticking point for the radical right is really politics, not ideology. They want a Speaker they can control, and that's not Ryan. The 'too liberal' talk is just a smoke screen.
3
A headline fit for the supermarket tabloids: "Tea Partiers Eat Their Own Children."
4
Eric Cantor was arrogant. But the "radical right" replacement - Davids Brat - is delusional and arrogant. Mr. Brat was on a Sunday talk show and, in his frat-boy arrogance, dominated the conversation. Chuck Todd could not control him. This is what the Koch brothers buy - people so far right that they belong in Syria with Assad. According to Wikipedia, " Brat has promised to vote against raising the debt ceiling for the first five years he is in Congress,[59] and he attacked Cantor during the primary campaign for voting to end the federal government shutdown of 2013.[59]" Paul Ryan would be a fool to leave his cushy government spot to take on these idiots who only want to cause chaos. Republicans and democrats who want to get something done can take it into their own hands and get the bills they want passed by working together around the 40 spoilers. We'll clean out the Koch operatives in the next elections.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Brat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Brat
8
As I was reading this article, I could not help but think of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The Republican Party has created their own monster which they now can't control. "I beheld the wretch — the miserable monster whom I had created. He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks." Too bad that today's monster is not fictional.
120
The GOP really needs to split into two parties. If they honestly think that they can carry the country with their total right wing fanatical, evangelical Christian rhetoric, then they truly are delusional at best. Some of us do want a moderate platform. Yes, it's true!
9
Republicans should ignore their right wing extremists and bring up legislation for a vote that has broad bipartisan support. If Boehner would pass comprehensive immigration reform and raise the minimum wage for starters congressional republicans would be viewed with less disgust by the American people.
2
Paul Ryan too far left? I'd say this is too much even for so called conservatives, but the Freedumb Caucus finds news ways to demonstrate their grasp of an alternate reality that hopefully few Americans share.
9
What I do not see anywhere is the realization by Republican leadership is that they have become pawns of Laura, Rush, Glenn, Breitbart and the folks at Fox. Do they not realize that these folks owe their fame and fortunes to simply mining the fear and hate of their respective constituencies for money? They make their fortunes being right wing incendiaries and have no career interest or accountability in advancing conservative ideology or governance. David Frum warned Republicans about this years ago and they ignored him.
10
Time for Republicans to grow spines. They are a disgrace. Time to cut off the offending lump and govern for all of us.
9
The whole sorry mob of jerks on the Koch political payroll are nothing more than arsonists.
11
If Paul Ryan is "too liberal," the Republican Party has truly gone mad.
Not just mad, but dangerously, ominously right-wing.
There are limits to how hard, far right you can go without becoming something very, very ugly. And dangerous to democracy and democratic institutions.
Small "d" democratic.
Not just mad, but dangerously, ominously right-wing.
There are limits to how hard, far right you can go without becoming something very, very ugly. And dangerous to democracy and democratic institutions.
Small "d" democratic.
141
I'll see your Paul Ryan...and raise you a Bernie Sanders.
Hilarious! They do eat their young.
6
Phyllis Schlafly is still matters?
5
When a headline in The Old Gray Lady looks like a headline in The Onion...
6
Ryan "too far left"? Oh I get it-this was supposed to be in Tne Onion.Ha!ha!
6
Today's GOP is looking more and more like the radical purists of Mao's China . what is next? Re-education camps?
9
"King Paul: Ryan will run only after Reps pledge 'unconditional' support....Obama would like to see Ryan as speaker..."
Enough said? We do not need another Obama supporter as Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives. Ryan has proven himself untrustworthy.
Enough said? We do not need another Obama supporter as Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives. Ryan has proven himself untrustworthy.
It's time for a moderate republican leader who is truly interested in the well being of America, and a true patriot, to sit down with Pelosi and negotiate a bi-partisan majority vote.
It's time to tell the wackos ENIUGH!
It's time to tell the wackos ENIUGH!
6
Too left?! Too left?!, if Paul Ryan is left wing I'd hate to see how far right they can go.
4
Divine Right Monarchy is the vector of choice. Divine Right bestowed by the Holy Oligarchical Spirit of Unfettered Capitalism and its Earthly Expression the Corporation beatified by SCOTUS and worshipped by the Cretinous. How shall we know them? "The Reagans"( i.e. monarchs) of the New Age? You shall know them by their lack of ability, humanity and their skill in shouting, "Lower the taxes!!!"
Now, John Boehner will have to be the adult in the room. Serves him right.
3
What's next on the Far Right Tea Party agenda - enforce purdah for America's women?
9
Why even run for this job if at the end it's about fulfilling an agenda...? Many Republicans are fed up with this situation.
Maybe this should be the beginning of the formation of a new political party.
Maybe this should be the beginning of the formation of a new political party.
3
Conservative Manifesto: If you are interested in governing, you are not acceptable.
4
Is this a joke?
5
Read David Brooks column today.......enough said
4
Always amazed that our American Democrat media thinks there are TOO many conservative media outlets!
I guess ABC, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, NPR, GQ, Politico, the NYT, WaPo, etc. aren't enough for Democrats or their water boys in the media.
So much for what Democrats REALLY think about "free speech."
Personally, I read RealClearPolitics, which presents its readers with contrasting articles on the same topic. Amazingly, what Fox does as well.
I guess ABC, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, NPR, GQ, Politico, the NYT, WaPo, etc. aren't enough for Democrats or their water boys in the media.
So much for what Democrats REALLY think about "free speech."
Personally, I read RealClearPolitics, which presents its readers with contrasting articles on the same topic. Amazingly, what Fox does as well.
1
It"s interesting - if you replace "conservative" with "Muslim" and "Freedom Caucus" with "ISIS" the article still makes sense.
12
I love you, Wally.
Jill Duncan
Denver, CO
Jill Duncan
Denver, CO
Too far left? TOO FAR LEFT??
5
This is great news!
Watching the GOP circle the drain as they struggle to find someone who's right of Mussolini for speaker of the house makes a die-hard Democrat like me absolutely giddy.
It's going to be one massive implosion!
If you thought these last few congresses were do nothing, just wait.
Wait until 99% of America is held hostage by 35 members of the "Freedom Caucus". You can almost here them telling the rest of us to "eat cake!"
These guys are going to super nova, and then implode into a black hole.
Let's all hope they get exactly what they deserve - VIVE LA REVOLUTION! - JE SUIS UN REVOLUTIONNAIRE!
Watching the GOP circle the drain as they struggle to find someone who's right of Mussolini for speaker of the house makes a die-hard Democrat like me absolutely giddy.
It's going to be one massive implosion!
If you thought these last few congresses were do nothing, just wait.
Wait until 99% of America is held hostage by 35 members of the "Freedom Caucus". You can almost here them telling the rest of us to "eat cake!"
These guys are going to super nova, and then implode into a black hole.
Let's all hope they get exactly what they deserve - VIVE LA REVOLUTION! - JE SUIS UN REVOLUTIONNAIRE!
4
Keep it up, GOP, digging your party's grave. Your ideas are perched on the rim of history's dustbin. Take a dive.
2
Why not get all of the contentious issues out of the way now when you have a speaker who's leaving, and who can call on the Democrats to sideline the 'Freedom Caucus'?
Immigration: No problem if you use the whole house.
Debt ceiling: No problem if you use the whole house.
The Budget: No problem if you use the whole house.
Bonier would set his legacy as a great historical figure - that of a statesman and not an ideologue trying to pander to extremists.
Immigration: No problem if you use the whole house.
Debt ceiling: No problem if you use the whole house.
The Budget: No problem if you use the whole house.
Bonier would set his legacy as a great historical figure - that of a statesman and not an ideologue trying to pander to extremists.
1
“Anyone who attacks Paul Ryan as being insufficiently conservative is either woefully misinformed or maliciously destructive,” said Representative Tom Cole, Republican of Oklahoma.
And here in, lies the problem, 2 obvious RINO's.
All in the bag for one another and can't figure out why we have a 20 trillion dollar+ debt.
And here in, lies the problem, 2 obvious RINO's.
All in the bag for one another and can't figure out why we have a 20 trillion dollar+ debt.
1
The farther right you go, the more of those durn lefties...
1
Sowing dragons teeth is a dangerous strategy in war (W in Iraq) or in politics (Tea Party). It goes out of control and consumes its instigators. Unhappily, it also consumes all of us. Slow treason by the GOP.
1
So, the Republicans are eating their own. Clearly, they would do worse to the American people.
2
There's an expression - "you're so late you're early." Could you be so Right you're Wrong?" An equatorial effect, say, like water circling the drain clockwise instead of counter-clockwise? Are we there yet?
When Paul Ayn Rand Ryan is mistaken for being too politically left (i.e., enlightened) by Banana Republic-ans, it is not time to laugh.
It is time for real Americans (those who believe in the US Constitution, understand the purpose and role of government, want government to work for all of us, recognize the importance of education and science, and accept that "compromise" is not a dirty word); then it is time for real Americans to round up the Banana Republic-an Party and ALL its dictatorial supporters who infect our land, wherever in our land these Banana Republic-ans have sunk their fangs; then it is time we round up these Banana Republic-ans and impound them in Texas. We must build an impenetrable wall around Texas with a huge border patrol to keep Banana Republic-ans in, keep us safe and preserve the country our Founding Fathers gave us.
It is time for real Americans (those who believe in the US Constitution, understand the purpose and role of government, want government to work for all of us, recognize the importance of education and science, and accept that "compromise" is not a dirty word); then it is time for real Americans to round up the Banana Republic-an Party and ALL its dictatorial supporters who infect our land, wherever in our land these Banana Republic-ans have sunk their fangs; then it is time we round up these Banana Republic-ans and impound them in Texas. We must build an impenetrable wall around Texas with a huge border patrol to keep Banana Republic-ans in, keep us safe and preserve the country our Founding Fathers gave us.
8
In the fall of 2008, Ryan voted for TARP. Later that year, he voted for loans to help rescue the auto industry, making him one of just 32 Republicans to do so
During House floor debate on Sept. 29, 2008, Ryan said the TARP legislation “offends my principles.” But he added, “I’m going to vote for this bill in order to preserve my principles. In order to preserve this free enterprise system.”
Who needs liberals when you have RINO's making double talking and twisting into pretzels to justify a vote against their political ideology?
During House floor debate on Sept. 29, 2008, Ryan said the TARP legislation “offends my principles.” But he added, “I’m going to vote for this bill in order to preserve my principles. In order to preserve this free enterprise system.”
Who needs liberals when you have RINO's making double talking and twisting into pretzels to justify a vote against their political ideology?
1
I have to wonder what all this in/out fighting costs the taxpayer ... I can only assume the count is in the billions.
1
lol @GOP #reapwhatyousow
5
Right Wing Riots
The Crazies have taken over
the right wing politics.
The whole Republican party
is governed by lunatics.
The inmates have taken control of
the mental hospital
and every form of order has
become impossible.
But don’t fall in despair just yet
for help is on the way.
They’re sending Mr. Ryan in
to save the blooming day.
The Crazies have taken over
the right wing politics.
The whole Republican party
is governed by lunatics.
The inmates have taken control of
the mental hospital
and every form of order has
become impossible.
But don’t fall in despair just yet
for help is on the way.
They’re sending Mr. Ryan in
to save the blooming day.
1
It should be no mystery that Ryan has come under some criticism from the right. His strong 2008 support for TARP, for instance, clearly goes against core conservative philosophy. Ryan is conservative but not always consistently so. It's as simple as that. The Freedom Caucus has still said it would tend to look favorably on him.
3
Wow. The NYTs giving ink to Breitbart News.
About time.
Breitbart News has been relentless in reporting about the establishment GOP and Dems. They have been instrumental in reporting the truth about the GOP "show votes". Their recent expose about the real Ryan has been amazing. This guy Ryan is an "open borders", Chamber of Commerce phony. He makes sure his corporate masters have enough cheap labor at the expense of the American worker.
The days of the "go along to get along" anti-American worker professional pols is over.
About time.
Breitbart News has been relentless in reporting about the establishment GOP and Dems. They have been instrumental in reporting the truth about the GOP "show votes". Their recent expose about the real Ryan has been amazing. This guy Ryan is an "open borders", Chamber of Commerce phony. He makes sure his corporate masters have enough cheap labor at the expense of the American worker.
The days of the "go along to get along" anti-American worker professional pols is over.
1
The Republican party has nurtured right-wing sociopaths, like Schlafly, Breitbart and Ingraham, who are now positioned to savage and destroy the GOP!
In a truly enlightened world, these apostles of greed and control would be seen for what they are and their efforts to create an authoritarian dystopia exposed!
In a truly enlightened world, these apostles of greed and control would be seen for what they are and their efforts to create an authoritarian dystopia exposed!
4
This is just so funny it's sad. The Republican Party needs a William F. Buckley figure to step in and throw these loonies out.
1
What, may I ask, is conservatism? It does not seem to be much more than a popularity contest without any principles to back it up as a body of thought. Today's conservative believes in things that are long gone, were never really applicable, and will never return. To be against change in a changing world is itself the seat of insanity, and all of the conniptions of the Republicans, as of late and the last several years, reflect that totally. I have very little respect for Mr. Ryan, since many of his views and positions that he has taken, particularly fiscal ones, are ungrounded, totally, and a farce, at best. However, I would like him even less if he accepted the roll of Speaker. Frankly, the Republicans do not have a single person in the House that commands respect and they are doomed to repeat over and over their failings of the last many years. These people should simply be thrown out of office, but behind them stand the dominions of undereducated single issue voters with their little axes to grind, with whom the Republican Party curried their favor and now they sink together in to the past and beyond.
2
These fools let self-promoting media narcissists determine their agenda. They're spineless. Then again, if you let Laura Ingraham and Rush Limbaugh shape your decision making, you're also brainless. In sum, a perfect combination for Congress.
5
What is Grover Norquist always saying? Drown the government in a bathtub? Maybe it is time to do it...
"woefully misinformed or maliciously destructive"
Although unintended, Representative Cole succinctly defines today's GOTP's base. Good luck trying to govern ignorant anarchists.
Although unintended, Representative Cole succinctly defines today's GOTP's base. Good luck trying to govern ignorant anarchists.
3
Isn't this just another Good Cop, Bad Cop ploy? Bad Cops of the Freedom Caucus want to torch Washington D.C. so Rep. Ryan, who just wants to privatize Medicare, gut social spending and shift taxes to working families and the poor, seems like Mother Teresa. The Bad Cops are suicide bombers ready to blow everything up. Rep. Ryan just wants to hand everything over to his slick steel and glass, opera-going corporate patrons, nifty in their Brioni's and Bruno Magli's. Compared to the AK-47 Open Carry, camo- wearing, beer bellied confederate flag waving good 'ol Tea Party boys, seem like nice enough folks after all. The Good/Bad Cop ploy already has us feeling warm and fuzzy about Jamie and Lloyd and the Hedge Fund boys because GOP strategists lifted the Tea Party box lid and a slimy scaled lizard claw sprang out. Thus the choice responsible GOP leadership says we have: zombie consumers in a Google-Amazon-Facebook-JPMorgan Virtual Reality marketplace enslaved in debt to our Fortune 500 overlords; or in the wilds of Detroit, Paleo hunter-gatherers on the run from Tea Party Taliban survivalists eager to annihilate everyone with an Iphone. Basic Machiavelli. Two sides of the same coin. No lesser evil. Ours is a constitutional democracy...the haters can love it or leave it. Ryan is no man on horseback just because the brown shirts in his clan are tossing chairs and knocking over bookcases. Lots more of us than them. We should start acting like it.
2
The chickens are finally coming home to roost. Jerrimandering the parties most intense, and now largest portion of their base is becoming ungovernable. Why? Because when you corrale the nations most armed, most pious people together and feed them a steady diet of poetic divisive vitriol of unreadable rhetoric(I mean, it's one thing if religious people feel strongly about abortion, but contraception? That's literally nuts. Or, it's one thing to ensure that the right to bear arms isn't compromised as a right, but no background checks at gun shows? No assault weapons ban or the limiting of magazines? The Nazi Germany analogy is as out of touch as it is disgusting) you end up with an afraid, unsettled and unbending electorate. The only thing left to do is to allow them to explode all over themselves. I live in CT and am friendly with several GOP folks who vote with their pocketbook exclusively. It's been really hard to see them try and justify the craziness of their own party. We are witnessing The Whigs and we will all be able to thank them for single-payer healthcare and comprehensive immigration reform by the end of Hillary's first term(which would make a lot of us very happy.)
3
The Drudge Report is only a news aggregate site. Breitbart gets 5.3 million unique visitors a mont. Levin gets7 million listeners in an average week, which probably means no more than 2 million uniques; Ingraham, far less.
In other words, we are talking about a very, very small slice of a nation of 310 million people. I believe their influence is vastly overrated, which is one reason why they feel the need to scream so loudly.
In other words, we are talking about a very, very small slice of a nation of 310 million people. I believe their influence is vastly overrated, which is one reason why they feel the need to scream so loudly.
2
Luis Gutierrez and Barack Obama want Paul Ryan as speaker. That says everything.
1
Perhaps it is time for moderate Republicans -- those few who believe in governing -- to break away, form a new GOP, and form a power-sharing coalition with the Dems. Then Cruz and the rest on the fringe can talk to each other on their fantasy chat boards.
3
They already have. This is precisely the problem. The Freedom caucus are simply insisting that the speaker support the 70+% of Americans, GOP and DEM alike, who oppose unbridled immigration. There is nothing "extreme" about this. The Left want this invasion to gain eternal power. The RINOs want it to satisfy the Industrial Complex who want to cut every wage in half. Only the true Right and (some of) the extreme Left stand for our citizens - and their ability to remain employed. All the rest have sold out to big $$ donors.
The GOP are imploding do to the infighting and bickering. The Democrats should be silently dancing with glee.
1
Paul Ryan is not a liberal, we don't want him. This is the direct result of gerrymandering districts. Without honest competition of ideas at the district level you get this mess. Remember when the GOP believed in the free market of ideas?
106
That ended in 1975, when they were still the loyal opposition, before the rise of Ronald Reagan,
History might hail Reagan as the father of socialism in America: the one public figure most responsible for creating the conditions which made it possible, necessary, and inevitable.
History might hail Reagan as the father of socialism in America: the one public figure most responsible for creating the conditions which made it possible, necessary, and inevitable.
Paul Ryan used the Tea Party and helped to give them power and now they’re running with it and using it against him. What did he think was going to happen? They’ve always been a pack of rabid dogs, utterly oblivious to the harm they do.
Conservative politics, and the media that drives it, has become a very stinky dung heap, and Ryan can take a pat on the back for his contribution. How absurd, to call him too liberal. As ridiculous as when the GOP were saying in 2012 that he was their up and coming genius.
The GOP in general is a mess. They need to be far more proactive in fighting this ultra right conservative bunch who are fast becoming their own party and who use the same blackmail tactics that the NRA uses. But fighting them would take unity, courage, consistency and integrity, all of which are notably absent in the GOP.
The party is cannibalizing because of it. They’ve got nobody to be a real President, and nobody to be speaker. And the Tea Party is stupid enough to take the GOP and themselves down.
Whoever gets Boehner's job is going to have a far worse time than he did. That’s if anybody steps up. Even if Ryan takes the job I doubt he’ll last. He’s a pretty face and he looks good in gym attire but he doesn’t have stamina, especially to stick with something he doesn’t want to do.
Conservative politics, and the media that drives it, has become a very stinky dung heap, and Ryan can take a pat on the back for his contribution. How absurd, to call him too liberal. As ridiculous as when the GOP were saying in 2012 that he was their up and coming genius.
The GOP in general is a mess. They need to be far more proactive in fighting this ultra right conservative bunch who are fast becoming their own party and who use the same blackmail tactics that the NRA uses. But fighting them would take unity, courage, consistency and integrity, all of which are notably absent in the GOP.
The party is cannibalizing because of it. They’ve got nobody to be a real President, and nobody to be speaker. And the Tea Party is stupid enough to take the GOP and themselves down.
Whoever gets Boehner's job is going to have a far worse time than he did. That’s if anybody steps up. Even if Ryan takes the job I doubt he’ll last. He’s a pretty face and he looks good in gym attire but he doesn’t have stamina, especially to stick with something he doesn’t want to do.
2
As is being reflected in comments below and as I have been telling people for almost 10 years now, the Republican party will soon go the way of the Whigs party. It doesn't know what it really wants and is too fragmented to survive much longer. What a crying shame. Its hard for me to picture a meaningful and productive 'phoenix' arising out of its ashes. Farewell and rest in peace!
1
Paul Ryan is as extremist far John Birch Society rightwing as it is possible to imagine in American politics. Anything to the right of Ryan is fascism.
8
"...woefully misinformed or maliciously destructive."
Except for the "or" which should be replaced with "and" could anyonew ask for a better description of the GOP, and coming from their own?
Except for the "or" which should be replaced with "and" could anyonew ask for a better description of the GOP, and coming from their own?
4
The more the right radical wing continues its nonsense, the more they guarantee a Democratic win in 2016.
3
In the past when I said that Conservatives are crazy I didn't mean it literally.
Now I do.
Now I do.
3
do these people really want a theocracy? or just "no holds barred" capitalism? or just a free-for-all? Of course, excluding women's rights, minority rights, people of different thinking rights, gay rights, lesbian rights, LGBT rights, animal rights, environmental rights, social security and Medicare rights, and an end to all government except, maybe, military fighting but no vets' rights ... seems they want to control all of us as if we were puppets. In my book, that is not what freedom is all about.
4
What is disturbing to me is that far right republicans have the support of their constituents back home, so they feel emboldened to continue driving their own agenda. These politicians have seized on their electorates disillusion of government, understandably with examples such as the questionable Wall Street bailout. Through demagoguery and chicanery, they have put forth a lie, which is that all government outside national defense is bad. The truth is that you cannot have something for nothing. For example, you cannot expect to de-fund an agency like FEMA which is supported by your taxes, then turnaround and ask for disaster assistance when your state is in dire need.
3
You are correct but let's face it- the people that support the tea party are not well informed and are rather dim witted. They don't want any government except when they do- and they're the first ones with their hand out in a disaster situation. Reminds me of that woman at an anti ACA rally that was screaming she wanted the government to keep their hands off of her Medicare- enough said.
Boy if you're concerned about Red Ryan.......
......you are clearly a retrograde reactionary!!!
......you are clearly a retrograde reactionary!!!
1
The 'Freedom Caucus' doesn't want a Speaker for the Monkey House- they want an enabler, shorn his powers before he takes the oath.
They're offering up a Nerf Gavel- no one in their right mind would take the job.
There is no better evidence of the abysmal state of the Republican soul, than Arkansas' shiny new far right Senator, Tom Cotton seriously calling for disgraced VP Dick Cheney to assume the Speakership, citing the need for "a steady hand on the helm during times like these."
http://national.suntimes.com/national-world-news/7/72/1953950/tom-cotton...
They're offering up a Nerf Gavel- no one in their right mind would take the job.
There is no better evidence of the abysmal state of the Republican soul, than Arkansas' shiny new far right Senator, Tom Cotton seriously calling for disgraced VP Dick Cheney to assume the Speakership, citing the need for "a steady hand on the helm during times like these."
http://national.suntimes.com/national-world-news/7/72/1953950/tom-cotton...
2
Time to bring back Boehner. He does not sound so bad after seeing the savagery taking place over his replacement.
1
The Republican Guard are the 40 elite survivalists ready to go to the mattresses and eat ducks, moose and themselves as they get caught in the snows of the High Sierra during a flanking maneuver against Jerry Brown. Surviving as nuts on nuts and berries, they have a vision of two gold tablets. Vowing not to shower until President Sanders pardons them, the 2 gaunt survivors walk into a logging camp begging for water and muttering that they should have gone for Ryan. Speaker Gingrich asks for a moment of prayer.
1
If the left is right then why is the right so worried about being left? That would be wrong; am I right? Sometimes it seems like being ambidextrous is right, but then maybe it's a little too waffling. Maybe, anyone who thinks that should be pancaked. Wow, it's early and I, obviously, did not get enough sleep.
1
O, sweet Schadenfreude! Why don't these Tea Party extremists propose their own candidate? Let's see how good s/he would be at unifying the Republican Party! Or, better yet, why don't they form their own party? The Republican Party is now reaping the fruits of its own seeds, and they can't put the genie back in the bottle.
87
They have no candidate who can get even a fraction of the 218 votes needed to become Speaker, unless the can (once again) cow the establishment GOP caucus into submission.
1
Could you imagine a Webster from Florida (Jeb!'s good friend), or a Huelskamp from Kansas, or a Labrador from Idaho, or a Gohmert, Flores and Sessions from Texas.
Elect Pelosi, at least she's better at herding cats.
Elect Pelosi, at least she's better at herding cats.
It's a hustle. The plan was always to prevent Obama from governing, from inauguration night 2009, with Ryan in the room. The Republicans could care less, so long as Obama doesn't have a Congress to work with to pass laws.
11
It would be unprecedented in American politics but is not uncommon in many other advanced Western democracies.
The centre-right should cast aside those 40 or 50 unreasonable far-right congressmen and form a coalition with the centre-left. Since the Speaker does not have to be a sitting member of congress they could select a reasonable centrist Speaker from outside of Congress. Someone who is only interested in what's good for the country and not beholden to either party. Someone like Michael Bloomberg, George Mitchell or Joe Lieberman.
It sounds a bit far-fetched but if it happened we could actually see a functional somewhat reasonable Congress that solves problems and passes bills.
The centre-right should cast aside those 40 or 50 unreasonable far-right congressmen and form a coalition with the centre-left. Since the Speaker does not have to be a sitting member of congress they could select a reasonable centrist Speaker from outside of Congress. Someone who is only interested in what's good for the country and not beholden to either party. Someone like Michael Bloomberg, George Mitchell or Joe Lieberman.
It sounds a bit far-fetched but if it happened we could actually see a functional somewhat reasonable Congress that solves problems and passes bills.
4
Too far left??? First there has been no real left opposition in the U.S. in many, many years. There are small pockets of people who deal in identity politics, bringing change for relatively small groups, while reforming very little else. In terms of the far right in the U.S., which includes Ryan, these folks would bring about either a form of smiling fascism or a form of serious and strident fascism to the U.S. The majority of the founders would weep!
9
Is smiling fascism anything like compassionate conservatism?
2
LOL! Rep Paul Ryan, too far left? If the accusation is true - the accusation, not the truth of the accusation, to be clear - then the right is more delusional than one could ever imagine.
9
I am not so much interested in the political pickle Republicans made for themselves as I am in the voters who sent them to Washington. I would love to see NYT go to the districts that elected the Freedom Forum and Tea Party-backed Congress members and profile some of the voters. What has been their life experience that motivates them to blame, fear and tear down the national government? Something has happened in their lives that they are projecting onto "the government." Is it financial insecurity? Have they had to work too hard and sacrificed too much personal freedom and pleasure for their careers or businesses? Are their families stressed or broken? The political is always personal. The few Tea Party supporters I know are retired and very well off and have no apparent reason to be so angry about anything. Please enlighten me!
14
Here...let me. Those people you refer to are everywhere, but overall, they are in a minority. What the GOP has done was to start and carry on a gerrymandering program that artificially groups them into majority districts, no matter how ludicrous the boundaries that send virtual anarchists to Washington. Now the rest of us...in the majority... are held hostage to radical reactionaries. Swell.
1
The Republican Party far right wing can be seen as turning Stalinist, engaged in paranoid political purging, or like the American old left, splintering and devouring its own in the name of purity.
8
No one left in the Republican Party's leadership is anything close to moderate or far left. They must be bagging on him for not being far right enough.
7
The conservative definition of "too far left" includes anyone who has ever agreed to compromise with the Democrats or moderates on anything.
13
When will it end? Please, stop using the term "Conservative" for these people. Conservatives are preservers and stabilizers, upholders of traditions and institutions. That is what it means in political terms.
These folks are Ultra-Radicals, extremsts, far more aligned with the "John Birch Society," and even far more radical movements. They are anarchists... They have spent years lying, demonizing, blocking, distorting, and ultimately *Damaging* our government. How much further from "Conservative" can you get?!
Congress has been held hostage for years by these folks. Now they want only the most extreme, the worst of the worst of their group, to be in charge - and to make their siege of our government a permanent state of affairs. This is the worst possible thing that could happen to our Democratic institutions! Where is any hint of Democracy, or common cause, or compromise, or "needs of the People" here? This is the tyranny of an out of control ideology running amok.
The Right made a deal with their own devils and demons years ago. The bill for the services rendered is coming due. It will destroy us all, including anything even remotely related to the Conservative in this country.
These folks are Ultra-Radicals, extremsts, far more aligned with the "John Birch Society," and even far more radical movements. They are anarchists... They have spent years lying, demonizing, blocking, distorting, and ultimately *Damaging* our government. How much further from "Conservative" can you get?!
Congress has been held hostage for years by these folks. Now they want only the most extreme, the worst of the worst of their group, to be in charge - and to make their siege of our government a permanent state of affairs. This is the worst possible thing that could happen to our Democratic institutions! Where is any hint of Democracy, or common cause, or compromise, or "needs of the People" here? This is the tyranny of an out of control ideology running amok.
The Right made a deal with their own devils and demons years ago. The bill for the services rendered is coming due. It will destroy us all, including anything even remotely related to the Conservative in this country.
17
I was maybe still a little sleepy as I read the NYTimes this morning over my breakfast.
When you wrote, "He was half the brain on a 2013 compromise with Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington..," I thought you said, "He has half a brain....''
Lyin' Ryan! Run, run that marathon twice as fast as you actually did! Go!
When you wrote, "He was half the brain on a 2013 compromise with Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington..," I thought you said, "He has half a brain....''
Lyin' Ryan! Run, run that marathon twice as fast as you actually did! Go!
9
Ryan is letting out "left" air so he can go, "See, I can't get 218!" Shrew.
1
When a guy like, Paul Ryan, a former Social Security recipient who later sought the privatization of Social Security as a scheme to pay out less is deemed too "Liberal"--- it illuminates the degree of extremism residing in the "Freedom Caucus."
The "Freedom Caucus" need to win more elections, not usurp them. These 40 extremists are solely pandering to the purse strings of Koch brothers & Co and Fox News programming.
The "Freedom Caucus" need to win more elections, not usurp them. These 40 extremists are solely pandering to the purse strings of Koch brothers & Co and Fox News programming.
9
As crazy as these guys are, I would not be surprised if Paul Ryan himself started the rumor that he is left and not conservative enough. Gives himself a good out to keep his government job for a lot longer. He has never had a real job outside of government.
85
Nor has anyone on the left side of the isle.....starting with the virtual entire executive branch.
"Latest Unease on Right: Ryan Is Too Far Left"
Would the Freedom Caucus prefer Attila the Hun?
Would the Freedom Caucus prefer Attila the Hun?
2
Nah, Attila the Hun was too much of a bleeding heart liberal for their tastes.
2
Yes.
1
Where are the Moderate Republicans? What will it take to get them to take a stand for integrity and the Constitution??? They shd start a 3rd party for moderates of both parties.
3
The Drudge can't stand the fact that all their yelling may have caused Boehner to resign, but in doing so they lost all influence any longer, for no one cares about them, only about saving the institution that Drudge and other of his ilk tried to destroy in their quest for power. Drudge is over and he knows it. America has seen through the garbage and Drudge has lost almost all influence.
If Paul Ryan is too far left, than the only thing the Freedom Caucus wants to do is to destroy the government and send America, the country they want free and love and in these troubled times into non-governing chaos.
5
When I finished reading this essay, my first thought was "exactly who would be an acceptable alternative to left leaning Paul Ryan?".
John Birch? George Wallace?
Or maybe good ol' "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice!" Barry Goldwater
John Birch? George Wallace?
Or maybe good ol' "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice!" Barry Goldwater
3
The GOP is revolting.
3
The right wing echo machine has been so successful in creating an alternate universe for the Republicans that it is now eating its own. Republican politicians cheered as it was created and followed along with the propaganda. Now the chickens have come home to roost.
5
This is article is a good example of what NY Times columnist Paul Krugman yesterday called "worshipping at the church of balance."
On the one hand, there are a bunch of raving maniacs on the loose threatening peace and stability on the neighborhood. But never mind what to do about them, because on the other hand, there is another other bunch a few blocks away that might be even slightly crazier. Or might not be. Opinions differ.
Meanwhile, there goes the neighborhood. Because we weren't paying attention. Or because some other neighborhood might have gone before that, so things could be worse. Unless maybe they couldn't.
On the one hand, there are a bunch of raving maniacs on the loose threatening peace and stability on the neighborhood. But never mind what to do about them, because on the other hand, there is another other bunch a few blocks away that might be even slightly crazier. Or might not be. Opinions differ.
Meanwhile, there goes the neighborhood. Because we weren't paying attention. Or because some other neighborhood might have gone before that, so things could be worse. Unless maybe they couldn't.
3
I really wish the far Right in this country would admit that the Federalist Constitution is too statist for them and endorse re-instating the Articles of Confederation. It would be far more honest and every state could have its own Navy ! Even Texas ( which supposedly already has one)
5
Wow, if Phyllis Gadfly is talking about "tryouts" for Speaker, this is going to get good! Louis Gohmert maybe does have a chance.
4
the voices driving this crazymaking have nothing to lose and everything to gain. In our fragmented media landscape, their brands benefit by narrowing their message and pushing ever-further to the right. There's no reason to appeal to the distant middle. Echo chambers are more lucrative, even as they damage democracy.
1
It it's the rebirth of the John birch society, I'm surprised that the freedom cabal isn't demanding the the new speaker commit to getting the USA out of the UN.
9
Val in Brooklyn, NY
Jim B in CA. Please don't fool yourself. Bill Buckley, Reagan, etc., paved the way for this.
Sue. Your question is terrifying. Do we really want the answer?
Richard in NM. Dear God! I hope you're wrong!
Brian in San Francisco Bay area. You really nailed it!! It's a coup d'etat!!
My non-rhetorical question: are we finished as a nation?
Submitted: 10-13-15, 2:45 a.m. EST
Jim B in CA. Please don't fool yourself. Bill Buckley, Reagan, etc., paved the way for this.
Sue. Your question is terrifying. Do we really want the answer?
Richard in NM. Dear God! I hope you're wrong!
Brian in San Francisco Bay area. You really nailed it!! It's a coup d'etat!!
My non-rhetorical question: are we finished as a nation?
Submitted: 10-13-15, 2:45 a.m. EST
4
Ryan is "too far left?!" Huh?!?! When did I fall down the rabbit hole into Wonderland?
5
I've been hoping in my life time to see Nixon's "Southern Strategy" kill off the Republican party.
I'm surprised the American people have allowed them to thrive for as long as they have but I guess when only around 50% of voters vote it magnifys the power of the crazy's.
I'm surprised the American people have allowed them to thrive for as long as they have but I guess when only around 50% of voters vote it magnifys the power of the crazy's.
8
Sigh...
This new group of 'NeoCons' are biting themselves in the butt, a total collapse of the governing body of this country within their sights, wish little more than the demise of democratic governance which will net them and their ilk ... zero!
They appear as their own worst enemy and they have Phyllis Schlafly as a 'role model' leader; good luck with that one.
It is becoming ever increasingly difficult for understanding of the demands put forth by this band of apparent little knowledge group, least for this individual.
This new group of 'NeoCons' are biting themselves in the butt, a total collapse of the governing body of this country within their sights, wish little more than the demise of democratic governance which will net them and their ilk ... zero!
They appear as their own worst enemy and they have Phyllis Schlafly as a 'role model' leader; good luck with that one.
It is becoming ever increasingly difficult for understanding of the demands put forth by this band of apparent little knowledge group, least for this individual.
1
Republicans will need to rebuke these right wing extremists just as they eventually had to rebuke McCarthy and all that McCarthyism stood for.
If republicans do not unite against these haters, the party is doomed.
If republicans do not unite against these haters, the party is doomed.
1
If Mr. Ryan, a strict right-wing conservative, who has offered bills to dismantle Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Pell Grants, food stamps, unemployment compensation and government in general, is too far left for the Tea Party Conservatives then exactly what will satisfy the ultra-right wing conservatives?
If even Ryan's conservatism is not deep enough and must be challenged, then what is that the ultras really want?
Mr. Ryan as speaker of the House would assure that conservatives would continue to disrupt government. The chaos and disorder will continue. That should be enough for any conservative. Unless of course their objective is to totally dismantle government and impose Republican demagoguery. Maybe what Republicans are seeking is a new form of Republican Fascism. The trains may run on time under the new Republican Fascists but only true conservatives would be allowed to use them.
If even Ryan's conservatism is not deep enough and must be challenged, then what is that the ultras really want?
Mr. Ryan as speaker of the House would assure that conservatives would continue to disrupt government. The chaos and disorder will continue. That should be enough for any conservative. Unless of course their objective is to totally dismantle government and impose Republican demagoguery. Maybe what Republicans are seeking is a new form of Republican Fascism. The trains may run on time under the new Republican Fascists but only true conservatives would be allowed to use them.
2
The media need to stop referring to this faction as "conservative." They are extremist right wing radicals and anarchists. There is absolutely nothing conservative about them.
4
The matter tends to be addressed more simply and efficiently. When this happen in England there tends to be expressed concern over a hishung Parliament with no legislator successfully pressing bills and no citizen faction successfully hoping for action. There seems a prevailing sense of calm until the next British election. In the US there was no Republican party before the civil war and the early Presidents campagned for Federalist party. The US has in the past in this testy times of alleged stalemate successfully elected a third party candidate as its alternative.
So shocking to read liberals attempting to define what is and is not conservative. Blinded by their own liberal ideology they scrabble for understanding. So let me help all you radical progressive liberal ideologues: conservatism is FREEDOM. Recall this country was form around this concept and our constitution is the contract to guarantee freedom to everybamerican and it allows government to exist to protect the constitution and our FREEDOM. See how it all fits?
So candidates that scowl at doubling of national debt under Mr. Obama are good candidates because a bankrupt country does not have free people. And candidates that fume over decimation of our military and feeble foreign policy, as occurred under Mr. Obama, are good candidates because a weak and defenseless country is not a free country. Oh and countries that have no border and are overrun by illegal aliens is not a country at all.
Going forward, try if you can to see speaker candidates through the lens of FREEDOM.
So candidates that scowl at doubling of national debt under Mr. Obama are good candidates because a bankrupt country does not have free people. And candidates that fume over decimation of our military and feeble foreign policy, as occurred under Mr. Obama, are good candidates because a weak and defenseless country is not a free country. Oh and countries that have no border and are overrun by illegal aliens is not a country at all.
Going forward, try if you can to see speaker candidates through the lens of FREEDOM.
The evidence mounts regarding the insane and tragic political nihilism of today's "far right" movement. How many of these "scorched-earth" maniacs are End Timers willing to throw gasoline on every fire, while believing they are fulfilling God's plan? Consider the issues and the people they demonize . . . are they building a catastrophe of Biblical proportions? These pundits and politicians are NOT interested in doing the Peoples' business, it is easy to see. This is what scares me the most. I can no longer take any pleasure in their madness.
What stands out in this article is what I have always said - conservative voters are sheep. They listen to and read the garbage that the right wing talking heads say and publish. I don't believe any of them have ever had an independent thought in their lives. And they certainly never seem to question anyone. This is probably why Donald Trump is leading in the polls.
1
While I generally agree with most of the comments I've read (and I have not read all of them), it occurs to me that Freedom Caucus/Tea Party crowd thinks it's doing exactly what voters want - obstructing the functioning of the federal government. Although it is largely illogical, my fear is that many voters do believe the government should be thwarted at every turn. Sadly, these voters cannot really articulate what they are objecting to - as an example, they mostly want to keep their Social Security and Medicare benefits. And, of course, they want their schools, libraries, highways, fire departments, police departments, the list goes on. However, repeated surveys seem to show that many people vote against their own self-interest out of some ideologically motivated commitment. Because of these voters and our crazy electoral system, the Freedom Party/Tea Party members of Congress are likely to be re-elected next year as a reward for doing nothing.
What the true conservatives want is a man with a little square moustache, a shrill voice and a raised, clenched fist. There is a good possibility that they'll get one, because Clinton-as-a-Democrat is equally unacceptable.
We've shifted to a pre-WW III stance just as Germany shifted to a pre-WW II position in the Thirties!
We've shifted to a pre-WW III stance just as Germany shifted to a pre-WW II position in the Thirties!
2
"The God of the cannibals will be a cannibal..." -Ralph Waldo Emerson.
3
Shows what a bunch of whackjobs are running the Tea Party, and why we need to keep them as far from any position of power as possible.
1
At what point do we call this obsession with "being conservative" what it is?
We have a population of people constantly witch hunting for liberals or "RHINOs" or anyone giving off the slightest whiff of dissent. They are obsessed with chasing an ever changing set of "fundamentals" defined by an obsession with a history so rewritten and skewed, that not even Reagan himself would recognize his current portrayals. That they openly advocate for the destruction of the US Government shows they clearly do not want to serve anyone but them selves.
This is fascism, plain as day. Any republicans caught up in the "I'm the most conservative" game can not win against the flare ups of fear and ignorance and their subsequent purges. Stop placating, and take back the party!
We have a population of people constantly witch hunting for liberals or "RHINOs" or anyone giving off the slightest whiff of dissent. They are obsessed with chasing an ever changing set of "fundamentals" defined by an obsession with a history so rewritten and skewed, that not even Reagan himself would recognize his current portrayals. That they openly advocate for the destruction of the US Government shows they clearly do not want to serve anyone but them selves.
This is fascism, plain as day. Any republicans caught up in the "I'm the most conservative" game can not win against the flare ups of fear and ignorance and their subsequent purges. Stop placating, and take back the party!
1
Hitler and Mussolini would be too far left for this pack of ultra-right-wingnuts.
4
What this article shows is mainly the total incoherence of Republican thinking. It's almost like they've stopped caring. Paul Krugman put it best: "the modern Republican Party is a post-policy enterprise, which doesn’t do real solutions to real problems."
2
Why not call these Tea Party folks what they really are and drop the spin title of Freedom Caucus. In fact, they are ANARCHISTS who arise from a background and voter base of ignorance and emotionalism.
In plain language, what they propose for the country would create anarchy and they are close to creating that condition in the US House.
In plain language, what they propose for the country would create anarchy and they are close to creating that condition in the US House.
2
To the most extremist right-wing Republicans, everyone not in their group is gasoline and they are a match. Once they have burned up their fuel, what will be left?
58
Maybe I'm more naive than current affairs permit (after all, last century ended on an episode where the tumes of public attention was
Breitbart is the main website backing Trump. Other than on immigration, Trump is probably less conservative than Ryan on most policy issues. Breitbart writers and maybe even readers know this. They just think that immigration is the number one policy issue for conservatives in 2016. They think that their country is being invaded, and that the only way to stop this is to deport all undocumented migrants and to build a wall between the US and Mexico. Often, this view takes the form of ethnic and racial nationalism: these Republicans think that America's culture is better than the culture of most Latin American countries, that the people coming from these countries are inherently violent, unwilling to integrate into US culture (as they understand it), and that immigrants are and wish to be a major drain on US welfare policies. Often, this bleeds into outright racism: read the comments section on Breitbart whenever there's a shooting by police or during the Charleston, SC shooting. It looks like what you'd expect to see on a white power website. I actually suspect a lot of the traffic for Breitbart overlaps with people who visit white nationalist websites.
Breitbart is a good example of where the far right in the US sometimes bleeds into anti-immigrant populist support and racism. Paul Ryan probably isn't willing to pander to those people, because he may want to hold national office one day. I fear for the day when Republicans are less chastened about stuff like this.
Breitbart is a good example of where the far right in the US sometimes bleeds into anti-immigrant populist support and racism. Paul Ryan probably isn't willing to pander to those people, because he may want to hold national office one day. I fear for the day when Republicans are less chastened about stuff like this.
11
If the dysfunction in our political system continues unabated eventually a Caesar or Bonaparte type strongman is going to come to power. I hope the rich men pulling the strings behind everyone of these manufactured crises realize the risk that they'd face under such a fate; just look at what happened to the oligarchs who didn't sit well with Putin.
4
Paul Ryan is "too far left"? I'm starting to wonder if the right-wing Republicans occupy some separate reality apart from the rest of us. These guys would balk at Attila the Hun.
8
"Grass roots conservatives". You cannnot make this up.
It's like an SNL skit.
We've seen this bunch before of the tin foil hat variety.
Ah the GOP keeps moving the goalposts and wonders why they are a laughingstock wholly unfit to govern.
Whatever they are drinking or smoking I will eschew.
What a desperate and pathetic lot.
It's like an SNL skit.
We've seen this bunch before of the tin foil hat variety.
Ah the GOP keeps moving the goalposts and wonders why they are a laughingstock wholly unfit to govern.
Whatever they are drinking or smoking I will eschew.
What a desperate and pathetic lot.
10
The my-way-or-the-highway radical right still doesn't get it. Although they compose only a minority in the House, they want to rule the majority. Compromise isn't in their vocabulary. They should form their own party but they won't because their power would be seriously diminished. They are merely riding on the backs of Republicans, using them as best they can. It is clear that the Republican Party is not one but at least two parties. A party that cannot agree on a leader is not a party.
11
Ryan is "too liberal"? Fine with me. The crazies on the far right are making sure that the Democrats win. They're so crazy that I can even see the Dems picking up some Senate seats, if not some House seats as well.
I really think that traditional Republicans are going to have to walk away and form a new party if they have any hope of ever winning the Presidency again. These crazies on the right really don't understand how democratic government works in this country. It's always been about compromise - it's why we have two houses.
I really think that traditional Republicans are going to have to walk away and form a new party if they have any hope of ever winning the Presidency again. These crazies on the right really don't understand how democratic government works in this country. It's always been about compromise - it's why we have two houses.
6
Bring back earmarks. iT's will be amazing what a little political bribery does to one's idealogical positions. Thats the only way we are going to move on from this gridlock in Washinton.
1
Paul Ryan is the typical and ultimate example of Republican party fraud.
4
There are 2 Republican Parties. One is about getting things done. The other are anarchists. Who emerges as the dominant group is very important to the well being of the country and its citizens. This is not trivial. Be involved.
8
Someone needs to set the record straight to Americans about what constitutes a position of "Left" and "far-Left" on the normal political spectrum that advanced modern nations follow, because I keep seeing a false equivalency repeated copiously that has no bearing in reality: that the American far-right and the so-called 'far-left' are equally responsible for the partisanship, polarization, and dysfunction in Congress. Where is this 'far-Left' Tea Partiers and moderates alike keep speaking of? Because I don't see it, except in the minds of arch-conservatives aka libertarians; but somehow their delusion that an active 'far-Left' exists in America has wended its way through to mainstream thought and is now apparently accepted as truth by those who see themselves as moderates, who don't even seem to realize that they have internalized right-wing spin.
Who, pray tell, makes up the 'far-left' in American politics? Progressives (and even 'Democratic Socialists' like Bernie Sanders) pretty much follow FDR's platform/ideas from the 1930s -- not a 'radical agenda', truly, but one deeply rooted in American tradition -- a tradition of the Left, to be sure, but not an example of radicalism or 'far' anything. It's middling Left.
I have friends who are 'far-Left'-- they are Socialists. Most don't vote AT ALL in national or state elections, only engaging in local politics at the community level, supporting the Working Families Party, or the Green Party. Nothing to do with Congress.
Who, pray tell, makes up the 'far-left' in American politics? Progressives (and even 'Democratic Socialists' like Bernie Sanders) pretty much follow FDR's platform/ideas from the 1930s -- not a 'radical agenda', truly, but one deeply rooted in American tradition -- a tradition of the Left, to be sure, but not an example of radicalism or 'far' anything. It's middling Left.
I have friends who are 'far-Left'-- they are Socialists. Most don't vote AT ALL in national or state elections, only engaging in local politics at the community level, supporting the Working Families Party, or the Green Party. Nothing to do with Congress.
24
The only way the Republican Party can put an end to this is for moderate Republicans to announce they will refuse to vote with a Republican majority if it continues. Perhaps when this group faces the real threat of entirely losing their influence they'll be made to come to their senses.
Until then, the status quo will continue.
Until then, the status quo will continue.
9
The measure of being 'conservative' enough on the GOP right-wind these days is whether a person is just this side of, or preferably a member of, the lunatic fringe. Xenophobia is rampant way out there. Tea Party blogs regularly call, not only for deportation of all "illegal' aliens, but also for a cessation of all immigration (there are too many "foreigners" in "our country") for the foreseeable future. The further more call for deportation of all Muslims.
The Tea Party (on its blogs) believes that there is a plot being carried out by everyone from Mr. Obama to the Pope (yes, the Pope) to form a "New World Order" which will be the end of America; that Mr. Obama is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood; that he and Mrs. Clinton somehow caused the Benghazi raid (to help the M. Brotherhood); that Mr. Obama has opened the border to "millions of illegals" who come in and get a completely free living and, therefore, all immediately vote "democrat" in order to keep the free stuff coming (naturally the TP folks are the beleaguered, hard working taxpayers footing the bill) - ditto for the poor. They believe that Mr. Putin is a better leader because Putin is "strong and cares for his country." They believe that Obama has vastly increased the national debt putting the country on the edge of bankruptcy. These folks, whom the GOP leadership is trying to please, have barely a toe in reality.
The Tea Party (on its blogs) believes that there is a plot being carried out by everyone from Mr. Obama to the Pope (yes, the Pope) to form a "New World Order" which will be the end of America; that Mr. Obama is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood; that he and Mrs. Clinton somehow caused the Benghazi raid (to help the M. Brotherhood); that Mr. Obama has opened the border to "millions of illegals" who come in and get a completely free living and, therefore, all immediately vote "democrat" in order to keep the free stuff coming (naturally the TP folks are the beleaguered, hard working taxpayers footing the bill) - ditto for the poor. They believe that Mr. Putin is a better leader because Putin is "strong and cares for his country." They believe that Obama has vastly increased the national debt putting the country on the edge of bankruptcy. These folks, whom the GOP leadership is trying to please, have barely a toe in reality.
45
I'm beginning to suspect that these clowns would suspect left-handers of being too liberal. If only Mr. Ryan would just hold up a confederate flag, call "Obama" a Muslim on Fox and Friends and insist that the only 'Million Man March' this country needs are the Marines landing once more at Tripoli (after showing voters where Tripoli actually is on a map), he might just be right enough.
41
They absolutely risk falling off the right end of the flat earth they believe in.
Me thinks his hesitation was a ploy to hollow out the resistance and get the rank-and-file to come after him and beg him to take the job. That's a good strategy for getting elected and rallying people without having tpo twist a lot of arms, yes?
8
Yes
It would be if the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee weren't the most powerful position in the House of Representatives. and not the Speaker of the House. Just recognizing that fact makes you too liberal for the extreme right wing of the republican party.
As every entertainer knows, always leave them begging for more.
The Greatest Show on earth right now, is watching the Republicans cannibalize their own. They better be careful, because if they move too far to the right, they just might fall off the face of their flat earth.
82
I also enjoy the show but my concern is they may destroy our Country in the process.
I really wish they'd finish eating it's starting to look like gluttony.
I applaud this reports coverage of Breitbart.com. If you haven't looked at Breitbart.com in detail, or a site of similar content, you haven't really looked at what "conservative Republicanism" has become. Its really a shameful mark on what it means to be an American.
75
Please do not just look at the coverage, read the comments. They are truly terrifying.
I couldn't agree more. A horror- inducing glimpse into the psyche of the right wing American. Celebrating hatred, ignoring facts or context and perfectly reflecting what the majority of Republicans really think. Another stoy here on Sunday about the "visceral Obama haters" in South Carolina and their belief system made it abundantly clear that Paul Ryan is indeed too "normal" for the new right.
And who is the least bit surprised by this? The GOP, already desperate to bolster their ranks, whorishly embrace the ranting and raving cult of the "tea party" Having gained a majority in House and Senate, they celebrate their majority yet haven't the sense to accomplish any meaningful legislation. And they think an even more conservative speaker is going to do what now? Witness the glorious implosion of the GOP.
18
Funny that the republicans themselves seem to be the ones most surprised by this. I remember when their most popular candidate for for president was roaming the country stirring up the "fact" that President Obama was born in Kenya. Not one, I repeat, not one of the "leadership" of the republican party stepped up and nipped this in the bud. That foolishness went along with the general program of obstruction and creating an atmosphere of hatred for the Obama Administration. Now it's come back to bite them in the ir fannies and I'm glad. The republican party doesn't deserve anything but the scorn and revulsion for the mess they happily created.
1
This is a planned maneuver. He will run now, and they're using conservative media outlets (and re-reporting by more, uh, balanced news outlets to propagate an untruth, making it seem like they don't want him because he's "too conservative". They would hope to give him legitimacy with the public as someone more centrist. In my not-so-humble opinion: This is window-dressing.
23
"woefully misinformed or maliciously destructive" Tom Cole may have aimed his barb at opponents of Ryan, but in fact would appear to effectively characterize the Republican Party today.
52
And indeed Paul Ryan himself.
"woefully misinformed AND maliciously destructive"
Thank God for the Freedom Caucus to keep our Congress and President from disregarding our Constitution and robbing the People of our money and freedom.
10
No one in government is doing what you claim, but thanks for playing. Be sure to collect your parting gift as you exit.
Agree. The NYT - spokesman for the White House and Democratic Party sell deception and deepen division.
So currently in America adhering to the rule of law, Congress passing an actual budget, refusing to add to the current $19 trillion dollar national debt, opposing the uncontrolled flood of illegal immigrants across our unsecured borders, insisting that the power of the President be constrained as an equal co-branch of the government vs that of a monarch is "right wing lunacy".
Apparently from all we are witnessing the NYT along with the rest of the Left are fine with indiscriminate and unequal enforcement of our laws, the President writing his own laws and deciding which ones he will enforce today, Congress continuing to pass temporary CR's to get us to the next "crisis" because there is no other option but to continue spending more taxpayer money, allowing immigrants to illegally cross our borders to infinity no matter who they are or where they are from despite having no way of knowing, and having a President who calls all the shots, does not want to work with Congress because "it's my way or the highway" and who told the GOP Congress on day one of his presidency "I won" and who works with the Democratic majority leader to obstruct every single GOP bill or amendment.
This is a sample of why there is obstruction from Americans who still believe that no country can survive or even function without the rule of law. What we have not more resembles a Banana Republic.
So currently in America adhering to the rule of law, Congress passing an actual budget, refusing to add to the current $19 trillion dollar national debt, opposing the uncontrolled flood of illegal immigrants across our unsecured borders, insisting that the power of the President be constrained as an equal co-branch of the government vs that of a monarch is "right wing lunacy".
Apparently from all we are witnessing the NYT along with the rest of the Left are fine with indiscriminate and unequal enforcement of our laws, the President writing his own laws and deciding which ones he will enforce today, Congress continuing to pass temporary CR's to get us to the next "crisis" because there is no other option but to continue spending more taxpayer money, allowing immigrants to illegally cross our borders to infinity no matter who they are or where they are from despite having no way of knowing, and having a President who calls all the shots, does not want to work with Congress because "it's my way or the highway" and who told the GOP Congress on day one of his presidency "I won" and who works with the Democratic majority leader to obstruct every single GOP bill or amendment.
This is a sample of why there is obstruction from Americans who still believe that no country can survive or even function without the rule of law. What we have not more resembles a Banana Republic.
The Freedom Caucus wishes to tear up the Constitution, and replace it with the Bible. What do you call a Christian caliphate? The people being robbed are the veterans, the seniors, and the children. "If we can can't run it our way, let's destroy it" seems to be the refrain from the radical Right these days.
1
Ryan considered too far to the left. God save us.
70
In fairness, they couldn't get Himmler.
The far right wants a country that doesn't exist. As far back as Nixon, winning Republicans understood the center of public opinion: fiscally responsible, socially liberal. More or less.
32
The far left also wants a country that does not exist. For god's sake, they are running a NON-Democrat who is an admitted Marxist Socialist!
These are just desserts. Rep. Ryan's positions are one's of dismantling many pillars of the contract between the government and the people. He wants to undo the social contract of programs like medicaid, labor laws, the government's right to regulate, and social security. The harvest of that overall view is a wide-reaching anti-government attitude.
And so now he hesitates to place himself in the hotseat of having to govern with such an attitude.
You reap what you sow. Only the madly partisan and reactionary want to undo such things, and the footsoldiers of social conservatives, who would reduce women to subordinate wombs and roll back marriage equality, are no more tractable.
Mr. Ryan needed to be more careful which political dogs he laid down with.
And so now he hesitates to place himself in the hotseat of having to govern with such an attitude.
You reap what you sow. Only the madly partisan and reactionary want to undo such things, and the footsoldiers of social conservatives, who would reduce women to subordinate wombs and roll back marriage equality, are no more tractable.
Mr. Ryan needed to be more careful which political dogs he laid down with.
33
Quite frankly, I don't find Paul Ryan, or any Republican acceptable to America.
43
The Republican Party is in full self-destruct mood. This was widely predicted after their 2008 presidential election debacle in the wake of the total collapse of GWB's presidency. At this point they seem more like a cult than a political party.
29
The serpent officially eats its tail when the last two (radio host, blogger, whatever) go into the final "I'm more conservative!" death spiral.
Then the Republicans and the government can get back to helping to operate the most powerful country in the world.
What kind of home lives do these people have where they see compromise as a horrible approach?
Then the Republicans and the government can get back to helping to operate the most powerful country in the world.
What kind of home lives do these people have where they see compromise as a horrible approach?
25
Laura Ingraham doesn't have to win elections, and Breitbart.com doesn't have to pass legislation. That's the problem here. The GOP is being driven by people who have no responsibility to do anything but get ratings and advertising dollars.
79
While the Democratic Party will not even sniff an opportunity to retake the House for another seven plus (7+) years, I'd like to personally thank all the Kamikaze GOP "Freedom Caucus" House members that may, in fact, end up looking so foolish that they assist the Democrats in recapturing the Senate and perhaps even help elect HRC next year.
29
No 'perhaps' about it. HRC will win by 4-5% of popular vote and will have a 30 vote cushion in electoral college. Florida might be the only swing state to go GOP next year. PA, OH, VA, CO... all will go Dem if the GOP stays on this suicidal course....
It is outrageous that a group is calling the shots who is happy to put the country into default, send the global economy into a tailspin, run up $200 billion costs for taxpayers, refuse to pay bills they already ran up, and shut down the government--just to make a point. Republicans who are interested in actually governing should ignore the calls from the minority who want to do nothing if they can't get their way.
Our country is a democracy, but the current Republican party thinks it's criminal to bring a bill up for a vote they don't all agree with if a majority in the House would vote for it. There's something screwy and un-American about that.
And make no mistake. Ryan is far right. And bad at math (and facts in general).
Our country is a democracy, but the current Republican party thinks it's criminal to bring a bill up for a vote they don't all agree with if a majority in the House would vote for it. There's something screwy and un-American about that.
And make no mistake. Ryan is far right. And bad at math (and facts in general).
99
The Freedom caucus actually DOES NOT have the power to do any of the things you mentioned. It is ONLY because the rest of the GOP refuses to abandon these far-right outliers of the party that this situation exists. What sensible people would do in this kind of situation is give the far-right members one chance to get in line with the majority of the GOP, and if they refuse, go to Pelosi and make a deal to secure the 45 or so Democrat votes to secure the speakership for a true moderate Republican (And that wouldn't be Paul Ryan!!!). If you allow a small minority of your party to hold the party hostage, you have no oen but yourself to blame...
Yes, too far left of any sanity. Yes, too far gone for any reason. Ryan is a dangerous person masquerading as a leader. He is not. His ideas don't in anyway match his personal reality. He rose to economic stability because of help from government funds. He knows this yet acts as if something else were true. HIs budget ideas would create monumental disaster. HIs warped notions about Social Security and Medicare don't represent any sane approach at all. Why are we even talking about him? That is, what is really going on here?
NYT please pay attention to the coup d'etat in progress now in the US House of Representatives. Ryan is no savior. He is bad and that means really bad.
NYT please pay attention to the coup d'etat in progress now in the US House of Representatives. Ryan is no savior. He is bad and that means really bad.
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The party in power gets to pick the Speaker. How you can construe this as a "coup" is puzzling.
40 people are running the show, that's how. And, they while they have no interest in governance, they certainly enjoy the perks of position and will for life. Just an American kind of coup...Thanks.
Thank you for identifying the real source of the paralysis that has come to afflict our political system. It's the rightwing talking-heads who have figured out a way to attract an audience by appealing to and justifying base emotions of resentment, prejudice and fear. They don't have answers. They don't have policy ideas. They just know how to gin up emotions to keep their audience listening and the advertising revenue flowing.
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So nice to hear someone state the truth so clearly. The far-right media is unconcerned with facts, with history, with science, and could care less about what happens to the U.S. All they want are the dollars and numbers. The further right the GOP gets, the more incensed the Breitbart and company will be, just so that they will go appealing to those who enjoy screaming matches, arm waving, and slander. Our entertainers are getting stuck with running the country, because caring about what happens will make you crazy.
So, now we find that the Republican congress can actually be influenced by - no, brought to heel by - the likes of Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham and the minions of the certifiable (while he was among us), Mr. Breitbart. These rabble rousers inhabit the same intellectual level as the increasingly nutty Sarah Palin. Maybe this lunacy will result in the decimation of the GOP, at least until some semblance of sanity is restored within it's ranks. If not, the nation is in deep trouble, folks.
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So funny watching the GOP in what is in effect a 9 year old's sleep-over fueled by Mountain Dew and Rice Krispies treats.
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Ryan? Way too liberal... Just look at him! Dump him quick.
8
Could you give a couple examples of Ryan is "way too liberal"? Thanks.
The Republicans on the FAR, FAR, FAR Right are living on a Planet I NEVER Want to Visit if they think Ryan is too far Left. Since Reagan became president in 1981 OUR Country has moved way too far to the Right & it has HARMED OUR Country immeasurably. I question ANY Republican in Congress but especially the ones to the Far Right in the House to List just 5 Policies/Laws that their Party has enacted that Benefited the MAJORITY of Americans. We know all about the Tremendous tax giveaways they've given the Rich, their only Real Constituents, with their unfounded belief, STILL, in Trickle Down Economics, that the 1st President Bush Rightly labeled "Voodoo Economics," so they can't list that.
So if Paul Ryan is too far to the Left, who could they get that would fit their criteria? Their Supposed Hero President Reagan certainly would be Too Far Left since he raised taxes, nearly tripled the Federal Budget Deficit, grew the size of the Federal Government tremendously & helped create the Taliban by leaving a vacuum by ignoring Afghanistan after the defeat of the Soviets & in their eyes any of these would be more than enough to disqualify him. The only 2 people I can think of that would be OK for the Far Right Republicans would be Putin or Netanyahu unfortunately for them neither is in the House or an American.
Due to the Fantasy World most Republicans live in because of Fox news & Conservative Radio they can hallucinate that most Americans believe what they do - SAD!
So if Paul Ryan is too far to the Left, who could they get that would fit their criteria? Their Supposed Hero President Reagan certainly would be Too Far Left since he raised taxes, nearly tripled the Federal Budget Deficit, grew the size of the Federal Government tremendously & helped create the Taliban by leaving a vacuum by ignoring Afghanistan after the defeat of the Soviets & in their eyes any of these would be more than enough to disqualify him. The only 2 people I can think of that would be OK for the Far Right Republicans would be Putin or Netanyahu unfortunately for them neither is in the House or an American.
Due to the Fantasy World most Republicans live in because of Fox news & Conservative Radio they can hallucinate that most Americans believe what they do - SAD!
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It's long past time for the centrist Republicans to ditch their 'party of crazy' element and realize that responsible governance means compromise not governance by childish extortion.
Make it plain to the far right, they're on their own when it comes to getting elected/re-elected and that they're going to work with
Dems and vice-versa.
Make it plain to the far right, they're on their own when it comes to getting elected/re-elected and that they're going to work with
Dems and vice-versa.
15
So exactly who are all of the silent centrists? I hear Charlie Dent and Peter King trying to act sane, but they voted to close government last time too, as did Paul Ryan. not exactly in the sphere as rational when their one job is to keep it open. That's like a engineer refusing to drive the train as he loudly yacks his head off about how they must be on time. This is a show for our tax dollars, trying to save a few GOP from going over the cliff of public opinion. If all these centrists exists, they must all be mutes or spineless.
If all they want is someone to throw stones at, they might as well return Pelosi to the speakership and be done. They don't want to govern, just to complain.
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Actually I've heard that Mr. Ryan is a socialist anarchist who would like to turn the United States of America into one big commune. Given half a chance I'm sure he would vigorously pursue a constitutional amendment guaranteeing an unlimited supply of cannabis cookies to all citizens among other things. Thank goodness we have the Tea Party ready, able and willing to provide us with credible, incisive and intelligent insight into such extremists as Mr. Ryan!
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I certainly hope you are just being sarcastic.
5
I believe Mr. Rosen is being sarcastic. But what does it tell us about our times when what certainly is an-over-the-top outlandish remark can't be ruled out as a Tea Party position.
Thank goodness we have the Tea Party ready and willing to provide us with tea to go along with the cannabis cookies!
Please, please do not interfere with the enemy when they are so busily engaged in self destruction. Get some popcorn and a beverage; sit back and enjoy the show!
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Tough times for "Young Guns" founders Cantor, McCarthy, and Ryan. Cantor is in political boot hill; McCarthy couldn't outrun the posse; Ryan is about to be drygulched.
26
If there were ever any doubt that 'the pundits of the conservative cause' have lost all sanity, here is the evidence. That Paul Ryan could go from 'possibly too conservative for the ticket' to 'not conservative enough to be Speaker' in three years is proof positive. The true folly is pretense that these Tea Party Republicans represent "true" conservatism. Bill Buckley is rolling in his grave.
14
Hypothesis:
The current state of the matter is that D. Trump has a better chance to get elected than Bernie Sanders.
That is how bad things have gotten. Courtesy of the mindless Tea party movement. Better get scared now.
The current state of the matter is that D. Trump has a better chance to get elected than Bernie Sanders.
That is how bad things have gotten. Courtesy of the mindless Tea party movement. Better get scared now.
9
Unfortunately a lot of unthinking support for Republicans comes from the elderly who are relatively well off as all they can think about is tax reductions that will benefit them in the few years they have left. They don't want their Medicare and Social Security touched but they aren't really worried about deficits or wars in the Middle East because they aren't affected directly and either they don't really like their grandchildren or are confident that theirs will be fine no matter what. And their grandchildren certainly won't be joining the military anyway. Despite the huge rise in the stock market that most of them have benefitted from, they still act as if the last seven years have been awful and. of course, it is all President Obama's fault, because he has, in their view, acted as a dictator. I hear these comments constantly at the country club and in restaurants, and from my 87 year old husband!
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Of course, you're aware that conservatives want to privatize Social Security and Medicare, right?
Ryan too far left? The reality is some are too far right. No, make that too far looney! We need to take our party back!
7
We obviously need some new words in the political lexicon. Right/left and conservative/liberal don't mean much anymore, apparently. Paul Ryan is only "too far left" to someone who has lost all grip on the reality an overwhelming majority of earthlings experience.
26
I predict if the chaos continues among Republicans over the issue of who is to be speaker, we'll start seeing some moderate congressional Republicans switch to the Democratic party. I'm surprised this hasn't already started happening, but let's give it a few more weeks and we'll see.
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