Paul Ryan Apologizes to Disabled Veterans, Social Security Recipients and other Takers

The winner of today's “Gee, Ya Think?!?!?” Award goes to Paul Ryan:

“There was a time that I would talk about a difference between 'makers' and 'takers' in our country, referring to people who accepted government benefits. But as I spent more time listening, and really learning the root causes of poverty, I realized something. I realized that I was wrong. 'Takers' wasn't how to refer to a single mom stuck in a poverty trap, trying to take care of her family. Most people don't want to be dependent. And to label a whole group of Americans that way was wrong. I shouldn't castigate a large group of Americans just to make a point.”

 A day late and a dollar short, Asshole.

Mitt Romney was Assertive; Joe Biden was Rude

I’m persistent; you’re stubborn.  The guerrilla warriors whom I agree with are brave freedom fighters; the ones I disagree with are bloodthirsty terrorists.

When Mitt Romney barged and plowed and bulled right through last week’s debate moderator — yes, there actually was a moderator, believe it or not — Republicans loved it.  Nobody could even count the times Romney talked right over President Obama and Jim Lehrer.  This meant, of course, that Romney was forceful and articulate.

Joe Biden did maybe half that much interrupting of Paul Ryan last night.  Joe Biden was rude, boorish, immature.

Republican “logic” — don’t even go there.

And in the ongoing question of “Are you better off now than you were four years ago,” consumer sentiment is now at its highest level in five years.  Sounds like another leftwing conspiracy for Darrell Issa (R—Car Thief) to investigate.

The 60 Plus Association aka Paul Ryan’s Prostitutes

Just what we need: another corporate-funded “grass roots” organization to promote the Far Right agenda. We’s just plain folks and we don’t need them there gummint bureaucrats messin’ with our Freedom.

The Astroturf 60 Plus Association is running a $1.4 million advertising campaign to convince senior citizens that Paul Ryan is on THEIR side. The chairman of 60 Plus, Jim Martin, said:

“The Democrats and Obama are destroying Medicare. It's time to put an end to their 'mediscare' tactics.”

No doubt, we’ll all be treated to a bunch of orchestrated “spontaneous” demonstrations on behalf of Paul Ryan’s agenda. Whatever their mis-spelled signs say, their underlying message will be “I’m old and I want to bend over for Wall Street.”

As long as we’re talking about Paul Ryan: You may have wondered why Ryan and his fellow corporate prostitutes are so adamant about preserving the oil industry’s $45 billion tax subsidies.

Mystery solved.

Paul Ryan and his wife own a large stake in four companies that lease land to the same oil companies that are benefiting from OUR tax dollars. The companies are run by Paul Ryan’s father-in-law. How cozy.

Also: One of Ryan’s fellow errand boys, Fred Upton (R—Hooker), owns $250,000 worth of ExxonMobil stock.

At one time, slippery dealings like this were known as “corruption” and “conflict of interest.” Not any more, apparently.

Three Ways to Save Medicare

Here are three ways to save Medicare, none of which are being considered by Paul Ryan and his corporate bosses.

1. Allow Medicare to use its bulk purchasing power to negotiate with the pharmaceutical companies for lower prices. This wouldn’t cost a dime; and wouldn’t add a single faceless government bureaucrat to the process. This is strictly prohibited under G.W. Bush’s multi-billion-dollar giveaway to the drug industry. Eliminating this rule would save $156 billion.

2. Allow prescription drugs to be imported from Canada (among other countries). Again — strictly prohibited. Where are all those “Limited Government!” shouters when we need them? Eliminating this rule would save $80 billion.

3. Allow Medicare recipients to use their insurance outside of the United States. This would be a win-win for Medicare recipients, our overburdened doctors and hospitals, and taxpayers who would save $40 billion a year. Can’t blame Bush for this one: Obama recently dismissed this exact idea at a town hall meeting.

Unfortunately the Medical-Industrial Complex will never permit their well-paid prostitutes — i.e. Congress — to make any of these changes.

Finally — Obama Hits Back

So THAT’S what it takes to get Obama to strike back: make him think his comments are off the record. Now that the cat’s out of the bag, let’s hope he keeps on swinging. No more college professor giving an erudite speech at a faculty meeting.

Obama was at a private meeting (or so he thought) with about fifty donors at a restaurant. A live audio feed piped his comments back to the press briefing room, where reporters were still working.

(Links here and here.)

Among other candid comments were:

“I said, 'You wanna repeal health care? Go at it. We'll have that debate. But you're not going to be able to do it by nickel and diming me in the budget. You think we're stupid?’”

Obama slammed the GOP’s repeated backdoor attempts to defund Planned Parenthood by attaching the defunding to a budget bill:

“Put it in a separate bill. We'll call it up. And if you think you can overturn my veto, try it. But don't try to sneak this through.”

Aw come on, sneaking is the only thing the rightwads know how to do.

He also had some choice words for Paul Ryan (R—PeeWee Herman):

“When Paul Ryan says his priority is to make sure...he's just being America's accountant and trying to be responsible — This is the same guy who voted for two wars that were unpaid for, voted for the Bush tax cuts that were unpaid for, voted for the prescription drug bill that cost as much as my health care bill but wasn't paid for.”

After a year and a half of being poked and prodded and needled and shat on by Republicans and their useful idiots, Obama has finally had enough.

You Go Mr. President.

Paul Ryan’s Budget Plan: “Unrealistic,” “Off the Deep End”

That description didn’t come from some bleeding heart liberal who wants to take America down the slippery slope to socialism. It’s from David Stockman, the chief architect of Reagonomics thirty years ago.

If David Stockman says you’re unrealistic and too far to the right — as Seth Meyers once said, “That’s like the president of the chess club calling YOU a nerd.”

Stockman said:

“It doesn't address in any serious or courageous way the issue of the near and medium-term deficit. I think the biggest problem is revenues. It is simply unrealistic to say that raising revenue isn't part of the solution. It's a measure of how far off the deep end Republicans have gone with this religious catechism about taxes.”

He added:

“It's kind of a pitiful commentary on our state of fiscal malgovernance when you consider the two leaders that we have that are trying to face down this issue. One of them is so ready to compromise that he folds faster than a lawnchair (that's Obama). And the other is ready to sob at the drop of a hat.”

Two other conservative economists — Doug Holtz-Eakin and Tyler Cowen — have also lashed out at Paul Ryan’s budget “plan” (using the term loosely).

Meanwhile, we really do have a huge budget deficit that’s getting worse and worse. Isn’t there someplace where we could cut spending? Hmmm…Let’s see…

Social Security Recipients: “Go Ahead, Make My Day!”

Wall Street’s congressional prostitutes (formerly known as Republicans) might want to think again before trying to derail Social Security. Judges who deny or delay people’s Social Security claims are receiving more threats than ever.

Times are tough and people are pissed. Obviously it’s wrong to threaten a judge for any reason. In any case, judges are just interpreting the law as it already exists; they aren’t writing the laws.

Now, if there’s anybody who deserves threats and retaliation (not that I‘m advocating anything of the sort), it’s the lawmakers who keep trying to “privatize” Social Security. Take Paul Ryan (please!). Now there’s a scumbag that should be watching his back. The above-linked article should be a wakeup call for Wall Street’s puppets in Congress: There are a lot of pissed off, desperate people out there, and they know where to find you.

In other news: How’s this for a Man Bites Dog story? A drunk driver crashed into 14-year-old Matthew Kenney, who was riding his bike, killing him. The drunk driver — David Weaving — is currently serving a ten-year prison sentence, since this is his umpteenth DUI conviction. And from behind bars, he’s filing a lawsuit against the parents of his 14-year-old victim. They allowed their son to ride his bike without a helmet, so the whole thing was their fault.

A serial drunk driver named David Weaving?!? If Herb Caen were still alive, he’d be having himself another “name phreak.”

Anyway, killing a kid on a bicycle and then suing his parents??? In case David Weaving’s fellow inmates are looking for somebody to shank…