Paul Ryan’s Worst Nightmare Comes True as Bernie Sanders Is On The Budget Committee

[Hestia]

Source: Politics USA

Paul Ryan’s Worst Nightmare Comes True as Bernie Sanders Is On The Budget Committee

By: Jason Easley
Friday, October 18th, 2013, 3:28 pm

Majority Leader Harry Reid has shattered Paul Ryan’s dreams of killing Social Security and Medicare by putting Sen. Bernie Sanders on the budget conference committee.

Sen. Sanders reacted to the official news of being appointed to the budget conference committee by saying, “I am excited about being a member of the budget conference committee and I look forward to working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to end the absurdity of sequestration and to develop a budget which works for all Americans. In my view, it is imperative that this new budget helps us create the millions of jobs we desperately need and does not balance the budget on the backs of working people, the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor.”

In other words, Bernie Sanders opposes everything that Paul Ryan wants. Sen. Sanders has long been an outspoken critic of the Ryan budgets, and the Wisconsin Republican’s borderline obsession with privatizing Social Security and voucherizing Medicare.

In response to Ryan’s recent Wall Street Journal editorial where he once again put entitlements in the crosshairs, Sanders said, “In a sense, what Paul Ryan is saying is yeah, I lost the election. It doesn’t matter. I want you to implement all of the ideas that I campaigned on and lost. You know what? The American don’t want to see cuts in Social Security, or privatization of Social Security, They don’t want to see cuts in Medicare. They don’t want to see cuts in Medicaid. They don’t want to see the EPA abolished, the Department of Education abolished. They don’t want to see the VA privatized. They don’t want to see the minimum wage, the concept of the minimum wage, done away with so that the people of America could work for four bucks an hour.”

More at link:

Read more: http://www.politicususa.com/2013/10/18/paul-ryans-worst-nightmare-true-bernie-sanders-budget-committee.html

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Woot woot! Harry seems to be hardening that spine that's started growing

[Lifelong Protester]

1. I know Senator Sanders is cooler than me...

I would have a hard time not wanting to throttle that little twerp every time he opened his mouth...

Smartest guy in the room--Ha!

[mtasselin]

2. Great

I feel great that Bernie is on that committee, he will more than hold his own. Reminds me when Senator Reid put Senator Warren on the banking committee, see how you like this, we are finally getting elected officials who are representing the American people. Bernie will not take any shit from that little asshole that was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

[freshwest]

30. Revenge is a dish best served cold, they say. They shouldn't have messed with Obama and Warren...

With Sanders there, who knows, he might get through to the Ayn Rand groupie by teaching him a few things about being human and serving the public instead of #1. Here he is applauding with Obama in 2011.



I found a link of a story on Sanders calling him a Left-wing Madman. All of their nightmares about the president are going to come true. This is going to be so good.

[southerncrone]

59. Born w/a silver spoon, but then he married the entire tea set!

[grahamhgreen]

87. Remember Ryan went to school and had his childhood supported by social insurance programs:)

[CBHagman]

104. For some reason I've never heard that expression...

...and I suspect relatively few Americans know that Paul Ryan's wife is an heiress.

From 2012:

[url]http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2018906137_ryanwealth13.html[/url]

The past decade has been very good financially for Paul Ryan — the Janesville, Wis., congressman's net worth increased at least 75 percent, and he purchased a historic home once owned by the top executive of Parker Pen.

Federal financial disclosure forms show that last year Ryan, 42, had assets of between $2.1 million and $7.8 million — figures that include a trust valued at between $1 million and $5 million inherited by his wife, Janna, after her mother died in 2010. A disclosure form said Ryan had assets of $479,000 to $1.6 million in 2001.

(SNIP)

Excluding the inheritance, Ryan's net worth increased by up to 130 percent in a decade marked by a deep recession and a volatile stock market.

Although Ryan's net worth is in the typical range for a congressman — the Center for Responsive Politics placed the 2010 average at $5.9 million — it puts him well above the average worker.


I found this rather interesting as well, as it provides additional data as to how Ryan has become wealthier during his years on the Hill. What's key is that this is a man considered a superstar in a party that disparages federal employees, on the one hand, preaches boot-strapping, and seeks the repeal of the estate tax.

[url]http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-ryan-money-millionaire-investments-2012-9#[/url]

[rurallib]

3. here's hoping Bernie has a lot of help

[CBHagman]

47. Yes, that's what I was thinking. Still...

...I also thought of this:

[rurallib]

48. I was shocked off my chair - Bernie won't backslide and

will not quit on the people who need him - the poor the hungry, the elderly, the disabled. He will be the backbone some lack.

[lark]

97. Excellent!

I soooo totally agree. Funny, I always sing that in my head when I'm especially happy. Having Bernie on the budget committee is about as good as it gets these days. Paul Ryan is going to get a huge shot of reality from Bernie and I doubt he will like it one little bit.

[wordpix]

51. yup, you need troops behind the general, he can't do it alone. But, YAY! Good move, Harry

[Scuba]

4. Kick his smarmy ass Bernie!!

[madrchsod]

9. what`s the ladies name who is going to run against him?

[Scuba]

10. The only ones I've heard of considering a run against Ryan are Rob Zerban and Amar Kaleka.

[calimary]

32. Give him one for me, too! Smarmy little pipsqueak indeed. Needs to be taught a few things.

AND put SQUARELY in his place.

[indepat]

5. May Senator Sanders crush Rep. Paul Ryan's political balls by helping eviscerate the entire

right-wing wet dream of f*cking over working people, the elderly, the children, the sick, and the poor.

[Demit]

6. This is terrific news.

Bernie Sanders will run rings around Ryan. There is hope!

[madrchsod]

7. ryan`s days of peddling his crap is just about over

he`s up for reelection and he has jack shit to run on. he`s delivered nothing but hot air to his true believers.

the 2014 election in southern wisconsin is going to be very interesting.

[jsr]

8. Bernie is a great choice to watch that raccoon

[ReRe]

11. Speaking of spines...

.... I think somebody has been passing around the Geritol in those Democratic meetings up there. I don't know how or why they have developed a backbone, but I want them all to keep doing it. ESPECIALLY Harry Reid. Bernie has ALWAYS had a strong backbone, so we don't have to worry about him. Yeah, Bernie is Ryan's worst nightmare. Forget-a-bout it, Ryan. Don't worry, American People, we've got this. Now get us a Democratic House and a few more Dem Senators and we can go to t-o-w-n and PUT EVERYONE BACK TO WORK!

[Liberalynn]

40. I heard on MSNBC

that the President was really mad that though he compromised with the Pukes before he still got no co-operation in return from the them. So he said "never again" and that everybody who worked for him and with him was given the message that there was going to be no negotiation over the debt ceiling and that they were to portray that message to the Pukes even through their body language.

I am so glad the President & Dems in Congress finally got mad like the rest of us already were. I am also glad Bernie was put in the position where he can fight the good fight even more directly.

I hope they stay determined and show those Pukes they picked the wrong people to mess with. They need to keep staring those bullies down.

[calimary]

45. Well, there's nothing like a little positive reinforcement!

Posted here so my collection of TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers is in this thread, too, for your convenience!

More calcium supplement for their nice new spines, please!!! Call one or two of 'em and thank them for standing strong and united - and urge them to stay that way!!!

[sheshe2]

12. Kick! n/t

[chillfactor]

13. this is marvelous news....

Bernie will wrap ryan up in a tight little cocoon....however ryan will never emerge as a butterfly.....he will rot in the cocoon...........

[jmowreader]

37. Ryan won't rot in the cocoon

He will emerge as a clothing moth - one that's specialized to eat only American flags.

[Jackpine Radical]

14. Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!

Best possible choice.

To be honest, I didn't know ol' Harry had it in him to pull a beaut like this.

Go, Bernie!

[valerief]

15. Whoa, love it! Love Bernie and I'm sure he'll hold their feet to the fire. nt

[Marie Marie]

16. First it was Biden vs Ryan and we all saw how well Ryan handled that.

Now it is Sanders vs Ryan. Better start reaching for the water bottle Paulie, something tells me that your mouth is about to get mighty dry.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

17. Reported on Ed Schultz that Bernie Sanders plans to go into the south to talk with people

And I mean Bernie is headed to Alabama/Mississippi type south where they vote against their best interests.


[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[blue14u]

60. Not all of us do! :))"

I have a few Dems friends here in MISS, and we FB everything to

these asshats here in Miss and TN... I'm right on the triangle of

Miss, TN, ARK...lol the repuks are thrown by my Liberal opinions

and facts...

The south does have Dems... we are just so few

and hard to find.. I build my base every chance I get though!!!

Onward and upward I say!!!!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

65. I grew up in L.A. lived 22 years in NYC. Now live in ultra red Rohrabacher country.

Wish I had your "can do" spirit. DR insults people for a living. I'm unaccustomed to the carelessnes and lack of communal spirit. New boys in town emulate him.

[blue14u]

66. I am so sorry

to hear that... I'm not sure where that county is, but I truly understand.

If you came from CA, then NY, and ended up here. It must be very

discomforting how we are treated b/c we have a different view

of the world...a liberal view...

Bless you for staying strong, and most of all surviving in these RED states..


I am trying to move to FL, hopefully in Grayson district, so I will be

represented, and have a fighter like him to support!!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

67. it's late and I must have meandered. I'm back in CA, Costa Mesa, Orange County

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher makes us look worse than we are. Our version of the GOP is to grab all the land - legally or illegally - they can for development and oppose labor. Very different attitude from our Conservatives than yours. Back in the day, they would have been socially liberal and "fiscally conservative". Now they can't afford to be concerned about women, the environment or gun restrictions, because that can't be tolerated in the GOP in 2013. Land grabs and climbing that fiscal ladder is about all they care about. Women have become a 4 letter word.

It stinks all over and I hope Bernie Sanders is strong enough to withstand the barbs thrown his way when he gets down into your territory. Also, he is coming to help YOU and let you know you aren't forgotten. I'm fortunate to be in CA, though Costa Mesa is trying to become a Charter City in order to avoid prevailing wage issues and other "consstraints" on their plans.

Good luck to us all.

[grahamhgreen]

88. Remember: from age 16, Ryan has benefitted from Social Security!!!!

This should go down well in committee:

http://mobile.rawstory.com/therawstory/#!/entry/paul-ryan-already-benefited-from-the-social-security-fund-he,5143aaa9d7fc7b56706e3d7f

[mike_c]

18. best news I've heard all day....

Bernie Sanders is the real deal.

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. Excellent!

[SoapBox]

20. I hope it makes Terrorist Ryan NUTS!

Hilarious.

[Plucketeer]

21. I'll be the FIRST to concede

that I'm NOT familiar with the subtleties and the intricacies of Senate procedure. That said, I feel righteous and authoritative in advising Paul Ryan to eat shit and die. To do that as a service to this nation would endear him to me even tho I loathe everything he stands for. C'mon Paul. Win me over!

[Ruby the Liberal]

22. K and F'n R!

[emsimon33]

23. Great choice! Good going, Harry Reid!

[handmade34]

24. good news

[mia]

25. Waking up from the nightmare

will make Ryan a better man.

[highplainsdem]

26. Great news! K&R!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

27. This is like Kucinich heading up Ways and Means.

[knightmaar]

28. Harry Reid just realized he should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque

'bout time.

[underpants]

29. Well played sir

well played

[weissmam]

31. ha

I love it with dems get tough and GOPs fall apart

[Hulk]

33. Yeah!!!!!

Tell me why I feel so safe now?! Hats off to Senator Bernie Sanders! I would only be a bit more excited if I learned that Senator Elizabeth Warren was on the committee.

Social Security is SAFE!!

[Liberalynn]

41. Imagine if both Bernie and Elizabeth were on it.

Ryan would have a cow.

[Hulk]

53. That would be too rich to even imagine!

It's time we right this ship, and I don't mean "to the right", I mean set it straight in the water once and for all!

[Liberalynn]

83. Agreed

[Judi Lynn]

34. Such good news. Hope Bernie Sanders has an idea how many people love him. n/t

[Walk away]

35. I love that on so many levels! Bernie is great.

[IrishAyes]

36. Great OP with one reservation:

I trust Bernie Sanders and love him like a brother. While I'd truly like to rec the OP, I simply can't bring myself to do it because of the swipe taken at Harry Reid at the end. Harry's always had twice as much spine as most people, and same for President Obama. They don't need to grow a spine. People need to see that they've always had one, and it takes a lot less spine to swipe at theirs.

Other than that, I like the OP just fine, thank you.

[Cha]

63. Exacly Irish.. It's

always been there.

[Hestia]

73. My issue with Reid is that he didn't change the Senate Rules on Filibuster

and has never used the Nuclear Option. Why not? I know that some Dem's are all a skeered of "if/when the GOP is in charge of the Senate then they'll ram stuff through" school of thought. It has always appeared that he talks tough but, in the past, done nothing to back up all the talk. It has to where when I see Reid on the news I cringe because I wonder what point he has capitulated on this time.

Ever since the people rose up against any action regarding Syria, Democrats have FINALLY figured out that we are on their side and have been using it.

How many internet petitions have you signed in support of a Democratic position only to find out our Reps. & Senators just to find out their staff sends them to the trash or junk in their email boxes? I've quit signing petitions because of their not actually reading them. I will give props to Kay Bailey Hutchinson because her staff actually did respond to each and every petition I signed when I lived in Texas. Of course, she was most always on the opposite side of how I felt but She Responded, which means the world.

I wish I had a copy of that 'toon of Democrats all gather around a spine asking what is that.

[Schema Thing]

91. If you don't know why, you don't know why.

Grow a spine and admit you don't know why.

[IrishAyes]

93. You're certainly entitled to your ire, even when I consider some of it misplaced.

Generally when someone like Obama, Reid, or Pelosi doesn't do something that from our vantage point it appears they should, it's for a good reason. 1) It might actually not be possible at the moment; 2) If possible, it still might be counterproductive; and 3) There might even be a better though longer and more indirect route to the goal, carrying less collateral damage. And anyone who thinks collateral damage can be ignored has simply yet to suffer the full effects of its karmic fury.

That's why we have North Stars; so that no matter how circuitous our way forward sometimes must be, we're likelier to wind up at the desired goal. Plowing straight through might seem the shorter, better route but that simply isn't how the world works.

[Doctor_J]

105. Umm, no

Harry's always had twice as much spine as most people, and same for President Obama.

Both are "centrists" whose politics are much closer to the Republicans' than to Bernie Sanders. They are also appeasers who refuse to draw ANY lines in the sand and will compromise away pretty much anything. Rec the OP or not, but don't make stuff up.

[IrishAyes]

106. Let me get this straight now...

Your opinions are purely factual and mine are made up; is that what you're saying?

All I will say to that for the moment is that you surely have an Irish-sized opinion of yourself.



See? I can use smileys too. Take that! And that!

Guess I told you, didn't I?

[maddogesq]

38. This news is just too cool for school.

I am having some really bad days, but this brought a smile to my face today.

Most righteous!

[Brigid]

39. It just keeps getting better and better lately, doesn't it?

[gopiscrap]

42. Yes!!! Way to go Bernie!!!

[BlueStreak]

43. Why would Ryan expect anything in his budget to be taken seriously?

It is loaded with outrageous ideas. The Senate plan is based in reality. The Senate plan doesn't abolish all military spending, and convert the agricultural budget into personal farm plots operated by hippie cooperatives.

Obviously Ryan hopes to put his Ayn Rand plan up against the reasonable Senate budget and hope to split the differences right in the middle. The Dems need to make it clear that certain parts of the Ryan plan are so far out of the mainstream of American thought that they are simply going to be ignored. If he wants to offer up more mainstream ideas to put on the table, that's OK, but there cannot be a premise that you just average the two plans together and split the difference.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

44. Sanders/Grayson or Warren 2016!!!!

[blue14u]

61. Oh you sing

[

to my soul!!!!

[Nanjing to Seoul]

68. yes. it's a good dream of mine.

[closeupready]

90. Yes, to any of those three!

K&R

[RainDog]

46. k&r n/t

[Rebellious Republican]

49. The tide is turning, there is hope for our children.

[blackspade]

50. K&R!

[HooptieWagon]

52. I take it Harry's gotten really pissed off.....nt

[Tigress DEM]

54. YEAH!!!

[Uncle Joe]

55. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Hestia.

[Hestia]

74. Your welcome UJ - I couldn't believe no one had posted this story I started clapping and my

DH wanted to know what is going on. Happiness I told him

[Lugnut]

56. Go Bernie! n/t

[davidpdx]

57. Glad to hear we have a strong voice on the committee

[southerncrone]

58. This is rich!

I can see Ryan stammering & blinking like a 7 yr old, while Bernie schools him on reality!

[blue14u]

62. Beautiful news!!!!

Bernie will squash Paul like the cockroach he is...


YEA BERNIE!!!

[IkeRepublican]

64. Bernie rocks, as we all know

But, let's be honest here. Ryan is a Zod. He doesn't take nightmares. He gives them.

[Paper Roses]

69. This move makes me feel a little better. May there be hope yet? n/t

[dreamnightwind]

71. Yes, thank you

Bernie is awesome, but still only one man. I kept wondering who are the other people on there?

Looking at our Dem Senate group, it could have been much worse. Gives me a little hope.

[Hestia]

75. Yes he is one voice but it is a very Strong voice and I don't think that it will be the cake walk

that the GOP thinks it will be. Admittedly, they are used to the Democrats caving in in the past, but if they stand strong, maybe just maybe we can get a budget we can live with. It's such a shame that the millenials do not know of a time when government actually worked. It's getting to where I barely remember it some days, especially when all you see on the tv news is the GOP position.

[dreamnightwind]

92. Interesting

I was looking at those names on the Republican side and wondering about that. I don't keep up with the positions of individual Republicans too closely so wasn't sure.

[Lil Missy]

77. marked for later

[Faux pas]

78. Best news I've heard ALL YEAR,

Go Bernie!

[raging moderate]

79. BERNIE!

Hooray!

[Maeve]

80. Woot, indeed! Loser Ryan gonna lose. eom

[CrispyQ]

81. Yes, Harry does seem to be standing a bit taller these days!

Love me some Bernie!

[Berlum]

82. Approved

Thank you, Senator Sanders

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

84. Yahoooooooooooooooooo,

Bernie, the one man answer to the TeaBags!

[Enthusiast]

85. I respond to these threads without reading the other posts first.

My first thought is, Senator Sanders is only one man.

Bernie's position is not reflected in the national media where it is only very seldom expressed.

The national media narrative is, "Social security and medicare are the primary drivers of the deficit." We hear it every single day. And Democratic Party TV talking heads seldom correct this false meme. That is why so many of us are so pissed off with the Administration.

Has the President ever said, "Social security did not cause this deficit."?

The war mongers and big tax cutters simply do not want to pay their bills. The Bush tax cuts gave the wealthy our money. All the extra FICA contributions that boomers paid were given to the wealthy as a sort of gift. And it didn't create a single net fucking job.

Social security is a largest single creditor to the USA. Now, just because the trickle down advocates don't want to pay it back, the TV narrative tells us that old people and sick people are responsible for the debt. This is no different than the Nazis calling people useless eaters. It is no different.

The trickle down advocates own the propaganda mechanism. The failure to recognize this is much of the reason we are in this mess to begin with. We have allowed them to co-opt the discussion. That is why those that say the loss of the fairness doctrine is no big deal are so completely wrong.

Where are the Democrats standing up telling us that we must break up the media giants? Where are the Democrats standing up saying we need a new Fairness Doctrine? Without media fairness every issue is a losing issue for our side. With a fair media the ACA isn't even worthy of a discussion. In a fair media, we would be discussing single payer. In a fair media, single payer wouldn't have been characterized as a bridge too far.

[Blue Owl]

86. Bachmann was right, it is a sad day...

For EDDIE MUNSTER!!!

[grahamhgreen]

89. Remember: from age 16, Ryan has benefitted from Social Security!!!!

This should go down well in committee:

http://mobile.rawstory.com/therawstory/#!/entry/paul-ryan-already-benefited-from-the-social-security-fund-he,5143aaa9d7fc7b56706e3d7f

[Jefferson23]

94. YES!!! I look forward to hearing all of Bernie's commentary. I'm sure Paul Ryan

is too, LOL.



K&R

[dembotoz]

95. love bernie and all but shouldn't a dem carry our water--sad we have to rely on an independent

[Scurrilous]

96. K & R

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

98. Go get em Bernie

[walkerbait41]

99. Give`em hell Bernie

[libdem4life]

100. Here's another awesome bit of info...he is the Senate representative to the Progressive Caucus.

I don't know whether it is just a House function, or if no other ... make that D or R ... Senators identify with Progressive? Senator Sanders identifies as a Liberal.

Seems like expanding the Progressive Caucus list with some Congressfolk already elected could be a good thing, and putting it out strongly to candidates who want to get the Progressive and Liberal vote.

http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/caucus-members/

[Lint Head]

101. WOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!! Sorry for the all caps but I couldn't help myself.

[Orsino]

102. "Socialist!"

"Yes?"

[wildbilln864]

103. k & r! n/t