Paul Krugman: Theres A Much Bigger Con Man In American Politics Than Donald Trump

[babylonsister]

http://www.liberalamerica.org/2017/03/26/paul-krugman-theres-much-bigger-con-man-trump-american-politics/

Paul Krugman: There’s A Much Bigger Con Man In American Politics Than Donald Trump

By Andrew Bradford on March 26, 2017


You can certainly be forgiven if you think Donald Trump is the most blatant liar and con man in Washington, D.C., a city which is known for political double-talk and broken promises. Virtually every word that leaves Trump’s mouth is a blatant fabrication, but Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman says the healthcare debate proved there is a bigger con man on Capitol Hill: House Speaker Paul Ryan.

In a column he wrote for the New York Times, Krugman lit into Ryan for his lies about Obamacare and the Trump/Ryan replacement, which was not even brought to the floor of the House for a vote:

“He claims that it would lower premiums; it would actually increase them. He claims that it would end the Obamacare death spiral; there isn’t a death spiral, and his plan would be more, not less, vulnerable to a vicious circle of rising premiums and falling enrollment. He claims that it would lead to ‘patient-centered care’; whatever that is supposed to mean, it would actually do nothing to increase choice.”

Kruman also notes that Ryan’s plans for the federal budget are also nothing but a plan to cut taxes for the ultrarich:

“The alleged deficit reduction came entirely from ‘magic asterisks’: claims about huge savings to be achieved by cutting unspecified government spending, huge revenue increases to be achieved by closing unspecified government spending, huge revenue increases to be achieved by closing unspecified tax loopholes. It was a con job all the way.”

Why in the hell would anyone take anything Ryan says the least bit seriously? Krugman asks. And then he answers the question:

“This false symmetry — downplaying the awfulness of some candidates, vastly exaggerating the flaws of their opponents — isn’t the only reason America is in the mess it’s in. But it’s an important part of the story. And now we’re all about to pay the price.”

Krugman can drop the mic now. He just explained exactly why the 2016 election could wind up being a disaster for this country and our future. We had a woman who would have made an excellent president, but instead we elected a buffoon who owes his soul to Putin and lets Paul Ryan write all the draconian policies.

[BSdetect]

1. He's a repugnant liar.

Spineless little shit.

Bereft of intelligence and ideas.

Evil, nasty crap artist.

[Sorceress]

2. Ryan has been completely exposed.

[pangaia]

11. To us, yes. For sure.

But I think not yet to the freepers and blind followers of the evil power...

[NewJeffCT]

3. The media has dubbed him an "intellectual" though

so they must take him seriously. Of course, Democratic "intellectuals" are elitist and out of touch.

I just remember the debate in 2012 and Joe Biden made him look like the fool he is, and I'm still shaking my head that people still take him seriously.

[DK504]

14. That was so outstanding.

Unca Joe Joe needs to barnstorm the country and bitch slap Ryan and his cabal of cruel puppets.

[GeoWilliam750]

17. Another candidate for biggest con man in US politics

Last edited Mon Mar 27, 2017, 05:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Might be Rupert

[dalton99a]

19. He's an intellectual because he's smarter than Rick Perry

and he doesn't need glasses to think like Rick Perry

[rurallib]

4. Where did Ryan ever get his reputation as a policy wonk?

This last foray proves conclusively he is a total idiot about policy.
Plus Ryan showed he was little more than a Trump puppet.

Remember when he ran with Romney - seemed like the two were in a lying contest.

[randome]

5. He uses his soft-spoken demeanor to push that fantasy that he is a 'serious' politician.

But he is just as stupid as the rest of them.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

[babylonsister]

6. That's a really good question I don't know the answer to but

this suggests 'the soft bigotry of low expectations'...


http://www.liberalamerica.org/2017/03/26/paul-krugman-theres-much-bigger-con-man-trump-american-politics/

snip//

The myth of Ryan the Wonk was crucially nurtured not just by the right but by centrists and liberals, eager to have a Republican who didn’t just froth about “freedom” but actually could talk in numbers. These celebrations started to take off in 2010, as Ryan was offering an alternative budget which, his fans thought, was more serious than the anti-government rhetoric of the Tea Party, then emerging as a force in the Republican Party. James Stewart in the New York Times praised Ryan for having an “eminently sensible” approach to tax reform which offered an “outline of a grand compromise.” Klein, writing in The Washington Post, concurred, touting Ryan as having a “more honest” approach to budgets than typical Republicans. Alice Rivlin, former Clinton administration budget chief, described Ryan as “smart and knowledgeable” and “willing to negotiate.”

Ryan’s sparkly reputation rested partly, of course, on the soft bigotry of low expectations (better than you would expect a Republican to be!), but also on appearance. Ryan looks like a thoughtful man. He can furrow his brow in simulation of abstract reasoning.

Not everyone was fooled. Paul Krugman called him a “flimflam man,” pointing out that the numbers Ryan touted in his imaginary budget didn’t add up, with the proposed tax cuts creating much bigger deficits than Ryan acknowledges.

more...

[rurallib]

7. "Ryan looks like a thoughtful man. He can furrow his brow in simulation of abstract reasoning."

His "budget" was just putting some made up numbers to Republican hate and bigotry.

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. He talked in numbers, but the numbers made no sense! n/t

[Caliman73]

16. When you are the C- student in a class of D's and F's, you are the wonk.

You have to consider where Ryan is. On our side you have a slew of intellectuals and accomplished speakers like Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Sherrod Brown, Corey Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Al Franken, etc.... Those are just the Senators. It is a long list.

Really, who else is the "intellectual" side of the Republican party? Rand Paul? Mitch McConnell? Ryan is willing to step in front of the cameras and act the part, though he often fails miserably. The media needs two sides so they have selected him without merit.

[Achilleaze]

8. republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief is expert at Trickle Down Economics (R)

[JohnnyRingo]

9. If Ayn Rand had a favored son...

"Just when you thought it couldn't get worse" is the new GOP slogan.

[Augiedog]

10. Before he became Speaker he REQUIRED his congressional office staff to read Ayn Rand.

His fawning over what may be one of the most awful humans to ever be given relevance is disgraceful, disgusting, dangerous and disturbing. Just a reminder, he and his family survived on Social Security when he was growing up. His college education was paid for by the government he vilifies today.

When he pays it all back with interest I'll believe that he believes in his idiotic ideology. For now, I think he is just a scammer looking for more free rides, this time from billionaires in stead of Uncle Sam.

[bdamomma]

12. I am hoping they all eat their own.

republicans that is.

[MontanaMama]

13. I think he's got some Russian stain his hands

And I'm hopeful he'll be implicated in the investigation. Didn't Nunes take his intel to Ryan before the WH? He's in this mess too. That said, I just hate that little MF.

[Left-over]

15. Paul Ryan is right about one thing

Insurance premiums would go down for many people. When you pay nothing because you cannot afford the premiums do go down. For several years my wife and could not have had coverage without the ACA.

[Cha]

18. I don't know about "bigger" but there sure are on equal

footing.. and I'm glad Krugman is calling him out!

Krugman can drop the mic now. He just explained exactly why the 2016 election could wind up being a disaster for this country and our future. We had a woman who would have made an excellent president, but instead we elected a buffoon who owes his soul to Putin and lets Paul Ryan write all the draconian policies.