Pat Powers highlights a quote that stuck out to me as well in Paul Ryan's dreary, Beavis-and-Butthead-chuckle-riddled speech to the GOP convention last night:
College graduates should not have to live out their 20s in their childhood bedrooms, staring up at fading Obama posters and wondering when they can move out and get going with life [Paul Ryan, speech to Republican National Convention, Tampa Bay, Florida, August 29, 2012].
That line drew one of the stronger roars from a crowd that had nothing like the electricity that greeted Sarah Palin's high heels and "Lipstick!" in 2008. I heard in that roar familiar GOP derision, the desire to view anyone who supports President Obama as stereotypical loafers and losers. Pat's highlighting of this quote only emphasizes the Republican tendency to dream up straw-man images to deflect us from discussion of real problems and policies.
But the quote also unearths an interesting contradiction. The GOP likes to shout about individual responsibility. Ryan himself talked about being the captain of his own destiny, never feeling like he had to wait for government to help him succeed (even though, remember, he's spent most of his life working in government and politics). Yet even if we are generous with the faded-poster-gazer image, we see Ryan trying to create the image of young people who are not responsible for their misfortune, but who have been held back by a President's purportedly failed policies.
So which is it, Rep. Ryan? Are those kids in the basement responsible for their own situation, or are you claiming that government action is more important than individual action?
We find further contradiction in the Republicans' constant riffing on the endlessly refutable "You Didn't Build That!" meme. Republicans should chant that to Romney during his speech tonight, since he didn't build Bain & Company. The Displaced Plainsman points to a great new Rolling Stone investigation that finds Romney drained his company's coffers to hand big bonuses to his executive chums, then accepted a ten-million-dollar federal bailout to save the company and his reputation.
Republicans should also chant that meme to themselves and the City of Tampa. Their convention hall exists by dint of huge public investment. And their security relies upon $50 million granted to the city by Uncle Sam. Once again, community does what individuals and Republicans can't on their own.
Funny, PP also fails to point out that Paul Ryan paid for his college by using Social Security benefits and what little private sector experience he had was with his father's road construction firm...you know, the kind that makes money paving roads with taxpayer dollars.
Given the lies, half truths and the GOP propensity to live by the credo "It's OK if you are a Republican" I'm thinking Jonathon Bernstein's new word "hypocracy" fits the kind of government that the GOP would like to replace "democracy" with.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/paul-ryan-fails----the-truth/2012/08/29/bbfe1eac-f254-11e1-b74c-84ed55e0300b_blog.html?hpid=z3
I try to be objective when watching the major speeches of both national party conventions. I have yet to hear any speech at the GOP convention this year that strikes a solid chord. Add the big whoppers to the mix, and the result is a minus. In a week, nobody will remember any of them. Romney's speech really needs to galvanize America on a core message that isn't so full of holes from the lies which have corroded the messaging from this convention.
Say what you will about Obama's setbacks or successes, Romney needs a better message to inspire confidence other than he's not the incumbent. Where's the mojo?
I hate to say, but I miss Sarah's sizzle on the GOP ticket.
Speaking from experience, thanks to the Affordable Care Act those 20 somethings have had the option of working at part time jobs in their field to gain experience if full time jobs with benefits aren't currently available. The 20 somethings I know have been able to get a solid footing early on by getting paid to work (not intern) and saving enough money to move to where the jobs are because they haven't had to worry about health care. And they aren't living in their parents' basements.
College loan owed to the feds, obamacare mandate due in 2014, forced to pay into a broke social security and medicaid program, even busted for 3 ounces of medical marijuana.
I'd also stay in my parent's basement.
Best speech of the pathetic pickings came from New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez: amazing what immersion in cultural diversity can do for a Republican.
"Once again, community does what individuals and Republicans can’t on their own.'
Cory, interesting analysis. I would like to add that the contradictions are caused by RINOs not adhering to conservative principles. Once you understand that the GOP is run by big government liberals (just like teh Dems), you then understand that limited government conservatives have no choice in November. Both parties want bigger government, they are just competing for control of the centralized wealth and power.
Thune comment, "a load of manure: Politifact.
And Republicans will continue to ask Uncle Sam to "build it for us". How many times will Uncle Sam be expected to rebuild GOP strongholds of Mississippi and Louisiana after storms? I say it's time to tell them to build it themselves if they want to live in flood zones (in some cases below sea level). Using taxpayer money trying to sustain the unsustainable is contributing to our national decline and adding to our national debt.
Rorschach, and the same goes to wind energy.
same goes for utility lines that go down in ice storms year after year, etc. jesus is all for job creation as he besets the planet with travails.
Cory, there was nothing new in Paul Ryan's speech, but, the same old tired drivel coming from a Party that has run out of meaningful ideas and leaders. zzzzzzzzzzz
Instead of more self-righteous and holier-than-thou talk, we need to actually have a convention that addresses the real problems affecting us that live in the real world. I'm looking forward to Charlotte next week :)
"... great new Rolling Stone investigation ..."
I'll bet!
The Ultimate Reality Authority (URA).
Like a bunch of Vulcans sitting around getting stoned.
So John Thune get's national attention with a "Pants-on-Fire" lie.
See, the lying hits home and people like Hoffman, Jones and PP embrace those lies with either their praise or their silence. Worse yet, the willfully ignorant or willfully misinformed take it as part of their Republican faith.
Just did a quick check and the statewide media and guess what...lying to God and the nation goes unnoticed in good old SD. Montgomery, Woster and the rest should be ashamed that they and their publications serve as transcribers for whatever they feed them...or maybe David and Kevin are just waiting to see what the rest of the media saw.
Bottom line is that John Thune lied and is a liar...and no one in the SD media has the balls to call him on it. Worse is that the Republican sycophants will continue to let him lie on their behalf.
John Thune...you lied and now the nation knows that they cannot trust South Dakota's junior senator...does that make you feel like a real Christian? Ask your minister if lying on a national stage is a sin.
Brian Gosch gushed ad nauseum about Thune's performance today on Bill Janklow's idea of public radio: gag me with a rusty kickstand....
So SDPB has put their journalistic credibility and skills in a lockbox until the election is over...there seems to be a lot of that going around with the statewide media.
You would think that they would figure out that if they allow someone to lie using their media outlet that their credibility goes down the toilet if they allow the lie to stand.
Come on SD media...grow a pair.
Jana- Good point.
I am not a big fan of David M Political Smokeout turning over the website to Tony V. to make it a Republican Mouthpiece. Isn't that what Pat Powers web page is for? I can only assume that he will allow for over 13 guest post to someone attending the Democratic convention.
David Montgomery loaned his credibility out to Tony 'the mouth piece' Venhuizen who boldly claims that Ryan "told hard truths" - proving that South Dakota Republicans are so used to lying or repeating what their told that they have lost touch with reality.
Go get him Mr. Montgomery...at least make a comment on your site rather than let Tony steal the truth from the Argus Leader's and your reputation.
oops...not 'their told' but 'they're told'
sorry
Jana, I didn't watch Thune's speech because I just don't find him interesting but I can't seem to find the full text version. Can you share with me what lie he told? I'm not surprised but I am curious.
Erika, I appreciate that reminder that the Affordable Care Act actually helps young adults and the economy. When health insurance is more affordable and less tied to work, new entrants into the workforce aren't tied down as much, and the economy can benefit by people being able to take the jobs that best suit their skills, not the jobs that manage to offer health insurance.
Rick, I skipped Thune's speech, too, as I was busy playing Uno. But Larry provides a link above to Politifact's "Pants on Fire" rating of Thune's lie about President Obama trying to ban kids from farm chores.
You know it is bad when Faux Noise actually says Ryan was lying. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/30/paul-ryans-speech-in-three-words/
There is not one word I will ever believe from the GOP again. This list of lies and liars grows daily.
Worth noting: the author of that article, Sally Kohn, appears to be Fox's token liberal.
Jana, you implore John Thune to "Ask your minister if lying on a national stage is a sin." If his minister is Steve Hickey - no problem. He's the monkey who hears no evil according to his comments on the war college.