E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSOn the same day as the Republican presidential debate in Orlando, Congressman Ron Paul is playing a little offense.
In a USA Today op-ed, Paul takes a shot a Mitt Romney and the health-care legislation he signed into law in Massachusetts.
"The idea that more government involvement in health care is the solution, especially at a time when the nation is dealing with record deficits and debt, is preposterous," he writes. "And the promised effectiveness of forced mandate health care is easily disproven by looking at how such a system has worked in Massachusetts."
"Whether in Massachusetts or at the national level, even more government involvement will make things worse. There are no easy answers or silver bullets, but solutions lie in moving toward freedom, not more corporatism or socialism."
In addition to his op-ed, Paul's campaign is taking to the airwaves. As part of a $1 million ad buy, the Paul campaign has a new TV ad detailing his work for veterans and highlights his own military service. (Rick Perry is the only other military veteran running for president.)
The ad -- entitled “He Served” -- shows images of Paul in uniform as a United States Air Force flight surgeon in the 1960s, and it features two veterans who describe their experience during the Vietnam War. U.S. Army veterans Joe Pena and Rene Reyes detail how Congressman Paul helped them get long overdue medals.
“It takes a veteran to understand a veteran, and he is a veteran himself," Pena says in the ad.
"Ron Paul is a veteran's best friend," Reyes adds.
And in a continued push to defend his non-interventionist foreign policy, Paul cites how his campaign received more donations from active duty military service members than other candidates combined –- including President Obama -- saying this Iowa on Tuesday: "It's very logical for the military people to say we want a commander-in-chief that will be cautious."
Leave a Comment:
A 76 year old man who wants to revert America back to the 1900's is hardly my idea of offense..
Who doesn't miss the days when women couldn't vote & robber barons?
Offensive would be more like it! ;o)
Not sure they were talking about his Age Fisty Redbush...you do know how to read?
I'll stick with normal politicians, thank you.
TProgress: Former President Bill Clinton blasted the “non-fact-based political debate” surrounding the Republican primary race and Tea Party economic policies which advocate for limited government services and low taxation.
You can stand up and say anything and nobody rings a bell if the facts are wrong. There’s no bell ringing. It’s crazy, we’re living in a time when it’s more important than ever to know things. And not just to know facts but to put them in a coherent. sensible pattern. And we live in a time, if you just want to talk about the economy, where the model that works for economic growth and prosperity is cooperation. But the model that works in politics is conflict.
Clinton went on to challenge the emerging GOP consensus that government size and spending require dramatic cuts, observing that the most prosperous parts of the U.S. “look nothing like the anti-government ideal of the Tea Party crowd”:
You know, there’s not a single solitary example on the planet, not one, of a country that is succesful because the economy has triumphed over the government and choked it off and driven the tax rates to zero, driven the regulations to nonexistent and abolished all government programs, except for defense, so people in my income group never have to pay a nickel to see a cow jump over the moon. There is no example example of a succesful country that looks like that.
While blasting the Tea Party’s economic policies, Clinton also acknowledged that the media plays an increasingly dangerous role in fanning the flames of partisan rancor.
_________________________________________
Joe Walsh on the other hand said the media is so invested in our first black president that they would bend over backwards to see that he is re-elected. That's a racist statement.
Here is a nice little story, which shows that racism shown by the TP crowd in this country is not winning. The Ground Zero Mosque opened up yesterday with no publicity. It looks like a lovely mosque. If the TP don't show up, no publicity. It's a shame. It deserves to be on the front pages. It's a wonderful conclusion to an ugly moment not that long ago.
Ron Paul is a nut. I'll never forget his statement about FEMA/Hurricane Irene. He is a cruel man.
No one in this country wants their taxes raised. Which means no one wants to pay for anything. The schools are hurting; the parents have to continually bring in fundraising forms so they can sell candy bars or candles in order for the kids to have supplies.
It's not right. Government should not be for the rich. But it is if the GOP has anything to say about it. Boehner didn't get his bill passed yesterday and now he's mad. What a shame. He sold his soul to the TP and now he knows they're all nuts.
Too late Boehner. Try being a man occasionally and do the job you were hired to do. Don't listen to Ron Paul and the TP crowd. They don't know how to govern. And that's dangerous.
For everybody.
"...solutions lie in moving toward freedom
Dead beat dad Joe, is a despicable excuse for a human being!
Taking his girlfriend on lavish vacations while ignoring his obligations to his children financially!
He is a poster child for TRUE fiscal conservatism though...
"...but solutions lie in moving toward freedom."
Unfortunat4ellly (other that my post being eaten), Paul's idea of complete freedom resembles a storm trooper state.
Somewhere alo9ng the lines of police shooting unarmed people crossing a bridge to safety during Katrina.
Unfortunately for them, that bridge led to a gated community.
"Dead beat dad Joe, is a despicable excuse for a human being!"
He also led a last ditch effort to preserve DADT this week.
Think he is peeking out of the closet?
Feisty, Walsh is a despicable person. I'm glad you're shining a light on him and the rest of them. They have no business setting policy.
I guess Republican supporters aren't convinced at how bad these people are yet. All I keep hearing here from people up here lately is how stupid they feel Americans are. And these aren't people who are necessarily Democrats. They're just amazed that ANYONE would put faith in Boehner or Ron Paul or Mitch McConnell or Romney or Perry or any of the Republicans of today.
Someone told me today that CNN ran a story this week about how the GOP never talks about poverty in their districts, especially in the south. That they just ignore it completely and yet their constitutents continually vote for them and CNN couldn't understand why.
I've been wondering that myself for decades.
btw Feisty, go over to TProgress and check out the Ground Zero Mosque article. It's really something. I wish the opening had received more publicity.
Thanks for the heads up Pat - will do!
PS: Walsh is GONE in 2012 - he's been redistricted and we have some VERY strong Democratic contenders, including Tammy Duckworth! ;o)
Ron Paul's making his move.
Just as President Obama does, he has his fanatical followers...heck, the fuhrer still had his followers in the bunker in April, 1945.
Forget about Ron Paul.
The idea that rising health care costs can be contained, or even lowered with the existing for-profit system and health insurance middlemen is what's preposterous. And yeah, right, bake sales, paying doctors with chickens, and dammit, folks just need to die more quickly -- This is the Teapublican solution for our broken health care system. Great.
these poor puppet people commenting negatively about paul are either working for a drug cartel, or the government/wallstreet. i guess they could just be stupid americans who know nothing about the history of their own country. YAY a win for tyranny.
but true obama thinks the same thing about containing healthcare, by controlling costs. Wonder how many hospitals, clinics, pharmaceuticals and helthcare providers will buy into that from obama?
I don't know to many 76 year old men that could ride a bike 9 miles without breaking a sweat! I know I couldn't do it, and I'm 45!
"I don't know to many 76 year old men that could ride a bike 9 miles without breaking a sweat! I know I couldn't do it, and I'm 45!"
You must not be running for President, either. Everybody knows the first qualification is to be able to ride 9 miles. And, it sounds like maybe you are a little out of shape for a 45 Y.O., too.
Let's see how many times the GOP/TP candidates will say the word "middle class" or "seniors" without adding "warfare" or "scaring" but with true concern for the American people.
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis pointed to a separate study claiming 2.7 million Americans are in "clean economy" positions.
But Republicans said the working term the government is using is far too broad, suggesting officials were trying to pad the figures.
"It's offensive," Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla., said, raising his voice while questioning Solis.
Mack argued that just because a bus driver is driving a hybrid bus doesn't mean it's a green job.
"Yes it is," Solis countered.
"It's only a green job if it fits into your sales pitch," Mack shot back.
The BLS is working off a definition that would count as green any job that provides goods or services "that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources." In addition, it would count jobs where workers' duties "involve making their establishment's production processes more environmentally friendly."
Issa prodded further, telling BLS Commissioner Keith Hall his numbers would be "wrong" without the assumption, for example, that some bus drivers are in green jobs. Hall then informed Issa the definition was broader.
"Our green jobs include mass transit, so actually any bus service," Hall said.
"Oh, ok," a visibly surprised Issa exclaimed. "So let me understand this. ... You're counting everyone that drives a bus as a green job."
Hall: "Mass transit is a green service."
Issa: "Oh. My. Goodness. I didn't know that."
Issa earlier claimed that the bureau is relying on bad numbers. "If I put LEDs in my office, apparently my staff becomes a green staff," he said.
Thats some funny sh!t right there...I don't care who you are.
Did Paul see the latest survey that show more young adults are getting insured cause they can stay longer on their parents insurance now. Is this not a success?
"ObamaCare" as they call it, might not be perfect but better than before and we can still work on it to make it even better instead of demonizing it. Ask those who couldn't get insured because of pre-existing conditions but getting insured now what they feel.
GOP will always support corporations excuses no matter how ridiculous it is for not wanting to do anything while throwing the common man under the bus. That's why GE will walk away with $14 b in this country without pay taxes and they'll feel good with it. Too bad for you guys.
If I am going to a company for a job and I have my own health insurance, paid by me or the government, another person is trying out for the same job and has no health insurance, we both have the same qualifications, who do you think the employer is going to hire??? Just a comment
Pen - you ignore the reality of youth, they rarely get sick and their parents pay higher premiums for family coverage. Not a big deal if the household has mutiple kids but may be an issue if it is just mom and dad now reverting to family coverage.
"Rarely get sick" comes with its own caveat, for we know women get pregnant, diabetes knows no age restrictions as do other diseases, hereditary or not.
Obamacare pre-existing conditions only applies to kids, adult pre-existing conditions don't kick in until 2014. Regardless, pre-existing conditions will be reflected in premiums and copays.
And the next big topic for discussion;
McCotter drops out of race for GOP presidential nomination
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter told The Detroit News this afternoon that he is leaving the race for the Republican presidential nomination after he failed to win access to the Republican presidential debates.
"If they keep you out of the debates, you are out of the conversation and you can't run," McCotter said. "It was sort of death by media."
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110922/POLITICS03/109220448/McCotter-drops-out-of-race-for-GOP-presidential-nomination#ixzz1YiKCjDiL
-------------------------------------------------------
Doesn't this important "political news" merit a thread of its own?
No offense, but there's no way I could pick McCotter out of a police lineup...but, sure, blame the media if it makes you feel better, Congressman.
We need Medicare for all. If everyone contributes something from their first paycheck to their last and it it funded for everyone. Young and old, sick and healthy. Prevention will become the norm. It won't be catastrophic both in health and in finances to anyone. Costs will come down since people will go to doctors rather than put it off. The rich will still be able to purchase cadillac plans. Medicare for all is the answer. Let your Senators and Representatives know. Anyone running on Medicare for all would get my vote. Democrat, Republican, Independent . . . .
Medicare would become a national health care. The republicans and tea party hate that idea. They want the uninsured to die, per the tea party presidential debate.
Ana - four questions...
Do you suggest that any privately or publicly supported health care plan will be abolished with no exceptions?
Do you realize that most private sector workers already pay FICA taxes that goes into supporting medicare parts A and B? That this is in addition to any private plans they may also have.
Can we end medicaid as well?
Are American taxpayers willing to pay significantly higher taxes for this?
Iam woman - can't think of a civil reply to your uncivil comment.
Yeah Ron Paul!!! Line em' up!!!
Thank you for the Ron Paul coverage. Please do more stories on this interesting man.
For a physician, Ron Paul demonstrates an appalling lack of compassion!
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly