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GOP lawmaker flips on AIG bonus tax
Politico ^ | 26 March 2009 | PATRICK O'CONNOR

Posted on 03/27/2009 6:27:39 AM PDT by An.American.Expatriate

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the top Republican on the budget committee, said Thursday he would have voted against the 90 percent tax increase if he had known that legal scholars would deem it unconstitutional.

"Now, that I know — which I didn't at the time — that this is unconstitutional, I wouldn't have voted the same way," Ryan said during a taping of C-SPAN's "Newsmakers" on Thursday — the show is set to air on Sunday. POLITICO was one of the participants in the Ryan interview.


(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
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To: An.American.Expatriate

A sixth grade civics question shouldn’t need “legal scholars” to decipher.


21 posted on 03/27/2009 6:35:16 AM PDT by Thrownatbirth (.....Iraq Invasion fan since '91.)
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To: AnAmericanMother
I'm a little less irritated at him. But he ought to have checked on this before he voted.

Or maybe, before even CONTEMPLATING running for office, to have read and UNDERSTOOD the Constitution?? This is not astrophysics and the Constitution is actually quite clear on this issue!

22 posted on 03/27/2009 6:35:24 AM PDT by An.American.Expatriate (Here's my strategy on the War against Terrorism: We win, they lose. - with apologies to R.R.)
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To: An.American.Expatriate

Prime example why we are in this mess. My 3 year old grandson would make a better Congressman than this guy and about 90% of the others.


23 posted on 03/27/2009 6:35:28 AM PDT by Evil Slayer (Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war)
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To: An.American.Expatriate
"Now, that I know — which I didn't at the time — that this is unconstitutional

BRILLIANT!!!

His PRIMARY job in serving his constituents is to KNOW whether what he is about to vote in favor of is unconstitutional. He needs to read Article One of the U.S. Constitution (something he has probably never done).

But, since he can't seem to figure it out I have THREE simple "rules of thumb" he can follow in his future endeavors in congress:

"Rule of Thumb #1: If a democrat is proposing it, it is PROBABLY unconstitutional.

"Rule of Thumb #2: If a republican is proposing it, it is PROBABLY unconstitutional.

"Rule of Thumb #3: If you do not see a specific provision for it listed in Article One of the Constitution, then it IS unconstitutional.

Pretty simple, eh?

24 posted on 03/27/2009 6:35:35 AM PDT by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: An.American.Expatriate

I’d rather here a simple “I was wrong and I regret it” than the ignorance defense. Was he totally impervious to hearing the arguments on the other side—or is he simply being disingenuous?

I think Ryan’s one of the Pubbies’ brighter lights in Congress, but as with Cantor his principle compass isn’t strong enough. Bachmann doesn’t get all the details right, but she’s got the right principles through and through.


25 posted on 03/27/2009 6:36:36 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: An.American.Expatriate
The very first thing every Republican in Congress should consider....if the Dems are for it, we should vote against it.

Secondly, why the h*ll do the Republicans NOT know the Constitution???

My Congressman had one of his aides call the two nights ago in response to a letter I wrote concerning Posey's bill. He didn't know the Constitution either, especially the part about citizenship and Natural Born Citizen. I finally gave up and told him thanks for calling. I stomach has hurt ever since. I was so frustrated at the time I didn't think to ask if my Congressman actually knew what the Constitution says since his aide didn't.

26 posted on 03/27/2009 6:37:07 AM PDT by YellowRoseofTx (Evil is not the opposite of God; it's the absence of God)
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To: madinmadtown
....but this is part of the job description of his staff.

I disagree. It is part of the job description for HIM.

27 posted on 03/27/2009 6:37:07 AM PDT by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: Thrownatbirth

A sixth grade civics question shouldn’t need “legal scholars” to decipher.

Needed to be repeated and hihglighted!

I nominate for Post of the Day!

28 posted on 03/27/2009 6:37:22 AM PDT by An.American.Expatriate (Here's my strategy on the War against Terrorism: We win, they lose. - with apologies to R.R.)
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To: AnAmericanMother

What a pile of horse dukey.


29 posted on 03/27/2009 6:37:50 AM PDT by smartymarty (When you know why you believe what you believe, leadership is inevitable.)
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To: 9YearLurker
I think Ryan’s one of the Pubbies’ brighter lights in Congress...

If a man who could make the statement that he made is really one of the republicans' "brighter lights" in congress then the republicans are in DEEP DEEP trouble. MUCH worse than I ever thought.

30 posted on 03/27/2009 6:39:28 AM PDT by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: All
Pocket version:


31 posted on 03/27/2009 6:39:43 AM PDT by maggief
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To: AnAmericanMother
OK, he was a "marketing consultant" before he entered Congress. I'm a little less irritated at him. But he ought to have checked on this before he voted.

I'm no lawyer, didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night, and even I know what a bill of attainder is.

32 posted on 03/27/2009 6:40:04 AM PDT by mewzilla (In politics the middle way is none at all. John Adams)
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To: An.American.Expatriate
And “the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate Award” this time goes to..........Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan.
33 posted on 03/27/2009 6:40:04 AM PDT by Evil Slayer (Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war)
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To: smartymarty

Well, as one of Dilbert’s characters said, “Hey, if I could lie, I’d be in marketing.”


34 posted on 03/27/2009 6:40:28 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
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To: An.American.Expatriate

Shoot, why not just read the Constitution, instead of waiting for “legal scholars” to tell you?


35 posted on 03/27/2009 6:40:30 AM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus (True nobility is exempt from fear - Marcus Tullius Cicero)
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To: An.American.Expatriate

Dumb ass. How could he not know? He should be impeached for ignorance.

Actual reason is that he stuck his finger in the wind and found that the wind shifted.


36 posted on 03/27/2009 6:43:22 AM PDT by tips up
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To: An.American.Expatriate
Where the hell is anybody up there willing to stand on principal... whether the constitution says its OK or NOT, on principal, its wrong to use the tax code to punish and destroy contract law. What the hell good is a contract if these idiot bozos can willy-nilly trample them down? Would all you moderate Republicans please just leave the party and become Democrats, we don't need you, we don't want you... I gave up on the Republican party this last year anyway, what the hell do I care.
37 posted on 03/27/2009 6:43:47 AM PDT by opaque soul
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To: An.American.Expatriate

This reminds me of Michael Steele’s recent statement that his ‘controversy’ with Rush Limbaugh was designed within a grand plan. Sure it was</s>. Ryan’s statement here doesn’t wash either. While the vote is corrected; be honest.


38 posted on 03/27/2009 6:44:12 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: WhistlingPastTheGraveyard

**How did every bone in your body NOT scream “UNCONSTITUTIONAL!” **

thanks... that was the precise feeling I had... everything inside of me SCREAMED.. funny how I only had to look thru Article 1 to find my answer.. but a CONGRESSMAN VOTED ON IT before realizing it might be UNconstitutional..

PRIMARY that IDIOT! I EXPECT that from Democrats!


39 posted on 03/27/2009 6:44:19 AM PDT by gwilhelm56 (My 2nd amendment protects my 1st amendment... I carry a GUN because I can't Carry a SOLDIER!)
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To: AnAmericanMother

Somebody should sponsor a poll on how many legislators have actually read the constitution. Then they should do the same poll on the aids who actually steer so many of these public relations type dumpkoffs. Why do we have a constitution when the rulers disregard it at every turn?


40 posted on 03/27/2009 6:45:15 AM PDT by outinyellowdogcountry
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