“The message was sent that should have been sent,” Ryan said. “These bonuses were completely ridiculous. They rewarded failure.”

And he’s ignorant, too. Even the MSM have been walking back this meme, carefully explaining what AIG’s retention bonuses were, and who they went to. Hint: not to the bozos who really, truly, actually screwed the pooch.

He’s a phony. Just another tassle loafer clown.

I remember when he was run out as a possible leadership candidate in the House he declined because it would cut into his family time. There’s a real public servant. He votes to send better men to die for their country and he can’t be bothered to do his part in the cushiest institution in the USA.

Just another worthless Republican.

Arguably, in fact, the tax is constitutional

Let’s be quite clear – yes, previous laws and judicial arguments have succeeded in establishing a precedent that such laws are constitutional. However, precedent only guides legal arguments, it does not define, by itself, constitutionality.

Many people claim that such things are ‘settled’ or ‘established’ constitutional fact, much like global warmers claim the ‘settled’ nature of the ‘science’ that establishes their crusade as ‘fact’.

Although due deference is shown to precedence, there is nothing to prevent new decisions being reached.

The claims against ‘bill of attainder’ and ‘ex post facto law’ being valid arguments demonstrating the unconstitutional nature of this law are, I would argue, junk….and should be challenged to overturn precedence.

Tax law is law. There is nothing in the constitution about restricting the ex post facto clause to only criminal law. That argument is bogus.

There is no rational basis for arguing that the ‘attainder’ clause only applies to a particular size of group. This law is targeting specific group of people for punitive taxation. It is categorically a bill of attainder.

I would also argue that this bill fails the ‘without enumeration’ clause. This law most definitively enumerates the people it targets.

Ryan blames confusion about the constitutionality of the plan on Democrats for rushing the bill through the House.

Maybe he should study up on the Constitution to know what he’s taken an oath to uphold.

Like a kid who blames others for the bad grade he receives when he didn’t study for a test, after swearing to his parents he would…

technopeasant

Allowing political expediency to trump righteousness is more than a “mistake”. It shows a lack of both character and common sense. I’m a hardass and those flaws, to me, are irredeemable.

Congress needs to set a week aside for training on the Constitution. It’s sad to think that people make it all the way to Congress and don’t know what the Constitution says or means.
Maxx

Thanks, Maxx. I agree, and while they are at it, the Conservatives in Congress need a month’s worth of lessons on how to stand up to a liberal press. How they can expose the fallacies in the questions and show the principles behind their views. Like Jindals simple answer of Do you want Obama to fail. I think part of Ryan’s problem is he’s afraid of the heat and the libs questions if he doesn’t vote the way they want. I think it’s more than being gutless. It’s being gutless when you don’t have the skills to fight back.

Maybe McCain and his daughter will say hi to him at DC cocktail parties.

I tell you what: the man wasn’t perfect, but damn if I wouldn’t take one Jesse Helms in exchange for every p*ssyfied RINO in Congress these days.

Wanderlust on March 26, 2009 at 6:01 PM

Man do I miss Jesse Helms, he was a conservative’s conservative.

“I voted for it, so I could vote against it later..”

“The message was sent that should have been sent,” Ryan said.

The message that I got was that contracts are for chumps, and that a majority of House members are immoral bastards who don’t give a damn about the Constitution.

Ryan is an dumb ass.

Dissapointing, yes, but I still remain a fan. For now.

You better believe it. Most politicians are absolutely gutless, if they are’nt already clueless about the issues. Paul Ryan has been a HUGE disappointment on the AIG bonus issue among people who expected better from him. I thought he came from a reliably conservative district or am i wrong ?

I still cannot believe how some one like Coburn gets elected. He is one of those people who is a stickler to the Constitution and hates the big spending ways of Government and pork barrel populism. I am sure that he would not be for this populist outrage about AIG bonuses.

Who would vote for this guy?

Hypocrite.