This is what today’s Republican politicians are made of…

While Calling Stimulus ‘Wasteful,’ Paul Ryan Secured Millions Of Dollars In Grants For Clean Energy
ThinkProgress.org
By Stephen Lacey on Aug 14, 2012

Ryan is best known for his role as chairman of the House Budget Committee. He’s well liked within the Tea Party for his strong rhetoric on slashing federal spending (cutting everything except the military and fossil fuel subsidies) — a key reason why he was chosen by the Romney campaign.

However, according to the documents, Ryan requested millions of dollars for a variety of programs under the stimulus package, including $5.4 million for bus services and tens of millions of dollars for renewable energy and efficiency programs.

Ryan joins at least 62 Congressional Republicans who have actively lobbied the government for loan guarantees and grants for clean energy companies in their districts — even while many of them have publicly criticized the stimulus program that provided a boost to local companies and organizations around the country. . .

Take the money, yet pretend there is no problem to be addressed.

Seems like money and power is all they are interested - by whatever means are available.   

It get’s even weirder, it’s starting to feel like a Twilight Zone episode has been transmuted into real life:

Republican Party Officially Embraces ‘Garbage’ Agenda 21 Conspiracy Theories As Its National Platform
By Stephen Lacey on Aug 15, 2012 at 2:08 pm
ThinkProgress.org

If you want to understand just how extreme and conspiratorial many in the “mainstream” Republican party have become, look no further than a resolution on Agenda 21 passed quietly in January.

Agenda 21 is a completely non-binding international framework for sustainability passed in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit. The framework, which sets out very loose aspirational goals for making communities more efficient and less carbon-intensive, was signed by then President George H.W. Bush and later upheld by Presidents Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush.

Since the framework was adopted, right-wing conspiracy theorists have pushed bizarre theories about Agenda 21 being a central tool for the United Nations to create a one-world government and take away the rights of local property owners. In recent years, elevated by the megaphone of extreme pundits like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, these conspiracies made their way into mainstream politics. Today, Agenda 21ers — many affiliated with the Tea Party and the John Birch Society — are peddling fears about Agenda 21 in order to stop basic efficiency and renewable energy programs on the state level. . .

Interestingly enough, a recent poll says that 70% of Americans believe global warming is real.

When challenged about voting against the bill, but lobbying for the funds to be given to local businesses which had contributed to his campaigns, he first denied it, then said the letters were written by a member of his staff without his knowledge.  Yeah, sure.

Re: climate change.  Yeah, 70% believe it now because of the drought, but wait until winter and ask them about it after a snow storm.  Whoops, back down to 25%.

Occam

Then also, people are not willing to sacrifice to halt GW. As long as we have fossil fuel energy available to maintain our lifestyle, we will. What people do not realize is the fact that we may run out of fossil fuels within a hundred years.
So in 1 hundred years (a generation) we need to change our entire energy collection strategy and delivery infrastructure. If we do not tackle this alternative energy problem soon, it is our children and grand children who will be completely unprepared when that day approaches.
If ever the world (countries) needed to cooperate on a global 100 year plan, it should be on alternative energy.

This is a non-issue.  The stimulus from the start was geared toward crony capitalism.  So, if figures like Ryan don’t lobby for money the Democrats elected to spend with the ARRA, then billions of dollars end up lining the pockets of Democrats’ friends and constituents in Democrat congressional districts.  And that would be fine, would it?  Look at the noble Democrats, helping people.  And if a Republican happens to lobby for some of the allocated funds to go to their district, label them a hypocrite!  Was that a great partisan bill or what?

Bryan - 17 August 2012 11:51 PM

This is a non-issue.  The stimulus from the start was geared toward crony capitalism.  So, if figures like Ryan don’t lobby for money the Democrats elected to spend with the ARRA, then billions of dollars end up lining the pockets of Democrats’ friends and constituents in Democrat congressional districts.  And that would be fine, would it?  Look at the noble Democrats, helping people.  And if a Republican happens to lobby for some of the allocated funds to go to their district, label them a hypocrite!  Was that a great partisan bill or what?

In addition to submitting complete tax returns, Obama was required to produce an authentic birthcertificate. I guess a picture ID was not sufficient.

Why will Romney not release his tax returns? He is so proud of his wealth, show us how you did it.

I find it interesting that Paul Ryan asked for assistance for his state, but denied and lied about it when asked. Why not just admit and say I did it for the people of my state. Why lie about it?  Because it was a jobs program?

Does this combo promise a transparent open democratic government or plutocracy? It does not inspire a good feeling in my gut.

Paul Ryan is not a fiscal conservative, despite the hype that he is.  If he were President, he would likely be about as fiscally conservative as George W. Bush, IOW, not at all. And who knows what Romney is, other than an out-of-touch one-per-center?