Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
- Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) was the 2012 Republican vice presidential candidate. He is currently in his eighth term in the U.S. House of Representatives and is the chairman of the House Budget Committee. He also sits on the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Ryan is known for his budget plan, “The Path to Prosperity.”
- Rep. Ryan said Republicans need to practice “principled prudence” during this Congress. “We have to exercise our principles in a prudent way with realistic expectations while being reasonable and doing what we think is right. That means our tactics will vary, but our strategy will be the same. Our strategy is to engage the Democrats on issues where we think we can improve policy, to oppose them where we don’t – where we simply have fundamental disagreements.”
- On Republicans’ loss in November’s election, Rep. Ryan said technology, turnout and communications were problems for the Romney-Ryan campaign. He said, “I don’t see this as a rejection of our principles. I think we need to do a better job of applying our principles to the problems of today, to show solutions to the country’s biggest problems and how they relate in people’s everyday lives.”
- Rep. Ryan also co-wrote “Young Guns” with fellow congressmen, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
- Watch his most recent Meet the Press interview here.
Roundtable: DeMint, Jealous, Woodward, Mitchell
- Former Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) is the incoming president of the Heritage Foundation, and will officially become president of the think tank April 3rd. On leaving the Senate to head Heritage, he wrote, “I aim to take this message [of conservative ideas] directly to the American people. Why? Because the federal government will not stop spending, borrowing and growing our debt until the American people force it to stop. Conservative ideas work.” Here is his latest MTP appearance.
- NAACP President and CEO Ben Jealous recently said he wants to see that the president’s cabinet “represents the country,” but that “we owe it to him to let him finish making his appointments before we pass judgment.” Jealous also said he is looking for diversity in other areas. "He still has several more appointments, and we expect that we’ll see at least the same diversity that we saw the first time around. What we’re hoping to see is a black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.” Watch his most recent appearance on the show.
- Washington Post Associate Editor Bob Woodward said of the president’s second inaugural address, “I really think there was somewhat of a lost opportunity here. If he'd given a healing speech -- suppose he had turned around, which would have been extraordinary, to Speaker Boehner, the Republican leader of the House, and said, ‘We're going to work together on these things we're going to fix my agenda and your agenda’ and of course Boehner's agenda is, ‘We have to cut spending.’” He is also the author of “The Price of Politics.” Here is his latest MTP appearance.
- Andrea Mitchell is NBC News’ chief foreign correspondent and host of MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports.” On her show this week, Mitchell talked about Secretary of State nominee, Sen. John Kerry’s (D-MA), confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as what Sen. Kerry will face at the State Department if he is confirmed. Watch her most recent appearance.
- NBC Special Correspondent Ted Koppel recently interviewed Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, about Afghanistan, global terrorism, and Gen. Petraeus. Watch his most recent MTP appearance here.
Follow these guests on Twitter:
- Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI): @RepPaulRyan
- Former Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC): @JimDeMint
- Ben Jealous: @BenJealous
- Andrea Mitchell: @mitchellreports
Also make sure to follow @AlexNBCNews, @davidgregory, and @meetthepress for updates throughout Sunday’s show.
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Gun control will do no Good until We affect change in the hearts of those Who turn their heads while another is abused.
Although I Would wish Abortions were not a topic of discussion and I must confess I and My Wife with gentleness and loving kindness promote other options, A Woman is in sole posession of Herself and Her Body .
(that free will thing)
Gay right's , Although My beliefe Prohibits the life style , My beliefes are irrelivant for as Citezens of these United States We all Deserve the same Freedoms and right's , Let Them be Bound together if They wish.
What is it the Republicans don't get about the American people? Paul Ryan should know better than anyone having been a direct participant ( spanking ) as the people gave the Republicans a referendum on change during the last presidential election. A change away from the chains placed on our nation's democracy and government by the wealthy elite and their corporate special interest partners.
The Republicans are not to blame entirely either. Harry Reid's lack of leadership regarding Filibuster Reform was simply a message to the people the Democrats have selective hearing as well, and special interests are still in control of every level of our government.
The American people hoped the results of the last two presidential elections would make inroads into the cynicism and apathy that have fueled the decline of our country's democracy over the last 50 years. However, the lack of action and support by Congress is doing nothing to make that happen.
Another example of, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."
The problem with Bobby Jindal’s comments to fellow Republicans that, “We must stop being the stupid party [and] [i]t's time for a new Republican party that talks like adults”, is that for most Americans it is too little too late. In the midst of advocating for a more diverse Republican Party that does not insult the intelligence of American voters and provides details when describing their position and views, he forgot one very important aspect of his argument; Republicans had the opportunity to do just that.
Jindal’s speech seemed to single out the few people who made, which most of society
would agree with, were extreme comments. But, what about the majority of Republicans who let this go on without even saying a word to the contrary regardless of whether the person was running for elected office or not? Whether it was Richard Mourdock’s comment on rape, Todd Akin’s view on abortion, the ever present Donald Trump’s assertion of the validity of President Obama’s birth certificate, or Allen West’s ideas about anything, the opposing voices were few and the majority silence was stunning. The Republican Party was willing to see their view of what the American people wanted and chose to ignore the reality that was placed before them. Post
presidential election; different story.
The problem with the Republican Party is the Republican Party. Although it does need to be more diverse, their problem is their views. It is very hard to hide who and what you are. No matter how much a person tries, eventually it will come through. The hopes of the Republican Party lie with the younger generation. They were born into an
America that is less segregation and more integration, where interracial and gay-lesbian relationships are more common place, and immigration issues are not the problem of a few minorities but of a nation. They are smarter, more tolerant and
understanding, and see the bigger world picture. They will be the ones that change the
Republican Party.
Paul Ryan's ideas on curbing assistance to U.S. citizens who are unemployed, on medicaid, or any U.S. citizen who susist marginally is extremely mean spirited, and in my opinion extremely capitallistic rather than democratic given the state of the economy and current affairs. The latest pork barrel spending appropriates money to or provides tax credits to companies having political connections.
The recent fiscal cliff budget included subsidies and tax credits to the wealthy like Nascar, the film industry, bio-tech company Amgen (who was recently fined). I was cheering David on when he tried to interject some of these ideas; however, David stopped short and did not pursue special interests groups and lobbyists who continually burden the tax payer by using their monies to more support their self-serving interests rather than the U.S. economy.
Ryan should put his efforts toward eliminating pork barrel spending, lobbyists influences, and tax credits to large companies who have political clout before going after the disenfranchized who can't measure up to conservative standards of what it is to be American.
amen girl.
I must congratulate David For asking some tough questions. I have not heard myself asking Paul Ryan about the fact that he relied on the very Social Security Benefits he wants to cut to fund his own education and achieve success in his life. I have not heard anyone bring up that infamous meeting of republicans on the day of the first Inauguration Day when they decided that they would not cooperate with the elected president and never for a second thought the implication of their decision on the financial welfare of our country. For obvious reasons, Paul Ryan decided to brush aside the question and decided not to answer these two question.
I used to be a moderate Republican and turned independent. I agree with Bobby Zindal that the Republican Party has become the party of stupid and hostage to few billionaires. The party has lost the credibility as they have relied on social issues like antiabortion, anti-gay stance to lure rural and poor people who are religious to vote against their own financial interests.
I do believe, however, that republicans are on the right side of argument on spending, but they have no credibility on issue as no republican including Paul Ryan who has been in congress for all these years ever showed concern for squandering Clinton era surplus and contributing to ballooning deficit during Bush years. These behavior on the republican side suggest to me that they have been merely playing politics to win presidency at any cost, no matter what happens to the Economy.
Mr. Ryan, please do not think American people are stupid to trust you after knowing your history!!!
David brought up the infamous meeting, but never actually said to Ryan - YOU were there. Why? How can you have any legitimacy accusing the Democrats of being politics-only based?
And, just a tip, you may want to read up on Jindal's actual record before falling for his blatantly political flip-flop on "stupid." Just a thought.
I just keep hearing from Ryan and DeMint thats its the Democrats' and poors' fault for the GOP's demise. Until they grow big pants and admit that their brand of conservatism is flawed, they will control their downward spiral to a party of the past.
Ryan just seems to be speaking in "double speak". He is a bandwagon jumper. Neocon in the Bush Era, Tea Partier in the 1st Obama term and now a sidestepper of real answers about his false wonkier views. Never though the guy was smarter than the average bear, just a better BSer and possibly better looking.
DeMint never answered any of the questions. I noticed Andrea swaying her head 'no' when DeMint pushed the answer away from a question.
I hope Koppel is wrong about foreign dynamics. All we need is another reason to put good Americans in harms way for an unsure purpose. Lets help but at a distance. NO MORE DEAD U.S. TROOPS!
Incredible - Jim DeMint clearly laid out the view of the vast majority of Republicans on abortion (Boehner avowed the same this week) and David Gregory is either unwilling (due to personal beliefs or corporate policy) or unable (due to ineptness and inability to think on his feet) to go where the story was: Most Republicans believe what the crazies of their party said this past election cycle, just maybe not how crazily they said it.
Instead, David Gregory actually said, well, that's not what I was getting to. Yeah, it wasn't. Because what you were getting to - that the Republicans just have a few crazy men and not an anti-abortion philosophy - is NOT TRUE. Seriously, wake up.
The Republicans are in a self destruct mode. The question is, and will remain, what will the Democrats do? It is time to on the offensive and run these Carl Rove and corporatists out of Washington. However, I do not believe the Democratic leadership is up to the task given their," Sit on their hands," approach so far. They already let 4 years go by with little to show for it. Now we we have a fresh start. Does the party of the people return to its roots, or do they cave to the special interest money and continue to let the wealthy elite and corporatist dictate policy?
As far as the middle class is concerned the battle lines were drawn a long time ago. Either the Democratic leadership pick up the flag and fight the good fight, or it may be time for working Americans to look to the drastic measure of supporting a third party.
The political status quo in Washington needs to be turned up side down. Can Congress get a lower approval rating?