Sam’s mom was on welfare because she was lazy according to conservative ideology.

“Oh, I’m conservative because some people abuse welfare.”

Okay, but without liberal policies your mother would never had gotten welfare and you probably wouldn’t be talking to us.

Conservatives, libertarians especially, would abolish welfare if they could.

Henry from Manhattan, agreed. Cocaine, heroine- the whole lot- should all be legal.
We’ll go watch people commit mass suicide in Central Park, and enjoy Republican policy no regulations horror show.

Military guy favors military expansion.

Who would have thunk it?

Haha blame Africa!! This stuff is just too good.

Sheldon
the american thing is to go on medicare and let the government take care of him

It’s Obama’s fault that the pest control business hasn’t grown!

Just look at what’s happening in NYC, the government is spraying to control West Nile viruses mosquitoes but this is stealing jobs from hard working pest control workers!

Haha, Yes when this guy is dying of cancer from the pesticides he has used over the years, I hope he does the "American" thing and NOT sue the government or the multi-national firms that supplied his chemicals.

What has America come to when a person doesn’t have absolute freedom to use toxic chemicals any way they want to?

Stupid government and their stupid regulations!

LOL!

I do not understand why your program has changed its MO. Brian, you used to challenge your guests when you heard spin or lies. I used to tune in knowing that I would learn the true facts on anything under discussion.
That has sure changed and I am sad about it.

Why is it that when the Republicans accuse the Democrats of failing miserably, no one seems to challenge them on the fact that they actively stonewalled any attempts to enact a policy. Their whole argument is disingenuous, saying someone failed at something when you are the cause of the failure is the height of audacity.

How does your guest Grimm feel about Snooki pretending she is from NJ, instead of Staten Island?

The Republican Platform is at:

http://www.gop.com/2012-republican-platform_home/

Dear, dear, how grimm.

Brian, Why don't you EVER challenge the worst of nonsense claims...

like that the "science denial party" represents the only people around willing to "step up to the plate" to face why our world isn't working as expected.

It's the natural world connection, that's clearly causing the free market growth system not to work, for example.

Grimm is a representative from MOB island

Re; Grimm

What is reprehensible (his choice of words) is to step on the poor, old, sich, children and women -- the leading theme of the Rep. Party

It is Un-American and inhumane!
There is nothing "brave and tough" to make such choice! The poor have no lobby!
Grimm is not going around a lot! except in his owns rep. circles! He is unavailable to democrats like myself (I've tried a lot, )
As Thomas Friedman just said European Socialism is what we have now in the medical care: If I get sick and have no health insurance, I go to the emergency room and the cost of my treatment will be distributed among all the people who paid for health insurance (their insirance fees will go up).
What Obamacare dod is Capitalist Health Care: everybody pays.

What's in it that Ryan doesn't understand or misconstrued?

Does this guy have any elderly relatives? My 87 year old mother with dementia is really going to be able to shop for insurance with her 'premium support'.

Does Rep. Grimm support the entire Republican Platform?

The INSURANCE COMPANY is in the middle between the patient and the doctor. To Republicans, I guess this is a better result.

Michael Grimm said,
“That’s what liberals do, they spin, spin, spin!”

Um, hello?!

Liberal here!

I can hear youuuuu! You are on the radio!

You are not ingratiating yourself to me by broadly labeling every liberal a spinmeister.

amalgam
and all those unemployment checks (one of which i've never received)

WOW! Great spinning.

The entire argument of the Republican Party concerning health care in America and all of the other-minimal at best-social safety net is nothing but a flam and a scam.
What the Republican Party would like to have is an end to the entire social safety net system.

Fine, if the Republicans succeed in devolving America into some Dickensian universe then expect massive violent social and political disorder. In that scenario no one will be safe including the wealthiest Americans. Unless they expect to live on another planet.
What this convention has shown me is that the Republican Party is the Taliban USA.

@ hjs -

Thanks for pointing out that recessions themselves increase budget deficits and overall government debt, largely because the loss of jobs and income lowers tax revenue.

******************************

Another consequence of the recession: Rising federal budget deficits

http://www.epi.org/publication/another_consequence_of_the_recession_rising_federal_budget_deficits/

The watchdog each other is that one party says you let me do my corruption things and I'll let you do yours. There it's settled.

Oops, my comment didn't show up and I think I posted a second variant on the same theme. So nice I had to say it twice...or at least I must wait, wait, wait to see if something posts (my PC or WNYC's system?).

Sheldon Silver and Vito Lopez - a combined 50+ years in office. Who needs a dictatorship when we have such a wonderful democracy. Ladies and Gents - welcome to "the machine"

What world is this economist living in? Oh, yeah, Bizarro World.

Where competition is perfect and the magic hand of the market is kindly and fair. Riiiiiight. And for-proft private insurers will take losses to ensure that seniors can afford their plans? Or not....

Well, that's one way to get rid of the surplus population, ensure that the elderly don't get good health CARE. Junk insurance, yes; care, not so much.

Dang, where are the ice floes when we'll need them? Gone to warming oceans, every one (or so)....

John Taylor, a name to remember and know that his analysis is not quite rational or based on reality.

It's time--actually it was time lont ago--that Silver should step down and in fact get out of office. I'm sure a good and deep investigation into this man's existence would prove just how sleazy and corrupt the man is. Of course Silver will be there until he dies, which can't be too soon for me!! We talk about how corrupt and unethical the republicans are and overlook what the democrats do?! Ah, I don't think so.

Brian, it's always fun to hear you interview republicans/conservatives. Some of seem to come in expecting Chris Matthews or talk radio style mud slinging- they seem confused by your lack of screaming

"...all beneficiaries pay hight Part B premiums to help pay for higher Medicare payments to Medicare Advantage plans." Quoted from - The Kaiser Family Foundation Fact Sheet on Medicare Advantage Plans at this link:

http://www.kff.org/medicare/upload/2052-13.pdf

What world is this "economist' living in?

Wow, he thinks senios will be able to afford health insurance when for-profit private insurers won't sell it to them at a price they can afford?

What we really need is Medicare for All Improved -- everyone in, no one out.

John Taylor, a name to note and not trust his econ analysis.

I think what we really want is "good coverage" and not "choice." Choice is a way Republicans use to confuse the public.

Doesn't whatever deal is or isn't made on the "fiscal cliff" depend on who's elected to Congress more than on who's president?

Brian
FYI recent government spending has gone up because we were in a RECESSION.

Wait! Wait! Grassley just described the "cliff" and its inevitability and yet he maintians the "oBama will raise taxes ( which is what he wants to do) but Mitt Romney will be able to "push it back for a year"? So Mitt Romney can move Cliffs?!?!? these guys....Sheesh!