Paul Ryan to laid-off constituents: Drop dead. GOP Message Loud and Clear.

The above headline was part of an editorial comment from the Capital Times online that pretty much said it all about the GOP message to America:

(Rep. Paul Ryan’s) hometown has been devastated by the closing of the General Motors plant that was the mainstay of the local economy for almost 90 years. Parts suppliers in Janesville and surrounding communities are laying off workers and shutting their doors. Main Street businesses are cutting back. On the other side of Ryan's 1st District, communities are still reeling from the closings of major employers such as the Delphi Corp. plant in Oak Creek. The 1st District has always been part of the industrial heartland of Wisconsin, so it is no surprise that, as American industry collapses under the weight of the bad trade and economic policiesYet the Janesville Republican did not merely vote against the bill. He led the opposition. If the Obama plan fails, families in Ryan's district that once had jobs and health care protections will have neither.

On Wednesday, they heard a voice. But instead of saying, "I will fight for you," Ryan said: "Drop dead."

Believe it or not, Ryan STILL supports business tax cuts to create new jobs in an economy shedding jobs due to a lack of consumer buying power. In his mind, businesses can expand and hire more people, top down/trickle down economics, even during a recession. The Bush plan on steroids.

I guess the Republican thinking goes something like this: “If we act like our policies didn’t get us into this crisis, no one will notice or blame us for our failed capitalist philosophy, and we can play these suckers for another decade or two.”

But it’s one thing to play partisan, ideological games in Congress; it’s another to be on the front lines like most Republican governors who have to pay the bills and are facing huge deficits.
According to MSNBC:

Most Republican governors have broken with their GOP colleagues in Congress and are pushing for passage of President Barack Obama's economic aid plan that would send billions to states for education, public works and health care. Their state treasuries drained by the financial crisis, governors would welcome the money from Capitol Hill. States are coping with severe budget shortfalls and mounting costs for Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor. "States are facing fiscal conditions not seen since the Great Depression — anticipated budget shortfalls are expected in excess of $200 billion," the National Governors Association statement said. "Governors ... support several key elements of the bill critical to states-increased federal support for Medicaid and K-12 and higher education; investment in the nation's infrastructure; and tax provisions to spur investment.”

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas pressed their case for a share of the package. "As the executive of a state experiencing budget challenges, Gov. Douglas has a different perspective on the situation than congressional Republicans," said Douglas' deputy chief of staff, Dennise Casey.

But of course, there are those Republican Governors who don’t like taking the money, but may be “forced” too.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said he would accept the stimulus money but would have voted against the bill if he were still in Congress. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said he wasn't sure whether he would accept the approximately $3 billion his state would be in line for. The most outspoken critic has been South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has not yet said whether he would accept it. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said governors have little choice but to accept the relief being offered. "States have to balance their budgets," he said. "So if we're going to go down this path, we are entitled to ask for our share of the money. I

“Ouch, ouch, don’t force me to take the money…okay…fine…I give. I’ll take it, I’ll take the money damn it.”

Don’t you wish it were this simple: If Republican Representatives and Senators vote against the stimulus money, they shouldn’t get it, and then they can explain to their constituents why they took the “high ground?” And while we’re at it, make every person in the country who might be against stem cell research sign away their right to benefits from treatments derived from such immoral medicine. Think of how much money insurance companies and Medicare could save by not paying for these freeloaders.

The bulls**ter with the biggest balls, Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, "called on President Obama to “immediately disavow plans by some political groups who announced that they will run attack ads against Republicans." That’s right, Cantor doesn’t want voters to know how reckless the GOP’s agenda is when it comes to their constituents overwhelming problems. It’s so unfair to point these things out, considering the history of abuse and victimization conservatives have had to put up with these many years. Just more piling on I guess…!

Washington Post: A new national radio ad campaign sponsored by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targeting more than two dozen Republican lawmakers for their opposition to the bill. The ads are tailored to highlight specific elements of the bill that House Democrats believe will resonate with voters. Some knock the GOP members for voting against a bill that cut taxes for "95 percent of American workers." Brian Wolff, executive director of the DCCC, said: "These are serious times; hardworking families are worried about keeping their jobs, health care and homes -- they want action, not House Republicans cheering about doing nothing."

For Democrats, it’s a step in the right direction.