Afternoon Fix: Paul Ryan defends Rick Perry on Social Security ‘Ponzi scheme’
Paul Ryan backs up Rick Perry, Lamar Alexander leaves leadership, and at least one congressman saves lives.
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WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
* On Laura Ingraham’s radio show today, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) agreed with Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) that Social Security resembles a Ponzi scheme. “It’s not a criminal enterprise, but it is a pay as you go system where earlier investors, or say taxpayers, get a positive rate of return and the most recent investors, or taxpayers, get a negative rate of return,” said Ryan. “That’s how those schemes work.”
* Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) is stepping down from his post as Republican Conference chairman and abandoning his hopes of becoming whip in the next Congress. The two-time presidential candidate said he thought he could make the Senate “a more effective institution” outside of leadership. He plans to focus more on “major issues” and bipartisan compromise.
* Who says Congress doesn’t do anything? Rep. (and Dr.) Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) restarted a man’s heart at an airport in North Carolina today, performing CPR and administrating defibrillation. “The guy was dead. There’s no question,” said Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), who was traveling with Roe.“This guy is alive because of Phil Roe and a couple other very important people at the airport.” Roe worked as an obstetrician before running for office.
WHAT YOU SHOULDN’T MISS:
* In a strategy memo to supporters, the Senate campaign of Michigan Republican Pete Hoesktra writes that the former congressman is taking concerns about his fundraising prowess seriously. “We are cautiously optimistic that we can reach a gross receipt number in the range of $400,000 to $500,000 in this first quarter,” the memo says. Hoekstra hopes to face Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) next year; he faces charter school founder Clark Durant in the primary.
* Democratic lobbyist Tony Podesta is hosting a fundraising breakfast for Rep. Mark Critz (D-Pa.) on Oct. 13, with suggested contributions starting at $1,000. Critz won a 2010 special election for the seat formerly held by the late Rep. John Murtha (D) and held the seat later that year, but GOP-controlled redistricting could force him into a seat with fellow Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire.
* Chicago Mayor and former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel will be the keynote speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party’s Nov. 19th 2011 Jefferson Jackson dinner. It will be Emanuel’s first trip to Iowa since taking office in May; the chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party said in a statement that Emanuel would speak “in support of President Obama.”
* Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) has endorsed former Virginia governor George Allen (R) for Senate. Meanwhile, the first debate has been set between Allen and Democrat Tim Kaine, for Dec. 7th.
THE FIX MIX:
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Chris Cillizza
Chris Cillizza is founder and editor of The Fix, a leading blog on state and national politics. He is the author of The Gospel According to the Fix: An Insider’s Guide to a Less than Holy World of Politics and an MSNBC contributor and political analyst. He also regularly appears on NBC and NPR’s The Diane Rehm Show. He joined The Post in 2005 and was named one of the top 50 journalists by Washingtonian in 2009.
Juliet Eilperin
Juliet Eilperin covers the White House for the Washington Post. She served as the Post's House of Representatives reporter from 1998-2004, covering the impeachment of Bill Clinton, lobbying, legislation, and five national congressional campaigns. Since 2004 she has been one of the country’s leading reporters covering the environment, reporting on science, policy and politics in areas including climate change, oceans, and air quality. She is the author of two books, "Fight Club Politics: How Partisanship is Poisoning the House of Representatives," and "Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks." Follow her on Twitter.
Ed O’Keefe
Ed O’Keefe covers Congress and politics for the Washington Post. He previously covered the 2008 and 2012 campaigns and reported on federal agencies and federal employees as author of The Federal Eye blog. Follow Ed on Twitter.
Aaron Blake
Aaron Blake covers national politics at the Washington Post, where he writes regularly for “The Fix,” the Post’s top political blog. A Minnesota native and summa cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota, Aaron has also written about politics for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and The Hill newspaper. Aaron and his wife, Danielle, live in Annandale, Va. Follow him on Twitter.
Sean Sullivan
Sean Sullivan covers national politics for “The Fix.” Prior to joining the Washington Post in the summer of 2012, Sean was the editor of Hotline On Call, National Journal Hotline’s politics blog. He has also worked for NHK Japan Public Broadcasting and ABC News. Sean is a graduate of Hamilton College, where he received a degree in Philosophy. He lives in Washington, D.C. Follow Sean on Twitter.
Scott Clement
Scott Clement is a survey research analyst for Capital Insight, the independent polling group of Washington Post Media. Scott specializes in public opinion about politics, election campaigns and public policy. He helps design and analyze all Washington Post polls, including the Washington Post-ABC News poll. Follow Scott on Twitter.
Rachel Weiner
Rachel Weiner covers national politics for Post Politics and The Fix. She came to the Washington Post in 2010 as a political web editor and anchored the Post's 2012 election blog. She was previously a web editor at The Huffington Post. Follow her on Twitter.
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