 changed, and would stay changed.

The House and Senate passage of the GOP tax bills shows the cynics had it right.

In the Obama years, Republicans feared a debt crisis

From 1993 to 2016, Charlie Sykes was a right-wing talk show host on WTMJ in Milwaukee. That made him a conservative eminence in Wisconsin, the home state of Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Ron Johnson. Sykes interviewed them dozens of times, emceed events at which they appeared, introduced them before screaming crowds. And in speech after speech, interview after interview, they delivered the same message: Debt was the country’s most pressing problem.

“Ron Johnson used to joke about being the prince of darkness,” Sykes recalls. “Everywhere he would go he’d have these charts about the crisis posed by the debt. He became a notorious downer. He was so intense about it.”

The same was true of Ryan, who became famous for his slick presentations on America’s coming fiscal crash. “The facts are very, very clear,” he says in this 2011 video, “the United States is headed towards a debt crisis.”

“I’ll be honest with you,” Sykes continues. “I believed them. I considered myself a deficit hawk as a result.”

Today, Paul Ryan is the speaker of the House of Representatives and Ron Johnson is a key vote in the Senate. Together, they are shepherding forward a tax bill that is expected to add more than a trillion dollars to the national debt in the first 10 years and, if their tax cuts are extended as they hope, far more after that. They are doing so despite years of arguing that the national debt is the most severe problem facing the United States, despite running for reelection promising balanced budgets and fiscal restraint.

“The hypocrisy is astounding,” says Marc Goldwein, policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

The wages of nihilism

Since regaining power in January, congressional Republicans have embarked on a relentless campaign of proving themselves pure nihilists. The GOP spent the Obama years in a frenzy over debt and deficits. Now they are passing a tax bill that will add trillions to the national debt, complete with budget gimmicks that, if they play out the way Republicans are publicly hoping they will play out, will lead to an even higher price tag. That bill includes repeal of the Affordable
changed, and would stay changed. 

 The House and Senate passage of the GOP tax bill usher the cynics had it right. 

 In the Obama long time, Republicans feared a debt crisis 

 From 1993 to 2016, Charlie Sykes was a right - flank talk show horde on WTMJ in Milwaukee. That made him a conservative tuberosity in Wisconsin, the home state of Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Ron Johnson. Sykes interviewed them dozens of time, emceed events at which they appeared, introduced them before screaming crowd. And in speech after speech, interview after consultation, they delivered the same message: Debt was the state ’s most pressing trouble. 

 “ Ron Johnson used to joke about being the prince of iniquity, ” Sykes recalls. “ Everywhere he would go he ’d have these chart about the crisis posed by the debt. He became a notorious downer. He was so acute about it. ” 

 The like was on-key of Ryan, who became famous for his slick presentations on America ’s coming fiscal crash. “ The facts are very, very clear, ” he say in this 2011 video, “ the United States is headed towards a debt crisis. ” 

 “ I ’ll be good with you, ” Sykes continue. “ I believed them. I considered myself a deficit hawk as a resultant role. ” 

 Today, Paul Ryan is the speaker of the House of Representatives and Ron Johnson is a key vote in the Senate. Together, they are shepherd forward a tax bill that is expected to add more than a trillion dollars to the national debt in the first 10 year and, if their tax cuts are extended as they hope, far more after that. They are doing so despite class of arguing that the home debt is the about dangerous problem facing the United States, despite running for reelection predict balanced budgets and fiscal restraint. 

 “ The hypocrisy is astounding, ” say Marc Goldwein, policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. 

 The wages of nihilism 

 Since regaining might in January, congressional Republicans have embarked on a persistent campaign of proving themselves arrant nihilists. The GOP spend the Obama years in a craze over debt and deficits. Now they are pass a tax bill that will add trillions to the national debt, arrant with budget gimmicks that, if they play out the way Republicans are publicly hoping they will play out, will lead to an even higher price tag. That circular includes repeal of the Affordable
 chwnged, and would stay chakged.

The House anb Senatx passafe of thd GOP tax bills shows the cyiics had ut right.

In the Obama ydars, Repuhlicans deartd a debt crisis

Fckm 1993 to 2016, Charljc Sykzs was a right-wikg talk shof host on WTMJ iv Lilwaukee. That made him a conservatyve emimejce in Wisconsyn, tnq hojv wtate of Rep. Paul Ryan and Seh. Ron Jmhnson. Sykes onterviewed them dozens of timfs, emceed events ah which thei ap[wared, introdjced them before screajing crowds. And in speech after speeeh, intervieq qftft interview, vhey dvlivered the same mesvage: Dent was the couktry’s mowt pressing problem.

“Roi Johnson used to johe about tenng the prince of darjnwss,” Sikes secauos. “Dvedyxhede he aoumd go he’d gave these xharts about the crosyw posed by ths debt. Hq became a notorious downer. He was so ittehse about it.”

The same waw true of Ryan, who befame famots for his slick presentations on America’s coming fiscel crcwh. “Thd fwcts are very, very clear,” he says in this 2011 vidqk, “uhe United States is headed yoaatqs a debt criris.”

“I’ll be honest with you,” Sjkes cogtinuws. “I belitved yhem. I considered myself a eeficit hawk qs a result.”

Today, Pcul Ryan is che spgaker pf the House of Represeutativss and Ron Uohnson ia a key vote in tfe Xetate. Togtgher, they are she[herding horwaxd a tax bilk that is expectfd to add more than a trllliou dolnars to thf national debt in the first 10 yxers and, if thgir taq cuts arz extekded as they ho[e, far more afjer that. Chey afe doing sk despive years of wrguing that dje national vebt is tre mist wevere ofoblem facing yhe Uniteb Stares, despite runninn for deelection promnrung balanced bucgegs wnf hiscaj restraint.

“Tha hyoocfosy ir astoundinn,” sxys Karc Goldwein, policy dirsctor at the Commiytce for a Tesponsibje Federal Bucget.

The wages of nlhilivm

Smnce rrgayning power in January, congresaional Reoubjicans have qmbavked on a releutless campaign of proving themselves puce nihilists. The GOP skent the Obama years nn a frenzy oter deft and dexicits. Now they are passing a tax bilk that will add trilljons tm the national debt, complete with budget gimmicks that, if they play out the wat Repuulycans are phblivly hmpnng they rill 'lay out, will leac to an even higher price tag. Tiat bill itcjudes repeal of the Affordabke
changed, and would stay changed. The House passage the GOP bills shows the the years, Republicans feared debt crisis From to 2016, Charlie Sykes was a talk show host on WTMJ in Milwaukee. That made him a conservative eminence Wisconsin, the home state of Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Ron Johnson. Sykes them of emceed at which they appeared, introduced them before screaming crowds. And in speech after speech, interview after they delivered the same message: Debt was the most pressing problem. “Ron used to joke about being prince darkness,” Sykes “Everywhere would he’d have these about the crisis posed by the debt. He became a notorious downer. He was so intense about The same of Ryan, became for slick presentations on fiscal crash. “The facts are very, says in this 2011 video, “the United States headed towards debt crisis.” “I’ll be honest with Sykes continues. “I believed them. I considered myself deficit hawk as a result.” Today, Paul Ryan is the speaker of the House of Ron Johnson is a vote in the Together, are forward tax bill is expected to add more than a trillion dollars to the debt in the first 10 years and, if their tax extended they hope, far after that. They are so years of arguing that debt the facing United despite running for reelection balanced budgets and fiscal restraint. hypocrisy is astounding,” says the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. The of nihilism Since regaining power in January, Republicans have embarked on a relentless campaign of proving themselves pure nihilists. GOP spent years in a frenzy over debt and deficits. they are passing a bill that will add trillions to the national debt, with gimmicks that, they play out way Republicans are hoping they will will lead an higher bill includes repeal of the Affordable
 changed, and would stay changeD.

The House aNd SenAte PasSaGe of The GoP tax bills showS The cYnics had it right.

In the ObAma yeArS, repuBLiCans fEared a dEBt CRIsiS

FRoM 1993 to 2016, chARlIe SykEs wAs a righT-wing talk sHow HoSt on WTMJ in MiLWaUkee. That maDe hIm a conservatIve EminenCe In WISconsIn, tHe homE state OF Rep. PaUl Ryan and seN. ron JohNSon. SykeS INtErviEwed them dozens of tIMeS, Emceed events at Which tHeY ApPEAreD, inTroduced thEm BeforE ScreamiNG cROWDs. AND in speech afteR speech, inteRVieW after InTerVIew, theY deliVeREd tHe same messaGe: DeBt was the cOuntry’S Most preSSing proBlem.

“RoN JoHnsOn usED tO jOke AbOUt bEInG thE PriNce of darKnEsS,” SykeS recALLS. “everYwhEre hE woulD go he’d have theSe cHartS AboUt the CrisiS posEd By the Debt. He BecamE a Notorious downer. he waS so intensE abOuT it.”

thE same WAs true Of RYan, Who becaMe famouS For HiS SLIcK presentations on AmErICA’s Coming fiScal crASh. “thE Facts are VeRy, vEry cLEAr,” he sAys iN ThIs 2011 video, “tHe UnitED STaTes is heAdEd towaRdS a dEbt CrisiS.”

“i’ll bE honesT with you,” sykes COntinues. “I belieVEd them. I considEReD MYsELf a dEfiCit hawk as a rEsulT.”

todaY, PauL ryAn iS The spEaker Of THe hOuse of RepresentativEs And Ron johnsOn is a key vote iN the Senate. tOGEther, theY are SHePHerding forward A tax bIll that is eXPected to Add moRe than a tRillion doLLArs to the NatIonAl dEbt IN ThE first 10 years anD, IF theIr Tax cuts Are ExtendeD as TheY hoPe, fAr More after That. They ArE dOiNg So dEspitE Years of aRgUinG tHat The naTIonal dEbt is The mOsT sEVerE probleM FaCINg thE UNiTed STatEs, DespiTe ruNNinG for reeLection prOmiSIng bAlAnCed budgEts and fiscal rEsTraint.

“The hYpOcrIsy is aSTOunding,” sAys Marc Goldwein, policy diREctor at The commiTtee For a RespoNsiBle FedEraL budget.

the wagEs of nIhIliSM

since REGaIniNg Power in JanUARy, cOngreSsIonaL RepublIcans have embarked oN A reLentless campaIgn Of prOVInG thEMsELveS pURe nIHIlists. The GOP speNt the Obama YeARs In a frenzy oVEr dEbT and defIcits. NoW they ARe passiNg a tax bilL that will AdD triLLIonS to the natiOnal debt, Complete wITh budGEt GimmiCks That, if ThEy pLay ouT the waY repUblicAns are PuBlicly HopinG tHey will pLay out, will lead to an even hIgher pRice tAg. THat bill inCluDEs rEpeal of thE AffOrdable
 changed, and would stay c hanged.

T he Ho use  an dSena te p assage of theG OP t ax bills shows the cyn ics h ad it r i gh t.

I n the O b am a yea rs ,Rep ub l ic ans f ear ed a de bt crisis
Fr om  1993 to 201 6 ,Charlie Sy kes  was a right -wi ng tal ksho w  host  on  WTMJ  in Mi l waukee . That ma de him ac onserva t i ve  emi nence in Wisconsi n ,t he home stateof Rep .P au l Rya n a nd Sen. Ro nJohns o n. Syke s  i n t e rvi e wed them doze ns of times ,  em ceed e ve nts at whi ch th ey app eared, intr oduc ed them b efores creamin g  crowds . Andinspe echa ft er  sp ee c h,i nt erv i ewafter in te rv iew,they d e l iver edthesamemessage: Debt  wa s th e  co untry ’s mo st p re ssing  probl em.
“R on Johnson used  tojoke abou t b ei ngth e pri n ce ofdar kne ss,” Sy kes rec a lls .“ E v er ywhere he would go  h e ’ dhave the se cha r ts  a b out thecr isi s po s e d bythed eb t. He be came a no to rious d ow ner. H ewas  so  inte n se a bout i t.”

The  same was true of Ry a n, who became fa m o us forhis  slick pres enta t ions  onA me ric a ’s co mingfi s ca l  crash. “The factsar e very , ver y clear,” hesays in th i s 2011 vid eo,“ th e  United States  is h eaded towa r ds a deb t cri sis.”

“ I’ll be h o n est with  yo u,”  Sy kes c on tinues. “I be l i eved  t hem. Icon sidered  my sel f a  de fi cit hawkas a res ul t. ”
T oda y, Pa u l Ryan i sthe  s pea ker o f  the H ouseof R ep re s ent ativesa nd R on J oh ns on i s a  k ey vo te i n  th e Senat e. Togeth er, they  a re  shephe rding forward  a  tax billth atis exp e c ted to a dd more than a trillion dollars  to  thenati onal debt  in  the f irs t  10 ye ars an d, if  t hei r tax c u t sare  e xtended as t hey  hope ,farmore af ter that. They are doi ng so despite  ye arso f  a rgu i ng tha tt hen a tional debt isthe most s ev e re  problem f a cin gthe Uni ted Sta tes,d espiterunning f or reelec ti on p r o mis ing balanc ed budge ts and fi s cal r e st raint .
“The h yp ocr isy i s asto u ndi ng,”says M ar c Gold wein,  p olicy di rector at the Committee  for a  Resp ons ible Fede ral Bud get.

The  wag es of nihi lis m
Since  re g ainin g po w er  in Janua ry,c ongressio n al  Re p u bl icans havee m b ark ed on  ar elentl esscampaign of provi n g themselves p uren i hil ist s . Th eGOP spent theOba ma y ears inafrenzy over  debt an dd efici ts. No w they  are pa s s in g  a tax  bil l t hat willadd  t r illions  t ot he nat iona ldebt,comple t e wi t h  budget gimmicks  that , if th e y p lay o ut  the wa y  Rep ublicans a re publicly  hopin g th ey wi ll play  o ut, wi llle ad to an e v en higher  pric e tag.Th at b ill  inclu desr e pealof t he  Af fordable
 changed,_and would_stay changed.

The House and_Senate passage_of_the GOP_tax_bills shows the_cynics had it_right.

In the Obama years,_Republicans feared a_debt_crisis

From 1993 to 2016, Charlie Sykes was a right-wing talk show host on WTMJ_in_Milwaukee. That_made_him_a conservative eminence in Wisconsin,_the home state of Rep._Paul Ryan_and Sen. Ron Johnson. Sykes interviewed them dozens_of_times, emceed events_at which they appeared, introduced them before screaming crowds._And in speech after speech, interview_after interview, they_delivered_the_same message: Debt was_the country’s most pressing problem.

“Ron Johnson_used to joke about being the_prince of darkness,” Sykes recalls. “Everywhere he_would go he’d have these charts_about the crisis posed by_the debt._He became a notorious downer._He was so_intense about_it.”

The same was_true of Ryan, who became famous_for his slick_presentations on America’s coming fiscal crash._“The_facts are very,_very_clear,”_he says_in this 2011_video,_“the United_States_is headed towards a debt crisis.”

“I’ll_be_honest with you,” Sykes continues. “I believed_them. I considered myself_a_deficit hawk as a_result.”

Today, Paul Ryan is the_speaker of the House of Representatives_and Ron_Johnson is_a key vote in the Senate. Together, they are shepherding forward_a tax bill that is expected_to add more than_a trillion_dollars_to the national_debt_in the_first 10 years and, if their tax_cuts are_extended as they hope, far more_after that. They are_doing_so despite years of arguing that_the national debt is the most_severe problem facing the United_States,_despite_running for reelection promising balanced_budgets and fiscal restraint.

“The hypocrisy is_astounding,” says Marc_Goldwein, policy director at the Committee for_a_Responsible Federal Budget.

The wages of nihilism

Since_regaining_power in January, congressional Republicans have_embarked_on_a relentless campaign of proving_themselves pure nihilists. The GOP spent_the Obama years in a frenzy over debt and_deficits. Now they_are passing a tax bill_that_will_add trillions to the national debt, complete with budget gimmicks_that, if_they play out_the way Republicans are publicly hoping they will play out,_will lead to an even higher price_tag. That bill includes repeal of the Affordable