Paul Ryan Ignores Polls, Shows Leadership in Budget Debate

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Wow it is amazing what 20 years will do. I’m an old school conservative as in ROCKEFELLER REPUBLICAN, and I don’t care much for the activities of Dick Armey and the Koch Brothers who seem to be carrying on their father’s attempts to free corporate interests of any governmental controls whatsoever. So that is my perspective.
Having given full disclosure, I must now protest your column.
When I first started reading editorial commentary in serious newspapers as a twenty something, I recall that the reporters and editors writing it usually took the trouble to take the recent history and back-round of events into consideration when arguing their editorial opinion. I’m shocked that you do not bother to mention that there is no chance of passage for this bill. Nor do you mention that the numbers in the proposal do not add up in -even the loosest reckoning. That is a failure of reporting. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office might have been consulted before Ms. Mulligan dubbed the silly document: “Leadership.”
I’m a conservative that would like very much to see a smaller tax burden and less government. But, as person who has had business with the insurance industry throughout my career. It amazes me that a journalist who is entrusted to opine regarding federal budget policy fails to note the basic reality inherent in Mr. Ryan’s proposal that turning Medicare into a voucher program will result in a vast transfer of tax generated monies into the hands of an aggressively profitable private industry. An industry whose recent handling of the monies of their policy holders nearly lead to the collapse of the entire transatlantic financial system.
As a conservative I want lower taxes that are grudgingly spent. Giving-over Social Security to the investment management industry, and Medicare to the multinational insurance corporations is not conservatism it is a special interests wolf in conservative clothing.

Saumarez Fitzwilliam of NY 5:34PM April 26, 2011

I think the Republicans have really shot themselves in the foot with this. Some, and im certainly not one of them, may be willing to see healthcare in this country turned into a voucher system with the elderly and needy left at the tender mercies of insurance companies because they feel it is a sacrifice worth making to tackle the defecit. What people will not put up with is wasting a $trillion-plus of these excruciating savings so that millionaires and corporations can get a pay rise. Corporate greed brought about this recession apparently they feel it necessary to reward them for it. Frankly it is completely inexcusable and the inevitable 'it will create jobs' knee-jerk response when they are asked to justify it is total nonsense which people just arent going to swallow.
I like this phrase 'shared sacrifice' as it sums up perfectly what is needed in times of crisis. It is completely unreasonable to expect the middle class and the vulnerable to shoulder the entire burden while the super-rich get a bonus. The rich get richer while the poor get poorer, the Republican mantra - how about we all get poorer for a while i'd settle for that!
I'm glad the Democrats put a serious budget proposal forward - there is no comparison between the two as far as i can see. They will both hurt, but the Republican budget is just a monstrosity.

Dave Fisher of PA 3:03PM April 19, 2011

It isn't courageous to create and support bad policy, even risking nothing.That's what Paul Ryan did. His supporters will not punish him for promoting bad policy that they agree with. Where's the courage?

kathy of TX 3:09PM April 14, 2011

I see Fox news all over some of these posts....the economy is coming back alive...leave the scare tactics in your own outhouse in missouri...the debt was Bush caused...Cheney said deficit spending makes no difference..so where is you allegiance to that now....american owns it's own debt..have any mutual funds with government bonds...well congrats..you are owning americas debt and being paid for it...revenue is the problem...we need to adopt Reagan's plan after he spent the country blind...raise taxes on the Rich and Corporations...Rich to 39 percent and Corporate america to 71 percent...that is what the republican guru did...let's follow his lead...get america on a positive cash flow footing...

Roger Clemens of AK 11:35PM April 11, 2011

Ryan represents the Koch Brothers, not any decent god fearing, Constitution-loving tax-paying Americans.
Ryan is misrepresenting his budget - its all tax cuts of the rich - $4 Trillion worth.
Ryan is pushing a new uber TARP with his budget, making billionaires too-big-to-fail and too-rich-to-ever-pay-any-taxes.
Its getting pretty pathetic how dishonest these Republicans are anymore.

Eric of UT 8:21PM April 06, 2011

Many TEA members feel TARP was wrong. I have always been for. Even AIG is paying back. TARP was a success under Bush and paid back with high interest.
The major factor in recession has not been touched. No reform for Fannie & Freddie. Thank your Democrats. They have unlimited government $$$ backing. When someone blames bush for recession, ask for P R O O F. Bush warned and Democrats ignored:
"Nancy Pelosi (D) Caught Lying: Says Bush Didn’t Warn Congress About Financial Crisis"
http://friskaliberal.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/nancy-pelosi-d-caught-lying-says-bush-didn%e2%80%99t-warn-congress-about-financial-crisis/
By their actions Democrats are not solving the problem. When controlling all three branches of government, no budget passed by due date, Oct., 2010. barry finally came up with a joke of a budget:
“CBO Report Confirms: Obama’s Budget Laden with Debt"
Posted March 18th, 2011
“According to analysis (pdf) by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the President’s budget would result in $1.43 trillion and $1.16 trillion deficits for FYs 2011 and 2012, respectively, adding two more years of annual deficits in excess of $1 trillion. Total spending would increase by 57 percent over the next decade, from $3.7 trillion this year to $5.8 trillion in 2021. Net interest alone mushrooms from $214 billion to $931 billion, a 335 percent increase.”
http://cbo.gov/ftpdocs/121xx/doc12103/2011-03-18-APB-PreliminaryReport.pdf
http://blog.heritage.org/2011/03/18/cbo-report-confirms-obama%e2%80%99s-budget-laden-with-debt/
barry talks of SAVED JOBS. Lets say barry saved a billion jobs. Gee, any old number will do. Without proof.
Both sides at fault, of course. My party is not perfect. Democrats say Bush lied his way into war in Iraq is a utter lie. Will gladly go into if you wish. Will gladly go into why Democrats are not doing a good faith efferd to solve our problems. More than I just did...

Bill Hedges of MO 5:05PM April 06, 2011

You bring up a great point. Obama has been a disaster. Some of the things he did were because of the Great Recession. Restoring confidence to the financial system was essential. But the spending has gone on and on. He should have stuck with community organizing ... he does not seem to understand the value of a dollar.
For someone who received the Nobel Peace Prize ( yes, unbelievably that was Obama ), I don't see much 'peace' in the man.
Regardless, our country has an enormous deficit. We have to think of the common good, no matter which party or person put us deepest into the hole. Americans have been known throughout our history as a nation which can pull itself out of tragedy and unite. No need to be divisive, let's find some common ground & solutions ... to me, that is what America is about. ( and it's a beautiful place to live & I'd like to see it stay that way ).

Observer of WA 3:33AM April 06, 2011

“Obama Added More to National Debt in First 19 Months Than All Presidents from Washington Through Reagan Combined, Says Gov’t Data ”
http://www.cnsnews.com/node/72404
_____
“Obama's 09 deficit exceeds all eight years of Bush red ink”
http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2009/08/obamas-09-deficit-exceeds-all-eight-years-bush-red-ink#ixzz1IhSJxtMz

Bill Hedges of MO 8:57PM April 05, 2011

It sounds paradoxical. I agree with Ron W that military expenditures are absurdly high, especially when compared with that of other countries. I read that the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have added about $3 trillion to our national debt. Now that is a substantial fraction of total debt.
Ryan was right in saying that both parties are to blame. It goes back decades, truth be told. Now Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, the Ivory Coast. Some have said America is imperialist, I am beginning to wonder if that accusation does not have some validity.
We cannot continue to fund & fight these endless wars. They will come to an end in time. But will the United States still be solvent then ?

Observer of WA 8:14PM April 05, 2011

“Path to Prosperity” budget proposal” does have military cuts...
_____
barry's budget does no reduction...
“CBO Report Confirms: Obama’s Budget Laden with Debt"
Posted March 18th, 2011
“According to analysis (pdf) by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the President’s budget would result in $1.43 trillion and $1.16 trillion deficits for FYs 2011 and 2012, respectively, adding two more years of annual deficits in excess of $1 trillion. Total spending would increase by 57 percent over the next decade, from $3.7 trillion this year to $5.8 trillion in 2021. Net interest alone mushrooms from $214 billion to $931 billion, a 335 percent increase.”
http://cbo.gov/ftpdocs/121xx/doc12103/2011-03-18-APB-PreliminaryReport.pdf
http://blog.heritage.org/2011/03/18/cbo-report-confirms-obama%e2%80%99s-budget-laden-with-debt/

Bill Hedges of MO 8:00PM April 05, 2011