In The Spotlight, Paul Ryan Faces A Purity Test
It's been a good couple weeks for Rep. Paul Ryan, the rising Republican star from Wisconsin, as his name is increasingly becoming synonymous with actual Republican policy. Obama called Ryan's budget plan a "serious proposal," while Ezra Klein calls it a "radical document." (As Joe notes below, Ryan's rising star has been targeted by House Democrats.) You can read the thing here. Or watch Obama discuss it here:
But Ryan's star has some rough edges, according to some conservatives. On a few key votes, they argue, he has not been conservative enough. Matt Lewis, in the Daily Caller, lays out the case.
Though he talks like Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman, some of Ryan's most high-profile votes seem closer to Keynes than to Adam Smith. For example, in the span of about a year, Ryan committed fiscal conservative apostasy on three high-profile votes: The Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP (whereby the government purchased assets and equity from financial institutions), the auto-bailout (which essentially implied he agrees car companies – especially the ones with an auto plant in his district—are too big to fail), and for a confiscatory tax on CEO bonuses (which essentially says the government has the right to take away private property—if it doesn't like you).
Michelle Malkin agrees. It will be interesting to watch how this develops. Read Lewis's entire piece here.
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1
So what does this mean for Sarah Palin, who all but endorsed Ryan as a presidential contender on Sunday? Does she fail the purity test and thus become black-listed for 2012?
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2
I think it's unfair to tar Mr. Ryan for voting for TARP, given that the GOP mob voted for Mr. Bush's variant, and his auto bailout vote, as Mr. Sherer points out, was locally motivated.
Now, the tax-the-execs vote, that's a problem. It'd be nice to see his honest explanation of that.
AFA his health care 'Roadmap', it seems to me to be a lot more sane than the Democratic bills out there. Given the size of the deficit (no thank you, Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney!), the only 'health care reforms' we can afford are specific, targeted cost and regulation refinement. Those will both remove weight from the economy and cause an increase in business, which will grow the pie and enable the middle class and the poor to get jobs.
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3
President Obama complimented Ryan regarding his Budget Plan calling it a serious proposal.
Then the Democratic leadership and the MSM go after Ryan and his proposal. This seems rather disingenuous to me. If the democrats had any real desire for bipartisanship they would have used this opportunity to engage the republicans rather then go after Ryan in this manor.
It makes you wonder if Obama and the Democratic leadership are simply playing a good cop, bad cop game.
You would have thought that after Massachusetts, Virginia, and North Carolina they would have learned that the approach they have used for the last year is not working with the American people.
According to a survey just released by Gallup, Obama's approval rating on the economy has gone from 59% in March 2009 to 36% in January 2010.
Obama and the Democrats just don't get it. Americans are against the direction that they wants to take the country.
If they don't stop playing games and start listening, they are going to have a very short time in power.
Spin doesn't work here.-
3.1
It's a serious proposal because it includes actual specifics and would be likely to achieve it's stated goals (as opposed to vague platitudes about earmarks). That doesn't mean it's a good proposal. It's still open to being attacked on its merits. But generally I think this is a very good thing. It would be nice to have more public debates about the merits of serious proposals and less time given to unserious handwaving.
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3.2
"Spin doesn't work here."
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But, spin is all we have gotten from this Administration for the past year. Well, "Blame it on Bush" was the other party of it all, but one could also say that is simply "spin" as well.
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It is time this Administration takes reponsibility for this country, and stop spinning and blaming it on something else. Americans, ALL Americans would better understand and possibly support them when they do take that step forward.
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4
"CBO analyzed A Roadmap for America's Future (H.R. 4529) and produced a detailed 50-page review of the plan and its impact on the long-term budget and economic outlook. According to CBO, A Roadmap for America's Future provides reforms that make possible a growing and prosperous U.S. economy. It ensures the Medicare program does not go bankrupt and makes Social Security permanently solvent. It does so without changing benefits for those who are currently 55 and older. It balances the budget and pays off the debt. In short, CBO concludes that the Roadmap would put the budget and economy on sustainable path compared to current policies that will bankrupt America."
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Although I will preface this that I do not believe in the CBO as any "authority", but since my liberal contenders on this site also believe the CBO is completely infallible, I will use the above statement as further fact that more needs to be done with health care reform before any bill is passed.
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Simply, there are many different ways we as a people can get a handle on health care costs, and at the same time limit debt to this nation which is in a crisis.
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This has been the meme for the Republican Party from the onset of health care debate. However the Democrats have consistently shown they are un-wiling until now to discuss and debate the issues and concerns.
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Not until Scott Brown was elected as the 41st Senator on the Republican side of the aisle have we seen any motive for Democrats or this President to seriously consider any Republican ideas.
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While I like Ryan's "Roadmap" and ideas, further investigation into the actual costs of health care must be looked into before passing any bill. We must get the price of health care down in this country or no reform will mean squat. -
5
TARP was basically the Milton Friedman playbook. Millionaires, Billionaires, and the government conspire to stay rich and everyone else suffers for it. The only thing missing was some good old Chile/Argentina style murder, torture, and disappearance.
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5.1
U forgot the trip down the Appalachian Trail!
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6
'not Republican enough'.
And that statement is why the Republican party continues to be in such turmoil today. It is why ,despite the current love-feast surrounding Scott Brown, the party will probably eventually turn on Sen Brown. Yes, the GOP has done well with these special elections lately. But to truly regain their footing in certain regions of the country, they have to be supportive of candidates who don't always follow the strict party line and stop turning on them. Paul Ryan is just one example.-
6.1
Is that anything like how the Progressives eat their young?
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6.2
And I quote from Scott Brown's own website:
Regarding abortion "While this decision should ultimately be made by the woman in consultation with her doctor, I believe we need to reduce the number of abortions in America."
This stand alone qualifies him for RINO status and opens him up to a primary challenge for 'not being conservative enough'. -
6.3
queen,
I think this is wishful thinking on your part. Ryan was already in a republican primary and won it. I believe most Republicans and Conservatives are looking at the whole person and like what they see in Paul Ryan. He will be a great Republican Senator and will make a great contribution to our country. -
6.4
my error. I ment to say Scott Brown.
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6.5
I don't think it is wishful thinking. It is just simple observation on what has been happening across the country to Republicans who do not meet the required 'purity checklist'.
Actually, I would be happy to see the GOP grow itself and welcome a more diverse set of views. It would make for a better party and I think would pave the road for real bi-partisanship. My fear is that really is wishful thinking. -
6.6
Queen,
I hate to burst your bubble but the vast majority of American citizens see the Republican Party as much closer to mainstream and to their views than the ultra-liberal direction the Democrats have chosen to take their party.
Also I was hoping you might express your views regarding the Gallup survey I mentioned in post 3 above.
One thing though don't blame Bush and the republicans. The survey was not about them. It was about President Obama. Please show a little honesty here.
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7
Paul Ryan Faces A Purity Test, and you guys blame the Dems.
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7.1
allthings,
Are you administering this test? Since Scott Brown was elected, I haven't heard any republican calling for him to take this test.
Queen says the Republican Party is in such turmoil. I don't think you guys and gals have looked at your party lately. The Democrats make the Republicans look like the poster party of unity. -
7.2
Again my mistake. I ment to say Paul Ryan and Scott Brown.
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7.3
It could be that the GOP has finally decided that it has shrunk itself to the point where to be competitve in races in certain areas of the country (see Scott Brown) that they finally realize that they have to let go of these litmus tests that some of their members have been pushing.
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7.4
Did I say I was admin. the test? I quoted the substance of the topic and added you guys were blaming the Dems that is all I said.
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Yea the Dems don't have a purity test. So? -
7.5
queen, queen,
“It could be that the GOP has finally decided that it has shrunk itself to the point where to be competitve in races in certain areas of the country (see Scott Brown) that they finally realize that they have to let go of these litmus tests that some of their members have been pushing.”
In ever survey I have seen, American citizens who identify themselves as Conservative far out number those identifing themselves as liberals. I know you would like to use registered voters in comparing party strength but I believe citizen's phylosophy really is a better measuremnt of party strength. -
7.6
. I know you would like to use registered voters in comparing party strength but I believe citizen's phylosophy really is a better measuremnt of party strength.
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Another good measurement...elections. -
7.7
Paul,
Funny you should mention that after Massachusetts, Virginia, and North Carolina. So far the republicans are 3 and 0 and Dems 0 for 3. The American public is on the move and it's not toward the democrats. -
7.8
You missed NY 23rd.
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The point is rather than over reading individual elections (In the 23rd the Republicans ate their own and in Mass the Democrats put forward a terrible candidate. Republicans winning in Virginia and N.C. didn't used to be cause for shocked celebration) look at the whole electoral landscape.
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Governors, House of Reps, Senate, and White House races.
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8
"It's been a good couple weeks for Rep. Paul Ryan, the rising Republican star from Wisconsin, as his name is increasingly becoming synonymous with actual Republican policy."
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That must be satire, right? "[A]ctual Republican policy" is the biggest joke in Washington (and you're a f*cking retard). Satire!-
8.1
shepherd,
I'm going to break my rule of not responding to idiots. The word Retard should not be used in such a derogatory way. Your language is as bad as Rahm Emanuel's. He also has a foul mouth and likes to use the word Retard and is a total idiot just like you.
My rule goes back into effect now and I won't be responding to you until you clean up your act. -
8.2
I understand that it's alright to use the word retard, if it's political satire.
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8.3
No only if it is Republican political satire. When are you evr going to learn?
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8.4
tjoyce,
Do you really think the use of the word Retard in post 7 is satire? Give me a break. I hope you are a little more intelligent then that. -
8.5
"...I won't be responding to you until you clean up your act."
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I just don't know how I will go on. Save your WATB faux-outrage for someone who gives a sh*t what you think.
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9
"Idiot" originally meant almost exactly the same thing as "retard" originally meant. I'm just saying.
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9.1
Nice Spin.
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