Congressional Cowards?
James Poulos, Ed. ·
Jul 25, 2010 at 9:22am
There's been some support voiced around here, by contributors and members alike, for Paul Ryan's Roadmap. Via Stacy McCain, here's Ryan on the Roadmap, gloves off:
Co-blogger Smitty's take:
Ryan puts words in the mouth of unnamed Dems: “If it wasn’t so political–I love your idea–I’d go for this.” Ryan points out the stark challenge facing a GOP trying to play bass and drums at the same time. There really is no half measure between the minimal, essentially libertarian Constitution as written, and the nanny state. He remains unconvinced, perhaps rightfully so, that the American people are serious about the elimination of Federal entitlements.
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Re: Congressional Cowards?
Great post, James -- both here and on the excellent The Other McCain blog. (I'm a new reader over there; really really like it. Is it as good as it looks?
Blogger Smitty winds up his post this way:
Which seems sad, but probably true. On the other hand, is the Tea Party movement really about slashing government entitlements? Meaning: are they agitating against farm subsidies, tax code incentives, and other federal boondoggles, and agitating for means-testing Social Security, Medicare, and other giant entitlements? In my mind, I keep seeing that photo of a Tea Party protestor during the Obamacare debate, an older lady holding up a sign that said: "Say NO to Socialized Medicine! Hands OFF my Medicare!"
Who, really, are the real cowards here? Republicans in Congress? The Tea Party?
Or is it us?
Jun '10
Re: Congressional Cowards?
If you could explain to older Tea Partiers, those on Social Security and Medicare, that they're getting much more back in benefits than they (and their employer) ever paid in--even in real dollars--then they might agree with you about cutting entitlements. They're not convinced. Just because you believe in Tea Party principles doesn't mean you're automatically good at math.
May '10
Re: Congressional Cowards?
his is the only serious set of ideas towards dealing with the horrendous fiscal crisis we are facing. Forget about the Dems, if folks in the GOP don't start embracing this or offering real alternatives - we better hope the Tea Party has unprecedented tenacity or we are "in not a good place." how is that for language discipline?
Re: Congressional Cowards?
I haven't met Smitty, but Stacy McCain is a legend in his own time in DC. He is hip to the Man from Maine's infamous ibogaine scandal, and he published my first print clip, in the Washington Times, some years ago.
May '10
Re: Congressional Cowards?
James Poulos, Ed.
I haven't met Smitty, but Stacy McCain is a legend in his own time in DC. He is hip to the Man from Maine's infamous ibogaine scandal, and he published my first print clip, in the Washington Times, some years ago. · Jul 25 at 10:49am
Full disclosure. Stacy and Smitty are both friends of mine. That said, I first "knew" Stacy when he was at the Washington Times and he flat-out hustled while he was there. He has good journalistic instincts and bounces between punditry and straight reporting. He has covered several elections in the past year (GA, NY, and MS Senate, that I can recall off-hand), the controversial death of a census worker in Kentucky, the BCS Championship game, and several Tea Parties. Believe it or not, he funds his journalist with some freelance work but mostly through reader donations. Stacy and Smitty ought to get more coverage than they do from the right.