It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
From "Ryan's Hat is in the Ring," Dan Henninger's column in today's Wall Street Journal:
Paul Ryan threw his hat into the presidential political ring this week. It's a big hat—the House Republican budget resolution. A House budget isn't your father's idea of a presidential candidacy. Instead, it's an "ideas candidacy," and it just might put a Republican back in the White House.
Mr. Ryan chose last year not to undergo the U.S.'s presidential trial by ordeal. Instead, he is using the institutional authority of his office, chairman of the House Budget Committee, to shape the debate between the incumbent president, a New Deal Democrat, and the Republican reform movement that Mr. Ryan and his allies in Congress represent. (That, by the way, includes the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, who had to sign off on this document.)
Paul Ryan's admirers had their reasons for wanting him on the field, and mine comes down to one—the single, stark point Mr. Ryan has made since his side lost the health-care battle with Barack Obama, and which he made this week: "It is rare in American politics to arrive at a moment in which the debate revolves around the fundamental nature of American democracy and the social contract. But that is where we are."
It is also rare in American politics for the most thoughtful, courageous and compelling figure in either political party to be a member of the House, but that, too, is where we are--and thank goodness.
People such as me, who cannot, even now, for the very life of us, work up enthusiasm for Mitt Romney, can console ourselves with the invigorating presence on the scene of Paul Ryan, putting forward his budget, making his case, and giving us, in what is certain to prove a long, long political season, someone for whom we can unreservedly cheer.
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May '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
Two cheers for Romney. Three cheers for Ryan. Three cheers for quite a few of our governors..... We've had worse political scenes.
Oct '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
I agree with Paul Ryan that "the debate revolves around the fundamental nature of American democracy and the social contract." This is why the situation is so problematic. Traditionally, such moments are eased along by symbolically hiking taxes on the "wealthy" to confiscatory levels, while adding in loopholes and deductions to keep effective tax rates at more reasonable levels.
Since this bit of political fraud lowers the growth potential of the economy, we can't possibly afford it given the coming retirement boom. Unfortunately for us Republicans, all attempts to lower tax rates are portrayed as "tax cuts for the wealthy," including tax reform that many Democrats--including Obama--support in private.
No one proposes we give a net tax break to Americans. That is impossible. What Republicans want is a simpler, less fraudulent tax code, that doesn't pick winners and losers, and doesn't seek to impose purely psychological penalties on the wealthy. Where people pay the marginal rates, not 10 percentage points below them.
May '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
If I might take an exception - For Dan Henninger to call Barack Obama a "New Deal Democrat," is akin to calling the Holocaust a "slight shift in German demographics."
At one point Ronald Reagan was a " New Deal Democrat." Mr. Obama is socialist revolutionary who would completely shred the Constitution and impose a new Thomas Friedman-approved authoritarian politburo if he thought the military would back him. For now he is content to reach a second term where he can pack the court and allow a new leftist radical SCOTUS do his dirty work for him.
Edited on March 22, 2012 at 7:19pmJun '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
I don't know how much experience Ryan has with defense and foreign policy, but if he didn't have enough, or didn't feel he had enough, then in order to prepare for a presidential run he'd have to spend a lot of time studying dangerous countries and regions around the world, and taking his eye off the federal budget. Wrong time to do that. I admire him for not letting the all the praise go to his head.
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
For your sake, Scott, I'm really trying to cheer Romney. (I'm still only up to about half a cheer, but I'm working on it.) Someday, President Romney's going to have give you a medal. You're the best advocate the man has.
May '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
Peter Robinson
For your sake, Scott, I'm reallytrying to cheer Romney. (I'm still only up to about half a cheer, but I'm working on it.) Someday, President Romney's going to have give you a medal. You're the best advocate the man has. · 0 minutes ago
I think Scott does very well, but I'd give him a tie with James. Scott is more philosophical in approach, James is more data-oriented.
Dec '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
I want to be more excited about it, but I can't. Take a look at "A Contrast in Visions." There is obvious political chicanery right from the start: the President's budget provides a "Net $1.5 trillion increase relative to current policy," while the P2P "Cuts spending by $5 trillion relative to President’s budget." Let's compare apples to apples. Use the same metric. How much spending is cut relative to current spending not relative to Obama's unicorns and puppies dream? Same thing for the debt: O plan, "Adds $11 trillion to the debt – increasing debt as a share of the economy – over the next decade; Imposes $200,000 debt burden per household; Debt skyrockets in the years ahead," but the magnificent new P2P "Reduces debt as a share of the economy over the next decade; Charts a sustainable trajectory by reforming the drivers of the debt; Pays off the debt over time." What is left unsaid is how much debt will still be added by the Ryan plan. Only slightly less bad is still bad.
Oct '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
King Prawn, Obama's budget will precipitate a debt crisis (balance of payments crisis), while Ryan's plan will not. That's the difference.
Oct '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
Peter Robinson
It is also rare in American politics for the most thoughtful, courageous and compelling figure in either political party to be a member of the House, but that, too, is where we are--and thank goodness.
People such as me, who cannot, even now, for the very life of us, work up enthusiasm for Mitt Romney, can console ourselves with the invigorating presence on the scene of Paul Ryan, putting forward his budget, making his case, and giving us, in what is certain to prove a long, long political season, someone for whom we can unreservedly cheer.
Amen & Amen.
Nov '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
I think the Paul Ryan has been pretty clear that over the short term, spending actually goes up under his plan...but that long term the debt problem get's resolved.
May '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
Thanks for the kudos, Peter and Duane, but James deserves the title of #1 Romney defender. In fact, my strategy often is to make a claim with the confidence that James will, you know, provide evidence. :)
Dec '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
It is a step in the right direction, but the fact that it will be destroyed by subsequent congresses makes any optimism about it suspect in my book.
Aug '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
What Ryan has done here is nothing but sheer genius. He is demonstrating that the newly elected Republicans are "serious" people with serious ideas.
While the Democrats are trying to intimidate public personalities off the air for using the word "slut," fighting the use of ultra-sounds in pre-abortion screenings, and approving the building of half a pipeline, it is the Republicans who are tackling the truly monumental challenge of the day.
Republicans in office are asking the question, "What do we have to do in order to prevent the financial collapse of our government, and possibly our entire financial system."
Nov '11
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
This is why I still think Ryan was probably right not to run for president, much as I rather wanted him to. If he'd won, great -- but if he were caught up in a primary battle right now, he could not be using the power he has nearly so effectively at the time when it matters most.
May '11
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
Rep. Ryan is a technocrat with ideas on reforming existing structure, we need that on our side. Reform of the tax code and "entitlements" will go a long way.
The debt and deficit are still huge, though, even if they become "manageable" (nobody will like how that needs to be managed). Eventually our current debt must roll-over at higher interest rates, after which today's budget battles will look like arguing for prices at a garage sale. Less more-spending won't do it.
My favorite so far on the spending side is the Connie Mack "Penny Plan." It's simple, and most people can grasp cutting 1% per year rather than slowing growth from 7% to 6% when the economy grows at 2% (rosy projection). There's also the fact that federal receipts would barely balance the budget from a decade ago. It's worse, in reality, with all of the budget gimmicks that are employed. Maybe it's time to explain/argue the difference between want and needs.
Perhaps the leadership won't let Ryan go further in an election year, too many weeds. The rest of us just keep screaming in the woods.
May '11
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
As an aside, the Republicans didn't "lose" the healthcare debate, as Mr. Henninger states. They lost the vote in that one particular battle. There hasn't been a single poll that shows a majority off Americans support ObamaCare. Typical conversation:
"What about people with pre-existing conditions or without insurance?"
"You need 2400 pages and a trillion dollars (now $2 trillion) for that?"
May '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
I actually think that the combination of the solid fact-driven executive, with a relentlessly logical CFO, and a brilliant populist orator is what we need to restore fiscal sanity and sell/implement the necessary reforms to save us.
Romney as prez (at this date, no one else can really pull it off barring a Joan of Arc miracle), Rubio as the populist veep rhetorician, and Ryan as the CFO is a solid, adult team.
And a stark contrast to the other side.
Sep '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
Saying that Ryan is the most thoughtful, courageous and compelling figure says a lot about the GOP and you. I can't even begin to guess what platitudes you would use if he proposed balancing the budget in 20 years instead of 28 years. Ryan has come up with a new clever way of packaging the big government GOP mantra of "we'll grow our way out of the debt situation" and his cheerleaders can't control themselves. If only the debt situation were as mild as the good congressman pretends it is.
May '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
Politics is the art of the possible. How bad off is our political discourse if even this minor turn-around is seen as "drastic cutbacks." Until the voters see the iceberg ahead, this may be the best possible plan we can sell at this time.
Sep '10
Re: It's a Long Time to November. Thank Goodness for Paul Ryan
Keith Preston
Politics is the art of the possible. How bad off is our political discourse if even this minor turn-around is seen as "drastic cutbacks." Until the voters see the iceberg ahead, this may be the best possible plan we can sell at this time. · 8 hours ago
It might bring you Republicans some peace of mind to know the deck chairs will be neatly arranged while the ship sinks after striking the iceberg. Proposing a plan that indicates the iceberg is merely a chunk of ice that will do no real damage is not helping. Ryan is a career politician who has contributed to the mess and continues to do so. He is proposing what he thinks will advance his political career inside the GOP.