Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
In a blistering speech at the Heritage Foundation today, House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan will lambast President Obama's rhetoric and policies. AEI's Jim Pethokoukis has more details but here are a few of the points he'll hit:
1. “Instead of working together where we agree, the president has opted for divisive rhetoric and the broken politics of the past. He is going from town to town, impugning the motives of Republicans, setting up straw men and scapegoats, and engaging in intellectually lazy arguments as he tries to build support for punitive tax hikes on job creators.
2. ”The House-passed budget was full of proposals to get rid of corporate welfare and crony capitalism. Why are tax dollars being wasted on bankrupt, politically connected solar energy firms? Why is Washington wasting your money on entrenched agribusiness? Why have we extended an endless supply of taxpayer credit to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, instead of demanding that their government guarantee be wound down and their taxpayer subsidies ended? … Rather than raising taxes and making it more difficult for Americans to become wealthy, let’s lower the amount of government spending the wealthy now receive … The politics of division have always struck me as odd: the eagerness to take more, combined with the refusal to subsidize less.
It's about time someone took Obama on in this way. Ryan also sounds hopeful, presidential even:
5. “Americans, guided by our ideals, have sacrificed everything to combat tyranny and brutal dictators; we’ve expanded opportunity, opened markets, and inspired others to resist oppression; we’ve exported innovation and imagination; and we’ve welcomed immigrants seeking a fresh start. Here in America—unlike most places on earth—all citizens have the right to rise.”
Meanwhile, the "non-partisan" and completely "apolitical" Congressional Budget Office, the one Republicans were criticized for alleging had suspect methodology throughout the health care debate, happened -- just happened -- to come out with a report on income inequality.
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Nov '10
Re: Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
Why, oh why, can't someone convince him to run for president?
Re: Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
You can watch here:
RT @RepPaulRyan: 10 MINUTES: my @Heritage speech live here: ow.ly/78TgZ
Or read transcript here.
Nov '10
Re: Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
I'm home today, and watching question and answers live at http://www.therightscoop.com/10am-watch-live-paul-ryans-speech-at-heritage/
Oh, how I want this man to run for President. BTW, kudos to Mr. Kristol for continuing to push on all these folks.
Dec '10
Re: Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
Ryan is a congressman. Compare his career to that of a chief executive:
The only comparable candidate is Rick Perry, who won elections to the three top executive positions in Texas. First, 2 terms for Agricultural Commissioner, then the state's first Republican Lieutenant Governor since Reconstruction, and now serving his 3rd consecutive term of Governor.
Romney’s numerous chief executive positions were always short-term. As head of Bain Capital, in all of its investments in which he held the top position, his appointment was due to the money invested, not to his commitment to the company. His success depended on his flexibility.
Ryan has not pursued a similar career. Our last congressman elevated to POTUS was Gerald Ford.
Oct '11
Re: Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
I always love hearing his reference to the safety net becoming a hammock. He used that during Uncommon Knowledge as well. But I always see true genius in Rep. Ryan when he gets off script and still is knowledgeable. His answer during a ricochet podcast about the greatest threat facing America being moral relativism really does speak to the level of the person, that he understands our fiscal problems are not what mark steyn calls a 'green eye shade accounting problem', but a symptom of the true moral erosion of our country. And Rep. Ryan not only stated that in the podcast but also referenced it today and spoke even further about it. The guy is the real deal, and I think he is right, he is doing great where he is at and making a real case for fiscal sanity as a chairman of the house budget committee. It would be interesting to see him in an executive role.
Dec '10
Re: Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
This will seem off-topic. I'm studying Acts of the Apostles through The Great Bible Adventure series, and yesterday was Chapter 2, Pentecost. Jeff Cavins is the author and presenter of this series, as seen on DVD. He is an inspired speaker.
In his talk on Pentecost, he took much of the time to testify on his transformation into a public speaker and author. He said his dad would have told you the two things Jeff would never do with his life was write books and speak publicly.
Three of the first five times he spoke in front of an audience, he passed out. Not, "Gee, I feel woozy. I think I better sit down." He fell flat on his face or back, whichever direction gravity pulled him.
Finally, he was called to speak in front of a Christian group and suffering the same unbearable signals of terror, when he had an epiphany. And by that, I mean a true encounter with God. He finally internalized that his presentation was NOT ABOUT HIM! It made all the difference.
You may disagree with the theology, but Paul Ryan is Catholic and should understand. It isn't about his desires.
Oct '10
Re: Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
Great speech! I'm continually impressed by Ryan and disappointed that more Republicans don't talk like him and instead more like Cantor.
The way he contrasted what Obama said about politics when he was a candidate with the petty things he's said about Republicans was pure genius, and Reaganesque. He dismantles the opposition's arguments not by attacking them but by putting its incoherence on display. Like Jason said above, it shows the man's depth.
Sep '10
Re: Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
Western Chauvinist: He finally internalized that his presentation was NOT ABOUT HIM! It made all the difference.
You may disagree with the theology, but Paul Ryan is Catholic and should understand. It isn't about his desires. · Oct 26 at 12:10pm
That's a great story, but I'm not sure where you're going with it. Paul Ryan is speaking out from his heart on subjects that go to the core of what needs doing in this country. He strikes me as the one man in politics who seems best to exemplify the man who knows that it's not about him. Are you saying he should feel called by his religion to run for president?
I wish he did feel that calling, but as he doesn't, he's still doing great work.
Edited on Oct 26, 2011 at 12:54pmDec '10
Re: Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
Bruce in Marin
[...] he's still doing great work.
If Romney is of any guidance, running an election in a state like Taxachusetts or in a district like Paul Ryan’s, it’s easier to make strong statements compared to when he is chasing 270 Electoral College votes.
Take Thaddeus McCotter. In his district, as long as he votes for union interests, he can and does say anything and win reelection. At the Electoral College level, no matter what he says he will not get elected because he votes for union interests. He wasn’t even invited to the panel of contestants at any of the candidates’ confabs, not even once to stand next to former Governor Gary Johnson and crack jokes about dogs and shovel ready jobs.
Take Rick Perry. There is a strong conviction among non-Southern commenters that his success in winning elections in Texas precludes his winning the GOP nomination for President.
Ryan may or may not turn into a Romney if he were to run for our nation’s presidency. He has told us he is the where he belongs right now as the majority party’s Chairman of the House Committee on the Budget.
Dec '10
Re: Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
Bruce in Marin
Western Chauvinist: You may disagree with the theology, but Paul Ryan is Catholic and should understand. It isn't about his desires.
That's a great story, but I'm not sure where you're going with it. Paul Ryan is speaking out from his heart on subjects that go to the core of what needs doing in this country. He strikes me as the one man in politics who seems best to exemplify the man who knows that it's not about him. Are you saying he should feel called by his religion to run for president?
I wish he did feel that calling, but as he doesn't, he's still doing great work. · Oct 26 at 12:53pm
I'm saying he should run for president despite his desire not to. He is the man of the moment. He has the ethic, the knowledge, the temperament, and a giant wellspring of supporters just waiting and praying he'll, albeit reluctantly, get in. He's humble enough, he'll be astonished at the groundswell under him.
This moment isn't about what Ryan wants. It's about what his country desperately needs.
Nov '10
Re: Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
Western Chauvinist
Bruce in Marin
That's a great story, but I'm not sure where you're going with it. Paul Ryan is speaking out from his heart on subjects that go to the core of what needs doing in this country. He strikes me as the one man in politics who seems best to exemplify the man who knows that it's not about him. Are you saying he should feel called by his religion to run for president?
I'm saying he should run for president despite his desire not to. He is the man of the moment. He has the ethic, the knowledge, the temperament, and a giant wellspring of supporters just waiting and praying he'll, albeit reluctantly, get in. He's humble enough, he'll be astonished at the groundswell under him.
This moment isn't about what Ryan wants. It's about what his country desperately needs.
Amen. Preach it, sister!
Sep '10
Re: Paul Ryan: Obama Preys on Fear and Envy
In his speech today, Paul Ryan tells it like it is: Obama is out of his league. He is a typical Chicago pol where politics is his sole means of support. He has no other life or career or skills to go back to after this. He and Mrs. Obama are there for the parties, high living and speechifying. Something any backbencher Chicago pol with a teleprompter could/would do given the same circumstances.
Because he has no intellectual heft, he has to resort to the ardent left wing playbook: demonize your critics instead of engaging them. Ryan most effectively pointed this out in his speech today.
Because Obama has limited professional skills, others have to do the heavy lifting for him. Take for instance the criticisms levied at him after the Bin Ladin killing: indecisiveness on taking Bin Ladin out. The story was that the heavy hitters (Panetta and Clinton) demanded he go after Bin Ladin. I'd wager these charges were more true than not, based on his nickname earned while in the Illinois legislature, which was: Stop! For being so indecisive.
A Ryan presidency? Why should he put himself through the gauntlet, when Obama is self destructing?