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Political Hay
Paul Ryan vs. ‘Medicare March’
The Democrats’ long knives come out — but not to cut spending.
Today House Republicans unveil their proposed federal budget for fiscal 2013. Democrats have already unleashed a “Medicare March” series of attack robocalls rather than a detailed alternative. “Republicans are on a maddening push once again to end Medicare and raise health-care costs for seniors, while giving more special tax breaks to big oil companies and millionaires,” says Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), who chairs the House Democrats’ congressional campaign committee.
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan is ready for the latest installment of his “Path to Prosperity” to become a political football. Ryan started hitting back the night before its release. “Make no mistake, years of empty promises from both political parties got us into this mess,” he said in a videotaped message. “But when it comes to the federal budget, the Democrat-led Senate hasn’t even proposed one in three years.”
Last year, Ryan’s budget was the only one to clear a single chamber of Congress. But it stalled in the Democratic Senate and then featured prominently in attack ads alleging that Medicare would be abolished. The conventional wisdom held that the House GOP’s spending cuts helped cost the party a special congressional election in a traditionally Republican district in New York.
This time around Ryan has teamed with liberal Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) to propose an alternative that would preserve the option of traditional Medicare but also encourage the purchase of private health insurance and the reduction of medical costs through market-based competition. Far from abolishing Medicare, the concept of shifting from single payer to a premium support system — if not the details of this specific plan — has in the past attracted the support of centrist Democrats.
The budget is to include a tax reform plan. Authored with House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI), it would replace the six existing individual income tax brackets with just two low rates: 10 percent and 25 percent. That would be the closest the country has come to a federal flat tax since the bipartisan tax reform signed into law by President Reagan in 1986.
Under Ryan-Camp, the corporate tax rate would be cut from 35 percernt to 25 percent. The Alternative Minimum Tax, which has been increasingly gobbling up middle-class incomes because it is not indexed to inflation, would be scrapped. Spending levels would be lower than those set by the debt ceiling deal last summer.
Ryan contrasts his budget with the president’s approach, which he argues contains more of everything: more taxes, more spending, and more debt. “Despite imposing roughly $2 trillion in tax increases on hardworking taxpayers the debt still skyrockets under his plan, and it will put us on par with countries like Greece,” Ryan said in his video. “That will mean sudden cuts to benefits, sudden tax increases, and really a fundamental change to the American way of life as we know it.”
While many leading Democrats have been reluctant to propose reductions in anything other than the defense budget, Ryan does have some spending cut competition. Last week, Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Jim DeMint (R-SC), and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a Tea Party budget that aims to reduce spending and the debt even faster.
The conservative senators’ budget includes a proposal to essentially enroll Medicare recipients in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, which chooses from a wide variety of private insurance plans, starting in 2014. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is another supporter of this measure, which also gradually raises the age of eligibility.
This needn’t produce a conflict. Last year, the conservative Republican Study Committee proposed an alternative to the Ryan budget in the House. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), like Rand Paul, did so in the Senate. Most of their supporters backed Ryan’s handiwork too. But given the reality of divided government, none of these plans is likely to become law. What they all can do is chart a course showing that serious and significant spending cuts are possible.
The Republican presidential candidates will weigh in on the congressional GOP budget proposals, and the reaction is likely to be broadly (if somewhat cautiously) supportive of Ryan. No denunciations of “right-wing social engineering” are expected this time around. There is growing awareness that the time for addressing the country’s fiscal problems is getting short.
For some, it is the height of campaign season and “Medicare March.” Others have their eyes on preventing a march off the fiscal cliff.
About the Author
W. James Antle, III, author of the new book Devouring Freedom: Can Big Government Ever Be Stopped?, is editor of the Daily Caller News Foundation and a senior editor of The American Spectator. You can follow him on Twitter @jimantle.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (53) | Leave a comment
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Timothy L. Pennell| 3.20.12 @ 8:14AM
I like Paul Ryan a lot. If you ask me, he's the smartest, most honest man, in Washington, and the Brightest Light in the Republican Party. It's too bad he's surrounded by cowards.
A while ago, maybe 2010, the The New York Post has a story on their Editorial Page, of The Muslim berating the fact that: "Nothing gets done on the Entitlements Crises, because whenever anyone comes up with ANYTHING, they are Attacked and Vilified. This has to stop, if we're ever gonna fix the problems we have."
As in his Pleas for "Civility", after the Gabrielle Giffords shooting, they were JUST WORDS. Kinda like "Shovel Ready" and "Compromise". Even when he gets one right - "Do Nothing Congress" - he gets it wrong, (we have a Do Nothing SENATE) and he doesn't mean it. Everything is a Political calculation. Every word is Focus Group tested. Everything he does is for the benefit of HIM, and the Country be Damned.
The last time that Paul Ryan put out a Plan, it was to SAVE Medicare. It was instantly pounced upon by President "This has to stop, if we're ever gonna fix the problems we have" and the "Quick, let's get a picture of ourselves standing around a statue of FDR" Democrats. And, because the Press is the Democrat's panting Whore, they assume the position, and with their painted lips, and dutifully mouth the words that they are told by their Trick. "I'm a filthy Whore. I'm a dirty Slut. The Republicans want to Kill Medicare and throw Grandma off a cliff in a wheelchair."
The Democrats have no intention of "Fixing" anything. They don't do that. They NEED the Problem. For going on 60 YEARS, they've been running on the exact same things: JOBS - EDUCATION - SOCIAL SECURITY - MEDICARE - RACISM - and their C*nt, Tw*t, MILF, Slut, Whore, B*tches (Hat Tip Bill Maher) in the main stream Media know it, so they bend over (like Alan) and slavishly take one for the team, on their Editorial Pages.
But, they weren't the only problem, last go around. I remember quite a few Republicans, Political Pundits, and so-called "Experts" who went after Mr. Ryan for having the temerity to actually try and SOLVE a Problem. They complained that "He should have waited". "He should have held back and let the Democrats go first." THIS is why things don't get done.
Ryan's Plan was Solid. His Numbers were Solid. His Allies, were anything but. He had given them the Keys to the Kingdom, but they were too scared to open the Gates. They felt safer in their Happy Place. "Fixing things is hard."
The "Mistake" was never the Plan. It was the Timidity (is that a word?) of its Proponents. We are a Nation of Drive Thru Restaurants. ATMs, Kids in School, Little League, Soccer, after school activities, life in general. You can't propose something "SCARY" in a manner that mimics the Paperboy's throwing of your paper. Especially, when you have the other side doing everything in their power, to hold on to the Status Quot.
This has to be EXPLAINED. The Pros need to be put out there. The inevitability of Medicare's implosion, needs to be stressed. The REASONS for doing this are as simple to explain, as it is to convince people to pick up and leave when the Volcano starts erupting.
We don't have a Do Nothing Congress. We have a Do Nothing DEMOCRAT PARTY. We have passed Bills. We have passed Budgets, and Reforms, and offered ways to get Spending and Debt under control. We just don't seem to wanna talk about it.
Like Golda Meir once famously said: "If I am not for me? Who will be for me?"
Indeed.
Put out your Plans, then stand behind them, and challenge the other side, to PUT UP their own Solution, or STF UP.
As Steve Jobs once said to the CEO of Corning Glass, when he doubted that he could make the Glass that Steve Jobs needed for his new IPhone: "Don't be afraid. You can do it."
Indeed.
Mimi| 3.20.12 @ 8:56AM
With-out changes Medicare will begin to run out of funds...If the DEMS are in control they will limit what can be done for the fragile , older citizens...No diagnostic tests etc. after a certain age...holding off visits to specialists...delay of appointments...eventual... THE PAIN/ COMFORT. the savings on Soc. Security too when they die earlier. The scandels of all this will fill up the NEWS ! GRANDMA GONE way too soon!
Paul Ryan is a God send...This does not have to be with his well thought out PLAN.
We have to get this "crew " out It is their WAY or the FREEDOM and AMERICAN way!
vtwin| 3.20.12 @ 10:45AM
Medicare like Social Security is paid for with taxes on working-class wages but since Reagan the the working-classes have been under assault and real incomes have fallen because of deunionization, illegal immigration, job outsourcing, deregulation, and financial mismanagement (the growing national debt) from one corrupt Republican administration after another.
idalily| 3.20.12 @ 2:20PM
Wrong. Medicare and Social Security are funded because rich people and profitable corporations HIRE people for JOBS and pay them wages, out of which Medicare and SS taxes are taken. No jobs, no moola. Get it? No poor person ever hired me for a job. And I doubt the 48% who pay no taxes are hiring anybody. Get a freaking clue. The rich are not the enemy. The vultures who suck off the public teat are the enemy.
vtwin| 3.20.12 @ 10:49AM
...and Ryan hopefully he is thrown out with Walker and the rest of the garbage in Wisconsin this year.
idalily| 3.20.12 @ 2:25PM
In your socialist utopian wet dreams.
Drunken Sailor| 3.20.12 @ 2:28PM
Good Luck with that. Even the Wisconsin Teachers unions are beginning to admit Walker's plan is working.
Purp| 3.20.12 @ 4:50PM
Ha! Point to that link please ... if you can.
WillyP | 3.20.12 @ 6:13PM
Google it... if you dare:
https://www.google.com/search?q=Wisconsin+Teachers+unions+are+beginning+to+admit+Walker+plan+is+working&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
Purp| 3.20.12 @ 4:49PM
and just exactly what will a federal insurance program do? deny claims, deny coverage. Right now, Medicare pays and Grandma is NOT gone. If you think an insurance company is going to treat Grandma better than a government guarantee - you aren't thinking.
Raise some taxes on the wealthy, remove the social security cap and voila, Social Security is saved! Ryan is an ideologue pushing an agenda that the elderly don't want.
Jack in Wi.| 3.21.12 @ 6:14AM
Ron Paul came up with one and a half trillion dollars in cuts without touching Medicare and Social Security. Until we do something like that we have no credibillity to get cuts in the entitlements. How can you cut taxes on the rich and benefits on the poor and sell that to the mass of American voters? The very wealthy have been on a welfare bailout of their banks and investment houses. How are you going to justify that much longer? The wars and foreign aid have to be closed down before we can get this country's fiscal house in order.
Paul Ryan is from my state and I like him. But in the end he is just a smart guy who has been in politics his whole career. This program of his will never sell. It s does not make political sense. The Democrats are going to make mincemeat out of it.
Von Mises Jr.| 3.20.12 @ 8:28AM
It appears that the Obama regime is on the fast track to spend the remainder of the debt ceiling increase of $2.4 trillion just before the election. It looks like he is angling for another CR showdown marionette.
The liberals need a crisis, since nobody would buy their bull in normal course of affairs. Methinks this charade is getting tired and worn out. But Marxist cannot helpm themselves from threatening to cut off granny's Medicare or our fine soldiers pay to attempt personal gain.
Mimi| 3.20.12 @ 8:36AM
If any Democratic Senator who is, facing election this year thinks for one minute the public is willing to give them another term.... for DOING nothing and outright neglect of duty in presenting a BUDGET....They are WRONG !
Their folly in support of the President who has caused untold DEBT by wild spending and waste, and fiscal sanity of such magnitude to put this NATION in such jeopardy can ever be forgotten.
If they think by mocking the one individualwho is constructively trying to save this country it isn't going to fly....NOT THIS TIME ! We WILL VOTE !!!
Peggy Rios| 3.20.12 @ 9:25AM
Any senator or representative who has been in congress for more than 8 years needs to be seriously looked at, his/her voting record seriously studied and you need to ask the question - he/she has been here for the good and the bad and has he/she helped create the ugly! If so, time to clean house.!
Purp| 3.20.12 @ 4:54PM
Most people don't care about a budget.
Mike Hawk| 3.20.12 @ 5:03PM
A-holes like you don't. Mommy and Daddy have been indulging you and now when you grow up you want Uncle Sugar to give you all the free shit you want. Sorry junior, you'll have to qork for it somehow anyway.
Purp| 3.20.12 @ 5:26PM
Sorry baldy - typical tired, old right-wing put down. you lost your brain with your hair. You really know nothing about me. I am rich, financially secure and I think it's hilarious how stupid you are falling for the right-wing bs about responsibility and freedom.
You have mistaken responsibility for pride, they are not equal. Because you are too lazy to bother, you simply accept whatever is said by whomever you have decided to believe - whether it is the preacher or the pig Rush Loudmouth. It's truly sad you are so ignorant. But that's your problem and not mine to solve.
What are you free to do? Any ideas?
Purp`| 3.20.12 @ 5:46PM
Hahahahahaha! Prove where they went with the probe put, they can go to hell. Otherwise assuming just another one of them those who that are I can assure you violating the Constitutional Seperation On Church Or State Claus I can assure you? Just to be clear? It is not a comparison at all. You would know exactly where the probe put they that went where with, they can go to hell? Ask the King Of England Queen. Its just the dame economy that sonofabitch Bush ruined! Seriously commie sonofabitch obsession seriously? Regan ruint it to! Insult commie obsession deaths seriously. Seriously? wtf ru babbling about. Seriously?.!; No free to do Presidentcy for you? Ideas insult deaths obsession commie ideas:;,.?!
Purp| 3.20.12 @ 6:05PM
Another tired adolescent right wing trick - taking someone's handle. Christ, can't you grow up and grow a pair? Don't hide, come out, we're gay friendly here.
Purp`| 3.20.12 @ 6:56PM
"Hahahahahaha!"
(Purp 3.10,4.10,5.10,6.10,7.10,8.10,9.10,10.10,11.10,12.10, 1.11,2.11,3.11,4.11,5.11,6.11,7.11,8.11,9.11,10.11,11.11,12.11, 1.12,2.12,3.12)
"But if the Republicant... wants to shove a probe in me or any other person for political reasons, I can assure you if it were you, you would know EXACTLY where that probe went, they can go to hell"
(Purp 2.24.12 @ 9:39PM)
"I can get an abortion, or an anal probe before I get Viagra"
(Purp 2.24.12 @ 9:46PM)
"Separation of Church and State"
(Purp 3.10,4.10,5.10,6.10,7.10,8.10,9.10,10.10,11.10,12.10, 1.11,2.11,3.11,4.11,5.11,6.11,7.11,8.11,9.11,10.11,11.11,12.11, 1.12,2.12,3.12)
"You're funny ... not me. the generic "I" ....im sure you knew what I meant"
(Purp 2.24.12 @ 12:27PM)
"Just to be clear...It is not a comparison at all"
(Purp 2.24.12 @ 4:25PM)
"Prove YOU pay for anything the Federal Govt. does"
(Purp 2.24.12 @ 9:39PM)
"(ask the King of England)"
(Purp 3.16.12 @ 8:36PM)
"Bush's fault"
(Purp 3.10,4.10,5.10,6.10,7.10,8.10,9.10,10.10,11.10,12.10, 1.11,2.11,3.11,4.11,5.11,6.11,7.11,8.11,9.11,10.11,11.11,12.11, 1.12,2.12,3.12)
"Reagan's fault"
(Purp 3.10,4.10,5.10,6.10,7.10,8.10,9.10,10.10,11.10,12.10, 1.11,2.11,3.11,4.11,5.11,6.11,7.11,8.11,9.11,10.11,11.11,12.11, 1.12,2.12,3.12)
"wtf ru babbling about?
(Purp 2.24.12 @ 9:35PM)
"what's the obsession with communism? Is that an insult? Communism is dead, so who cares what you call a communist, but you can't win a Presidency - who is your opponent?"
(Purp 3.16.12 @ 8:36PM)
"(? intentionally omitted)"
(Purp 2.24.12 @ 9:39PM)
From the Desk of Media Matters| 3.20.12 @ 8:51PM
Pierre-Jack Putz-Purp Brian-London Cutteridge-Pelosi,
You idiot.
Stop embarrassing us.
You are not doing any of us any favors.
MM staff as of today has now received the 27th resignation letter in eight days without any weeks notice stating the reason for their resignation is the posts of Jack Purpdon "or whoever that [various terms of disparagement loosely meaning 'an embarrassment' "] and the realization they do not wish to be associated with the same organization much less ideology as "this [various terms of disparagement loosely meaning 'an embarrassment' "].
All 27 resignation letters requested MM staff not serve as a reference for their future employment.
All 27 resignation letters threatened MM staff with legal proceedings should MM staff not honor the above requests.
All 27 resignation letters ended with statements to the effect they have seen the light and are joining various campaigns to ensure the defeat of "that [various terms of disparagement loosely meaning 'the embarrassment' currently in the executive office of the nation"].
You idiot.
You are killing us.
You idiot.
Stop killing us.
You idiot.
Stop embarrassing us.
You Idiot.
- MM staff
You idiot.
WL| 3.20.12 @ 6:13PM
You are pretty pathetic. It must really suck to be such an ignorant stooge.
I have always wondered what goes through the collective mind of a room full of zombies...
Now I know.
martin j smith| 3.20.12 @ 8:43AM
This election is not only about Obama it is about the Communists Party USA aka ( the Democratik? ) Party. Every one of them should voted out and should be held to account for their support for all of the destructive policies of the current administration. And the message should be sent to republican Socialists that they are no longer in style or acceptable as an alternative. Remember 2010 ? 2012 should double that times ten.
Notary Sojac| 3.20.12 @ 9:02AM
By 2040 or so, we will have a plan that's called "Medicare" but which will consist basically of outpatient clinics and hospices.
We won't be able to afford anything else. This will happen irrespective of which political party is in charge.
Derek Leaberry| 3.20.12 @ 9:11AM
I'm still waiting for the Republicans to offer a budget that cuts discretionary spending at 2008 levels at the very least. But I don't expect it to happen because the Republicans seem as addicted to spending as the Democrats are.
Bill| 3.20.12 @ 9:51AM
Paul Ryan is a legend.
Petronius| 3.20.12 @ 10:07AM
Republicans tried once before to create a civilian cohort making all citizens working in the private sector eligible for the FEHB and Senate Dems wouldn't have it because they knew it would solve the problem of the uninsured. But Noooo! They wanted and we now have a law which will transform the best medical care on earth into an abysmal failure just like the UK's NHS where patients are treated like cord wood. And it doesn't matter what your politics are either. If the hospital staff doesn't like you, they kill you. Read the horror stories in the London Daily Mail and think about subjecting yourself to those conditions. And what for? EQUALITY of outcome. Welcome to the dictatorship of the soreheads, weenies, and losers.
vtwin| 3.20.12 @ 10:22AM
It's like the game whack-a-mole, if the Republicans aren't attacking the middle class it's woman or the poor again... and why? To pay for tax cuts for the wealthy.
Mimi| 3.20.12 @ 10:51AM
GET OFF IT ! The well to do among us pays for EVERYTHING....Do you want ALL their money?
vtwin| 3.20.12 @ 11:58AM
If the "well to do" paid for EVERYTHING why do we have a deficit?
idalily| 3.20.12 @ 2:23PM
Yes, how dare those evil rich people want to keep the money they EARNED by their hard work and entrepreneurial spirit. How dare they take what I "deserve" because I'm poor. How dare they! Gimme, gimme, gimme.
Sarc off.
Drunken Sailor| 3.20.12 @ 2:29PM
Ummm, because that 48% that pay for nothing want even more social programs so they can have more for nothing. But you already knew that didn't you?
Dmac | 3.20.12 @ 5:41PM
Compared to the increased rate of their income the rich or well to do do not pay for everything.
when you look at the percentages many of them pay after all their deductions, deductions the majority don't have because they are tailored for the rich, they usually pay the same or less than the average middle class family percentage wise. Yet there income is tens of times higher than the average middle class family.
I'm not suggesting they pay more, I'm suggesting it is ignorant of the Republican party to suggest a tax cut for the wealthiest Americans when the country is so deep in debt. It just looks bad, and it looks bad because it is bad. The number of lower class and middle class voters far outnumber the number of upper class voters. Why would any sane politican suggest such a thing.
It's like saying, "I'm Walter Mondale, and I'm gonna raise your taxes". Those that are hurting finacially will be offended by this, and the Democrats are going to have a field day with it.
rcyanc| 3.20.12 @ 11:22AM
Really?......back it up, give examples....otherwise you're just spewing liberal talking points.
vtwin| 3.20.12 @ 12:05PM
The Republican controlled House just released budget; lowers the top tax brackets and then cuts Medicare benefits for the elderly to pay for it.
skip| 3.20.12 @ 1:33PM
vtwin vtwin vtwin
Bush and the republican House cut taxes in 2001.
Bush and the republican House cut taxes in 2002.
Bush and the republican House cut taxes in 2003.
Federal revenue in 2003 was $1.782314 trillion.
Federal revenue in 2007 was $2.567985 trillion, an increase of more than 44%.
The Bush and the republican House tax cuts for the wealthy resulted in the top 1% paying 40.42% of the 2.567985 trillion 2007 federal revenue, which was increased over 44% more than the federal revenue of 2003 after the tax cuts, which was more than the bottom 95% combined who paid 39.37% combined of the 2.567985 trillion 2007 federal revenue, which was increased over 44% more than the federal revenue of 2003 after the tax cuts.
Bush and the republican House last released budget in 2007 had a deficit of $0.160701 trillion.
Bush and the democrat House released budgets in 2008 and 2009 had deficits of $0.458553 trillion and $1.412688 trillion.
Obama and the democrat House enacted the ObamaStimulus plan in 2009 and added the plan to the Bush and the democrat House 2009 budget that resulted in the deficit of $1.412688 trillion.
Obama and the democrat House released budgets in 2010 and 2011 had deficits of $1.293489 trillion and $1.299595.
The democrat House budgets in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 had deficits at least 285%, 879%, 804%, and 808% higher than the last Bush and the republican House 2007 budget deficit.
You are either being stupid, being a liar, or both. You know it, and I know it. Why are you being this way?
fiscal| 3.20.12 @ 2:38PM
"Federal revenue in 2007 was $2.567985 trillion, an increase of more than 44%."
This is TOTALLY misleading. You are making numbers lie by choosing a period of time AFTER a huge drop in 2001 and before another drop in 2007. We need to tell people the truth. Today, federal revenues are about the same as they were in 2003.
http://www.heritage.org/Budget.....t-revenues
The Ryan plan is just as irresponsible as Obama's because it raises the debt dramatically -- in fact, more than Obama's. For those of you who think that Grandma will be killed under Obama's plan, the same is true for this plan because when you privatize Medicare there is no insurance company that will pay for the extreme care necessary at the end of life unless there are premiums seniors cannot afford.
I wish both sides would be responsible and put together a plan that actually makes sense instead of political theater. The fact is you have to CUT Medicare and Social Security AND pay for unfunded liabilities through some revenue increases. We can't pay for extending the life of seniors through extraordinary means in any plan since half of all Medicare costs are in the last year of life. We don't have enough federal revenues to do anything else.
Personally, I'd be fine with limiting Medicare and means testing Social Security. But it is irresponsible to tell citizens that we'll support these programs if we are not willing to pay for them.
As a Libertarian, I'd cut these programs way back and have no problem with having some sort of panel limiting coverages. If people want more, they can get supplemental private insurance.
Of course, I'm also in favor of a flat tax which includes payroll taxes since there are no trust funds. That will take care of any inequality.
But that aside, we need fiscal conservatives who actually reiterate the facts and not the political spin like tax cuts stimulate the economy. We have the data -- they don't. I want lower taxes, but we can only do that by making hard choices -- not the Obama plan and NOT the Ryan plan which are both political fantasies.
Fecal| 3.20.12 @ 3:43PM
There is no credibility in the Fecal material of the liberal Fiscal:
"The Ryan plan is just as irresponsible as the Obama's"
(Fiscal 3/21 @ 2:38pm)
"Here is an article by Republican Bruce Bartlett giving more information on unfunded liabilities"
(Fiscal 3/15 @ 4:43pm)
"financial companies [were] the major cause of the problem -- not the CRA, not Fannie and Freddie, not government"
(Fiscal 2/24 @ 1:04pm)
"Republicans actually believe that tax cuts can stimulate GDP"
(Fiscal 2/24 @ 4:45pm)
"Markets do not behave well on their own"
(Fiscal 2/24 @ 3:57pm)
"It is a mistake not to fault Republicans for forcing more Government on us"
(Fiscal 2/24 @ 3:46pm)
"It's obvious you don't believe in evolution -- or for that matter, that the earth is round"
(Fiscal 3/15 @ 4:25pm)
"Fox will blatantly lie"
(Fiscal 2/20 @ 2:24pm)
""Conservatives" have become religious extremists oriented towards whites"
(Fiscal 2/11 @ 5:53am)
"I remain unconvinced that any political ideology is more "moral" than any other"
(Fiscal 2/28 @ 9:16am)
"Believing in social welfare and helping the poor is just as "Christian", perhaps even more so"
(Fiscal 2/11 @ 5:53am)
Quartermaster| 3.20.12 @ 3:44PM
The man is intentionally obtuse because he's a liar.
JGwen| 3.20.12 @ 10:59AM
Social Security and Medicare have youth (and the middle aged) paying into a Ponzi scheme. Of course when they finally fully realize the truth ... many will cheerfully support "a plan that's called "Medicare" but which will consist basically of outpatient clinics and hospices." Our state cheerfully supporting and hastening to implement ObamaCare has had legislation offered this term for "Single Payer" and "Palliative Care education" already.
As a Medicare "client," I would welcome an opportunity to get both the Feds and the State out of "command and control" roles of the relationship between myself and my doctor. I am willing to fore-go an implied faux guarantee of unlimited provision of medical care, for a finite funding that I can supplement with personal funds, if I have them. A version of a health savings account with catastrophic coverage might be included as one of the available answers.
Unfortunately after years of lies and unfulfillable promises, the time is past due to right the ship. It is time to act as responsible considerate adults.
Ryan, Wyden and Camp deserve our appreciation and SUPPORT, for their efforts to push our Nation in the right direction. Much power to them!
RJ| 3.20.12 @ 12:52PM
Paul Ryan is a most impressive public servant. Best of luck to him. He deserves our full support. We need more like him in government.
ncatty| 3.20.12 @ 12:59PM
Ryan is a serious person.
Oldefarte| 3.20.12 @ 1:07PM
Jim's editorial and several enlightened bloggers here that GET IT paint the sad portrait of a nation of STUPIDS. The truth has been out there for decades [and especially on 11/4/08] but the STUPIDS are so blind they cannot see it. Ryan and others are telling the factual truth of our nation's fiscal crisis, and unless/until the STUPIDS can use their supposed common sense and realize that these Democrats have been and forever will be LYING FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH PARTISANED PURPOSES, then nothing will be able to be accompolished. This economic disaster is going to be extremely painful and suffocating to remedy, but unless we bite the bullet and face the truth, it will eventually destroy us all financially. Ryan and these R's are truthfully telling it like it is and are offering various solutions, but it will be up to us to adorn our political blinders and not fall victim to the BS of the Democratic Party. Are we as a nation capable of the common sense needed? We'll see on 11/4/12!!!!!!!!!!
fiscal| 3.20.12 @ 2:39PM
"Federal revenue in 2007 was $2.567985 trillion, an increase of more than 44%."
This is TOTALLY misleading. You are making numbers lie by choosing a period of time AFTER a huge drop in 2001 and before another drop in 2007. We need to tell people the truth. Today, federal revenues are about the same as they were in 2003.
http://www.heritage.org/Budget.....t-revenues
The Ryan plan is just as irresponsible as Obama's because it raises the debt dramatically -- in fact, more than Obama's. For those of you who think that Grandma will be killed under Obama's plan, the same is true for this plan because when you privatize Medicare there is no insurance company that will pay for the extreme care necessary at the end of life unless there are premiums seniors cannot afford.
I wish both sides would be responsible and put together a plan that actually makes sense instead of political theater. The fact is you have to CUT Medicare and Social Security AND pay for unfunded liabilities through some revenue increases. We can't pay for extending the life of seniors through extraordinary means in any plan since half of all Medicare costs are in the last year of life. We don't have enough federal revenues to do anything else.
Personally, I'd be fine with limiting Medicare and means testing Social Security. But it is irresponsible to tell citizens that we'll support these programs if we are not willing to pay for them.
As a Libertarian, I'd cut these programs way back and have no problem with having some sort of panel limiting coverages. If people want more, they can get supplemental private insurance.
Of course, I'm also in favor of a flat tax which includes payroll taxes since there are no trust funds. That will take care of any inequality.
But that aside, we need fiscal conservatives who actually reiterate the facts and not the political spin like tax cuts stimulate the economy. We have the data -- they don't. I want lower taxes, but we can only do that by making hard choices -- not the Obama plan and NOT the Ryan plan which are both political fantasies.
Fecal| 3.20.12 @ 6:13PM
There is no credibility in the Fecal material of the liberal Fiscal:
"This is TOTALLY misleading. You are making numbers lie by choosing a period of time AFTER a huge drop in 2001 and before another drop in 2007. We need to tell people the truth. Today, federal revenues are about the same as they were in 2003."
(Fiscal 3/20 @ 2:39pm)
2000 federal revenue:
$2.025191 trillion
(OMB 24/7 @ 24/7)
2001 federal revenue:
$1.991082 trillion
(OMB 24/7 @ 24/7)
"You are making numbers lie by choosing a period of time AFTER a huge drop in 2001"
(Fiscal 3/20 @ 2:39pm)
2006 federal revenue:
$2.406869 trillion
(OMB 24/7 @ 24/7)
2007 federal revenue:
$2.567985 trillion
(OMB 24/7 @ 24/7)
"You are making numbers lie by choosing a period of time AFTER a huge drop in 2001 and before another drop in 2007."
(Fiscal 3/20 @ 2:39pm)
2003 federal revenue:
$1.782314 trillion
(OMB 24/7 @ 24/7)
2011 federal revenue:
$2.303466 trillion
(OMB 24/7 @ 24/7)
"Today, federal revenues are about the same as they were in 2003."
(Fiscal 3/20 @ 2:39pm)
"Bush and the republican House cut taxes in 2001.
Bush and the republican House cut taxes in 2002.
Bush and the republican House cut taxes in 2003.
Federal revenue in 2003 was $1.782314 trillion.
Federal revenue in 2007 was $2.567985 trillion, an increase of more than 44%."
(skip 3/20 @ 1:33pm)
"This TOTALLY misleading."
(Fiscal 3/20 @ 2:39pm)
fiscal| 3.20.12 @ 7:26PM
Look at the chart, idiot...
http://www.heritage.org/Budget.....t-revenues"
It's obvious you need some training in mathematics....
O.F. A.N. A.S.S.| 3.20.12 @ 8:04PM
We sheep marvel how the human species can be so easily misled.
We sheep first suspected Fiscal and fckewe were one and the same 2/24 when we saw the following:
"Science does not define the beginning of life" - Fiscal / fckewe 2.24 @ 11:49am
"True science is silent on the issue of when life begins" - Fiscal / fckewe 2.24 @ 12:09pm
"In fact, it is technically "life" prior to conception" - Fiscal / fckewe 2.24 @ 12:45pm
"I said the "technically", life begins prior to conception" - Fiscal / fckewe 2.24 @ 1:12pm
"I never said that life STOPS at conception" - Fiscal / fckewe 2.24 @ 1:44pm
"So tell me where in the Constitution you find anyplace to outlaw abortion" - Fiscal / fckewe 2.24 @ 7:26pm
We moral conservative sheep are good at seeing through an immoral liberal wolf crossdresser wearing woman's intimates pretending to be one of the family and moral themselves.
Ovines For
A Nation
Absent Species Sodomization
O.F. A.N. A.S.S.| 3.21.12 @ 12:55PM
Even sheep know the the heritage.org graph graphs the yearly revenues from OMB cited above that the sodomizer in granny pajamas states is "TOTALLY misleading".
Even sheep wonder how stupid one of the human species has to be to cry wolf over the accuracy of numbers from OMB by using a graph of the very same OMB numbers to state these OMB numbers are "TOTALLY misleading".
Even sheep wonder how stupid one of the human species has to be who cries wolf over the accuracy of OMB numbers showing a 4 year 44% increase, that can clearly be identified in a graph of the OMB numbers that clearly shows the 4 year 44% increase, that the crying wolf states is "TOTALLY misleading".
But then even sheep realize we are totally misleading ourselves when we sheep forget for a moment the crybaby wolf crossdresser pretending to be morally responsible like one of us is really a sodomizer of sheep.
Ovines For
A Nation
Absent Species Sodomization
Purp| 3.20.12 @ 4:55PM
If you want to save this country, get rid of the too big to fail anything. Too big Banks, Big Oil companies, Big Corporations of any kind that dictate through their lobbyists what the government can and cannot do, and put the people back in charge. They sure aren't now.
idalily| 3.20.12 @ 10:19PM
Can we get rid of the too big to fail car companies that keep union workers on inflated wages at the taxpayer's expense to make a crappy car? Can we get rid of the too big to fail unions and THEIR lobbyists?
Mark in LA| 3.20.12 @ 9:13PM
Unless defense is cut by at least 50%, why should people who have built this country and fought in its wars have their standard of living cut first?
Indiana Alex| 3.20.12 @ 10:04PM
The liberal solution to every problem is simply increase taxes. It is not surprising that such simple people cannot think beyond this simple solution.
The fact of the matter is that liberal's policy prescriptions a so revolting to so many, they must distract, dissemble and demonize to ensure their nonsense is not the focus of serious debate.
POST American| 3.20.12 @ 11:47PM
---Speaking of the agenda for things
'med--ICK--CULL' ----and putting aside
our 50 ---1 MILLION, and climbing,
abortion death toll
JUST IN
-Mandated FREE sterilizations for ALL
women in college, and similar services
soon to be on the way for the men
-informed sources report nano tech
is being used in vaccines to nano-chip
you without your knowing it
-it is now revealed, Monsanto BANS
its own deadly stealth EUGENICS
GMO 'foods' from its own cafeterias
-further moves to mandate injections
in California and 'surprise' injection
ops invading public schools
-'official', front page 'med--ICK---CULL'
opinion now ok's not only injections
-----BUT! ---CHEMO for pregnant women
SO----KEEP following them tax free
EUGENIC agendas!
-----KEEP takin' them MEDS
---------Sports n' porn
------------------RED China wampum
------------------------n' RULE by 'X-spurts'
----------------------------JUST KEEP ON GOIN'!