Paul Ryan is the right choice for Mitt Romney. Paul Ryan in the essential choice for the times.
If you get the big things right, the small things will fall in line. In selecting Representative Paul Ryan as his running mate, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made a big and bold decision that ensures that for the rest of this pivotal campaign, we will be talking about the big issue: How to set our nation's finances aright to ensure America remains a place where our children and our grandchildren can fulfill their dreams and continues as the country able to marshal the world to tackle our most pressing challenges from a position of strength.
As I have been counseling for some time, Romney must keep a razor-sharp focus on the economy to win. A breakout opportunity existed for the candidate willing to commit to make his first priority addressing the fiscal cliff: the most significant factor depressing economic activity.
During the 13 years I have known Paul Ryan, I have not heard him talk seriously about anything other than the economy, and every fiber in his body is dedicated to pressing America to make the tough decisions necessary for his young children's generation to enjoy the same opportunities in life that his generation enjoyed.
I have long advocated Governor Tim Pawlenty as someone with a proven track record of enacting fiscally responsible legislation. Paul Ryan has an equally impeccable record on this score. For more than a decade, the U.S. Senate rarely has put forth any budget. In contrast, the Republican majority in the U.S. House has consistently put forth a budget -- one that was directly correct but constrained in its ambition by competing priorities. Yet, year after year, Paul Ryan has been offering a budget that called for the difficult decisions necessary to balance the budget.
Fiscal responsibility is now being forced on Europe and will be forced on America unless we take the bull by the horns in the months ahead. No one has devoted more effort to finding the best path for America to move beyond posturing to authentically meeting our many priorities than Paul Ryan.
Paul Ryan and President Barack Obama agree on one thing. In his address on health care to a joint session of Congress, Obama said, "Put simply, our health care problem is our deficit problem. Nothing else even comes close." Paul Ryan not only believes this is true -- he has acted as if it was true. Indeed, he is a lightning rod because he has had the courage to go beyond rhetoric to present authentic proposals to address this reality.
Early in the presidential primaries, many seasoned political operatives said there was no way Romney could win because he lacked clarity of contrast with Obama on the dominant issue of the day: health care. Comments by Romney staffers Andrea Saul and Eric Fehrnstrom have further muddled this contrast. With his vice president choice, Romney has clarified his position on this fundamental issue.
Mitt Romney's choice of Paul Ryan will definitely energize conservatives. While Paul Ryan's policy prescriptions will indeed spark debate, his intelligent, youthful energy and boldness will attract many moderates. If Romney truly embraces Ryan as part of his ticket, it will increase his likelihood of winning. Yet, whether or not Romney wins, his choice is a win for America. Finally, we will be talking about the big issues, not petty politics. It is only by addressing these big issues that we can keep the American Dream alive for future generations and keep America the world's most essential nation.
Mark R. Kennedy leads George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and is Chairman of the Economic Club of Minnesota. He previously served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and was Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Federated Department Stores (now Macy's).
Follow Mark R. Kennedy on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MNMarkKennedy
 |
 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
Also, remind me again when the "Ryan Plan" has us to a balanced budget? According to the CBO analysis done with numbers and economic assumptions supplied by Paul Ryan, I'm pretty sure they project balanced budgets about THIRTY FIVE YEARS from now. And all we have to give up to get there is $5.3 T in cuts to non defense spending (62% of them from programs for the poor), TRILLIONS in new tax cuts for the rich (in addition to the trillions required to make the Bush tax cuts permanent) and ending Medicare as we know it? That's ALL?
No thank you!!!!!
But I have always said Murdock would some day own HP.
If 2 plus 2 equals four, we don't need voices for other points of view.
The guy's function now is in political quackery with a specialization in trickle down economic mumbo-jumbo. If it weren't for the fact that the economic model he calls for equates to even more tax cuts to the wealthy, we would never have even heard about Paul Ryan.
He wants to shrink Government, cut taxes, but EXPAND the Military budget.
To protect Corporate interests of course and for no other reason.
Ryan' s ridiculous proposals to privatize SS and Medicare are not to be takes seriously. They are not really on the agenda. There is absolutely no real support at large for this.
The real choices this country faces are:
1) Do we continue to play the monopoly game even after the 0.1% have triumphed? Do we continue to pretend that the statuesque is salvageable, that the game is not already over?
Or
2) Do we pursue tax and regulatory reforms that directly institute wealth redistribution from the top 1% down to the consumer/workers? Do we pursue policies to reshuffle the deck/restart the game and create a more just and equitable society?
I am afraid that both Obama and Romney want to just play and pretend...they are selecting choice #1. Choice one won't work of course and it is the same irresponsible course taken in previous centuries in Russia and France.
Does that include Mr. Ryan's votes for the Bush tax cuts (unpaid for), two wars (unpaid for), ethanol subsidies, TARP, subsidies for oil companies, etc. etc. etc??
The saddest thing is that Mr. Ryan is what qualifies as an "intellectual heavyweight" for Republicans. The guy has an undergraduate degree in Econ. That's it.....
Cheers!
Mr. Kennedy also notes that "If you get the big things right, the small things will fall in line" and that "Paul Ryan and President Barack Obama agree on one thing. ... "Put simply, our health care problem is our deficit problem. Nothing else even comes close." So I have one other simple question for the author: have you ever heard of this thing called the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare)? President Obama HAS taken decisive, definitive action to "get the big thing right". All Mr. Ryan has is talk and a plan that will kill Medicare in order to save it. Well, that and TRILLIONS in further tax cuts for the rich. Insane....
It was intended to pay for basic Healthcare only.
Politicians have promised us expensive services and can't pay for it.
So cut it back to a basic plan and then you can pay for expensive part if you need it.
It's time.......................Ryan will propose this and it needs to be done, or Monetary Default.
Not quite.
Ryan will assure the GOP will finally be talking about the big issues, Obama and the Dems have already started to demogogue them and attempt to personally destroy Ryan.