Ryan: "Oops!... But..."

He was against it before he was for it.

Paul Ryan is the latest Republican hypocrite to spout off about all the evils of Obama’s stimulus plan while simultaneously requesting stimulus money for his district.

Congressman Ryan fancies himself to be a “true conservative.”  He finds the whole concept of government hand outs distasteful.  Over the past few years he has been quite vocal about his disdain for Obama’s stimulus; claiming that it didn’t work and didn’t create jobs.  But we now know that while he was publically criticizing the president’s plan he was writing letters requesting stimulus money for his constituents.

In 2009 Ryan wrote letters to the Department of Energy and the Department of Labor seeking stimulus money for two energy conservation companies.  One of them, Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corp. received $20.3 million for the energy Department to help homes and businesses improve energy efficiency.

When pressed on the matter Ryan denied applying for any stimulus funds.  Later, having read the letters, he admitted that he was wrong; that he had in fact applied for the funds...BUT they were treated as “constituent requests.” We guess means that he only applied for the money because his constituents asked him to???

“Regardless”, Ryan said, “it’s clear that the Obama stimulus did nothing to stimulate the economy and now the President is asking to do it all over again.”

In Mr. Ryan’s defense he is merely parroting the talking points handed down from Republican headquarters: “The economy sucks so the stimulus didn’t work.”  Republicans intend to ride that horse all the way to November.

The problem they have is that according to virtually every economist the stimulus did work.  The problem is the stimulus wasn’t big enough.  While it is hard to prove a negative; economists agree that were it not for the money infused into the economy by the President’s stimulus plan the economy would have fallen into a deep depression. If you want proof look no further than the jobs numbers. 

When Obama took office the country was losing private sector jobs at a rate of 750,000 PER MONTH. Since the President implemented his plan we have had 29 straight months of job GROWTH.  Last month the economy generated 163,000 net new jobs…and increase of 913,000 jobs per month since Obama took over.  Where in the hell do Ryan and his cronies think that job growth came from?  In fact the net growth numbers would be even greater if not for the decrease in public sector jobs caused by Republicans implementing their austerity measures at the state and local levels.

Obama wants another stimulus and he wants the wealthiest Americans to pay for it by raising their taxes.  Republicans say that you can’t increase taxes at a time of a struggling economy because it will take money out of people’s pockets.  By “people” they mean the rich.   Yet Republicans want to slash federal discretionary spending which has exactly the same negative effect…only on the middle class and working poor.

Mr. Ryan has proven himself to be quite adept at that age old strategy used by politicians everywhere…when caught in a compromising hypocritical moment…lie.

Mr. Ryan says that he is a devout practicing Catholic.  As such he should know better.

          

You Can't Make This Stuff Up!

DON”T SWEAT THE DETAILS – Let’s say you have an old car that hasn’t been running right.  You’re planning a long trip and are worried that the old beater won’t get you there.  So you stop in at the new car dealer and tell the salesman your story.  “I’ve got the perfect vehicle for you” he says.  And he shows you this wonderful red coup.  But they guy won’t tell you the size of the engine.  He won’t show you the accessories.  He won’t tell you if it’s good on gas.  He won’t even tell you how much it’s going to cost.  “Trust me!” he says.  “It’s just the thing to get you where you want to go.”  Then he asks you for a blank check.  “We’ll fill the amount in after you’ve taken delivery.” 

Would you buy a car from this man?

That’s Romney/Ryan on overhauling the tax code.  The Republican nominees say they will:  “lower the tax rates broaden the base and eliminate the tax loop holes.”  But when you ask them for specifics as to what loop holes they want to eliminate…they won’t say.  No more deductions for mortgage interest?  Not sayin’.  No more charitable deductions?  My lips are sealed.  Ryan says he won’t reveal them: “because they have to be worked out with congress after the election.”  Romney says he won’t reveal them: “because if I do I’ll just be attacked.”  Really!  So we are supposed to accept the Romney/Ryan tax plan without being given the specifics???

SPEAKING OF TAXES – Mitt Romney hoped that the announcement of his running mate would get the media off his back about his tax returns.  Nope!  In fact Anne Romney was asked about them in a recent interview.  An obviously irritated Mrs. Romney stuck to the company line:  “We have been transparent to what is legally required of us…there’s going to be no more tax releases given…because when we release information it only gives them (Democrats) more ammunition to attack.”

The media consensus is that whatever flack the campaign is getting for refusing to release additional years of returns is nothing compared to the damaging information those additional returns might contain.  Some pundits have opined that the information might be damaging enough to kill any chance Romney might have of winning the election.  The three common theories are:  1.) he paid zero income tax, 2.) he paid taxes at a rate far below that of the average American, 3.) he has avoided paying income taxes by sheltering huge sums of wealth in offshore accounts and 4.) the piece de resistance…that he committed a felony by failing to report offshore income and took advantage of the Federal Tax Amnesty Program to tell Uncle Sam about his offshore holdings without fear of jail time.  Romney’s continued silence only leads to more speculation.

STOPPING VOTER FRAUD IN PENNSYLVANIA – Republican Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson ruled that he would not grant an injunction that would have halted the states’ new voter ID law.  The law requires voters show a valid government issued photo ID that includes an expiration date.  The law makes it difficult for the elderly, disabled, poor and young adults to vote by outlawing the forms of ID they had used in previous years; such as utility bills, tax bills, or social security cards.  Many in this demographic do not have driver’s licenses…the most commonly used form of photo ID…because they use public transportation.  Opponents are expected to appeal the ruling before the State Supreme Court; but not in time for the November election. 

The purpose of the law was to eliminate what was originally described as “rampant voter fraud in the state.” But in a law suit to bring disposition of the law into the courts the supporters of the law agreed that there never has been any substantive instance of voter fraud nor is there any indication that there may be an increase in voter fraud in the upcoming election. In fact, during the 2008 elections there were only 4 cases over voter fraud found among over 650,000 ballots cast in the state.  Clearly this is a brazen effort on the part of Republicans to make it harder to vote for the demographics that typically support Democrats.  If you find that hard to believe consider the words of the state’s Republican House Majority Leader Mike Turzai who pronounced last June that the new voter ID requirement: “is going to allow Governor Romney to win the state.”

Congratulations to Judge Simpson and the Pennsylvania state legislature.  You have succeeded in overturning the very cornerstone on which this country was founded…the right that EVERY American…not just the ones who are wealthy and vote Republican… has to vote. 

ROMNEY LECTURES DEMOCRATS - Mitt Romney urged Democrats and specifically Barak Obama to: "take your campaign of division and hate back to Chicago."  This from the guy who carpet bomded his Republican primary rivals with millions of dollars of ugly personal attack ads.  We warned Romney earlier that he might get away with these negative tactics within the safe harbor of the Republican primaries; but when he got to the general election he was "gonna' need a bigger boat." His Republican challengers didn't have the fire power to fight back.  Obama does; and Romney doesn't like it.  Captain Romney is not used to being challenged.  He gets defensive.  He's a bit thin skinned.  You could see the annoyance in his debate performance during the primaries and you can see it now.  He doesn't handel return fire very well.  Better hunker down Mitt.  You thought the media scrutiny and the negative attacks were bad before...  Now that you've picked Mr. Ryan its only going to get worse. Surely you know that you reap what you sew.            

           

Missing From The Headlines

We’d like to use our time today to bring you waht we think is a very interesting story.  Perhaps we are wrong in our assessment as it is a story that has gone virtually ignored by the national media.  So at the risk of wasting your time…here goes.

The United States of America is at war in Afghanistan. 

2,088 members of the United States military have been killed in Afghanistan; the most recent on August 10, 2012 when six Marines were murdered by our Afghan partners.  The youngest Marine was 21 years of age.  He was 10 when the war started.

15,322 members of the United States military have been wounded.

The war in Afghanistan continues to cost American taxpayers $2 billion dollars per week.

The war was started without an exit strategy.  The president has said that we will pull out of Afghanistan in 2014...maybe.  The Republicans believe we should stay there as long as it takes to secure a victory.  No one can provide a definition of “victory.”

We don’t fault the national media for ignoring this story.  Americans aren’t really all that interested.  The two guys running for president don’t even mention it.  And there is only so much space and time to cover Biden’s malapropos and Romney’s stilted dialogue.

America is at war.  Our young men and women are dying.

Maybe we are wrong.  Maybe it’s not that important.

We just thought you should know.       

      

Medicare: Fact vs. Fiction

The primary topic of recent conversation in the world of politics has been the candidate’s different views on fixing Medicare.  And as usual there has been a ton of misinformation produced primarily by campaign attack ads.  So we thought it might be helpful once and for all to set the record straight and tell you the truth about Medicare. 

This is not a partisan dissertation.  These are the facts as derived from multiple independent/bi-partisan sources.

Let’s start with the most recent accusation flying around today; that the President “stole” $716 billion from Medicare to pay for “Obamacare.”  That statement is simply and factually not true.

The President’s Affordable Care Act takes $716 billion in SUBSIDIES currently paid to private Medicare Advantage Plans and uses the money to close the so called “doughnut hole” that causes seniors to pay their prescription drugs.  That money goes toward eliminating co-pays for preventative care for seniors.   Medical experts are unanimous in their findings that access to preventative care allows for treatment of illness and disease in the earlier stages thereby reducing the need for more extensive, invasive and expensive treatment later.  “Obamacare doesn’t steal from Medicare.  It takes the money from PRIVATE INSURANCE PROVIDERS and gives it back to the TAXPAYERS to use for prescription drugs and preventative care.

“Obamacare” also uses some of the savings bring provide access to affordable health care for 30 million previously uninsured Americans.  These uninsured folks use hospital emergency rooms as their primary health care provider.  Local ER’s are the most expensive means of treatment provided under our healthcare system.  The cost for caring for these 30 million uninsured is passed on to the paying customers through increased fees and higher premiums.  Obamacare requires those that can afford health care to buy it or pay a fine.  It provides premium subsidies to those who are financially challenged.  By pulling these people out of the ER’s and onto the paying health care rolls Obamacare adds another layer of cost reduction to the existing system.

Obamacare also allows individuals to maintain their coverage even if they lose their job.  It makes it illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions and prohibits insurance companies from cancelling coverage for pre-existing conditions as well.  It allows children to remain on their parents’ policies until they reach the age of 26 and it eliminates annual caps on benefits.

Romney’s plan makes the same $716 billion in cuts.  But it uses the money to partially privatize Medicare for those less than 55 years of age.  Those 55 and older will receive the same Medicare benefits they do today.  Those under 55 will receive a lump sum payment.  They will use this payment to buy insurance through a number of private plans or from Medicare itself.  If the lump sum payment proves insufficient to cover their medical expenses they will be expected to pay them out of pocket. 

It is important to note that Romney has said on numerous occasions that he will repeal “Obamacare” if elected.  Therefore all the “Obamacare” protections against discrimination and cancellation for pre-existing conditions will be eliminated.  As a result, under the Romney plan seniors who typically have some sort of pre-existing condition will be expected to obtain affordable healthcare with the finite “voucher” or “premium support payment” issued by the government. 

Independent analysts have found that the Romney Plan would require seniors to pay significantly more for their health care...some saying by as much as $6500 per year.  The Medicare Trustees responsible for overseeing the administration of the program have said the following: “The financial outlook for the Medicare program is substantially improved as a result of the changes in the Affordable Care Act.”   

  

        

       

         

Romney/Ryan: Rumblin' Stumblin' Bumblin'

The Rumblin’, Stumblin’ Bumblin’ Campaign continues. 

We commented on this topic the other day.  But this roll out of Paul Ryan has been so horrifically bad that it bears repeating.

The weeks between the announcement of the vice president pick and the national convention are traditionally a time of unbridled enthusiasm and rising poll numbers.  This is the time that the candidates strut their presidential bona fides before rabid crowds of party faithful.  It is the time when everything the candidate says is “genius” and the true believers can taste victory. It is the time of god, country, mom and apple pie.

Such is not the case with the Romney Campaign as it continues to sputter along with one fumble after another.

The Ryan roll-out started well.  Romney appeared more energized and confident than ever before.  Ryan, the boy wonder, seemed to infuse the campaign and the base with an energy that had been sorely lacking over the past several weeks.

But a mere thirty six hours later the wheels started to come off.  Romney began to distance himself from Ryan’s budget on 60 Minutes.  The next day he doubled down and either would not or could not delineate the differences between his budget and that of his running mate.  In an appearance staged before a backdrop of grimy faced coal miners the preppy Romney could not have looked more out of place.  Romney the automaton had returned to the campaign.

Ryan has not been much better. Constantly asked to comment on aspects of his own controversial budget plan he has struggled to move the conversation to the Romney budget; the budget on which the ticket is actually running.  Take his recent interview with Brit Hume on FOX NEWS.  Hume asked Ryan when we could actually expect to see a balanced budget.  After stumbling once again to turn the conversation to the Romney budget, Ryan could not answer the question saying they hadn’t actually run the numbers.  Now Ryan will never sit through a more favorable interview setting than he just did on FOX NEWS.  And the so called “budget guy” will never get a bigger series of softball questions than those served up by Mr. Hume.  But Ryan was hesitant and appeared uncomfortable; clearly having to think about what should have been easy responses.  Apparently debate prep is not part of the Romney/Ryan game plan.

Conservative pundits and even some Republican officials are deeply concerned.  Some have even said that they consider the run for the White House a lost cause and are focusing their efforts on gaining control of congress.

So what is it that causes previously successful individuals to look like bumbling fools when running for the two highest offices in the land?   Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are smart, accomplished guys.  But they have handled this window of opportunity like a Saint Bernard trying to catch a beach ball.

There is still time for Romney/Ryan to fix this.  But it is now far too late to say it’s still early.  

          

Thirty Six Hours

It only took him 36 hours…

Last Saturday Mitt Romney announced that he had selected Paul Ryan as his running mate.  For the first time in this campaign Romney looked presidential.  He seemed energized, confident and relaxed.  It was as if he was proud of himself for making this bold pick.

We naturally assumed that Romney was aware of the scrutiny the Ryan pick would generate.  Endorsing Ryan meant endorsing the controversial Ryan Budget; a budget wildly popular with the base and passed by the Republican controlled House.  Romney himself had said that if elected president he would sign the Ryan budget if it reached his desk.  He called the Ryan budget “marvelous.” Surely the Romney Campaign was well prepared and eager to defend all aspects of Ryan’s controversial plan.

We congratulated Romney on having the courage to make this bold pick and we looked forward to a substantive debate between the Romney/Ryan and Obama/Biden views for our future.  

Thirty six hours later Romney was back to his same old wishy-washy self.   During a “60 minute” interview with Bob Schieffer, Romney steered away from the Ryan Plan making it clear that it was his budget the ticket would be campaigning on, not Ryan’s.  On Monday, during an impromptu press conference, Romney was asked three separate times to explain the differences between his budget plan and Ryan’s…to delineate where he and Ryan agreed and disagreed.  Romney refused to answer; choosing instead to attack the president’s economic record.  He was clearly uncomfortable and unprepared to answer the question.

It is unfathomable to believe that the Romney campaign made this pick without being prepared to give a full throated endorsement to all that Ryan brings to the table.  Yet that is exactly what appears to have happened.  It is as if Romney thought he could energize his party by choosing Ryan while deflecting any controversy that Ryan’s views might bring to the table…hoping that eventually the probing questions would subside.

But they will not.  Democrats are going to define Romney with Ryan.  They will bury Romney under Ryan’s plans for Medicare and abuse him for his less than full throated support of his own running mate.  Once again Romney will be portrayed as a flip flopper who lacks the political courage to take a stand.  He doesn’t want to talk about his religion, he doesn’t want to talk about his time as governor, he doesn’t want to talk about his taxes and now he doesn’t want to talk about the specifics of a budget plan that he said he would pass on day one as president.

Normally a candidate will get a bump in the polls immediately after announcing his pick for running mate and he will ride that surge all the way to the convention.  But the Romney pick has failed to move the polls.  His performance over the past two days certainly has not helped.

“Politico” having conducted 36 interviews with Republican strategists and campaign operatives reports: “that there is an unmistakable consensus among political operatives in Washington:  Romney has taken a risk with Ryan that has only a modest chance of going right…and a huge chance of going wrong…the most common reactions to Ryan ranged from gnawing apprehension to hair-on-fire anger…(some) are worried that Ryan’s vocal views about overhauling Medicare will be a millstone for other GOP candidates in critical House and Senate races”

If Romney wants to win the White House then he needs to get out in front of this…and he needs to do it quickly.  He needs to get specific about where he stands on Ryan’s budget, how that proposal interacts with his own views and how it all comes together to build a better country.  He has an opportunity to change the narrative and define the campaign…to make good on the big and bold promise that the Ryan pick brought to the conversation. 

But if Romney continues along the same vague, evasive path that he has walked before he may well lose this election before he even gets to the convention.

We long for a substantive debate featuring two very different views of the country’s future. 

We’re still waiting.   

      

    

      

Ryan Pick = Debate On Entitlement Reform

Over the next several weeks you will hear a buzz in the political stratosphere over Romney’s pick of Paul Ryan as his running mate.  Ryan’s impact on the presidential race will be the main topic of conversation from now until the Democratic convention takes center stage in September. 

This is typical in American politics.  The candidate announces his choice and media frenzy ensues; scrutinizing everything from how the running mate was chosen to what he or she likes to have for breakfast.  Think Sarah Palin in 2008.  Naturally, some sort of controversy will emerge over the pick; for what would our politics be without controversy.  Usually the controversy is little more than some irrelevant nonsense fabricated by the opposition.  For in our political system running mates are usually chosen because they embody the most critical of campaign characteristics…they do no harm to the candidate.

But the Paul Ryan pick is different for two very important reasons.

For the first time in decades voters have a clear choice over the direction in which they want their elected leaders to take the country.  When Romney picked Ryan he didn’t move to the mushy middle to appease independent voters.  In fact he doubled down on differentiating his world view from that of the President.  Come November voters will have the distinct choice of whether they want lower taxes and less in the way of government services or if they believe that government is a necessary component in our democracy and those who have benefited the most should be asked to give back a little more.  The Romney/Ryan ticket supports the former viewpoint; Obama/Biden the latter.  The distinction is quite clear.

The other reason the Ryan pick is important is because he brings to the table a serious debate about the future of middle class entitlements; a debate that has been sorely lacking for decades.  Ryan does not believe that you can return the economy to fiscal stability without addressing the skyrocketing cost of entitlements. He has courageously expressed his highly controversial ideas for entitlement reform; controversial because they would completely alter the delivery of entitlement benefits that are so popular among Americans.

On the topic of entitlements, Paul Ryan is right.  You cannot have a serious conversation about economic stability without including substantive entitlement reform.  You can disagree with Ryan’s views on how to fix the entitlement problem…and we certainly do…but there is no doubt that middle class entitlements are the single most economic impediment to our financial security. 

Every economic think tank that has examined entitlements says the same thing…within the next twenty years entitlement programs will absorb 100% of our budget.  100% of our tax revenues will go toward paying Medicare and Medicaid benefits…leaving $0.00 dollars for defense, education, infrastructure, innovation, Pell grants, food stamps etc., etc. etc.  And that doesn’t count the interest that we need to pay on the $17 trillion we owe on the debt…

… Nor address the fact that Social Security will be essentially bankrupt in 2033.

We are very enthused about the Ryan pick.  Not because we agree with his ideology, but because we feel he will bring to the forefront a serious and long overdue debate about entitlement reform. 

And to all those partisan radicals on both the right and the left who see every debate in political terms… try to understand this simple concept.  Entitlement reform is not about politics…it’s about math.