The Republican Dream
They really need to own this:
Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) on Sunday said lawmakers who have not signed onto Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan to balance the budget lacked “courage” and could be targeted by the conservative tea party movement as a result.
Armey’s comments on NBC’s “Meet the Press” came just moments after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sidestepped a question about Ryan’s plan, which looks to balance the budget by reinventing slimmer versions of Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and the tax code…. […]
“All Paul Ryan is saying is let Social Security be voluntary, let Medicare be voluntary,” Armey said. “The fact that he only has 13 co-sponsors is a big reason why our folks are agitated against the Republicans as well as the Democrats — the difference between being a co-sponsor of Ryan or not is a thing called courage.”
Steve Benen pushes the message home:
To this extent, Armey raises a reasonable argument: if Paul is putting on paper what Republicans really believe, why don’t they have the courage of their convictions? Why not have the guts to endorse a budget plan that reflects their actual thinking?
Armey and Ryan think the radical roadmap should be part of the debate — and oddly enough, I couldn’t agree more. Are Republicans on board with Ryan’s roadmap or not? Is his plan a reflection of what GOP candidates would do with their majority? Shouldn’t voters have a chance to hear from Republicans about this before there’s an election?
I, too, couldn’t agree more. Every Republican needs to be asked if they support Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan – and they need to answer.
Meanwhile, in the most Republican County in California Conservatives may get the chance to live (or perish) by their principles…
Residents in Modoc County, in the remote northeastern corner of California, will soon vote on whether to tax themselves to save their local hospital.
The county has gone broke trying to keep the hospital open, and a fractious debate has erupted in this proudly conservative frontier community over the best way forward… [T]he county hospital in Alturas– even with its limited services– is a lifeline to the people who live here. The closest full-service hospitals are hours away, and the nearby medical centers over the mountains are often unreachable during winter storms.
…The hospital is not just a lifeline– it’s an economic engine, even if it is just sputtering along. Like many rural hospitals, Modoc Medical Center is the largest employer in town, and people here worry what will happen if it closes.
Wonder how long Modoc County lasts if the hospital closes. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present America’s next Ghost Town – courtesy of the GOP ideology.
Tags: Republicans
Paul Ryan has handed Democrats a stake to pound in Republican hearts, but Democrats aren’t swinging the hammer.
I’d like to see Dems use their money to educate the public on the Ryan plan. I don’t think people realize what is in it. It basically zeroes out all taxes for the rich and for corporations. It privatizes and voucherizes Social Security and Medicare.
Why the fuck is Meet The Press interviewing Dick Army? Your liberal media at work.
Dick Armey (R-Texas) on Sunday said lawmakers who have not signed onto Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan to balance the budget lacked “courage” and could be targeted by the conservative tea party movement as a result.
This is nothing more than an effing shakedown:
“Nice Congressional seat you got there. It would be a shame if anything were to happen to it… just sign here.”
The game is to extort some undeserved legitimacy for the tbag platform, using the Dick Army as enforcers.
The Ryan plan is an absolute joke. He says it balances the budget – in 80 years. I’m not certain why Ryan’s taken seriously but he is. I hope some reporters in Delaware will ask Delaware Republicans if they support this plan – how about it Mike Castle, Michele Rollins, Glen Urquhart, Christine O’Donnell?
how about it Mike Castle, Michele Rollins, Glen Urquhart, Christine O’Donnell?
No, no… the burden is on our Democratic candidates to be asking Republicans about the Ryan plan. The media isn’t going to do it for them. How about it, Chris Coons?
Devastating Krugman takedown of the Ryan plan, using actual facts.
ooooo. that’s where Krugman falls short. facts dont matter to the Tbag. The common Tbag sees “facts” as a socialist liberal conspiracy meant to let illegal immigrants gay-marry their children.
Republicans only want to “make voluntary” any government taxes used to potentially benefit everyone.
They never suggest “making voluntary” taxes used to benefit the few, such as farm, bank or war subsidies.
Making it “voluntary” won’t work. The whole point of social insurance is that everyone pays in and everyone benefits. Having some people move money out just undermines the finances of the whole system.
Having some people move money out just undermines the finances of the whole system
I think that’s their plan.
The wealthy already don’t pay Social Security taxes. Now they want to raid Social Security to finance cutting other taxes they do pay.