Forbes: Paul Ryan And The Republicans Are Lackeys To Democratic Party Big Spenders

[Douglas Carpenter]

Obviously, I don't agree with this editorial - But I do think it is a good idea to keep track of what the enemies of the human race are thinking.

Now Republicans and Democrats have come together on Capitol Hill for a new budget agreement which increases both outlays and taxes. Bipartisanship in action! That the Democratic Party wants to spend more is hardly surprising. But the GOP has demonstrated yet again that its principal role in Washington is to hold the coats of Democratic spenders when they raid the Treasury.

The legislation adopted by the House drops sequestration, which actually trimmed federal outlays, and hikes spending over the next two years by $62 billion. In return, Congress promises to lower the collective deficit over the next decade by $85 billion—while spending tens of trillions of dollars. The accord raises revenue, including a very real $12.6 billion in airline taxes. There are a few spending reductions—kind of. The bulk of them are entitlement caps a decade hence, which even Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), ranking minority member of the Senate Budget Committee, admits are of “dubious validity.”

The only surprise in the sell-out was the role of House Budget Committee Chairman and 2012 Republican Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan. Although no radical, he nevertheless had seemed committed to a more responsible budget path. Yet he traded real current spending increases for fake future spending cuts, a standard congressional tactic running back at least to the infamous Reagan tax hike of 1983.

Of course, the real issue is entitlements, but these programs don’t much interest Congress since the fiscal flood won’t fully hit until after 2023. Explained CBO: “Under current law, the aging of the population, the rising costs of health care, and the scheduled expansion in federal subsidies for health insurance will substantially boost federal spending on Social Security and the government’s major health care programs, relative to GDP, for the next 10 years and for decades thereafter.” Absent serious and meaningful reforms “debt will rise sharply relative to GDP after 2023.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/dougbandow/2013/12/16/paul-ryan-and-the-republicans-are-lackeys-to-democratic-party-big-spenders/

[Mass]

1. There is a big crazy idea in some far right circles that the Republican leadership is full of RINOs.

One of the interesting results is that these guys are all primaried (and some have several primary opponents): Boehner, Cantor, McConnell, Alexander, ...

Actually, it is very funny to go on these sites and see these guys called Democratic lite. Who would have believed that.

[el_bryanto]

2. These are the same people who think that Obama is a) a super lefist communist

and b) unwilling to compromise. Where you stand on the political spectrum controls how you see things a great deal.

Bryant

[Douglas Carpenter]

3. one kik

[joeybee12]

4. I'm shocked! Forbes published a worthless POS editorial!

How did this ever happen? It's never happened before, has it????

[JaneyVee]

5. Paul Ryan isn't a radical?! He worships Ayn Rand and abhors equal rights.

Fuck that. He's a radical extremist. No more painting these fuckers as centrists.