already a subscriber? Register me
Subscribe now See my options
All Politics blog


  • We reserve the right to close commenting on specific stories.

Discussion guidelines | Privacy policy | Terms of use

Limit of 2000 characters, 2000 characters remaining

Sort by
Comment threads per page: 10 | 20 | 50
  1. I guess the Wall Street Journal hasn't figured out that Ryan's credibility has sunk to zero in the eyes of the public. His ideas of "common sense" reform would be no more acceptable to the American people now with the GOP attempting to bargain over a dual crisis than they were during his failed campaign when even his running mate had to downplay his proposals.
    Hide replies
    • So ignore his proposals and continue racking up debt by spending money we don't have on entitlements we don't need? Makes sense.
    • Maybe you don't need Social Security or Medicare, but most of us do. We've paid into the system and don't appreciate corporate hacks like Ryan trying to "reform" these needed programs by privatizing them and funneling money to his Wall Street sugar daddies and insurance companies.

      Social Security needs a few minor tweaks but remains solvent. Medicare will need some structural reforms but remains viable, and Obamacare actually made some neeeded changes that shored up Medicare's finances.

      Remember it was Ryan who voted for trillions to be squandered on the Iraq War, tax cuts that didn't create jobs, and the expansion of Medicare Part D. He's voted to raise the debt ceiling a dozen times under GOP Presidents, but now he's holding the economy hostage wile he self-righteously prattles on about the deficit. The deficit is currently declining at the fastest pace in 60 years, and is now only half what it was when Obama took over.

      Ryan = disingenuous hypocrite
    • So very well said "concerned citizen"
    • concerned citizen, as long as everything is there for you, why concern ourselves with what my kids and their kids get, right?

      Everyone needs to flex a little. I've paid my "fair share" into these programs, haven't had to use them yet, but I too hope I get back at least what I've kicked in. If they need to give some of these things a haircut, I'm ok with that provided that they simultaneously make a concerted effort to cut the damn waste!! My perception is that the people on the left freak out about cutting because they fear they'll somehow lose out. I can tell ya, you could cut a great deal out of some of these programs and it wouldn't impact you one bit - that's how much waste and inefficiency there is.

      As for 0bama cutting the deficit, are you talking about truly cutting the deficit? Or are you talking about cutting back the deficits that he and the Democrats rung up?

      There is going to need to be some sacrifices made in this nation. But given the entitlement mindset, a mindset we see even in teenagers and younger, good luck with that. No one wants to give a little. As Bob Beckel said on The Five, we (the democrats) made mistakes with these large programs that have actually hurt our nation.
  2. The solution to all of this is very simple. The 14th amendment says: "The validity of the public debt of the United States ... shall not be questioned."

    So when the 17th rolls around, the Treasury has no choice but to make the required debt payments from incoming tax revenues. Default is avoided.

    However, the treasury cannot borrow any additional money, forcing us to reduce the rest of our spending and thus immediately balance the budget.

    Problem solved.
    Hide replies

      But on that day - and I mean one single day - who decides what other money gets spent, who else gets paid, and who doesn't?

      Do Social Security recipients get their checks? Do military contractors get paid? Do universities doing Federally funded research get their grant money? And on and on....

      Does some unknown person at Treasury make those decisions? Does Obama unilaterally make those decisions? (I'm sure you guys would LOVE that idea.)

      And CAN anyone make those decisions? Aren't those monies also "public debt" that "cannot be questioned"?

      The number of people filing lawsuits against the Treasury and /or Obama and/or Congress would be legion.
  3. Well at least one smart person will be there.
    Hide replies
  4. According to Ryan, aka the Republican Party, we need to cut food stamps, place Medicare on a voucher cap, and privatize Social Security. No mention of taxing the wealthiest to pre-Bush levels. No mention of our failed War on Drugs. Speaking of war, we are not in any conflicts, yet military spending, especially the secretive privatization of the military and security, surges unabated and undiscussed. Republicans are for killing people, and Democrats are for saving people.
  5. Mr. Voucher man still trying to prove his points. Oh how boring.....
  6. Maybe when Ryan meets with 0bama he can ask a few questions I'd like answers to:
    1) Why, if 0bama care is the law of the land, did you unilaterally take steps to modify parts of the law (e.g. delay business mandate)?
    2) Why has your tenure as president been marked by one governing crisis after another? Going on five years now? Do you accept responsibility and accountability for anything that goes on? Or do you maintain the juvenile mentality of it always being the fault of others who have the audacity to question your words and ways?
    3) Why do you call 154 visits from the the IRS chief to the WH, and targeting conservative groups, and allowing sharing of private taxpayer information with WH staff, a "phony" scandal?
    4) Why the pandering to business with respect to 0bama care by giving them the one year exemption, but now that you no longer need the cheerleading of private citizens, tell them to take a hike...on an IT system that was not properly designed nor tested prior to being rolled out?
    5) Why should those that oppose you shut up and "do their jobs" (aka agree with everything you say) when they were elected by people to represent them? What is that telling a voter who helped elect someone that doesn't share your fantasies?
    Hide replies
  7. Still insisting on cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and now health insurance available to the poor and middle class. Paul and the Republicans lost that argument in the last election. Take on the baby boomers and you will loose big time in the next election. We aren't exactly the rocking chair set. We took on the US establishment before. They lost then and that's why the reactionaries are so bitter and determined this time around. Remember youngsters, first rule is there are no rules.
    Hide replies
  8. Now he's running as a moderate. Pathetic.
    Hide replies
  9. A lot of Republicans said last October Paul Ryan was heading to The White House and now we see they were right.
  10. It’s pathetic another rich politician wanting the working poor to give up Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and they are willing to give up NOTHING.
    Hide replies


National Politics Video

See all Journal Sentinel Twitter feeds