I’m enjoying watching the Republicans pretend that Paul Ryan’s plan is a good, sensible plan that can be sold to the American public as fiscally responsible and fair. Forcing their members to vote for that plan was the most electorally irresponsible thing I’ve ever seen a party do. They are deriving almost no benefit from it, and the costs are going to be staggering.
Their problems would be worse if outfits like Politico didn’t report at face value that the plan would at least save us money. All Ryan’s plan would do is reduce people’s health benefits, leave the elderly underinsured (or not insured), slash Pell Grants and infrastructure investments, and take the savings and give them to rich people. It wouldn’t reduced the deficit; it would reduce rich people’s tax burden. That’s not fiscal responsibility; it’s more Bush economics.
As things stand, the Republicans have royally screwed themselves but they are at least succeeding in getting the press to portray them as deficit hawks (maybe even fanatics). Things are bad for them, but with a more disciplined and honest media, things would be considerably worse.
Atrios just noted: “It doesn’t matter how responsible Republicans are for deficits or if their fake plans actually don’t do anything except cut taxes for rich people, the press will always paint the GOP as “fiscally responsible” and “deficit hawks.” It’s one of those DC things that just is. Do not question! ” http://www.eschatonblog.com/2011/05/because-of-press.html
It is true because the beltway media feels it should be true. It is truthiness incarnate.
The worst impact of this dynamic is that it makes Democrats feel compelled to prove that they, too, can cut budgets – just like the meme of Republicans being “better at running the military” makes Dems want to prove that they, too, can waste money on weapons systems and start or escalate pointless wars. Republicans are fiscally reckless, and terrible at using the military to get desired outcomes – but rather than exploit those weaknesses, too often Democrats rush to imitate them.
depending on the MSM to tell the truth..well, it’s not something we should count on.
No doubt. I never do.
True enough about them paying a price but I would be willing to perform animal sacrifices to get the Democrats to achieve this level of party discipline.
This is where the “starve the government” idea is a bit lacking. The Repugs preach fiscal insanity and received a lot of votes over the years. Now part two involves the sleepy electorate finding out the golden years are going to be grim. This is going to be the funny part.
Meanwhile, Obama has been not just the recipient of some well deserved good luck but some excellent tactical maneuvers lately.
Israel’s Cheney, Nettie didn’t get to pull off his bullying in front of the American cameras, the knee jerk Rep reactions against Obama played right into his now more seasoned logic where he made them appear as fools in his speech in front of AIPAC.
Today’s Irish pub scenes and the rousing Irish speech in the streets of Dublin were unexpectedly broad reaching and have to say, alot like watching a good Clinton clip.
All this while Newt is quickly following Trump’s crash and burn early campaign and Brown is turning to lead the rush to the doors to escape supporting Ryan’s plan.