The Obama pitch: Don’t ask us for a plan, just reject the GOP’s plan
With Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate, the entire presidential campaign will — or should — boil down to this exchange between Ryan and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner during a House hearing on President Obama’s fiscal 2013 budget back in February (text of transcript courtesy of Real Clear Politics):
Ryan: Here’s the point. Leaders are supposed to fix problems. We have a $99.4 trillion unfunded liability. Our government is making promises to Americans that it has no way of accounting for them. And so you’re saying yeah, we’re stabilizing it but we’re not fixing it in the long run. That means we’re just going to keep lying to people. We’re going to keep all these empty promises going.
And so what we’re saying is, in order to avert a debt crisis — you’re the Treasury Secretary — if we can’t make good on our bonds in the future, who is going to invest in our country? We do not want to have a debt crisis. And so it comes down to confidence and trajectory. Do we have confidence that we’re getting our fiscal situation under control, that we’re preventing the debt from getting at these catastrophic levels?
If we go back to the preceding chart, number 13, you’re showing that you have no plan to get this debt under control. You’re saying we’ll stabilize it but then it’s just going to shoot back up. So my argument is, that’s Europe. That is bringing us toward a European debt crisis because we’re showing the world, the credit market’s future seniors — people who are organizing their lives around the promises that are being made to them today — that we don’t have a plan to make good on this.
Geithner: Mr. Chairman, as I said, maybe we’re not disagreeing in a sense. I made it absolutely clear that what our budget does is get our deficit down to a sustainable path over the budget window.
Ryan: And then they take back off.
Geithner: Why do they take off again? Why do they do that?
Ryan: Because we have 10,000 people retiring everyday and health-care costs going up.
Geithner: That’s right. We have millions of Americans retiring everyday, and that will drive substantial further rise in the growth of health-care costs. We’re not coming before you to say we have a definitive solution to our long-term problem. What we do know is we don’t like yours.
Read that last part again: “We’re not coming before you to day we have a definitive solution to our long-term problem. What we do know is we don’t like yours.”
In other words, we prefer Nero-esque fiddling to your plan.
In other words, we’d rather stick to promises that can’t be kept than level with the American people and treat them like adults.
When Geithner admits the Obama administration has no “definitive solution,” what he really means is the Obama administration has no solution, no proposal, no plan, at least nothing it wants to talk about publicly, for keeping our fiscal condition from spiraling completely out of control. That’s no exaggeration: Check out the chart to which Ryan referred, which comes from the Obama administration’s own FY13 budget:
Our future under Barack Obama
See, the most Barack Obama is willing to do — in his fourth, count ‘em, fourth budget proposal — is to “stabilize” our debt at the highest level, as a share of the economy, since the end of World War II. In fact, according to his budget, that’s the most Americans can expect for the two presidential terms that would follow his hypothetical second term.
After that, he ostensibly would be willing to let us zoom into the abyss on auto-pilot than propose any sort of meaningful reform to the programs that put us on this path. That’s chiefly Medicare — although, as an Associated Press report notes, we face a shortfall of Social Security funding totaling $134 trillion during the next 75 years, i.e. the period of time that covers the retirement of “just about everyone working today.” To shore that up, AP reports, the federal government would need to “invest $8.6 trillion today, and have it pay returns of 2.9 percent above inflation for the next 75 years, to produce enough money to cover the shortfall.”
We will soon find out if the Obama team has prepared substantive proposals for these issues or was simply betting/hoping Romney wouldn’t have the guts to thrust Ryan — and thus the entitlements question — into this campaign.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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489 comments Add your comment
The Artful Dodger (Myth Robme) Is A Ryan Shame
August 13th, 2012
7:15 pm
@Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
August 13th, 2012
7:12 pm
Beverly: “I acknowledge my plan requires Romney to pay 1%”
———————
You might start out by dealing in facts. What you’re spouting is Trashman-quality garbage. Get a grip.
______________________________________________
WHEN did you ever let FACTS GET IN THE WAY?
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
7:18 pm
You can go post there, right?
——————–
Actually, I can’t. I used to, but at one point Bookman slandered me, was shown to have done so erroneously, actually apologized to me, and then banned me.
Draw your own conclusion.
getalife
August 13th, 2012
7:19 pm
“You can go post there, right?”
LOL.
What happened?
Steady job growth after you lost millions of jobs.
Easy choice.
Steady job growth con.
Riding down the road
August 13th, 2012
7:19 pm
lil barry
WOW. Apologized and banned you? There are other places to express your opinion, such as this blog, however you should have taken that up the ladder.
yuzeyurbrane
August 13th, 2012
7:19 pm
md, your Kaiser link is not to a piece of proposed legislation but which is to sort of a paper on basic priniciples to be considered in fashioning legislation. This is not a “co-sponsored” piece of legislation. In fact, Senator Wyden denies he ever co-sponsored any such thing with Ryan and has voted against every bill Ryan has ever supported. Be more careful with your description of facts.
Beverly Fraud
August 13th, 2012
7:20 pm
@Lil Barry, so you’re saying Ryan’s plan didn’t reduce Romney’s tax rate on earnings to 1%?
Seems like the conservatives would scream from the mountain tops if that were true?
Maybe the mountain tops don’t have google, because there seems to be no buzz to refute that charge?
Still you didn’t answer; do you consider (since she’s a producer) Jenna Jameson to be a more valuable member of society than a nurse because she creates more jobs? (pun not intended)
getalife
August 13th, 2012
7:21 pm
“actually apologized to me, and then banned me.”
Jay warned you but you failed to listen.
You blame others for your mistakes.
No personal responsibility.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
7:21 pm
It’s not that important to me. He apologized, so what am I supposed to take up the ladder? I decided to bring my business to Kyle’s.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
7:23 pm
No, getalife, there was nothing to “warn” me about. I suspect Jay was too embarrassed about the episode to allow my continued presence.
Riding down the road
August 13th, 2012
7:24 pm
Well if you wanted to post there and not be a run away.
But your choice. No problemo
The Artful Dodger (Myth Robme) Is A Ryan Shame
August 13th, 2012
7:24 pm
@Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
August 13th, 2012
7:15 pm
polls show Americans want good paying jobs
—————-
OK. Thanks for that, Captain Obvious. Obozo’s been in office going on four years. He inherited an economy in recovery. What happened?
Obozo: Fail.
_________________________________
Obama leads Romney by nine points, says opinion poll.
Polls show that Obama has a higher likability rating than ROBME.
Polls show that Obama has a higher approval for turning the country
around than ROBME.
Obama: WINNING
GOOGLE IT…..I dare you
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
7:24 pm
so you’re saying Ryan’s plan didn’t reduce Romney’s tax rate on earnings to 1%?
——————————
That’s what I’m saying. Show us the proposal that does that.
getalife
August 13th, 2012
7:26 pm
Lil Bar,
I will ask him to give you another chance.
Can you be good or will he ban you again?
md
August 13th, 2012
7:26 pm
Logical…..as I said, read it. Those quotes you just posted are from an earlier session in which they worked together. the link I gave you is the end result………..
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
7:29 pm
When I was at Bookman’s, I wasn’t at Kyle’s. It’s one or the other…who has the time? I’m not getting paid for this, after all.
Beverly Fraud
August 13th, 2012
7:30 pm
“That’s what I’m saying. Show us the proposal that does that.”
Not really needed as LOGIC and COMMON SENSE tells you if it wasn’t true, Romeny’s folks would already have a rebuttal.
Because as much traction as that report has gotten, if it’s NOT true and Romeny’s people DON’T have a rebuttal, then they are truly incompetent, are they not?
Certainly wouldn’t want that level of incompetence with their finger on the nuclear button.
The Artful Dodger (Myth Robme) Is A Ryan Shame
August 13th, 2012
7:32 pm
Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
August 13th, 2012
7:18 pm
You can go post there, right?
——————–
Actually, I can’t. I used to, but at one point Bookman slandered me, was shown to have done so erroneously, actually apologized to me, and then banned me.
Draw your own conclusion.
_________________________________________________
MY CONCLUSION…………….
If he banned you…..he did not SLANDER YOU.
If Kyle did not need you to antagonize liberals he would BAN YOU TO.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
7:33 pm
So you’re going with some made-up dogsqueeze rather than backing it up with facts or even a lame link to Salon.com or HuffPo?
Lame.
Riding down the road
August 13th, 2012
7:33 pm
md
Those quotes are from yesterday, but think as you wish.
Again, I agree that people need to do their homework. I would just say that you need to take your own advice.
Plus, if you think Wyden is the “key” to send Romney to the WH, you are sadly mistaken and will be disappointed.
The Artful Dodger (Myth Robme) Is A Ryan Shame
August 13th, 2012
7:35 pm
@Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
August 13th, 2012
7:29 pm
When I was at Bookman’s, I wasn’t at Kyle’s. It’s one or the other…who has the time? I’m not getting paid for this, after all.
_________________________________________________
It would be a WASTE OF MONEY if you did get paid.
Anybody with an IQ OF 10 can spew insults, disrespect and hate.
Beverly Fraud
August 13th, 2012
7:36 pm
@Lil, going with LOGIC and COMMON SENSE. If something THAT damning wasn’t true, the Romney camp would have already responded.
Would YOU care to show us that link?
And if they haven’t, that’s a pretty damning indictment that they aren’t ready to lead anyway.
@@
August 13th, 2012
7:36 pm
Doing nothing (Obama’s plan) places a tremendous financial burden on future generations. Reading the liberal comments, it’s painfully obvious they don’t care.
Gotta be the first time in history when the present generation cared so little about the next.
Let the next generation pay for what they want NOW!
Unbelievable!
md
August 13th, 2012
7:37 pm
“md, your Kaiser link is not to a piece of proposed legislation but which is to sort of a paper on basic priniciples to be considered in fashioning legislation.”
Never said it was legislation…..words do have meaning, hence the use of the word “plan”
“I also understand that Ryan has since made some changes with co-sponsor Wyden (D). One can see that plan here:”
As for Wyden denying working with Ryan…..you may want to read his own words:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-ron-wyden/preserving-the-medicare-g_b_1365237.html
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
7:40 pm
Beverly, some things are just too stupid to respond to.
I’m starting to think your posts are in that category.
gm
August 13th, 2012
7:41 pm
Hi I am Paul Ryan, I support women rights but I voted against the Ledbetter act for equal pay, and the idiots on the right wonder why Obama has a 14 point lead among women.
What does this say about conservative white women? talking about brain wash by the idiots of the tea party”””””’
md
August 13th, 2012
7:43 pm
“Plus, if you think Wyden is the “key” to send Romney to the WH, you are sadly mistaken and will be disappointed.”
They have a word for that kind of assumption, it’s called paranoia.
I’m merely calling it like I see it…..one is free to read the info or not….matters not to me one way or the other.
But one might want to take notice when even Wyden says:
“Wyden-Ryan doesn’t eliminate the traditional Medicare plan, instead it guarantees that seniors who want to enroll in Medicare’s traditional fee for service plan will always have that option. ”
As opposed to someone like getalife that regurgitates the ending of Medicare almost daily……..
Beverly Fraud
August 13th, 2012
7:46 pm
Well I’ll just put it out there for others to agree or disagree.
If Romney paying 1% under Ryan’s original plan WASN’T true, wouldn’t Romney’s camp have but out an effective rebuttal by now?
Readers?
Riding down the road
August 13th, 2012
7:48 pm
md
Romney is not going to win. You can poke out your chest and huff and puff, but Eddie Monster is not going to be the one that saves him.
Sad thing is that he is running against Obama, but the Republicans picked Romney.
Nothing else to say. Call it what you like, I just hope it helps your self confidence.
Beverly Fraud
August 13th, 2012
7:49 pm
Lil Barry the 1% thing is gaining a LOT a traction, so logic and common sense tells you two things:
-It’s true and Romney can’t rebut it
-It’s not true and Romney is too incompetent to rebut it
Guess there is a third choice: There are on the web admiring Jenna Jameson, since she is known to be a job (no pun intended) producer.
Although I’m not sure Larry “Wide Stance” Craig ever expressed an appreciation for the jobs she produced.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 13th, 2012
7:53 pm
You want to know how fraudulent and smarmy the lib whimpering about Ryan cutting Medicare is? obozo cut 700 Billion from it and the libs didn’t say squat.
stooges is all they are.
Beverly Fraud
August 13th, 2012
8:00 pm
Where are all the rebuttals to the obvious lie than Romney wouldn’t have paid 1% on Ryan’s plan?
After all it IS a lie isn’t it?
Lil Barry? Lil Barry?
md
August 13th, 2012
8:00 pm
“If Romney paying 1% under Ryan’s original plan WASN’T true, wouldn’t Romney’s camp have but out an effective rebuttal by now?”
I think one needs to understand how they arrived at the 1% before one goes on to step 2:
http://taxvox.taxpolicycenter.org/2012/08/08/understanding-tpcs-analysis-of-governor-romneys-tax-plan/
And if one pays attention, one can see that they say they are guessing to the best of their ability with what they “know”. In laymans terms I think that means they’ve filled in the blanks with their own answers……..
md
August 13th, 2012
8:05 pm
“Romney is not going to win.”
And I would have taken the odds that the Braves weren’t going to blow an 8 game lead too….
It’s why they have to play the games……..and why we vote….
Beverly Fraud
August 13th, 2012
8:11 pm
@md
According to the link, the plan would lower taxes on the rich, raise them on the middle class and possibly the lower class
If that’s good for the middle class ultimately, just make the case that it is-just be honest about how it helps Romney.
Not that the Dems don’t have enough THEY aren’t being honest about.
Riding down the road
August 13th, 2012
8:13 pm
md
Casinos are open when you are ready. You can get some good odds if you want Romney
md
August 13th, 2012
8:15 pm
“According to the link, the plan would lower taxes on the rich, raise them on the middle class and possibly the lower class ”
You left out a very important word……”assumption”.
Based on their “assumptions”, it “might” do the above……personally, I would recommend one not hang their hat on an assumption……..but that’s just me.
md
August 13th, 2012
8:19 pm
Riding….in August of 1980, Carter lead Reagan 45-29……that’s 16 points and Carter lost by 10. A 26 point swing…….
We still have a long ways to go……but be my guest if you want to play the odds…..it’s your money.
The Artful Dodger (Myth Robme) Is A Ryan Shame
August 13th, 2012
8:24 pm
Just 17 percent say that adding Ryan to the ticket makes them more
likely to vote for Romney — about the same bump that Sarah Palin
provided for McCain. Only 48 percent believe that Ryan
would be qualified to serve as president should Romney be unable to,
while 29 percent do not and 23 percent are undecided. Only Quayle and
Sarah Palin received a lower rate of confidence.
The Artful Dodger (Myth Robme) Is A Ryan Shame
August 13th, 2012
8:28 pm
@md
August 13th, 2012
8:15 pm
“According to the link, the plan would lower taxes on the rich, raise them on the middle class and possibly the lower class ”
You left out a very important word……”assumption
————————————————————–
Myth Robme said people would not vote for me if they knew what I was going to do.
Lowering taxes for the rich………..
Its a done deal with Robme and The Boy Wonder Ryan.
Riding down the road
August 13th, 2012
8:29 pm
md
This is 2012 not 1980. Obama does not have a 35% favor-ability rating as did Carter.
You seem to be quick with a stat, but your fault is that you purposely leave out the entire story. That might work with other bloggers, your family and friends, but not me.
But nice try.
md
August 13th, 2012
8:34 pm
“Obama does not have a 35% favor-ability rating as did Carter.”
And was that favor-ability rating of 35 in August when he had a polling of 45%?
Without checking, that seems to be a bit unlikely…….
Riding down the road
August 13th, 2012
8:42 pm
md
Keep spinning. Just have your husband run by Kroger and pick up some extra Kleenex on the day of the election.
You are an intelligent guy, but blinded by your partisanship.
No problem. It happens on all sides.
Sad, but it happens.
Riding down the road
August 13th, 2012
8:45 pm
md
No excuses. If they best you have is one polls in 1980 as some barometer for 2012, you already know in your own mind what is coming down the road………………
But keep the faith
Lynnie Gal
August 13th, 2012
8:46 pm
Conservatives caused this whole problem with Medicare by giving tax breaks starting with Bush in 2001. Before Bush, we had a SURPLUS. Remember that? We had so much money we didn’t know what to do with it. Nearly full employment, too. Then there came Bush/Cheney. They immediately started the Bush tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy. The SURPLUS was gone in six months. These problems with social problems being “unsustainable” is a crisis manufactured by conservatives to destroy social safety nets for the American people. The holy grail for conservatives has been to destroy Social Security. They figure this election is their last best chance to destroy programs that help middle class and the poor, so they’re doubling down on their promises to destroy the foundational programs that help people. Their calculation is–the’ve got all this money from millionaires and billionaires because of the Citizens United ruling, so they figure they can lie and deceive people with false commercials and convince low information voters into voting for them by election time.
md
August 13th, 2012
9:09 pm
“You are an intelligent guy”
Just smart enough to know there are no givens…….
Mister.Earl
August 13th, 2012
9:23 pm
If Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are elected, wave goodbye to Medicare for 1.4 million Georgians.
BW
August 13th, 2012
9:25 pm
Seeing how Ryan’s plan doesn’t actually deal with the bulk of costs in the next twenty years….I’m not sure you can actually say there is a definitive GOP plan in place. We know tax rates will be cut…what spending will be cut to pay for them? Who knows….but I guess it shouldn’t matter because they will pay for themselves, right?
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
9:27 pm
Lynnie Gal: Conservatives caused this whole problem with Medicare by giving tax breaks starting with Bush in 2001
———————————-
Our President Bush didn’t cut Medicare taxes.
Prove me wrong.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
9:29 pm
BW: tax rates will be cut…what spending will be cut to pay for them?
——————–
Tax revenues went up after Our President Bush cut tax rates for all tax payers. You’ll have to prove that revenues would fall before demanding any rate reductions be “paid for”.
David R. Boag, DDS
August 13th, 2012
9:29 pm
Dodger @ 12:28
Deuteronomy 15:11
Proverbs 14:31
Proverbs 22:9.
Proverbs 28:27
Uh, please remember that all of these Scriptures were given during a system where EVERYONE–rich, poor, and middle class–was to give God 10% of their income. That WAS the tax, and EVERYONE had to pay it. And note that there wasn’t an increasing rate on the rich. 10% for EVERYONE; not 15%; not 20%; not 28%; not 35%. And certainly not 0% like half of Americans pay.
Under THAT system, the Judeo-Christian worldview says that we all should be generous. It’s much easier to be generous when you get to be generous with 90% of what you make. With that in mind, it is very reasonable to expect that a rich person should be expected to be more generous than those with less resources. If you take 28% instead of 10, can the same amount of generosity be expected?
However, remember that those scriptures aren’t only for the rich! The poor ALSO had to give 10%, not 0%. Free rides were not allowed! AND even the poor were still expected to be generous with what they had left, albeit with fewer resources.