Ryan Can't Dodge Medicare Stand

Well it's only 5 days later, and the Ryan Medicare Plan has come front and center. Trying to make a distinction from the Congressman's highly volatile proposals on the the entitlement, Romney is already attempting to put some distance between his "bold" choice for V.P. and his plans for America. One of the subtle things I noticed the day after the Ryan's pick, was on the podium where Romney was to give his speech was a sign proclaiming "The Romney Plan". Nobody knows what the hell that is, but we sure as shit know what Ryan stands for.

Republican political analysts are applauding Romney's "bold" choice while at the same time are proclaiming he just lost the White House. The Ryan pick has also put some fire back in the Congressional elections as well. In what was expected to be a hold on the House for Republicans, has now turned into a wide open nationwide contest. Democrats only need 25 seats to retake the House, and Ryan's political record already has some Republicans running for cover. Ads are already out from some Republicans distancing them from Ryan's attack on Medicare.

In a poor attempt at something akin to a preemptive strike, Both Romney and Ryan are screaming President Obama took $716 Billion dollars from Medicare to pay for Obama Care. What they don't tell you is Romney and Ryan keep that cut in their own budget. So they take that $716 Billion dollars as well. The difference is, Romney/Ryan take that money to create a voucher program that passes costs off onto individuals, while subsidising tax cuts for the rich. The Presidents plan takes that money out of Medicare Advantage programs that were costly and inefficient, and makes pharmacy and insurance companies pick up the slack by putting a ceiling on profits. So next time you hear Romney or Ryan talk about how Obama gutted Medicare with this $716 Billion dollar cut, know they are doing the same thing, only they once again protect the rich, while giving the shaft to the middle class.

As for Ryan's reputation as a fiscal hawk, his record proves otherwise. After 14 years in the House and over 9500 votes. Ryan toes the Republican line just like the rest of the party of "NO". Here are some examples:

1. He voted for the $700 Billion dollar bank bailout (TARP)
2. The Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan
3. The Bush Tax Cuts
4. The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
5. No Child Left Behind
6. The Transportation Bill that included the Bridge to Nowhere

What do all these proposals that passed have in common? THEY WERE ALL NOT PAID FOR! Over $5 Trillion dollars straight to the countries credit card. For those of you who listen to Romney and Ryan say how they are going to balance the budget? Guess what? It doesn't happen until 2040!

Oh, and just to clarify, yesterday Ryan admitted the tax loopholes so pivotal to creating revenue for their warped vision for the future will wait until AFTER the election. (Is it me or did I just say this in my last blog?) Brit Hume of Fox News asked Ryan to counter that charge. "What we're saying is get rid of special interest loopholes and deductions that are uniquely enjoyed by the wealthy to lower the tax rates for everybody," Ryan said. But lowering middle-class tax rates, if coupled with eliminating key deductions, could lead to an effective tax increase, the cornerstone of the analyses of Romney's tax plan. Hume pressed for specifics. "That is something that we think we should do in the light of day, through Congress," Ryan told Hume, promising to "have a process for tax reform so that we do this in the front of the public. So no, the point I'm trying to say is, we want feedback from Americans about what priorities in the tax code should be kept, and what special interest loopholes we want to get rid of.  "One of the "loopholes" that costs the IRS the most money is the mortgage interest deduction. Another relates to municipal bonds. Hume asked Ryan if either would be on the chopping block. Ryan refused to say.

Ryan has certainly been a "bold" choice. So bold his Medicare plan has now possibly put Pennsylvania, Florida, Iowa, and New Hampshire a bit closer to Obama's column. They have the most elderly voters in their states, and if history is any guide they don't like Ryan's Medicare plan. So three cheers for Romney's "bold" choice, here's to ten more just like it.