Sharp Contrast In Republican Response

Representative Paul D. Ryan, Republican Chairman of the House Budget Committee, was assigned the unenviable task of providing the official Republican response to the President’s State of the Union address.  In sharp contrast Ryan offered neither the inspiration nor the hope for America’s future conveyed by the President.  Instead he talked about the impending financial Armageddon and the “crushing burden of debt.”  He attributed the terrible economic climate to the reckless spending and failed policies of the Obama administration.  He spoke of the need to reduce the government and make substantial cuts the deficit; and he challenged Americans to “hold all of us accountable.”

Much like the President’s speech, Mr. Ryan’s remarks provided little explanation as to how Republicans intended to carry out their agenda.  Much like the President’s speech, there were inconsistencies in his approach.  He talked about the impending doom which would befall us if we failed to cut the deficit but he didn’t explain how he supported the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy which added $900 billion to that deficit.  While saying he wanted to cut spending to help all Americans he avoided mentioning his own proposals to privatize Social security and scrap Medicare; cuts which would be harmful to middle class and poor Americans.

Republicans have learned from their victories in the mid-term elections.  The way to defeat this President is to just say “No” to all of his proposals and then act like you have alternatives when in fact you have nothing to offer.  They act like “we won, it’s over.”  But they forgot about the responsibility to govern that comes from winning.  Mr. Ryan will get his wish.  Americans will hold him accountable.

This is all the same political speak that we expect to hear from both parties.  We really learn nothing specific. More telling was the doom and gloom that permeated the Republican Congressman’s remarks.  Coming right after the State of the Union they stood in sharp contrast to the hopefulness offered President. 

Perhaps the President was too Pollyannaish in his approach.  But Ryan’s “Chicken Little the sky is falling” was depressing by half.

For those old enough to remember; it made this writer want to hide under his desk