In A Deepening Schism, I Side With Speaker Paul Ryan
I’m coming to grips with Donald Trump becoming the standard bearer of our Republican Party. That means that, traditionally, he’ll get to call the shots…including setting a platform for the Republican National Committee and a tone of Republican policy for the next four years.
Speaker Paul Ryan, the man, if we are able to maintain the House in November, who a President Trump would have to negotiate with (which, he shouldn’t have a problem in doing…he’s the best, apparently…or something) in order to get his policies through.
I believe Speaker Ryan is the leader Republicans have needed for a long time. A calm, even-keeled person who is young and able to communicate alternative policies. He’s the man who has helped move the Republican Party from the “Party of No” to a Party that does offer up alternatives and communicates those alternatives.
Last week, Speaker Ryan said that he wasn’t able to offer support to Mr. Trump “at this time”. Sarah Palin said that she would work to “Cantor” the Speaker by working to elect his primary opponent. I’m sure she’s upset that the Speaker isn’t falling in-line behind the presumptive nominee. I think the Speaker is standing from a position of strength and wants to work to bring the House, and the Legislative branch, back to a co-equal branch rather than being ran roughshod by the Chief Executive.
Also, note that the Speaker said “at this time.” I believe that means that there will be pointed, honest discussions between Mr. Trump and Speaker Ryan in hopes of winning the Speaker to his side. Of course, it’s interesting to see a lot of “Conservative” pundits willing demonize the Speaker for his hesitation to back the presumptive nominee right now. It’s a healthy discussion to have especially when a lot of what are normally Republican strongholds are starting to waver on support.
Mr. Trump, as well as a lot of his supporters, have been crass and rude throughout this campaign by saying that he/they are throwing out “political correctness” in favor of no-holds-barred rhetoric. Speaker Ryan, since his election as Speaker of the House, has been trying to communicate more about our conservative policies rather than just rhetoric.
Speaker Ryan, no doubt, wants to support Donald Trump for President, but I’m betting that he wants an assurance that a President Trump will work with his equal and not dictate what the Speaker and the House will do. I don’t want a President, Democrat or Republican, who will dictate policy. I want a President who will work with a Republican House and Senate and craft the best policy that we can get, and sometimes that may even mean compromise within our own Party to move the conservative agenda forward.
A schism has deepened in our Party, and it appears to me that the fissures are along the lines of explosive, incendiary rhetoric used by Mr. Trump and the more thoughtful, logical level-headed communication from Speaker Ryan.
I’d rather have the latter rather than the former.
About Author
nsmith
Father. IT Geek. Former 14th District GOP Chairman (2015-2017). Former Walker GOP Chairman (2009-2013). Resident of Chamblee. American. Georgian. Conservative.
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I wouldn’t trust anything Trump says. Make him sign a contract. He’ll still break the contract but at least he’ll have to pay!
What new alternatives has Speaker Ryan championed? The only differences I can see with Trump and the establishment are tone and foreign aid (aka spending our tax dollars to secure other countries. Trump has the momentum and Republican leaders should be cautious of crossing him and their base.
Well, look at this most recent budget. Repealing the export ban on oil, prevention of Guantanamo Bay detainees to be brought onto US shores, continuing to chip away at Obamacare by a prohibition of new funding, and others. Those are conservative wins that were signed into law under a Democratic president. It’s not a perfect piece of legislation (we have a Democratic president and not a veto-proof legislative branch), and there’s some stuff we don’t like, but at least we can have a few wins.
Perhaps Trump should heed your warning since he’s starting to contradict himself, and I’m sure it’s something that will continue as we head into the general election campaign season.
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/first-read-why-trump-s-flip-flop-taxes-matters-n570431
Don’t forget that the US is currently spending less on the discretionary side of spending today than we were in 2008. Before Obama and dems went on a spending spree. So the Republican House and Senate have been doing some good, but most people want to scream RINO at other people instead of looking at the facts.
Not to be argumentative, but the biggest budget buster was Medicare Part D, which I warned about years ago. Unless we are talking entitlements and military spending, which with interest is about 80 percent of the budget, you are just blowing smoke. And the worse bill was Medicare Part D….
FROM:
Bruce Bartlett held senior policy roles in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations and served on the staffs of Representatives Jack Kemp and Ron Paul. He is the author of “The Benefit and the Burden: Tax Reform — Why We Need It and What It Will Take.”
Medicare Part D: Republican Budget-Busting
……..Ten years ago this week, Republicans enacted the largest expansion of the welfare state since the creation of Medicare in 1965 by adding a huge unfunded program providing coverage for prescription drugs to the Medicare program…….
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/19/medicare-part-d-republican-budget-busting/?_r=0
Of course you are trying to be argumentative. That’s fine. And of course entitlements are the true cost driver of our debt. Changes to entitlements take an act of congress and has to be signed into law by the president. Obviously that isn’t going to happen with our current president.
That is why republicans have been focusing on discretionary spending. When people scream “the House controls the purse strings!! Do something!!” Well, the House has done something. It’s certainly not enough, but until we have a president that is willing to attack entitlements we will continue to rack up debt because automatic spending that does not go through the normal House appropriations process. The process that is known as the “purse strings.”
Trump has said he doesn’t want to cut entitlements. Hillary certainly won’t. So we are going to be in the same boat for at least the next four years. Arguing over welfare, transportation, funding the pentagon, raising taxes and ignoring the real problem. Entitlements.
I am not defending the Dems on spending, in reality basic bills have been killed by both parties using VA drug pricing for Madicare/Medicaide about 60 percent cheaper for tax payers. Obviously, voters are frustrated because they think lobbyist have taken over congress via simple solutions like the above not implemented verse taking care of donors. I am not saying Trump nor Sandrers has the answers, but calling people irrational for not trusting the establishment of parties is also irrational. I do think a Bush/Hillary in the White House type president will just be business as usual. I have very conservative friends in Cherokee county that say they do not like what Sanders is selling but at least he is honest. You wonder why they are voting for a Trump?
“You wonder why they are voting for a Trump?” No, I don’t wonder why. I know why. They are angry and have been blinded by their anger and are now being lead astray by a charlatan. It’s pretty simple. We can argue all day about the cause of their anger, but Trump isn’t the answer.
It’s after 5 now so it’s bourbon time. I’m out.
Trump supporters (like most voters) don’t know or care about procedural wins and ideological purity. They care about attitude and big ideas. Ryan is definitely competent, conservative, and relatively likable. He a real conservative but that only moves the needle for people that really pay attention. Successful national leaders need flash, he hasn’t shown that yet.
I agree, but also how voters feel about economic security drives voting behavior. We have about 80 percent of people one check away from having no money in the bank, People will tend to vote who they think will make them feel more economically secure in this economic environment. Combine that with terrorist threats, it makes for an environment that many will look past other traditional dividing lines.
“big ideas”? Trumpet either takes multiple positions on an issue, has a dysfunctional/nonsensical position on an issue or has no position on an issue.
Trump is riding the horse that got him the delegates. Most of us wish he’d start playing nice but it is clear he would catch a shiv if he did.
“Donald Trump named Chris Christie as chairman of his transition team on Monday, saying the New Jersey governor would put together an unparalleled group of people to “take over” the White House if Trump beats “Hillary Clinton, or whoever” in November.”
A good piece about the lie that Republicans have done nothing to fight Obama:
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/435078/republicans-didnt-cave-obama