Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Paul Ryan on the Budget Deficit: "We Have a Leadership Deficit"

Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) speaking yesterday from the floor of the US House of Representatives (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/07/20/paul_ryan_leading_on_reporters_at_press_conferences_is_not_leadership.html):

"Here's the problem we have right now, Mr. Speaker. We have a leadership deficit. I keep hearing about the President's got a plan. The President's offering balance. The President hasn't offered a thing yet. Nothing on paper. Nothing in public. Leading on reporters at press conferences is not leadership. Giving speeches according to the CBO is not budgeting.

The President did inherit a tough problem. No two ways about it. What did he do with this problem? He drove us deeper into debt. $1 trillion of borrowed money for a stimulus that was promised to keep unemployment below 8% and went up to 10% and now it's at 9.2%. A stalled economy. A budget the President gave us that doubles the debt in five years and triples it in 10 years. That's not leadership."

Okay, suppose it's all true. Name a viable alternative being offered by a dysfunctional Republican party, who is prepared to vie for the presidency in 2012. Yes, there is a leadership deficit, but it extends to both parties.

How about you, Mr. Ryan? Are you ready to do something other than lecture from the sidelines? Time to test your theories and proposals upon the broader American electorate. Yes, you might be forced to walk away in humbled defeat, but that is the price of leadership.

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