TPMDC America Speaking Out
Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan On GOP: 'We Have A Decentralized Party From A Leadership Standpoint'
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) says he's not calling out his Republican Party -- although he does say that the GOP has a lack of centralized leadership and specifics on the big issues.
Speaking at a Brookings Institution event last week, Ryan was asked why more conservatives were not backing his roadmap plan for privatizing Medicare and Social Security, converting them into sets of vouchers and private accounts. "They're talking to their pollsters and their pollsters are saying, 'Stay away from this. We're going to win an election,'" Ryan said. He also said: "Unfortunately, you know, when I jumped in the pool and encouraged other people to jump in the pool, we haven't had many other folks swimming around. And that's from both sides of the aisle, I would say."
Ryan has now told the Daily Caller in an interview: "We are a decentralized party right now from a leadership standpoint. We don't have some obvious nominee, and who knows who that's going to be. So I just feel like it's important for some of us to step in and help define the moment."
Ryan added: "I'm not calling my party out ... I'm just adding ideas to the pile to try and move the debate forward."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, America Speaking Out, House '10, Medicare, Paul Ryan, Social Security
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: Government Help Veterans With PTSD Receive Benefits
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama announced that the government would be making it easier for veterans to apply for benefits involving post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Well, I don't think our troops on the battlefield should have to take notes to keep for a claims application. And I've met enough veterans to know that you don't have to engage in a firefight to endure the trauma of war. So we're changing the way things are done," said Obama. "On Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs, led by Secretary Eric Shinseki, will begin making it easier for a veteran with PTSD to get the benefits he or she needs. This is a long-overdue step that will help veterans not just of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, but generations of their brave predecessors who proudly served and sacrificed in all our wars. It's a step that proves America will always be here for our veterans, just as they've been there for us. We won't let them down. We take care of our own. And as long as I'm Commander-in-Chief, that's what we're going to keep doing. Thank you."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, America Speaking Out, Barack Obama, Fundraising, Joe Biden, John Murtha, Roundup
2010 elections
GOP Voters To House Leadership: Privatize Social Security!
Former President Bush at an event touting his social security reform proposal in 2005.
House Minority Leader John Boehner says he doesn't want to "prejudge" any official Republican plan to fix Social Security before voters have their chance to weigh in on a nifty new GOP Web site soliciting their ideas. Boehner won't tip the party's 2010 cards as to whether the unpopular George W. Bush-era plan to privatize Social Security might be on the table if he gets the Speaker's gavel after November.
But after spending some time scanning the "America Speaking Out" Republican site that Boehner said will inform the GOP game plan this fall, it's clear that there are plenty of voters who want the party to push privatization once more.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2010 elections, America Speaking Out, Entitlement reform, Fiscal Commission, GOP, GOP Shadow Budget, House Republicans, John Boehner, Social Security
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: GOP 'Willing To Walk Away From The Needs Of Our Doctors And Our Seniors'
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama discussed the potential pay cut for Medicare doctors, which requires Congressional action to prevent it from happening. In his address, Obama targeted Senate Republicans for threatening to filibuster a vote.
"Since 2003, Congress has acted to prevent these pay cuts from going into effect. These votes were largely bipartisan, and they succeeded when Democrats ran Congress and when Republicans ran Congress - which was most of the time," said Obama. "This year, a majority of Congress is willing to prevent a pay cut of 21% -- a pay cut that would undoubtedly force some doctors to stop seeing Medicare patients altogether. But this time, some Senate Republicans may even block a vote on this issue. After years of voting to defer these cuts, the other party is now willing to walk away from the needs of our doctors and our seniors."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: 2010 elections, America Speaking Out, BP, Barack Obama, Elena Kagan, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Hillary Clinton, Immigration, John Boehner, Lindsey Graham, Oil Spill, Roundup, Supreme Court, Supreme Court vacancy
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Weekend Address: Obama Honors Memorial Day
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama honored Memorial Day weekend by recognizing the sacrifices of fallen American soldiers.
"That commitment - that willingness to lay down their lives so we might inherit the blessings of this nation - is what we honor today. But on this Memorial Day, as on every day, we are called to honor their ultimate sacrifice with more than words. We are called to honor them with deeds," said Obama. "We are called to honor them by doing our part for the loved ones our fallen heroes have left behind and looking after our military families. By making sure the men and women serving this country around the world have the support they need to achieve their missions and come home safely. By making sure veterans have the care and assistance they need. In short, by serving all those who have ever worn the uniform of this country - and their families - as well as they have served us."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: America Speaking Out, Arizona, BP, Barack Obama, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Gays in the military, Gulf Coast Oil Spill, Immigration, James Carville, Joe McGinniss, Kevin McCarthy, Oil Spill, Robert Gibbs, Roundup, Sarah Palin
America Speaking Out
House GOPers Want To Know What America Thinks...Kind Of
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)
House Republicans are looking for a few good ideas from Americans -- as long as they're Republican ideas. At a flashy media event at the Newseum this morning, House GOP leadership formally introduced AmericaSpeakingOut.com, a new campaign that the leaders said will invite average Americans to submit their ideas for legislation, and that the leaders said they'll bring to the floor as soon as next month.
The project is funded by taxpayer dollars and run by the House GOP. That has raised criticism from Democratic circles, who claim the program amounts to campaigning on the public dime. House Republicans pushed back at the event today, saying the program was designed to create legislation for this Congress, and that campaign-focused policy initiatives will come later.
"We are looking for ideas today to face the challenges of today," Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) told reporters.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: America Speaking Out, Candace Miller, John Boehner, Kevin McCarthy, Mike Pence
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