Many “conservatives” in congress can get away with voting with Democrats against fiscal responsibility a few times for various reasons, it’s never good and it certainly doesn’t gain them any respect but, everyone makes mistakes.
However, when a stalwart defender of the free market fails TWICE by voting for big government bailouts, people notice. Especially when that Republican is a role model for many young conservatives and seen as one of the rising stars in a party that desperately needs them. The number of emails and comments I have gotten from my fellow young conservatives is unprecedented. Not only had many young conservatives (myself included) considered him a role model, many saw him as the kind of fiscal Republican that should lead our party. No more, not after voting for the $700 billion financial bailout AND the $14 billion auto bailout.
Here was his defense:
“At the forefront of my mind are jobs in Southern Wisconsin and the retiree commitments to workers that could be placed in jeopardy under certain bankruptcy scenarios. To be clear, this bill is not intended to save the American auto industry and makes no guarantees that layoffs in this industry will end. Congress must stop overselling what it can do. At the very least, I am hopeful that by extending these loans to the American auto manufacturers, bankruptcy will be avoided in the near term and protections for retirees will remain intact.”
He essentially admits to making a shortsighted decision to try and prop up an industry (specifically one that effects him in Janesville). I understand the need to help retirees but, this is an entirely un-conservative way to do so. What are you telling millions of future retirees? Don’t worry, if you make bad investment decisions and don’t diversify the government will bail you out. This has to stop somewhere! Someone has to stand up to the Democrat bailout-mongers and stimulus junkies and say “HEY the American people need to learn to take care of themselves again!”.
We are still the greatest nation in the world but, all too quickly we are drifting towards the trendy socialism and feel-good mush that so many of our children are taught to admire in our schools and on television. Rep.Paul Ryan was a man who used to stand against this, speak out for American capitalism (not this GSE infected market that is failing due to government intervention).
I can remember walking through the airport with him after flying back from DC on the same Midwest flight, he had a beat up leather briefcase thrown in a car seat on top of a stroller he was pushing as we chatted and walked. He’s a great family man and, I am sure, is a committed public servant. Let’s hope he can get that free market spark back and get back to standing up as an example of hope for a generation of young conservatives.
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Tags: auto, bailout, conservative, Paul Ryan, Republican
His reason was really bad. He wasn’t voting to continue building cars or to protect jobs, he voted to keep paying retiree benefits for people who retired at 55…. you know, just like the rest of us stupid taxpayers.
As Representatives are always in constant campaign mode because of their 2 year office length, might it be fair to say that if he were more consistent in his voting record, that he would actually retain his voter constituency and attract others who are sick of RINO’s.
While I do not consider Ryan a RINO, it is going to take a revival or renewal of the GOP and politicians who vote counter to conservative principals to clear themselves from this label. Those two votes will have a large impact and unfortunately he may have just branded that label upon himself.
I believe it will take an hard line back to core conservative principals in order to unseat the left. If we are lucky the nations swing to the left will be too abrupt and others will look towards the GOP once again. But not if their voting for the same things as the Dems .
You’ve got the wrong Paul. If you want real conservatism, try Ron Paul.
Three words: Dead. To. Me.
To paraphrase Owen at B&S, Sensenbrenner ought to take him aside and wallop Ryan a good one upside the head to remind him who he is.
And who is going to take Sensenbrenner out to the wood shed? I don’t advocate for a National ID.
Paul Ryan has not yet learned what it means to be a true conservative or a true Republican. He has been corrupted by Washinton politicians. I doubt that he will learn the limitations of constitutunal government. He talks conservative, but when it comes to getting re-elected,– he’s just another selfserving opportunist.
Bill