BANGOR, Maine — Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s choice of Rep. Paul Ryan as a running mate drew predictable reactions in Maine that ran along party lines.
To Republicans, Romney’s vice presidential choice was seen as a needed bridge between weathered Republican values and the ultra-conservative, Tea Party faction of the party that has gained increasing momentum in recent years. Democrats characterized Ryan and his ideals as a potentially disastrous formula that will shift more burdens onto middle-class taxpayers and those who rely on social services like Medicare.
Romney’s announcement was seen largely as an attempt to put government spending and the country’s multitrillion-dollar deficit in the limelight of the campaign against President Barack Obama. Seven-term Wisconsin Rep. Ryan, who chairs the House of Representatives’ Budget Committee, is perhaps best known as the architect of the January 2010 Ryan Plan, which would reform the country’s tax code and minimize federal spending largely through an overhaul of Medicare.
Republican Olympia Snowe, Maine’s senior senator who will step down after the November election, said Romney’s choice proves that the former Massachusetts governor is serious about deficit reduction and economic growth.
“It is vital that we have a national conversation on the necessity of getting America’s fiscal house in order given our skyrocketing and historic levels of deficits and debt,” said Snowe in a press release. “Governor Romney’s decision underscores his commitment to policies that are critical to establishing an environment for expanding our economy and creating jobs … Our nation is at a tipping point and we cannot afford the status quo course of more spending and an ever-expanding government, while families and individuals haven’t experienced any positive effect in their own lives. That’s what this election is all about, and that is the choice Americans will face on Election Day.”
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who put out a press release despite Saturday being her wedding day, agreed, despite the fact that she has not always agreed with Ryan.
“Paul Ryan has extraordinary knowledge of the federal budget and deficit, which is important to tackling the $16 trillion debt burdening our country’s economy and taxpayers,” said Collins. “While I did not support Congressman Ryan’s budget proposals, I gave him enormous credit for taking on this significant issue, something the president regrettably has failed to do.”
Rep. Mike Michaud, a Democrat who represents the northern portion of Maine, said in a press release that he respects Ryan but not his budget proposals.
“I just don’t see how turning Medicare into a voucher program is a good thing for Maine seniors and future retirees,” said Michaud. “I also don’t see how passing more tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires will improve the lives of middle-class families or help small businesses. Our country already tried this approach over the last decade and it hasn’t worked. All it’s done is given us giant deficits year after year.”
Maine Democratic Party Chairman Ben Grant brutalized Ryan in a press release, calling his budget plan “one of the most extreme, anti-middle class budget plans in our nation’s history.” He also said the choice shows that Romney is “out of touch” with most American families.
“A Romney-Ryan ticket would mean the end of Medicare as we know it, huge tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, and more of a burden on middle-class seniors and families. Romney sent a message to Americans today: if you don’t have a big bank account and millions of dollars, he doesn’t want your vote.”
Maine GOP Chairman Charlie Webster said the opposite and called Ryan a “great choice.”
“He is a very bright young star in the Republican Party with fresh ideas and an ability to communicate our ideals like few others can,” said Webster in a press release. “Together, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are America’s best hope for more jobs, less welfare and a strong future for working people.”
Ha! How do you like how Romney introduced Ryan as the next President of the United States. Then had to come back up to say he made a mistake.
Just like Obama did four years ago when introducing Biden…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecbhdSLRPtc
http://goo.gl/x65UU
Great choice Mitty! Democrats can now rejoice at having to run against TWO creepy guys instead of just one. As “Dlbrt” noted earlier for us today, it appears that democrats are now being challenged by “Herman and Eddie Munster”! Which is fine, just as long as Grampa Gingrich doesn’t start casting some funky spells on those of us who aren’t members of the greedy 1% club.
‘Creepy”/ lols………………
Gingrich is going audition for either Uncle Fester or Cousin Itt (whoops, wrong show) :)
LOL
I read a good one on another website,
the Poster claimed that the reason that people new the pick before the 9:00 am anouncement was that Ryan was spotted strapped onto the top of the Romney Bus heading for Virginia!
WoW!
It’s uncanny, I looked up pictures of the Munsters and your right —grandpa would make a fine characture of Gingrich,
also Lily could pass as Bachmen, !
LOL
If he is really for the millionaires and billionaires, don’t you think he would keep Medicare? As those rich people retire, are they going to want to spend their precious money on healthcare?
That could bankrupt them.
No. If you’re someone with a 10 million dollar net worth, you will be able to afford private insurance. To imply that multi millionaires rely on Medicare is silly. To multi millionaires, and those who identify with them, getting rid of the expense of taking care of people who can’t afford health insurance is WORTH sacrificing the benefits they themselves are in line for.
Romney and Ryan are two Right Wing Radicals. Four years ago it was Palin another Right Wing Tea Radical. The Tea Party has destroyed the Republican Party this day. The Corporate Fascists have taken over.
Independent analysts have shown that Romney’s plan (and Ryan’s) reduce the tax burden for the ultra-wealthy and shift it onto the rest of us:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/study-romney-tax-plan-would-result-in-cuts-for-rich-higher-burden-for-others/2012/08/01/gJQAbeCCOX_story.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/paul-ryans-budget-hurts-the-poor/2012/03/20/gIQAX73LQS_story.html
The Brookings Institute is and has always been a Liberal think tank… much like The Heritage Policy Center has been for Conservatives. Calling them independent when Obama advisers contributed to the report is like someone saying someone has never been married after they divorce.
Then show us a non-partisan think tank that believes the Ryan plan will do what he says it will do, reduce the deficit.
Waiting…and waiting…and waiting… Hmmm, Cheesy still looking?
Of course the reaction was in accordance with which political party individuals belong to. He picked as ideological a choice as he could have possibly done. Depending on where you stand on the issues, obviously you are either pleased or dismayed.
My first reaction was to check and see if Paul Ryan had signed Grover Norquists pledge. He had. I would hope that any thinking person from either party would reject anyone who signs a pledge to any non government entity or organization.
Grover Norquist has stated that all he and his ilk want is a president who is breathing and able to sign the bills they put in front of him. Ryan would be there to make sure old Mitt doesn’t backslide – a Dick Cheney for the Romney boy, except Ryan, for all his extremism, is human. Not too sure about sure-shot Cheney.
He may be human but he has no compassion for anyone but the financial elite in this country. His goal is to dismantle Medicare. Even Romney’s not that radical. Vote Democrat if you want anything left for your “golden years”.
As a unrolled independent I think Ryan is a Very Good choice
I’m a liberal and I think he’s a great choice too — but obviously for different reasons ;-)
Me,too!! Lots easier to decide now!
Unenrolled Independent VOTER
Any of you who think either of these two guys give a twit about anyone who isn’t a member of the elite upper class the .05% are delusional and mistaken. Their plan for this country has nothing to do with the other 99.95% of us. They are absolutely clear about this.
In the midst of an historic economic slump the “debate” will now switch from jobs, wait, no it was never about jobs, to the difference between the “moderate centrist plan for a balanced
approach” that slashes vital government programs in exchange for some millionaires tip money and a radical
right wing plan that simply slashes vital government programs. What a choice.
If Messers Romney and Ryan are elected I fear we’ll be seeing a lot more coffee cans next to convenience store cash registers with sad faces of our neighbors on them.
You do understand that there will remain a gap representing millions of people under the ACA who will not qualify for Medicaid (they make +150% of the poverty level I believe) and cannot afford insurance. The benefit suppers will continue until this gap is closed. The ACA is a far cry from socialized medicine.
Mitt handed Obama the election today by his choice of fanatic Rep. Ryan–not a fanatic in his behavior but in his ideas, his contempt for the 99%, and his commitment to creating ever more class warfare. Great choice. Romney and Ryan really believe that most American want to harm the middle and working classes. I suspect otherwise.
I think that this is the wake up call that for those who hate entitlements!
Ryan is coming for YOURS —Righties!!
All those years of paying in and now he is going to throw it all to the Insurance Company Sharks!
The top don’t care , they can buy their own anyway!
Thanks for your support Tea Baggers!!
It was fun playing Tea cups while it lasted, now get lost!
The worst part of it is ….. they’re going to get it all too, including your pensions and 401ks, every dime of it.
Just read an AP article that said Ryan is already in trouble with the Catholic Church for what he plans to do to Medicare. Looks like the unholy alliance between conservative Protestants and the Catholic Church is starting to crumble (as expected). Ryan should also be in trouble with Seniors.
Good try but you are misleading.
By the way most seniors I know are smart enough to recognize scare tactics.
More scare tactics from the liberals. If only they had their own record to run on…….
what kind of record could you possibly have to run on yourself?
you had your chance and you blew it. 8 years of ruining America.
dont worry we’ll make all the money back that you funneled into your insecurities pumping cash into the pentagon rather than building up our country’s foundation (education).
thanks for nothing to you and yours. you belligerent misguided fools.
You don’t seat Ron Paul delegates and you mr mit will lose 4 other states teaparty voters who will write in Ron Paul..
Well, Ryan is bound to be more intelligent than Mittens.
Of course, I could say the same thing about the contents of my sock drawer.
Big money is in control. If Obama wins, the 1%’ers will not support or help him, they will do all they can to make his admin look bad. If Mitt or Willard wins, the 99% might as well pack up and live in their cars. It not as exciting as it was once, politics. I remember when LBJ won the landslide, he was a good President, he help the 99%, the Vietnam War destroyed him, but he did a lot for the people of America. There is a attitude now in America, I made it, (got rich) and if you did not make it, you are snot. Homelessness and hunger for probably 25% of Americans is coming, the crisis in America is much worse than it seems, get ready to get under cover.
You’re absolutely correct. This country is in the grips of Plutocratic corporatism. Romney and Ryan are two of the heads of that hydra. It’s not about party, conservative or liberal, it’s not about God or guns or anything else except the manipulation of politicians and the electorate with the use of money. It’s that simple.
Sorry , but Paul Ryan can’t destroy Medicare cause Obama already has . It just does’t take effect untill after the election.
WOW!
Listen to yourself!He can’t destroy it because it already is but hasn’t taken effect yet! Man they really messed your head up!Sounds like you bought into the Mitt Romulan Time Warp!
LOL
It’s time for all of us to open our collective eyes and realize that this election has little to do with Party. What it has to do with is the influence of money on our country and our political system.
Conservatives have every right to worry about Romney, look at his record in Massachusetts it’s certainly not that of a conservative. Remember Romney says he is running as a conservative, that doesn’t mean he is one.
For the moment it’s time to forget about liberals and conservatives, guns and God, freedom of choice and right to life. None of these searing issues will matter if Romney and Ryan are elected.
Though Romney and Ryan say they stand for this or that what they really stand for is Plutocratic
corporatism which stands of only one thing, the manipulation of politicians and the electorate by a wealthy few.
Plutocratic corporatism has been sanctioned by our Supreme Court through Citizens United. The US Chamber Commerce is a partner along with all the names of those we hear on a daily basis; Koch, Adelson and the likes who are a very small percentage of the population that are controlling the money, the message and pulling the strings. Plutocratic corporatism is consuming our country; it’s your choice if you want to be ruled by a few wealthy elites?
Well BO has 4 years to show us his change for the future. Yep he has alright, passed the biggest tax increase in the history of the US under the disguise of healthcare reform and the supreme court backed it up. Because that is what it was, a tax increase. And I am sure we will have 4 more years of that because as I get older, more and more Americans are from the entitlement age, you know where hard work, perseverance, dedication, honesty, moral values etc all are nice things we read about but are so glad that it does not apply to us. I wonder what JFK would think, if he saw that his democrats of this year would say, ask not what you can do for your counry but what the Gov’t can do for you. Vote Barack Obama and your wish will come true. It is all Mitt Romneys fault your job has become redundant, he outsourced it, so sit back watch Jerry Springer, feel sorry for yourself and checks in the mail courtesy of the guy who did not give up…
You don’t know wha you are talking about!
The ACA is not the biggest tax increase in the history of the of the united States!
Thats a load Elephant dung!
Well, how much are your taxes going to go up if you have health insurance? Exactly zero. The CBO, relied on by both sides, has said it would save money over the long run. Where does that fact fit into your narrative?
I remember when the Republicans said, and you bobbleheads repeated, that Bill Clinton had passed the biggest tax hike in the history of the world, and the economy would grind to a stop. Maybe you weren’t around in 1993 when the Clinton budget passed. But after his “biggest tax increase in history”, the economy soared and the current accounts deficit (the debt) stopped increasing.
BTW, part of his “tax increase” was a provision for banks to withhold dividend and interest payments to those who owed taxes. After the Republicans gained control of Congress, they eliminated this provision that rich tax cheats would have their money held up. Nothing is too small to escape those who shield the rich from taxes.
And no, I am not saying it is Mitt’s fault. I am saying that the wealthy have destroyed this country by writing tax laws that favor them and stick it to the rest. Mitt happens to be the one who is going to bat for them at this time.
I suppose if you count medicare twice… like they are doing… it means no income tax increase.. but there are plenty of other taxes hidden in the plan which are passed on to the premiums and thus to you. The healthcare bill has so co-mingled taxes, entitlements, business finance and personal finance that you could probably say anything about the plan and from a particular point of view it would be true.
And why is that? Oh yes the Repubs. kept blocking everything that Obama presented. You can’t be blind enough to really think that the Romney/Ryan ticket has anything to offer this country except more poverty and despair for the middle class. They’re both filthy rich, at least one is a probable tax cheat, and they’d squash you and your whole family like a bug and think nothing of it. If you aren’t rich, to them you’re garbage. Accountian is right the GOP has been purchased by the wealthy and are no good for the rest of us.
The tax increases in the ACA aren’t even in the top 10 biggest tax increases. Stop listening to the RW, they are just plain lying about the ACA and it’s costs because they are in the pocket of corporate America.
Now, we all know Romney didn’t outsource the jobs, Ronald Reagan started the process when he conceived the idea of introducing NAFTA in 1980. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure Romney would like to have the credit for it, but good old popular Republican Ron beat him to it 32 years ago. See any correlation between NAFTA and the economic distress this country is in now? Fewer US jobs, exploited Mexican workers, Corporations moving south for the cheap labor. Ya gotta love the GOP.
I don’t understand why everybody is so excited about the selection of Ryan for the VP slot. It just means now there are two posh budget-hawk white guys on the podium. Overall, it doesn’t change a thing, with the possible exception of further narrowing the GOP offering into a single-issue ticket.
I do find it’s interesting that Ryan is keeping his name on the ballot for his seat in the House. Clearly he doesn’t think this is worth giving up his day job.
Sorry I can only hit the “like” button once. That pretty well sums up Ryan.
A little rich kid whose only job besides being Congressman was the top job at the family business. He is talked about on the Right as a self made man with all this experience in private enterprise. Instead, he is the scion of the richest family in his county who worked with the Bush administration to bring us a war in Iraq built on lies and financed with debt and an economy that crashed just as the Republicans left office.
To top it off he financed his way thru college with Social Security benefits from his deceased father!
Now isn’t that ironic!
What a stark contrast to Obama/Biden! Integrity, acumen, experience and diplomacy vis a vis an affirmative action lackey who affirms all that is wrong with the ‘Peter Principle’ and a bobble-head with a penchant for gaffs and faux pas.
You shouldn’t describe Ryan as a lacky for affirmative action, he just really likes rich people and it isn’t Romney’s fault that he can’t remember what his latest stance on the issues is.
Affirmative action lackey? Any facts to enlighten us, or is this just another nice sound blurb from the Right? In other words, you have a name for the pres that comes from what? Your own opinion, devoid of facts?
Experience and diplomacy? Right. Experience as a governor that he is running away from as fast as the Tea Party will allow. Experience running the Olympics? Yes, because everybody knows that the Olympics are the same as running the largest economy in the world. Experience at Bain? Bain was about making a lot of money for the investors (who promptly moved the gains overseas to avoid taxes). It was not about creating jobs or what was good for the country, simply about amassing lots of money no matter how many bodies you had to crawl over.
Diplomacy? Did you not follow his latest trip abroad? He insulted the Brits, said that Jews were culturally superior and his spokesman at a Death Camp in Poland told a reporter to “shove it” and “kiss my #ss”, “this is a holy place”! Diplomacy of the highest caliber for sure.
Ryan in his spin speaks of taking the country back? Back to when? when Bush left office? or sometime in the fabled past of Republican fantasy? Ryan was one of the Republicans who rubber stamped everything bush did. Now he wants to go back there, his words. They did such great job, they’re talking about doing the same things that go us into this mess. Talk about nuts.
Ryan rubber stamped the Bush Depression all the way.
As far as the Democratic candidates go, you could step in that gene pool and not even get the bottom of yer shoes wet… And can anyone tell me what qualifications Obama had to become President? NONE And what has he done for our nation? NOTHING… But what he has done TO our nation may take a generation or two to repair. Thank goodness he won’t be sitting where a Commander In Chief or a true statesman is supposed to sit much longer…
It’s obvious that you cannot see both sides of an issue, so there is no sense in providing you with any facts. You would spin it into your own short circuited message board and come up with something to your satisfaction anyway, so dream on.
Finally we can put Ryan’s face on the guy that pushes poor Grandma off the Cliff in her wheel chair. With Ryan’s Medicare policies he would do it.
Why anyone who is not rich would vote for Romney and Ryan is beyond belief. These guys will only line the rich man’s pockets and bleed the poor.
Even his own catholic church rejected Ryan’s billionare tax break budget as a clear indication of his reluctance to help those in need, and would take away any help they now have. He dwells on the fact that if given enough tax breaks to the rich, he will get some in return. His view that middle class America needs to “give back” in order to balance the budget while giving the rich more money, is proof enough for me to get fired up to vote against this arrogant self serving blowhard.
No No No …the Catholic Church does not have a position on Ryan’s plan. It appears you would like to think some liberal Catholics such as NETWORK – 47 nuns out of about 60000 , two liberal bishops, a few college professors speak for the Church. These Catholics have a right to their opinion but this should not in any way be construed as a position of the Church. However there is a position concerning a rule in the US Healthcare Act.
Good try
Apparently you can’t read, or your Republican mind cannot accept reality. The Catholic church Ryan attends chastised him for his budget proposal that would decimate the poor. It’s in black and white. Read it, then tell us what it really means to you. No No No to you means Yes Yes Yes in reality.
I know who speaks for the Catholic Church. Not the nuns, whose leadership is being dismissed as unfaithful. The The Council of Women Religious speaks for thousands of nuns. These are the women who man the trenches for the Catholic Church. They work in missions with the sick and the homeless, they staff the hospitals and the mental institutions, the old age homes and minister to those that society has deemed the throwaways. This is who they are:
“The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is
an association of the leaders of congregations of Catholic women
religious in the United States. The conference has more than 1500
members, who represent more than 80 percent of the 57,000 women
religious in the United States. Founded in 1956, the conference assists
its members to collaboratively carry out their service of leadership to
further the mission of the Gospel in today’s world.”
They are not just a few nuns with a couple of liberal bishops. But, they don’t speak for the Church. The ones who speak for the church are the ones who protected pedophiles for years. The ones who are still on trial across the world. The same ones who are sitting on a banking scandal by the Vatican bank and are prosecuting the butler who spilled the beans. These are the spokesmen for the Catholic Church.
The high ranking Cardinal who was given the high post of archpriest of Santa Maria Maggiore (considered the 2nd most important church in Rome). He is also considered the head of Santa Susanna, the “American” Church in Rome. This high ranking Cardinal was promoted after the pedophile scandal erupted in Boston and escaped justice. This man, Cardinal Bernard Francis Law, should have been tried rather than promoted, but he was needed as a spokesman for the Church I guess.
I guess it’s ok to ask WWJD about insurance, but that thought never crossed the mind of the men who transferred known pedophiles around from parish to parish.
Please, please stop using the phrase “Medicare as we know it” – what we know is that it’s unsustainable as it is now and we already know it’s going to change. It’s how it changes…….
“Medicare as we know it” was fine until Bush decided to gut our tax revenue giving the Job Creators their undue share of the loot. I hope “Medicare as we know it” isn’t as painful for you to hear as “it” was for the Knights of Nee, a truly tragic event. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e2kaQqxmQ0
Doesn’t really matter who is running with an “R” after their name. None of you people except a small handful would vote for them anyway. Funny how all you Dems are chanting to each other. Makes it easy to support an arguement when everyone you are talking to is in agreement.