White House Blasts Ryan Plan, Says it fails the "fairness" test.

[jefferson_dem]

White House blasts Ryan budget proposal

The President believes that dramatically reducing America’s long-term deficit is essential to growing our economy and winning the future. Today, Congressman Ryan laid out his vision for how to do that, and he is right that we cannot solve our fiscal challenge by focusing on the narrow slice of domestic spending that has occupied so much of our recent attention. But while we agree with his ultimate goal, we strongly disagree with his approach.

Any plan to reduce our deficit must reflect the American values of fairness and shared sacrifice. Congressman Ryan’s plan fails this test. It cuts taxes for millionaires and special interests while placing a greater burden on seniors who depend on Medicare or live in nursing homes, families struggling with a child who has serious disabilities, workers who have lost their health care coverage, and students and their families who rely on Pell grants. The President believes there is a more balanced way to put America on a path to prosperity. But despite our differences, all of us – Democrats and Republicans – have an obligation to find common ground in a way that is true to our values and meets our responsibilities to the American people.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/05/963760/-White-House-Blasts-Ryan-Plan-

[Armstead]

1. There is no common ground

In a sane world, there would be.

But right now the GOP wants to basically kill government (except for the lucrative military industrial complex and the national security state).

There is no common ground with that.

[Telly Savalas]

8. Common ground emerges if the GOP pulls their head out of their asses a little

In the arcane jargon of political science, Ryan's plan would be described as "fucking nuts". The president is certainly calling bullshit on it with his statements, but is sugar-coating his objections with his flowery Obama "I'm the grown up here" rhetoric. It would be a nice change of pace to see Obama give a simple "really, assholes?" as a response, but I don't think that's gonna yield a more favorable outcome.

I'm interested to see how Obama will negotiate this one. In the past engagements with Congress, he was dealing with tepid progressive initiatives which got diluted even further to appease conservatives on Capitol Hill. This is the first time I can recall where he's had to deal with a large scale nutso radical proposal. The GOP is going to have to back off a lot for this to turn into something remotely acceptable. Fortunately the Senate might help gum things up a bit, but I'm still nervous as to how this will play out.

[Armstead]

9. They'll pull their heads out when the sun turns green

That is the central reality we (Democrats and Obama) have to deal with these days.

[Telly Savalas]

12. Perhaps, but Obama having a more inflammatory tone isn't going to yield better results.

That's another central reality we have to deal with.

With the conciliatory tone he positions himself above all the juvenile partisan sniping that alienates a large chunk of the population. I'd argue that this is a major reason his approval numbers are as high as they are. (If that's not it, what's causing it? His economic policies?) People that enjoy those dumb Squawking Pundit TV shows may want an angrier president, but that audience is a small minority of the electorate.

It's a given that Obama is going to respond with this sort of rhetoric. What's critical are the actions he takes to follow up on this rhetoric.

[eridani]

2. How is it that such a smart guy is such a slow learner? "Common ground"?

Wake the fuck up, Mr. President!

[jenmito]

4. Judging by your post, it's clear you need to read that line again. He said Dems. and Repubs.

"have an obligation to find common ground in a way that is true to our values and meets our responsibilities to the American people." It's called "being the adult in the room." When the Repubs. are NOT willing to find common ground, the people will see who at least WANTED to find it.

[eridani]

5. Everyone already knows he has tried the "common ground"thing over the past 2 1/2 years

It hasn't worked. I'm sick of hearing it. FDR and LBJ didn't bother with that crap--they twisted arms.

[jenmito]

6. No, everybody does NOT know that. Many people don't follow politics as closely

as we here do. He's saying it so it gets reported on the news tonight so when the Repubs. put out their lies that say he's NOT looking for common ground, they'll know better.

[dennis4868]

7. But they never had to....

deal with 24/7 fillubusters and they also had super majorities in congress....cannot compare....no other president has had to deal with as many fillubuster threats than Obama and to get done what he has (www.whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com) in just 2 years, IT'S HISTORICAL! It's amazing that in just a couple of years almost everyone will have health insurance....

[eridani]

10. Correct. And why doens't Obama ever mention those filibusters instead

--of going on about "common ground"?

[midnight armadillo]

14. "wanted to find it" means nothing.

You know what matters? results. So far, the GOP has gotten, what, $63 billion slashed from funds because the Prez did the adult compromise thing on the Bush tax cuts last December. Oh, and the GOP got their tax break too.

Note that the GOP refuses to compromise and willingly exercises political power to push their agenda and set the debate while controlling only the House. Perhaps the White House should take notes.

[jenmito]

3. K&R. n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. Ryan is the enemy of the people (if I were president I would use stronger terms)

Ryan killer of the working class

[high density]

13. Rich people get richer and old, poorer people die faster.

That's a completely fair idea to the teabaggers.