Thursday, August 16, 2012

Spratt, Ryan: Mutual regard has limits

Toward the end of the last meeting of the Bowles-Simpson deficit commission in December 2010, Republican Rep. Paul Ryan asked for the floor.

"I think this is the last time I'll be sitting at a table with my friend, John Spratt," he announced. "And you're a great guy, John, and it's been a real privilege to serve in Congress with you. We haven't agreed on everything but you have my respect, and I just want to say thank you for what you've done for our country."

Spratt, a Democrat, represented South Carolina's 5th District for 28 years and chaired the House Budget Committee before losing re-election in 2010. He was replaced on the budget panel by Ryan, who had been ranking minority member.

Spratt calls the Wisconsin congressman "bright, energetic and affable."

"I would regard him as a friend (but) one I disagree with vigorusly," Spratt says. "I was surprised to see (Mitt) Romney pick him because he brings not just Paul Ryan, who is personally attractive, but all his ideology on board."

Spratt was a major player in the negotiations that led to the 1997 balanced budget amendment, the first in generations and still the last. He worked with then budget chairman John Kasich, an Ohio Republican. He says Kasich did something Ryan would not -- compromise.

"He wants to do it his way," Spratt said of Ryan. "He doesn't want anything that can be construed as additional taxes or revenues in the package."

But Spratt, who had a reputation as a moderate, says Ryan's selection means a debate over substance.

"That will be the thing you hear about for the next two months," he says. "They've certainly brought front and center the key fiscal issues of our time: What would you do with Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid....

"In the final analysis, the biggest concern is whether Ryan can make the bipartisan moves necessary to put the budget on an even keel. In this respect his vote against Simpson-Bowles is not encouraging, it certainly does not cast him in the role of a bridge builder."



13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why are you writing about something from two years ago?

Anonymous said...

Careful there CO, your bias is showing. Why not print the quotes from Simpson praising Ryan for his abilities on budget and spending matters also. Oh, that would be unfair with the dnc visiting our quaint little burg.

Jim said...

16First rate hatchet job, Jim, in the guise of. . .what? Reporting? Analysis? Commentary?

Anonymous said...

Okay Jim, we get that you hate conservatives.

Can you at least be honest in your reporting however? You're beginning to look a lot like Soledad O'Brien in your 'journalistic' reporting.

Anonymous said...

Anything Paul Ryan has said or any of his actions since birth is fair game. He is now the GOP VP nominee and that's what makes it relevant.

Anonymous said...

Soledad O'Brien? Seriously? In the right light I might work her box.

Anonymous said...

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/08/17/geraldo-tells-fox-and-friends-that-lesbian-cabal-has-taken-over-dhs-and-ice/

Even liberal Geraldo pissed. Obamas hand picked lesbian cabal has taken over and been running Department of Homeland Security.

Homosexualization of America by the bi-sexual in the WH right on track.

RNC 2012 Tampa

MR

Anonymous said...

Spratt lost! Sounds like sour grapes to me.

Anonymous said...

Some really hate bigoted anti-christian hetrophobic homo signs put up by national self appointed leader homo atheist jew Silverman on Brookshire and Wilkinson by Adams Sign Co. Very stupid.

Mormons are a branch of xianity like judiasm in case he didnt know. DNC Obama is both xian and muslim. His religions have it right about cremating homos alive but he still cant run an economy and must go.

Obamas muslims burn homos alive.

http://themuslimissue.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/muslims-burn-homosexuals-alive-in-cruel-execution-graphic-video/

Obamas Kenyan xians burn homos alive too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPE1ySlCepA

Anonymous said...

President Obamas birth village province in Kenya East Africa shows how they deal with suspected witches.
(same as they did in Salem Massachutes)

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=dae_1236854361

Anonymous said...

Romney is teaching Ryan a few things like Flip Flopping

Anonymous said...

A Democrat "Dignitary" will be in Ballentyne Hotel during the DNC week ( THREE DAYS )

At the Hotel only? Whew. Thats OK since no way any so called DNC dignitary would be in Ballentyne other than renting a hotel room.

Keep all Demo-crackheads (pronounced (dem ole crackheads)out of Ballentyne safehaven otherwise.

Anonymous said...

Its spelled with an "a" not an "e".

Unusual name although theres a Ballantine Books out of NYC.

Theres also Brooke Ballentyne porn star who is from Charlotte NC and prob where the owner developer got the name.

Democrat President Obama will stay at a location and hotel named for a Hollywood porn star for the DNC?

Yea, that makes perfect sense. He will prob get free movies too.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooke_Ballentyne

http://www.iafd.com/person.rme/perfid=BBallentyne/gender=female