An honest man

The opportunity doesn't come often, but every once in a while I welcome the chance to say something good about a Republican.  Today, it's Paul Ryan, the numbers crunching Chair of the House Budget Committee.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Committee convention today, he said this:

I know there are people in this town who are terrified at the prospect of an election with real alternative visions at stake. “Make it a referendum. Win by default," they say. "Just oppose – we can win that way. Don’t propose bold ideas – that’s too risky." 

I'll admit, the easy way is always tempting. But my friends, if that’s all we stand for, then what are we doing at here CPAC – the place where so many giants of our movement came to advance their boldest ideas? The next President will face fiscal and economic challenges that are huge, almost unprecedented. He can’t resolve these challenges if he wins by default. He needs a mandate – not just to displace Barack Obama, but to preserve and strengthen the very Idea of America.

That's brave to say to a group that seems to have staked out its position as simply to defeat Obama by making him fail -- not by proposing any ideas that are better than his.  Take note, Mitch McConnell and John Boehner.

So I admire Paul Ryan for saying this to this crowd.  It doesn't mean I agree with his ideas or would vote for him.  But think about it:   where we have come to if such a simple, straight-forward admonition is even controversial for a political party !!!

Ralph