Obama should extend offer to Ryan
President-elect Barack Obama says he’ll govern from the center with a bipartisan administration.
One way to demonstrate a centrist administration is to tap Wisconsin First District Congressman Paul Ryan, a Republican, for a key budget position.
The two top spots at the Office of Management and Budget, director and deputy director, are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Ryan should be considered for them.
Some Republicans in the House want Ryan to seek the position of minority leader. Ryan turned them down despite an endorsement from the Wall Street Journal. He cited family considerations when he declined the invitation to seek a leadership role in the House.
It should also be noted Ryan could politically die on the vine and his rising star momentum stall if he stays in the House where Democrats increased their significant majority in the Nov. 4 election.
Despite a Democratic landslide in southern Wisconsin, Ryan outpolled Obama in his congressional district. That has not gone unnoticed by Obama advisors.
If Ryan left the House, it could mean that Republicans would lose another seat. Democrats would present a strong candidate to contest an open district. But Ryan owes the party nothing. He has been a loyal Republican as the party shifted away from traditional values.
In the 2008 election cycle, the Republican Party abandoned independent-minded Republicans such as Ryan and John McCain who adhere to traditional GOP principles such as fiscal constraint.
Some Republicans may want Ryan to lead damage control efforts in the House, but his future is much brighter with a bipartisan recognition of his considerable skills.
Nov 12, 2008 at 7:21 p.m.
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Paul Ryan has made the right decision to stay in Congress and work on issues. He is a rare politician who looks beyond the next election. He is the future and the future will catch up to him. Remember the last Congressman from here who went to work for the President? - Les Aspin. That was in his own party yet Clinton still stabbed him in the back. Aspin was washed up in less than 2 years (not releated to his unfortunate passing a while later). Aspin was also a policy expert but serving the administration ruined all that.
Nov 11, 2008 at 4:36 p.m.
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I disagree. Ryan will not "die on the vine" poltically, he won re-election overwhelmingly and holds much more power politically in Congress than in a non cabinet level, appointed position.
Stan, as you know, nationally, congressional approval ratings are about 10% and yet the vast majority of congress continues to be re-elected, including Ryan. Ryan himself lives and represents a district that overwhelmingly and consistently votes Democrat (Nationally) and yet Ryan wins convincingly. This says one of two things-D1 voters approve of the job Ryan is doing or the democrats cannot find a "strong" candidate (you used the word strong-I find the last few candidates as wholly unelectable and weak politically-as did D1 constituents.) D1 is Ryan's seat as long as he chooses to serve.
What do you mean by leading damage control? What damage? Nancy Pelosi leads congress, not Paul Ryan. The democrats have a strong majority in congress and over the next 2 years you will not see any "Bipartisian legislation." Obama will be able to set his direction and Pelosi and Reid will carry the water for him (or Pelosi and Reid will tell Obama what they want to do) irrespective of the republicans in Congress-the Dems can do whatever they choose as they have the votes to pass legislation. The majority party rules-it is as simple as that.
As for politically appointed positions, they serve at the pleasure of the President-and thus carry the water of the President. While Ryan and Obama may be able to personally get a long, I cannot see a principled, fiscal conservative leading the charge for job killing corporate tax increases, massive increases in social security taxes (without reciprocal increases in benefits), massive increases in capital gains taxes, and higher income taxes on all tax payers (as Obama sunsets the Bush tax cuts). These are the promises of an Obama presidency. What you are proposing is to give Ryan enough rope to hang himself because thats what he would do working for an Obama administration.
Nov 11, 2008 at 1:36 p.m.
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Hey Stan, what kind of quid pro quo do you think Ryan could obtain for his service to the president? Some commitment on reducing the debt, dealing with entitlement funding, tax breaks? I don't think he would agree to work in a Democratic administration without being able to work on the goals he has set in his Road Map for America's Future.
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