Report: Paul Ryan switched fiscal cliff vote from no to yes at last minute
Cantor and McCarthy both informed Boehner of their decisions prior to the vote, and waited until after the bill had gotten the needed 218 votes to pass the House. Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, who along with McCarthy and Cantor make up the so-called “Young Guns” was also expected to break with Boehner prior to the vote, but at the last minute he apparently changed his mind and voted for passage, a Republican source said.
Following the vote, Ryan told Buzzfeed, “When you like something, you vote for it. …I wasn’t afraid.” He said he thought the deal reflected conservative values.
In a statement released by his office later, Ryan was more forceful in defense of his vote, noting that while he had concerns “Will the American people be better off if this law passes relative to the alternative? In the final analysis, the answer is undoubtedly yes. I came to Congress to make tough decisions—not to run away from them.”
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So disappointed
gophergirl on January 2, 2013 at 8:55 AM
And got absolutely nothing for it… Discuss. Geez was that a stupid move.
Illinidiva on January 2, 2013 at 8:55 AM
He Roberts’ed it.
RINO on January 2, 2013 at 8:57 AM
Sad, sad, sad… He should have gone with his first instinct.
*thud*
That was my hope and enthusiasm for Ryan falling to the floor.
Fallon on January 2, 2013 at 9:02 AM
Bad mistake, Paul.
petefrt on January 2, 2013 at 9:02 AM
Oh well, if you can’t beat ‘em, just commit treason and be done with it.
Pork-Chop on January 2, 2013 at 9:03 AM
hero to zero.
sesquipedalian on January 2, 2013 at 9:05 AM
At crunch time, Ryan always seems to do the wrong thing.
RedRedRice on January 2, 2013 at 9:12 AM
Ryan told Buzzfeed, “When you like something…you vote for it.”
Total party hack.
Panther on January 2, 2013 at 9:13 AM
Senate-Passed Deal Means Higher Tax on 77% of Households –
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-01/senate-passed-deal-means-higher-tax-on-77-of-households.html
Pork-Chop on January 2, 2013 at 9:13 AM
Why? This should’ve passed with as few Republican votes as possible. I understand the desire to tout making the Bush tax cuts permanent for most Americans, but he also just finished campaign against raising them for the 1%ers, too. Dumb.
changer1701 on January 2, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Whaaaaaaat? Mr Rock-ribbed himself? LOL
ddrintn on January 2, 2013 at 9:23 AM
halperin said it this morning. ryan would be a good candidate for 2016…….as a democrat.
renalin on January 2, 2013 at 9:25 AM
Throw the ones out who voted for this. Pox on them all!
moonsbreath on January 2, 2013 at 9:27 AM
Since the GOP controls the House, why should it have passed at all? You see, this is what happened to that TP enthusiasm that put the GOP back in power there back in 2010, and that so many were counting on to help out Romney/Ryan.
ddrintn on January 2, 2013 at 9:28 AM
Yup.
Fallon on January 2, 2013 at 9:30 AM
There goes that Republican majority come 2014.
totherightofthem on January 2, 2013 at 9:32 AM
Not surprising since the boy wonder who put on his tights and cape to be Romney’s Robin also voted for expanding entitlements with Medicare Part D, most of GW’s lavish spending, TARP, Auto Bailouts, increases in the debt ceiling, etc.
Tripwhipper on January 2, 2013 at 9:37 AM
What was that poll that came out recently? Americans don’t want to raise taxes or see any programs cut?
And about the most that conservative citizens are doing these days is pissing and moaning on threads like this one. Volunteering? Getting involved? Not really, no.
Congress pretty accurately reflects those whom it represents. Until the majority of Americans seriously want spending cuts, it won’t happen. And people won’t be informed unless conservatives, who actually know and understand the dire state of the country, get involved and work to inform the low-information voters. But that likely won’t happen either because most everyone just likes pissing and moaning about it all on threads like this one.
beatcanvas on January 2, 2013 at 9:37 AM
And they wonder why people are cynical.
A lot of them did, in 2009-2010. Only to get shat upon for their efforts. Sorry, but a lot of them have earned the right to b1tch and moan.
ddrintn on January 2, 2013 at 9:40 AM
Yeah – because pissing and moaning is so effective. But you bet – they’ve earned the right. Feel better?
beatcanvas on January 2, 2013 at 9:50 AM
Because without it tax rates go up for everyone, and that’s a worse spot politically. There were no good options here.
changer1701 on January 2, 2013 at 9:53 AM
Not really. About the only worthwhile “organizing and informing” political activity right now is activity directed toward forming a conservative third party. The GOP is dead and any effort directed to it is as wasted now as it was in 2010. The GOP is a carcass.
ddrintn on January 2, 2013 at 9:53 AM
There are no good options because they were frittered away for the past two years by a bend-over-and-like-it congressional GOP led by a “Speaker” who mainly specializes in capitulation. Dem-majority congresses have done more with less.
ddrintn on January 2, 2013 at 9:56 AM
IMO the ones who based their vote on the impact to them – could they vote for it without consequences or did they wait to see if it would pass without them are no better than Democrats. Apparently the GOP members have no more principles than the Dems.
katiejane on January 2, 2013 at 9:57 AM
Great. So what are you personally doing about that?
beatcanvas on January 2, 2013 at 9:58 AM
I suspect that this might have happened with our new Official Next In Line ™ earlier in the Senate.
ddrintn on January 2, 2013 at 9:58 AM
What should I do about it at this point? The GOP is doing great already at that work.
ddrintn on January 2, 2013 at 9:59 AM
I for one am totally done with the Republican party from this day forward until the party goes back to the conservative principles of Ronald Reagan. I’m in total disgust as our supposed Conservative Senators from my state Arizona, Jon Kyl and John McCain voted “Yea” in support of this bill. From now on, they are to be called “RINO’S Of The Worst Kind.” You cannot trust the Republican Party to do the right thing for citizenry and our nation’s physical health anymore. The Republican Party has become “DEMOCRAT LITE”. We need another party that represents true Conservative Values. If we don’t find and elect TRUE CONSERVATIVES to both houses, this nation is done for!
FreedomLover on January 2, 2013 at 10:06 AM
They should have let it burn. Sometimes, as a parent, you’ve gotta let your child burn themselves while playing with matches. Lectures only ‘inform’, a blister or a scar will never be forgotten. The r-tards in America need to see their budgets collapse, they need to lose their jobs, their homes, their stability in order to see that the Candy Land King cannot produce skittle rainbows made from unicorn turds like he’s promised and especially through terrible policy. LET IT BURN. All we’re doing is slow cooking this frog and while the heat gets turned up the poor bastard is smiling cause he thinks he’s in a jaccuzi. eff me sideways, this sucks.
StompUDead on January 2, 2013 at 10:06 AM
You ask exactly the right question: what should you personally do about it at this point? You’re wrong. The GOP is not doing great work setting up a third party. It’s only succeeding in causing you to piss and moan from your computer. Unless you personally get involved and do something substantive to change all of this, you’re part of the problem you’re pissing and moaning about.
Americans walked without proper shoes in the freezing cold through winters of fighting the British for freedom. You willing to at least step away from the computer and do something substantive for freedom?
beatcanvas on January 2, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Who says the two are mutually exclusive?
ddrintn on January 2, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Like I said, we did. Two years ago. And all we got was this lousy deal.
ddrintn on January 2, 2013 at 10:17 AM
That is just the Ryan way. At first arguing small government, but in the end always voting for big government. Reminds me of many posters on Hot Air. All about fiscal responsibility, then arguing for an immoral nation.
astonerii on January 2, 2013 at 10:23 AM
You keep rationalizing. It’s impressive. Really – it is.
beatcanvas on January 2, 2013 at 10:26 AM
You are exactly the opposition that Obama dreams of.
beatcanvas on January 2, 2013 at 10:27 AM
Some of us brought attention to Ryan’s record long before he was Romneys pick. This vote lines up perfectly with his previous voting record and doesn’t surprise me one bit.
Big Orange on January 2, 2013 at 10:33 AM
And you wonder why you lost the election.
The GOP will betray you
True_King on January 2, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Dude?!
CorporatePiggy on January 2, 2013 at 10:39 AM
I’m with you, which is one of the reasons I wasn’t excited by Ryan as the pick for VP.
Anti-Control on January 2, 2013 at 11:01 AM
The only possible justification for the yes is if Ryan now comes out and makes a speech every single day between now and the debt limit fight about our nation’s bankruptcy and why we must cut spending.
A girl can dream, right?
PattyJ on January 2, 2013 at 11:05 AM
I think beatcanvas is right to a point. I read the comments here often, but I never get to post b/c I spend all of my time studying so that I can expand my business asap, so that I can help fight these socialists asap.
But on the other hand I value the comments on hotair b/c it is probably the best way to find a ton of political analysis in a short period of time other than listening to El Rushbo, Levin, etc.
But even on an other hand, sure there are a lot of people here complaining ALL THE TIME, but isn’t that how we come off whenever we try to explain politics to the low-information-voters anyway?
The commenters here are great! I love you guys (& gals)! (not sesquipedalian) but we do need to complain to people other than the choir, so I hope we all are, and I believe most of us are.
blockchords on January 2, 2013 at 11:16 AM
I find that the conservative movement is mostly made up of people who would rather watch FoxNews and comment in their spare time on web sites like this one than actually knock on doors, host events in their home, schedule time to meet with their legislators, etc.
What personal actions lead to the change people complain isn’t happening? Complaints are just a lot of hot air.
beatcanvas on January 2, 2013 at 11:27 AM
beatcanvas on January 2, 2013 at 11:27 AM
I don’t doubt it. I think part of the problem is just that the field of play is just too big for the remaining patriots. Years from now, we may look back @ right now as the time we should have been picking our dozen or so states to defend in the long run.
Speaking of which, can someone tell me what is incompatible w/ doing a local 3rd party throughout the country, but sticking w/ repubs @ the national level? The fed gov is lost anyway, why do we want it tainting a new party?
blockchords on January 2, 2013 at 11:41 AM
Ryan is trying to get the soon-to-be-vacant whip position. Enjoy whipping your 39% caucus, Paul.
Steve Eggleston on January 2, 2013 at 11:50 AM
Er, Romney wanted to eliminate deductions so the taxes on the 1% would go up.
Steve Eggleston on January 2, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Uh, no, Romney-Ryan-Boehner-McConnell are exactly the “opposition ” Obama dreams of.
ddrintn on January 2, 2013 at 11:59 AM