The Three R's of Political Extremism
We all learned the three R's in elementary school — reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Today, I want to discuss three R’s that form the basis of political extremism: Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, and Rodney Frelinghuysen. All three politicians found their way into the news this weekend, setting up what most of us agree is the most important election in American history.
Mitt Romney announced Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his vice-presidential running mate. Romney’s choice of Ryan made it clear that there will be no middle ground in this election.
Romney, using a familiar game term, went "all in," committing himself to an agenda embraced by the extreme right wing of the Republican party. Standing in the wings, waiting to embrace them both was Rodney Frelinghuysen who made the following statement: " I am pleased that Governor Romney has chosen one of our House leaders to be his running mate. My colleague, Paul Ryan, is young, very intelligent and will be an excellent Vice President. "
Mr. Frelinghuysen’s endorsement came as no surprise to anyone who has followed his voting record. Frelinghuysen voted twice (in April 2011 and again in April 2012) in favor of Paul Ryan’s extreme budget, commonly referred to as the Ryan Plan.
What’s so nefarious about the Ryan plan is that it offers an additional $250,000 tax cut for millionaires while placing greater burdens on the poor, the middle class, and on seniors. Ryan’s tax proposal helps the people who don’t need it and hangs out to dry those who need it the most. But it gets much worse.
Paul Ryan intends to eliminate Medicare as we know it, replacing it with a voucher system that will not keep up with increasing health care costs. Where does that leave our senior citizens? It leaves them with a complicated system where the vouchers would not cover the cost of healthcare, which would ultimately translate to crippling financial hardship.
In addition, the Ryan budget makes deep cuts in education from Head Start to college aid. The plan eliminates Pell grants for one million students, doubles the interest rate for student loans, and cuts SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) grants for 1.7 million children who live below the poverty line.
The Romney/Ryan plan for our collective futures is radical, reckless, and rubber stamped by Rodney Frelinghuysen. There you have it — the R’s of political extremism.
g e morris
9:29 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
We agree..It is shocking to see the GOP nominate a VP candidate who has tried to legislate againist contraception through the personhood amendment as our future. Unfortunately, Rep Frelinghuysen has become a front-man for extremism via his support for an extreme fiscal agenda: Medicare vouchers, gutting Medicaid from the federal budget, privatization of Social Security, no regs on the Big Banks, tax hand-outs to Oil,etc. Combine that with re-defining rape, and limiting access to contraception and Rep Frelinghuysen most be considered an extremist.
Fran Hopkins
10:50 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Mr. Arvanites, I don't know why Patch allows you to post free political advertising as a "blog." Your post consists simply of extreme (a word you like to use against the Republicans), left-wing Democrat distortions and misrepresentations of the Republican positions. At the very least, your Republican opponent, Rep. Frelinghuysen, should be asked to post his views. I hope he's going to be given (or has been given) this opportunity as well.
John Lee
2:37 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
taking from the poor to give to the wealthy is not a distortion
Tracy Wells
8:38 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
What did Fox News say when you asked them the same question?
Jack Durschlag
10:52 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Fran: Mr. Frelinghuysen has been offered numerous opportunities to blog for Patch as well. He and his staff have not responded to numerous requests.
Fran Hopkins
2:37 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Thanks for this information, Jack! -- Fran
Dan Grant
11:32 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
The most disconcerting thing about Congressman Frelinghuysen is that he can be the voice of moderation and chooses not to be. He is in a completely safe district and in one of the most secure seats in Congress. I have know him for many years and when it comes to his local services for his constituents he is responsive and his office well run. Quite frankly I don't understand his support for policies he knows are harmfull to the middleclass when you can't even use excuse that his election could be in doubt if he didn't tow the Tea Party line. He has had every opportunity to vote for the benefit of the middle class and in the end has chosen not to. I have been an active Democrat in both local and County Government but he has always been cordial to me and responsive in his office but I just don't get his support for so many of the most radical parts of the Republican Agenda. Maybe it is time to give him a rest from his public duties and vote for Arvanites
Nucky Thompson
3:28 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
The only, and I truly mean only, thing Rodney's got going for himself is his somewhat recognizable last name. Outside Morris County, it's meaningless. He's a political hack who votes whichever way the political wind is blowing and has made a career feeding at the public trough.
Ron Mullen
8:55 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
So what's Mr Arvanites plan to cut the budget? Since only the 1st ward of Montclair will be part of this congressional district and since all politics are "local " how about some ideas on reducing the 1st Waards recent onerous Property Tax increases .
Billy Q
9:35 am on Thursday, August 16, 2012
It is amazing that what Ryan wants to do to Medicare is vilified as extreme right, but Obama taking 700 billion $$ from Medicare to pay for Obamacare is great. How hypocritical is the left and media? How much further in debt does this country need to go before we wake up? How many more executive orders does this administration have to pass (Dream Act for one that was shot down by a Democratic Senate) before we say enough is enough? How many more racial insults will we tolerate from an ignorant VP (7-11 and Indians, Repubs are going to put y'all in chains) before we say enough is enough? It is amazing to me that everything, and I mean everything, that the Repubs do is classified as extreme. How about the fact that this administration has not passed a budget? The one budget that was presented was voted down 97-0 in the Senate. What does that tell you?