Newest villain: Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan is the John Roberts of the budget battle ahead. For those who pay attention only superficially, he's a serious, sincere, good-looking guy with proposal to solve our problems. He says nice things about freedom and making America as great a place for our grandchildren as it was for us. But, of course, there's more to the story. Give more tax cuts to the rich, slash spending on social programs, exempt the Defense Department (and the Defense industry) from any of the cost-cutting, give up on controlling health care costs and get the federal government out of the Medicare business. Oh, and repeal the Wall Street reforms of 2011. That's the deeper outlines of what he's proposing, which is why most Republicans are not eager to endorse it, exactly, lest the public discover what is really in it. E. J. Dionne believes that moderates will soon be moving toward the side of progressives, and he makes a strong case. Simpson and Bowles of the deficit commission are already moving subtly in that direction, and noted deficit hawk Kent Conrad has done the same. Now, if only the public can be convinced that Paul Ryan is not what he appears to be.