A very unserious man, or, Lord of the Flies

Kevin Drum is correct -- Paul Ryan's plan is not "brave" or "serious."  In fact his plan is not a budget plan at all, it's a political one.  Whether he hopes to be on the Romneybot 2.0 ticket or has higher aspirations for national office, his annual hat tip to the wealthy and defense contractors is intended to position himself as the green-eye shade wearing, intellectual leader of the Republican party.

And I can pretty much clear things up for Ezra Klein.

As I said at the top; I don't take this as evidence that Paul Ryan wants to balance the budget on the backs of the poor. I take it as evidence that, given the set of commitments Republicans have made to their base, he didn't really have a choice. It was the only way to make his numbers work.

No, it's not evidence that Ryan wants to balance the budget on the backs of the poor, because his plan will not balance the budget.  Ever.   But it does signal to conservative voters that he, like Mitt Romney, doesn't "care about the poor."  Whereas, not long ago we had a Republican candidate that ran on "compassionate conservatism," we now have Republican leadership who push each other out of the  way to preeningly exhibit their disdaining of the poor (and the young) bona fides.