Looks as though he’ll get the Republican nomination but after that, who knows? Interesting profile of the man here, but this is the part that I think neatly sums up the Democrat base and a succinct summary of the Obama campaign, which employs, as taught by Saul Alinsky, a strategy that refuses to engage in any sort of discussion of actual issues and attacks the man instead:
The town hall in Kenosha is Ryan’s third public meeting of the day. He begins his comments by urging those in the crowd to treat each other with respect in order to facilitate a good conversation based on an exchange of ideas. As he says this, supporters of Rob Zerban, the Democrat who will lose to Ryan in November, hold up bumper stickers in front of their faces and begin talking loudly amongst themselves. When a security guard asks them to stop, several of them, led by a woman who looked to be in her 50s, affix the bumper stickers to their foreheads, an act of defiance that they evidently find quite hilarious.
As our own Dollar Bill has so amply demonstrated on these pages (and where is DB these days? The Vineyard?), those of limited intellectual capacity: Democrats, can “think” only at a bumper sticker level. We’re in for a raucous fall.
Black Diamond capable ski bum wannabe…..according to his Mom
He has my vote !
And a deer hunter – seals the deal.
I think it’s a reasonably good choice. Some concerns but overall, I like that he’s young, smart, and a persuader. I saw his dish it out to Geithner on the Hill once. So the Veep debates should be good. Biden won’t have a prayer.
ABC had an article last week that the Democrats have spent the last several months locked up in caves digging up all the dirt they can about each of the possibles so when the announcement is made, the Dems can start their lying. Raucous is the understatement.
No matter who Romney chooses, he still has a huge hurdle of actually winning as Obama is rising in the polls.
PS: WH Dossier has a great video clip of Ryan and a good article to go with. Worth watching to get a better sense of the man
http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2012/08/11/roots-paul-ryan/
even better background on ryan at mitt’s website. very thorough
http://mittromneycentral.com/2012/08/11/mitt-romney-selects-paul-ryan-as-his-choice-for-vice-president/
Very risky. Democratric mantra will be that Romney’s first presidential decision was to pick a guy who wants to do away with social security.
Good time to take risks, I think.
That’s what John McCain thought, too.
Well, I’d have picked Bobby Jindal, but Ryan is smart as a whip and Obama completely despises him. I’m guessing that Obama won’t be able to control his rage which will yield more and more unscripted character (or rather lack thereof) revealing outbursts.
Clearly plusses and minuses here. Wasn’t my first choice. Still – I think that Ryan will bring strength and a decisive focus on fiscal issues. The sensible among us (yes, there are a few left) appreciate just how critical this is.
Here’s hoping Ryan can help Romney to get the electoral votes in November. Otherwise, we’ll get to find out how long it takes Rome to burn to the ground.
We’re in Norfolk about to go thru security to give over cell phones. Exciting to be here and listen the annoucement live. I’ll wave!!!
Ryan owned Obama at the so-called “HealthCare Summit” a couple years back.
Thune has been floating around. Maybe sec of state or chief of staff?
He needs to lose that widow’s peak. He looks like Eddie Munster.
Got to say that was fabulous. The music choices, um, wrong, and poor Romney announced Ryan as the next Prez, but still an uplifting speech and great audience.
Peg is right @ +/- for Ryan: I see the problem more in his social stances – two very big conservatives that might not appeal to independents. Gotta go – more when possible.
President Ryan = President Cheney? Maybe Mitt will finally have someone in his ear to form a cohernet message that reaches voters- and distracts attention from all the tax shelter headlines that doesn’t resonate beyond deer hunting truck drivers in Arkansas…solid pol but wields a sharp budget scalpel…he should have waited until 2016 to run as president, since he may have more value to his emerging republican faction in the house….but makes for a very interesting horse race come November. Unfortunately, I can’t get Schleprock out of my ear….as in “we’re doomed.” I can only imagine Obama’s excuses in 2015 with 10% unemployment. But then interest rates will be negative 0.4% like in Switzerland and the Bernank (or his successor) will be running out of printing ink! Dow 20,000 here we come…Looks like either way, Mitt wins!
As Nixon used to say, a VP pick cannot help you, it can only hurt you. One never votes for a VP. Romney is trailing, and he is trying to gin up the base. Vouchers for Medicare won’t fly in Florida, that’s for sure. Did all of you know Ryan voted for TARP, the auto bailout, and the prescription drug benefit???? The GOP will attempt to overlook this, but this sure is risky.
Choosing Ryan ought to allow the debate to be centered on topics that actually matter, like the impending implosion of the government’s finances and the awful consequences.
The Dems and the major media will continue to avoid these important topics, in order to better focus on stimulating resentment with class warfare.
Analysis v. emotions: game on!
The chances are slim, I fear, that Americans will vote to reform entitlements – “screw the kids, screw the grand children, I got mine, Jack”. So we’re not going to see an informed debate on reform, just rebroadcasts of Wheelchair Granny being pushed off a cliff.
That said, I admire Romney for at least trying to discuss what, sooner, not later, will have to be faced.
But no such discussion will be occurring this year – the press will make sure of that and that, I believe, is what the voter wants.
As Mencken observed, “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it, good and hard.”