Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
The current issue of the New Yorker includes a long profile of Paul Ryan. The reporter proves unsympathetic--the profile is entitled "Fussbudget"--but he quotes Ryan enough to permit the man to make his case on his own. With a tip of the hat to Ricochet's Bob Oster for bringing them to my attention, the profile's concluding paragraphs:
You can’t “run on vague platitudes and generalities,” he told me earlier this month. He was speaking about Bush in 2004 and Obama four years ago. But he clearly believes that the same holds true for Romney in November.
“He’s already endorsed these things,” Ryan said. “I want a full-throated defense for an alternative agenda that fixes the country’s problems. I want to show the country that we have a solution to get us out of the ditch we’re in, and to be proud about it.”
Ryan seemed unconcerned that pushing his policy agenda on Romney might damage the candidate. “I think life is short,” Ryan said at the end of our final conversation. “You’d better take advantage of it while you have it.”
At last, at last. Conviction, mastery of the issues, and a willingness to fight.
A glorious day for the Republic.
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May '10
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
I lament the fact that too much of the New Yorker is too sickening to read. I used to love that magazine.
Apr '11
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
Sean Trende at RCP says this is a poor choice for the same reasons I have outlined elsewhere :
The Wisconsin congressman might not have unusually conservative social views, but his economic stance is terrible for a Republican Party that wants to attract blue-collar whites. Romney has endorsed the Ryan budget plan, so maybe his negatives are already built in, and maybe it would be good to have a vice president who could explain that plan well. I doubt that, though; in this case the “no harm” category should probably be a “negative-one.”
Paul Ryan absolutely kills us with the only demographic group with which we are particularly strong. It's a pick that delights conservative intellectuals and pseudo-intellectuals, but ruins us with actual real-life voters.
Edited on August 11, 2012 at 10:43pmRe: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
wmartin: Sean Trende at RCP says this is a poor choice for the same reasons I have outlined elsewhere :
The Wisconsin congressman might not have unusually conservative social views, but his economic stance is terrible for a Republican Party that wants to attract blue-collar whites. Romney has endorsed the Ryan budget plan, so maybe his negatives are already built in, and maybe it would be good to have a vice president who could explain that plan well. I doubt that, though; in this case the “no harm” category should probably be a “negative-one.”
Paul Ryan absolutely kills us with the only demographic group with which we are particularly strong. It's a pick that delights conservative intellectuals and pseudo-intellectuals, but ruins us with actual real-life voters. · 2 minutes ago
This pseudo-intellectual begs to differ, wmartin, but I grant that you and Sean Trende make an entirely plausible argument. Romney took a risk here. I believe the risk will pay off, but we shall see.
The pollsters are no doubt busy at work at this very hour. We should have some more or less meaningful results of the Ryan pick by Monday morning.
Edited on August 11, 2012 at 8:12pmApr '11
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
Peter Robinson
This pseudo-intellectual begs to differ, wmarting, but you and Sean Trende make an entirely plausible argument. Romney took a risk here. I believe the risk will pay off, but we shall see.
The pollsters are no doubt busy at work at this very hour. We should have some more or less meaningful results of the Ryan pick by Monday morning. · 0 minutes ago
For the record, Peter, you are definitely in the intellectual, not pseudo-intellectual, category!
But, more from Trende:
This probably improves Obama’s chances of winning. The Ryan plan doesn’t exactly have a great track record winning elections: It played a large role in the Republicans’ defeat in a special election in upstate New York in early 2011. Romney’s path to victory involves winning an outsized share of downscale white voters, and this plan presumably makes that task more difficult. Again, maybe the focus-group testing shows that opposition to the president is so strong among these voters that it just doesn’t matter, but I don’t think I’d bet the farm on this.
I certainly hope that you and Paul Rahe are right, and I'm dead-wrong.
Edited on August 11, 2012 at 10:44pmJun '10
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
Apr '11
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
My last Sean Trende post:
In fact, it opens up an Obama landslide scenario for the first time. I’ve always thought that Obama wouldn’t be able to win more than a two-to-three-point re-election victory, mainly because a president almost never wins the votes of people who disapprove of the job that he is doing, and Obama’s approval rating is unlikely to be much above 50 percent on Election Day. But, while I don’t think it’s guaranteed, this really does give Democrats an opportunity to make Romney so radioactive that people who don’t like the president nevertheless vote for him. If the white working class revolts at the prospect of the Ryan plan, Obama really could match, or even exceed, his 2008 showing.
These types of picks rarely end well. When we think back on the “bold” or “unexpected” picks in history, they rarely have good outcomes. Agnew in ’68, Eagleton in ’72, Ferraro in ’84, Quayle in ’88, Kemp in ’96, Palin in ’08 are all looked back on with disfavor. The “good” choices were almost always “safe” choices.
Anyway, just go and read the whole thing.
Edited on August 11, 2012 at 10:45pmRe: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
wmartin
More from Trende:
This probably improves Obama’s chances of winning. The Ryan plan doesn’t exactly have a great track record winning elections: It played a large role in the Republicans’ defeat in a special election in upstate New York in early 2011. Romney’s path to victory involves winning an outsized share of downscale white voters, and this plan presumably makes that task more difficult. Again, maybe the focus-group testing shows that opposition to the president is so strong among these voters that it just doesn’t matter, but I don’t think I’d bet the farm on this.
I certainly hope that you and Paul Rahe are right, and I'm dead-wrong. · 1 minute ago
You know what, wmartin? This leads me to admire Romney--really admire him--for perhaps the first time. Everything we know about Romney's campaign suggests that the pollsters and operatives with which he has surrounded himself would have been making just this argument, citing data, focus groups, and on and on. Romney has taken a calculated risk, but a risk. He has demonstrated courage.
Edited on August 11, 2012 at 8:20pmNov '10
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
I applaud the choice of Ryan.
If we are going to be put down, and with us the country, let's go down fighting to the limit of our strength for the right side and the right program. I am happy to be in the last ditch with all who have the heart and sinew for the battle.
I think that winning on the fuzzy terms of 2008 and those of the professional politicians is the same as losing, the difference being killing ourselves with a slow acting poison instead of a quick bullet.
Jul '12
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
To hell with the pollsters. We are giving American's the choice to fix the budget. They can choose to make that choice or not. But at least we're giving it to them.
May '12
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
I disagree. Making a decision to vote for a candidate isn't merely based upon policies but also cultural & class similarities. In essence, common beliefs , aspirations, and authenticity in those shared values. Blue collar whites can look at Ryan and see themselves on many levels.
In similar fashion to Sarah Palin, Ryan relates to blue collar whites in ways which Romney and Biden can not and Obama is just incapable of.
Edited on August 11, 2012 at 8:35pmFeb '11
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
They'll never be able to say "We didn't know. No one warned us." If a majority chooses disatster, it will be with open eyes.
Oct '11
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
Peter Robinson
wmartin
You know what, wmartin? This leads me to admire Romney--really admire him--for perhaps the first time. · 21 minutes ago
Edited 18 minutes ago
Hallelujah!
Oct '10
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
My hope is that the Ryan pick will help expose Obama as being unserious about fiscal policy and economic growth. The way he flip flopped after Ryan introduced his plan made a lot of people incredulous I think. If only there's someway to remind voters of that and work it into an effective argument.
Nov '10
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
This is a risky pick, but it comes down to how do you want to fight the election and hopefully lead the country. Without Ryan Obama and his media friends were happy to make the story about irrelevancies like tax returns. With this pick it may draw them out into an actual policy debate. Ryan's solutions, although tough, are real. Obama has nothing to match it. It's up to the American people now. Do you want real adult solutions which lead to the prospect of American renewal, or the pie in the sky fantasies of a man who refuses to lead? The choice is yours America, choose well!
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
David, that is just beautifully stated.
May '10
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
Now it's done.
I'm smiling. Ryan knows budget at the molecular level. Anytime I've ever heard anyone, pol or pundit, get into him about budget & spending, he's simply incinerated them.
Jul '10
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
Good for Romney! If openly acknowledging this country has a spending problem and that we need to do something about it is going to hurt our chances, this country is screwed anyway. Who better to articulate the defense of our principles than the man leading the charge in Congress against the spiraling costs of the welfare state?
Oct '10
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
Good point David. Ryan needs to talk more growth and less budget cuts.
Jan '11
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
wmartin
Peter Robinson
This pseudo-intellectual begs to differ, wmarting, but you and Sean Trende make an entirely plausible argument. Romney took a risk here. I believe the risk will pay off, but we shall see...
For the record, Peter, you are definitely in the intellectual, not pseudo-intellectual, category!
But, more from Trende:
This probably improves Obama’s chances of winning. The Ryan plan doesn’t exactly have a great track record winning elections: It played a large role in the Republicans’ defeat in a special election in upstate New York in early 2011. Romney’s path to victory involves winning an outsized share of downscale white voters, and this plan presumably makes that task more difficult. Again, maybe the focus-group testing shows that opposition to the president is so strong among these voters that it just doesn’t matter, but I don’t think I’d bet the farm on this.
I certainly hope that you and Paul Rahe are right, and I'm dead-wrong.
It seems that you're more insecure than anything.
Jun '10
Re: Paul Ryan: "Life is Short"
Is there risk in the move? Yes. Is Sean Trende correct? He's a good analyst and the issues he raises are legitimate ones the campaign must deal with.
But something that get's lost in the abstractions of analysis is personality, the ability to explain complicated things with crisp, clear metaphors, and the power of Midwestern straight talk.
Just as Ryan represents a target, he has now been given a very large stage to help Romney make the case. My prediction is that he'll shine on the stage. The narrative won't control him; he has what it takes to shape the narrative.
In the end, Mitt had to decide who he wanted as wing-man. He chose the best one.
If they forced us to pay $70 to subscribe to his debate with Biden, I'd be pulling out my credit card right now.
Edited on August 11, 2012 at 9:16pm