This interview with Paul Ryan was recorded last October. Congressman Ryan discusses the budget, Medicare, and the importance of repealing ObamaCare. He also adamantly denies any interest in running for national office. Times change....

Comments:


HVTs
Joined
Oct '10
HVTs

I once heard Francis Collins, the Genome project director and currently Director of NIH, say the First Law of Technology is that it's overestimated in the short run and underestimated in the long run.  (Anyone who remembers the early Personal Computer-era enthusiasm for a "paperless office" gets the point immediately.)  I hope that applies to Romney's VP choice of Paul Ryan.  That is to say, I've never thought the VP choice would matter much to the election outcome.  It will drive the news cycle for some period, the length of which will be determined by our attention-deficit culture.  But if Romney-Ryan win, and if Ryan means what he said to Peter Robinson in October---and we've no reason to think otherwise---then like technology, his long-term impact may be enormous.  Let's hope so ... those that would temper him, who would co-opt him into the Ways of the Wise in Washington, are already at work and have a very, very impressive track record.

Illiniguy
Joined
Mar '11
Illiniguy

Having just listened to the entire interview (again), I come away with the impression that this could be one of those rare occurrences where the VP pick actually matters. Mitt Romney has a choice (and death is not an option):

  1. Let Ryan be Ryan, and let him continue to articulate the vision we saw in the UK interview. That will make this election about the direction this country will go for generations. 
  2. Offer Ryan the job on the condition that he not campaign beyond the technocratic meme we've seen so far. I don't think Ryan would have taken the offer on those terms.

There's enough of Paul Ryan already out there for the Left to demagogue. Therefore, I think (hope) that Romney's made the decision to make the case that this is a transformative election, that it's about more than debits and credits. Is Romney ready to be taken out of his comfort zone, and will he try to win by not being afraid to lose? That's the real path to victory in November, and on this beautiful, almost autumnal morning here in the Midwest, I'm cautiously optimistic.

Edited on August 11, 2012 at 3:39pm
Albert Arthur
Joined
Oct '11
Albert Arthur

I'd like to know if this will finally get Peter Robinson on board the Mitt wagon.

Aaron Miller
Joined
May '10
Aaron Miller

Thanks for the reminder, Yeti! This interview is a great place to start for people trying to learn who Paul Ryan is. I've passed it on to everyone I know.

Mel Foil
Joined
Jun '10
Mel Foil

Also:

EWTN's "World Over" with Raymond Arroyo - 04-20-12 - Rep Paul Ryan on Morality of the Federal Budget
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YuO_fuj6nM

Image3a
Peter Robinson
Albert Arthur: I'd like to know if this will finally get Peter Robinson on board the Mitt wagon. · 3 hours ago

As I've made clear again and again, I've supported Romney from the moment it became clear that he would be the GOP nominee.  My criticisms of his campaign--like those of Bill Kristol, Charles Krauthammer, and others--have always been in the hope that it would sit up, pull itself together, and do something out of real conviction for once.  Now that it has finally done just that, my support for Romney has changed.  It has become enthusiastic.

BlueAnt
Joined
Aug '10
BlueAnt

I know the big worry is that Obama can now run against the Ryan budget, and regurgitate all the slant and fury they tossed around before.  But the difference between Ryan and many other potential VP picks, is that Ryan is eminently capable of going out and making a strong defense of his ideals, as evidenced by the UK episode above.

The attacks already started up, and we're only on Saturday.  Send Ryan around to all the Sunday talk shows between now and the election, and he'll make a minor career tearing apart the misinformation.


Joined
Jun '12
with me where I am

Mel Foil: Also:

EWTN's "World Over" with Raymond Arroyo - 04-20-12 - Rep Paul Ryan on Morality of the Federal Budget
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YuO_fuj6nM · 3 hours ago

Thank you Mel Foil. The more people hear Ryan, the more they will vote for him. As the Congressman said, mentioning an anecdote in his UK interview, people who disagree with him on a number of issues will vote for him because he is sincere. He's a statesman, not a politician.

Cornelius Julius Sebastian
Joined
Jun '12
Cornelius Julius Sebastian

He is easilythe most articulate proponent of the conservative cause in the Congress.  As a political conservative and orthodox Catholic, I am ecstatic.  As a political pragmatist for the general election, I have concerns about convincing the swing.  But the choice is made and he has my complete support 110% to the finish line.  One thing is for sure, this election has indeed become a referendum on two different visions for America.  Game on!

CJRun
Joined
Dec '10
CJRun

Joe Biden has seen this episode and he has said that, "I have a three letter word for you, J O B S".

Cornelius Julius Sebastian
Joined
Jun '12
Cornelius Julius Sebastian

One of the Romney-Ryan PACs need to condense that Blair House footage into 30 seconds of the key soundbytes from Ryan with 2 second cuts of the POTUS' condescending eye daggers inserted about every 7 seconds.


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