Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
I hope Paul Rahe is sitting down because The Weekly Standard's Stephen Hayes has some exciting news:
Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan is strongly considering a run for president. Ryan, who has been quietly meeting with political strategists to discuss a bid over the past three months, is on vacation in Colorado discussing a prospective run with his family. Ryan’s concerns about the effects of a presidential campaign – and perhaps a presidency – on his family have been his primary focus as he thinks through his political future.
“He’s coming around,” says a Republican source close to Ryan, who has been urging the 41-year-old to run.
“With Paul, it’s more about obligation than opportunity,” says another Wisconsin Republican. “He is determined to have the 2012 election be about the big things. If that means he has to run, he’s open to it.”
And lest you think it's just about big ideas, National Review's Dan Foster reports:
FWIW, Ryan aide tells me the congressman will only run if he thinks he can win. No symbolic run to advance the agenda.
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Sep '10
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
I'm still having kittens!
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
Paul Rahe -- see the post below this one -- is standing up and cheering.
Jun '10
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
I just wish he didn't look like he was 19 years old. Maybe he could shave his head....
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
Whoops! Posted right on top of you. But this news is just that exciting. My favorite comment from James Pethokoukis:
May '10
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
paulryan2012.org, ryan2012.org and ryan2012.com have all been parked domains. Preventative medicine or advanced planning?
Oct '10
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
Well, at last the GOP field is shaping up to a small group of high quality contenders. Hopefully the group is large enough to dilute the left's ad homonym attacks, and can stay with the campaign until we are left to decide in the later races, or even the convention. If that can happen, then the mud slinging will cover a wide path, and reflect against the left rather than the individuals.
I know that the evil of the GOP will be the focus, but it won't stick to four or five targets as credibly to the naive voter pool.
Jun '10
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
Little woodland creatures are singing and dancing on my front lawn.
Jul '11
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
Oh Happy Day! I have had an incredibly difficult time marshaling much enthusiasm for the present GOP field. Just the thought of Paul Ryan tossing his hat in the ring brings me a tremendous feeling of relief. Please, Run Ryan, Run! (crossposted with Paul's article below)
Mar '11
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
This could be very, very heartening news indeed.
Jun '11
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
Ryan Presidential futures have bumped from 1.7% to 2.9% in just the past half hour on Intrade. That's still very low so there's plenty of time for Ryan supporters to jump in and profit from their convictions.
Perry is trading at 37.1%, Romney at 31.6% and Bachmann at 6.7% for perspective.
May '10
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
I just want the Dems to go after that one...He'll be just about TR's age, and a few months younger than JFK, should he win.
Edited on Aug 16, 2011 at 9:16amJul '11
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
Stop toying with me!
Seriously. The disappointment that will result if he dangles this possibility out there and then thinks better of it in the end will only serve to emphasize the lack of enthusiasm so many of us feel toward the current field. That can't help in the long run. Ryan is as close to an ideal candidate that exists in is this cycle and, from what I've read here and elsewhere, I'm not alone in thinking so. If he's making these noises, something had better come from it as the inevitable comparisons to the other candidates will not serve any of them well.
Apr '11
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
I guess I'm the only eeyore here today, but I think this would be a disaster for the causes of entitlement reform and fiscal sanity.
What if he doesn't get the nomination? Won't the rest of the Republican pols get the message that even the conservative base isn't willing to see changes to Medicare?
A presidential candidate has to be a generalist, flopping around on every issue, trivial or not.
To reform Medicare,Medicaid, SS, and the tax code requires a specialist.
Someone like Ryan.
He's more important as House Budget Committee chairman than as President.
Dec '10
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
Hallelujah! Just that he's "seriously" considering is a very good sign. Prayers nearly answered.
Being a Colorado resident, I volunteer my services to camp outside his vacation condo with a sign:
"Don't do it despite your kids, Paul. Do it for your kids. And mine. Ryan 2012"
Jul '11
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
Alfred E Newman for president. I would vote for him over any others in the field.
Jul '11
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
At least Ryan gets the gravity of the situation. I am not sure that many of the candidates have a complete fiscal policy that will correct the problem in the long run.
Edited on Aug 16, 2011 at 9:47amRe: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
I've heard the "Ryan's going to run" rumor so many times now that I'll believe it when he announces.
May '10
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
More likely squatting ...
May '10
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
billy: ... snip...
He's more important as House Budget Committee chairman than as President.
· Aug 16 at 9:28am
In a vacuum, I agree. But at this point the House Republican leadership aren't even listening to him enough, so the likelihood of his being able to really lead from the House Budget Committee is pretty small.
Also, if I had to guess, I suspect that Ryan is considering running because all of a sudden Perry is the front runner, and he doesn't see Perry as willing or able to make the needed changes.
Re: Report: Paul Ryan Considering Entering Race
Wow. Amazing.
I hope he gets in. I'm a big fan.
But what's interesting is how thoughtful and philosophical the field is, especially with Ryan in it. Say what you like about Ron Paul, but he has a consistent and clear philosophy. He's governed by ideas. Same for Newt, in a way. Ryan too, and Bachmann. These aren't politicians trying to hit a checklist of issues. Agree with them or not, they're having an interesting conversation about the direction of the country from different, principled perspectives.
The media wants to turn it into a freak show. But -- especially if Ryan jumps in -- it's starting to resemble a civics seminar. Which is a good thing.