Romney-Ryan '12
He's made a choice, and the choice is -- for my money -- the most principled politician in America. Paul Ryan, the quietly insistent congressman from Wisconsin, is Mitt Romney's running mate.
So now we'll find out for sure: is America ready for a genuine and adult debate about our future and our economy? Is America ready to think hard about the entitlement monster that threatens to gobble us up?
The Obama machine will be All Mediscare 24/7. They'll paint Ryan and Romney as heartless, greedy, corrupt, and draconian. If the left wing media thinks Romney is a murderer, imagine what they'll call Paul Ryan!
But say this for Romney: this is a substantial choice. It means something. It's serious. Suddenly, the Romney campaign is about something -- something important.
It may be a bad political choice. Ryan's budget may be radioactive to voters. But it's a courageous choice, and more than that, it's right.
- Comment (111)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (11)
Comments:
Jun '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Rob Long
It may be a bad political choice. Ryan's budget may be radioactive to voters. But it's a courageous choice, and more than that, it'sright.
You had me up to "...may be radioactive to voters". You know, Rob...you don't always have to throw in a squishism just to maintain your image. Ryan's budget is only radioactive because the MSM has painted it that way. Honestly.
Sep '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Ah, you beat me to the first post, I think. I am incredible happy about this pick!
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Brian Watt
Rob Long
It may be a bad political choice. Ryan's budget may be radioactive to voters. But it's a courageous choice, and more than that, it'sright.
You had me up to "...may be radioactive to voters". You know, Rob...you don't always have to throw in a squishism just to maintain your image. Ryan's budget is only radioactive because the MSM has painted it that way. Honestly. · in 0 minutes
It doesn't matter why it's radioactive, does it? I mean, votes are votes. Personally, I'm glad we're going to have the right discussion, and I give Romney huge credit for choosing someone who has designed a tough, realistic roadmap for a return to prosperity.
But that doesn't mean it's going to be easy.
Oct '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
At this point if Romney announces anyone other than Ryan I'm going to just go ahead and start drinking heavily at 9AM and cry myself back to sleep.
Apr '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
We have already lost a very safe house seat because of Paul Ryan. I just don't see the conservative enthusiasm for him translating to the rest of the country, and this is going to kill us in Florida. I am not aware of any VP debate that has ever actually moved votes.
Jun '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Rob Long
Brian Watt
...You know, Rob...you don't always have to throw in a squishism just to maintain your image. Ryan's budget is only radioactive because the MSM has painted it that way. Honestly.
It doesn't matter why it's radioactive, does it? I mean, votes are votes. Personally, I'm glad we're going to have the right discussion, and I give Romney huge credit for choosing someone who has designed a tough, realistic roadmap for a return to prosperity.
But that doesn't mean it's going to be easy.
Rob, Rob, Rob (in my most Lileksian voice) the point is, it isn't radioactive. It hasn't even had a fair or comprehensive hearing. It isn't radioactive because you say it is...or Mr. Tingles says it is (I'm sorry...that was unkind). It is incumbent upon those of us who want this ticket to succeed to show precisely why the Ryan Plan is a sensible and realistic plan to turn the economy around. It doesn't help if we make a concession out the gate that it's radioactive. And by the way...compared to what other plan?
May '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Yeah. I was just reading a tweet where someone noted that Obama won't win the senior vote. The problem is Paul Ryan could help him win every other vote (young, poor, minorities, women, etc). Why are young people (under 55s) going to vote for a plan that puts the entitlement reform burden squarely on their shoulders, while exempting their parents?
I'm not sure about this pick. I completely understand the enthusiasm among us conservatives for the pick, but what if liberals are cheering just as hard? What if they want to campaign against Ryan's budget plan?
Is it really the right choice if all this is true?
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Brian Watt
Rob, Rob, Rob (in my most Lileksian voice) the point is, it isn't radioactive. It hasn't even had a fair or comprehensive hearing. It isn't radioactive because you say it is...or Mr. Tingles says it is (I'm sorry...that was unkind).
It can't be that controversial to suggest that the Ryan budget is going to be tough going out on the trail, can it? The whole reason the Ryan plan is so important and brave is because this kind of thing is really tough to get done. So tough, in fact, that no one has ever managed to do it.
It's worth going for. I love Paul Ryan. I'm a huge fan of the Ryan budget. I'm amazed and impressed that Romney has the sheer nerve to make this choice.
But I'm not going to pretend that it won't be really really hard. Especially in Florida.
Compared to what plan? Compared to no plan. Whoever said you need a comprehensive adult budget plan to win the White House? You don't. You should. But you don't.
Jun '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Luke Nicholson
...
I'm not sure about this pick. I completely understand the enthusiasm among us conservatives for the pick, but what if liberals are cheering just as hard? What if they want to campaign against Ryan's budget plan?
Of course they are going to campaign against Ryan's plan. Let them. And then we need to ask where their plan is? Besides the platitudes and stealing more from the rich, what is Obama's plan? What is the Democrat-controlled Senate's plan? We must assume that since the Democrats haven't released their plan that they've never worked on one. I believe that's how the logic goes.
Sep '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Two thoughts: Those of us that (reasonably) worried that Romney would try to win the election by playing small ball just got a pleasant surprise. He is raising the stakes and forcing the debate to the "two futures" that Ryan talks about. That's the election Romney can win, not one about Bain Capital, etc.
Second, I remember John Podhoretz's formulation that politics is what happens after the election is over. This pick is about governing. It may not be "smart" politics, but it's good politics.
Mar '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Let’s face it. Nobody knows the extent to which a Ryan pick improves Romney’s chances in November. But Ryan brings something to the ticket none of the other names bandied about do: a mandate. If the rumors are right, this choice shows a seriousness of intent that these times require. The electorate may well choose continued decline, but it’s more than a little heartening that Romney understands the stakes and is willing to fight to put Obamanomics on the ash heap of history.
May '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
It won't matter that they don't have a plan. All that will matter is that Romney/Ryan want to reform entitlements on the backs young/poor people, and to top it off Romney wants to cut upper-income taxes too boot (as he promised in Michigan).
Wanting to reform entitlements is a great idea, but I think its been tailored in the shape of a heavy bag for Obama/Biden. They're going to tee-off on it.
If Romney loses, it won't be much consolation to me that we've answered some important philosophical question about where America sits on the ideological spectrum.
All that said, I hope I'm DEAD wrong.
Jun '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Rob Long
Brian Watt
Rob, Rob, Rob (in my most Lileksian voice) the point is, it isn't radioactive. ...
It can't be that controversial to suggest that the Ryan budget is going to be tough going out on the trail, can it? The whole reason the Ryan plan is so important and brave is because this kind of thing is really tough to get done. So tough, in fact, that no one has ever managed to do it.
I'll settle for tough going rather than radioactive. Keep in mind other issues that Ryan, as a devout Catholic, can speak to like the HHS attack on freedom of religion and sheer idiocy and excesses of other aspects of Obamacare of which he may be one of the few politicians who has actually read most if not all of it and knows it better than Obama or Biden do. So, I don't think the Ryan Plan will be as problematic as you think. But, of course, I've been wrong before. :-)
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Me too!
(And I hope you're right....)
Oct '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
This will drive the Democrats and the Left nuts. The new combative ads alone should speak volumes.
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Totally agree.
May '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Suddenly, I am excited about this race.
Apr '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Rob Long
Brian Watt
It's worth going for. I love Paul Ryan. I'm a huge fan of the Ryan budget. I'm amazed and impressed that Romney has the sheer nerve to make this choice.
But I'm not going to pretend that it won't be really really hard. Especially in Florida.
Compared to what plan? Compared to no plan. Whoever said you need a comprehensive adult budget plan to win the White House? You don't. You should. But you don't. · 16 minutes ago
Florida could be a nightmare. Maybe we can make it up in Midwestern states, but remember that the white working class views Medicare/SS reform as an attack on them. The one group that we have to win a super-majority of to win the election is the group that we have now just alienated with this pick.
May '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
I would be very happy if the VP pick is Ryan (even though I was among those advising that he remain influential in the House). He's an admirable guy who understands what we are up against. He's a good speaker as well as thinker. He is values-driven. And, contrary to even many professional pundits, he's not a one-trick pony. I listened to him speak on foreign affairs once and was impressed.
Rob Long
It may be a bad political choice. Ryan's budget may be radioactive to voters.
Forgive me for repeating myself. We don't have the time to ease into budget and regulation reforms. It's now or never. If the majority of voters can't get behind even Ryan's mild plan, they deserve what they get.
And voters deserve a real choice. If we are going to save this country, we can't do it by dictatorship — by presenting voters with a cozy image and then surprising them after the election with necessarily bold legislation. Let's do it right. Honor our democratic principles — honor free will — by being honest about our dilemma, for once.
Jun '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Luke Nicholson
It won't matter that they don't have a plan. All that will matter is that Romney/Ryan want to reform entitlements on the backs young/poor people, and to top it off Romney wants to cut upper-income taxes too boot (as he promised in Michigan).
I don't think that argument works because the runaway national debt by far trumps what it will take to bring the entitlements back to a manageable level. If there are no reforms, if Obamacare is not eviscerated it's very simple...America becomes insolvent...and quickly...only much worse than Greece...with the potential of taking the rest of the world down with us. That I believe is the argument. Obama's continued agenda equals a debt burden on youth so heavy and insurmountable that will never be repaid and may result in several decades of national destitution and hyper inflation.