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.
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Jan '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Luke Nicholson
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?
Whether the discussion of cuts succeeds or not I am darn glad to finally have it. I really want to see where the electorate is at on economic issues. And, if...
Jan '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Yes! YES! YES!
May '12
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Frozen Chosen: Paul Ryan helps Romney get elected not because he is the VP but because he helps make fiscal responsibility the central theme of this campaign. His ability to make the argument that we must get spending and entitlements under control will be central to Romney's efforts to convince voters that we must get our fiscal house in order.
I've told you guys all along that Romney is a stone cold budget cutter. It's what he's done in business, in the Olympics and as governor of MA. His choice of Ryan for VP proves it. · 33 minutes ago
Frozen I hope you are correct, but as far as Gov. Romney's presidential campaign and Cong. Ryan's budget plan there isn't anything to support your position. Unless 2 terms with no balanced budget and a 35% expansion of the federal government in 10 years is how we are going to define getting our fiscal house in order.
Dec '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
BrentB67
Frozen Chosen: Paul Ryan helps Romney get elected not because he is the VP but because he helps make fiscal responsibility the central theme of this campaign. His ability to make the argument that we must get spending and entitlements under control will be central to Romney's efforts to convince voters that we must get our fiscal house in order.
I've told you guys all along that Romney is a stone cold budget cutter. It's what he's done in business, in the Olympics and as governor of MA. His choice of Ryan for VP proves it. · 33 minutes ago
Frozen I hope you are correct, but as far as Gov. Romney's presidential campaign and Cong. Ryan's budget plan there isn't anything to support your position. Unless 2 terms with no balanced budget and a 35% expansion of the federal government in 10 years is how we are going to define getting our fiscal house in order. · 4 minutes ago
You've apparently been on Reason this morning...
Sep '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
So tough that, as the folks at Reason have groused, nothing is really cut, only the growth rate is stunted—which is what we need to begin and the only doable political thing—yet, as you note, the budget plan has been demonized to the point of absurdity. Here's an exchange with a 93-year-old woman whose information is limited to The News Hour, CNN, and the Raleigh News & Observer, which in her mind rivals the Oracle at Delphi).
ME: So, Romney's made his pick.
WOMAN: Who is it?
ME: Paul Ryan.
WOMAN: Well, that means I could never ever vote for Romney (definite sneer in her voice that she of course refuses to acknowledge).
ME: Why not?
WOMAN: He has no compassion.
I like this test: America, swim or sink to the bottom. Only actual devastation will change this POV.
Let's roll.
Apr '12
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Get Ryan on a soccer field with soccer mums sooner than later, and the women's vote will begin to move.
Can we give wardrobe advice?
All joking aside, competence has won over identity groups. Can we get back to marketing segments used by business? Soccer mum is a popular one and Procter and Gamble has been doing it well.
Dec '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
I think this thing just became about ideas rather than personalities. As one of Romney's critics here, I must say this is the first time I've agreed completely with him.
Jan '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
That's because you're not insecure in your own beliefs about fiscal conservatism and you're economically literate. If possible, try looking at things from the point-of-view of someone who is insecure and not economically literate. If you're able to do it, can you at least understand the apprehension?
Now what I'll never understand is why anyone that fits that description would want to post here and leave that side of theirself out in the open for others to see.
Jul '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Outstanding choice. I didn't know much about him, but the more I look, the more I like.
As for his budget plan being radioactive, it was demagogued that way. Most people don't even know it's particulars. I don't.
This is what everybody has been yammering about for weeks on Ricochet. This puts the election debate squarely on the U.S. economy and government budget, which is by far Obama's weak spot.
Jul '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
I usually don't think in those terms about male politicians, but I could see how a case could be made that he's 'kind of dreamy.'
May '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Luke Nicholson
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?
Because their parents never bothered to educate them in what this nation is all about, and how to protect it. Combine that with the only thing they understood, social issues like abortion and gay rights, and they are in a political vacuum.
Kids.
Apr '12
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
There's a dynamic here that no one (except for Sir Watkyn and EstoniaKat) has touched on yet.
Paul Ryan is young and handsome. In fact, he's way beyond handsome--he's well into smokin' hot.
Here's where everyone will pile on and say that it's all about the Ryan budget and political principles, don't pander to the shallow and the superficial, yadda yadda.
Wrong.
If there's one thing Democrats/leftists understand, it's that mainstream American culture feeds on the shallow and the superficial; this is why the Alinsky Rules work so well.
Mainstream American cuture sees Republican/conservative politicians as old, ugly, un-hip white guys. Romney personifies this meme for the MSM.
The bloom is off the rose for Obama; he's looking old and tired (as Fred Cole noted recently). Biden and Hilary Clinton aren't exactly fresh and dewy either.
The new, young, super-hot presence in this election will be Paul Ryan. The MSM can't hide or whitewash these qualities (though they'll try).
For the millions of Americans who base their decisions on appearances instead of policy, that matters. And this time it works in our favor.
Feb '12
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
The choice is now as clear and as unconfusing as can be. If Romney/Ryan win, it is the Ryan budget that has the mandate. Without Ryan as VP, this would be unclear. Even if Rep. Ryan were still chairman of the budget commitee. With Ryan on the ticket, and a win, his budget is the framework for next two years. If Romney/Ryan lose, we know where this country stands. I don't think it is up to the candidates so much as the electorate at this point.
May '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
LowcountryJoe
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?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?
Is it really the right choice if all this is true?
Whether the discussion of cuts succeeds or not I am darn glad to finally have it. I really want to see where the electorate is at on economic issues. And, if... · 2 hours ago
Ah, H.L. Mencken. I love that quote. I agree with you that it will be interesting. We'll see what happens between now and Nov. 6th.
Mar '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
My opinion of Romney just went up some.
Apr '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Anna M.:
Mainstream American cuture sees Republican/conservative politicians as old, ugly, un-hip white guys. Romney personifies this meme for the MSM.
I'm not an expert on what women like, but I don't know that anyone has ever described Mitt Romney as "old and ugly." Unhip, yeah.
Mar '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
Losing Ryan in the House is definitely a blow and that has always made him a horrible pick for VP, but with that said my own reaction to this news surprises me. This has actually improved my opinion of Romney the candidate and as one of his harshest critics I did not believe that was even possible.
There is only one reason to pick Ryan and that is to make the election a referendum on entitlements and the debt. Whether the Ryan Plan is good or not, it isn't good going nowhere near far enough, it is this Mark of Cain he has been emblazoned with by Democrats and the Media. This is now what the election will be about.
It is a serious, adult decision to choose this course. I didn't think that bastard had it in him, hell at this rate by November I may even start to like the guy.
Aug '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
BrentB67
Frozen Chosen: Paul Ryan helps Romney get elected not because he is the VP but because he helps make fiscal responsibility the central theme of this campaign. His ability to make the argument that we must get spending and entitlements under control will be central to Romney's efforts to convince voters that we must get our fiscal house in order.
I've told you guys all along that Romney is a stone cold budget cutter. It's what he's done in business, in the Olympics and as governor of MA. His choice of Ryan for VP proves it. · 33 minutes ago
Frozen I hope you are correct, but as far as Gov. Romney's presidential campaign and Cong. Ryan's budget plan there isn't anything to support your position. Unless 2 terms with no balanced budget and a 35% expansion of the federal government in 10 years is how we are going to define getting our fiscal house in order. · 3 hours ago
You've got to start somewhere, Brent.
Can you imagine what the media would be doing if Ryan proposed to balance the budget next year?
Feb '11
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
For what's it worth I've been reading that Ryan can run for both VP and for his House seat at the same time.
So if the ticket loses it's possible he will remain in Congress.
Jul '10
Re: Romney-Ryan '12
I cannot wait for the Ryan-Biden debate. We are way past due to have the debate on what type of government we should have. Picking Ryan shows Romney is serious about changing things and not just being a tax collector for the welfare state. It's go time.