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Romney-Ryan Would Complete the Reagan Revolution
What I know of Paul Ryan is this: Born in 1970, he was old enough to see and understand the amazing reversal of fortune that happened in the 1980s and 1990s when free enterprise and earned success was again valued and respected in America. He is a true and faithful son of the Reagan Revolution.
But Ryan is not an ideologue holding out for perfect solutions and proposing fantasy plans. He understands that it will be impossible to move forward without tradeoffs and compromise. Indeed, his Medicare reform plan is based on a centrist approach that Democrats used to support – some still do – but now use as evidence that the Ryan GOP is guilty of “Social Darwinism.”
With Mitt Romney’s selection of the Wisconsin Republican as his running mate, the GOP has assembled a “Fix-It” presidential ticket where the solutions sync with America’s founding principles.
So this is the binary choice now facing American voters (at least those for whom the Long Recession hasn’t already been decisive):
Choice #1: President Obama thinks the United States made a calamitous move three decades ago when it decided to reject statism and re-embrace market capitalism: lower taxes, less regulation, smaller government.
That’s the unmistakable message of Obama’s left-populist Osawatomie and Roanoke speeches. Reversing that shift — started by Ronald Reagan and extended by Bill Clinton and the Gingrich Republicans — and obliterating any evidence it ever happened is the Obama mission.
The goal of Obamanomics is to restart the nation’s long march to a European style social welfare state — even though that model is imploding before our eyes — begun by FDR and continued by LBJ. This is a future where government is 50% bigger and taxes 50% higher than current levels – and economic growth 50% slower. The Long Goodbye to American Exceptionalism. Hello to Stagnation Nation. The New Normal.
2. Choice #2: Romney-Ryan are firmly offering to complete the Reagan Revolution by a) modernizing the social safety net so that it is fiscally sustainable and increases economic mobility and true economic security, and b) reforming the tax code so that it boosts economic growth and reduces crony capitalism. The 21st century would be the American Century, led by a growing, prosperous, confident nation whose government enables the private sector to innovate rather than crowding it out. The American Experiment would be revitalized, fueled by the spirit of democratic capitalism.
As Ryan said earlier today when announced as Romney’s pick, ”We can turn this thing around. We can.”
Published in General
A choice, not an echo. Finally, for the first time since Reagan, we are once again placed in the position of putting it all on the line. Romney might be a bit tepid in his ideological position re: conservatism, but Paul Ryan not only has proven himself as a staunch conservative with great strategic sense, he can bring credibility to the Romney campaign.
As I said in an earlier post, Ryan can do for Romney what Palin did for McCain. McCain would have been trounced worse than Bob Dole had Palin not joined the ticket. Whether you supported Palin or not, the dramatic impact of this decision is Palin redux.
They’re both “art of the possible” guys–not political jihadists. If Romney and Ryan can’t pull together enough political cooperation to avoid financial catastrophe, probably nobody can. Somebody has to steer us away from the cliff, and it’s obviously not going to be Obama.
A wonderfully succinct analysis, Jim. Really, what else needs to be said?
This is a very important point you make, Jim. Above all Romney is a guywho gets things done. He picked Ryan because Ryan is practical enough to make ideology a reality.
If you know Romney you know this whole thing is not some grand glory chase for him. He’s not out to be a caretaker while our country fades into the sunset. Romney will do everything in his power to be successful in this job and he is choosing the right people to help him get there – Paul Ryan being numero uno.
Amen.
And Amen.
(Although I admit I’m not too fond of the slightly cheesy “Comeback Team” slogan. It would be better to let that designation arise in meme fashion, than to openly declare it.)
I like Romney’s choice of Ryan. It’s like a doubling-down on Romney’s strengths, ie: competence in budget analysis, proposed cuts to unsustainable programs (hopefully more), and an underlying return to sanity.
The pie-eyed budgets of ObamaCare, the stimulus, and other programs are now being analyzed, and they look worse than that worst estimates at the time. Jobs weren’t shovel ready, as Obama admitted. Obama’s incompetent, but the argument needs to be made that those are foolish endeavors to begin with. Obama’s incompetence is starting those programs, not the administration of them.
Romney also avoided the trap of being tied to Bush. Even on a relatively Bush-friendly site like Ricochet, we probably agree that running against Bush is political gold for Dems. Romney and Ryan can fight their own battles, instead of having a quasi-Bush campaign.
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Hence if Romney/Ryan wins electionimmediatelythey will commence attempting to sabotage the new administration in every way possible.
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Even if Romney wins the hard work and tough times have only just begun.
Absolutely. But even with those things in mind, I’d make the argument that Ryan is a good choice. That coverage will happen if a Republican administration is doing well. If they’re actually screwing up the coverage will focus on the screw-ups. A Bush recovery is a “jobless recovery.” An Obama recession is “unexpected” every month.
Ya just can’t win. That won’t change, but at least we’d be moving in the right direction. Each generation needs to learn as they grow, and Obama compared to Romney would be very educational for anyone between 16-28.
Wow. It’s just so hard to choose, huh? ;)
Absolutely. But even with those things in mind, I’d make the argument that Ryan is a good choice.
I hope I didn’t leave the impression that I thought Ryan was a bad choice.
To the contrary. I think Ryan an excellent choice. I remain a fan of Sarah Palin and I think she was an excellent pick for VP in 2008. She inspired the base to turn out for an unpopular- nay, a loathed nominee and was a talented politician in her own right. But that said she was not nationally known and was vulnerable to the Alinsky tactics of the left, which subsequently forced her out of office.
These are not vulnerabilities Paul Ryan shares. He is nationally known and has already been thoroughly attacked by the left. I don’t see any Dan Quayle-esque deer-in-the-headlights moments from him nor will the media be able to steamroll him in an interview.
That matters, and I feel better having Romney at the top of the ticket knowing he chose Ryan for VP.
I agree, a Romney-Ryan victory is an existential threat to Obama vision of a high-tax, Welfare Superstate. In 2008, Dems thought the Obama win marked a generational shift to the left and progressive revival. A President Romney and Vice President Ryan just four years later — kind of a mind melter for them
After running Carter for a 2nd term, and rejecting the real generational shift that is their future–Bill Clinton’s “3rd way” triangulation–one wonders how much mind they have left to melt.
Obama had his Congressional smackdown two years in, just like Clinton, but utterly failed to move to the center afterwards. This election is a test to see if Democrats can get away with ignoring such popular mid-term revolts, and still claim second terms.
I’m with Xennady on this one. Let’s win the election first. Then we can see about modernizing the safety net, ending crony capitalism, and maybe -dare I dream -have consistent government for more than 6 months at a time. That ought to do wonders for the economy.
One thing at a time, don’t get cocky, and don’t bet on the horse learning to talk. On the other hand, with Ryan on the ticket, I might yet take that last bet.
I hate to be a nattering nabob of negativism on this glorious day, but there is such a thing as counting your chickens before they hatch.
The absolute worst fear of the left is a successful Republican-led government that succeeds and is seen as successful.
Hence if Romney/Ryan wins election immediately they will commence attempting to sabotage the new administration in every way possible. To pick one example the media will stop pretending to be gobsmacked every time bad economic news emerges- and will start noticing that the economy is in deep trouble- thanks to Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, and of course George Bush.
So I think success is not assured. I take this election as roughly analogous to the election of Abraham Lincoln. Even if Romney wins the hard work and tough times have only just begun.
For more on this unhappy theme:
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/313751/two-tickets-two-americas-stanley-kurtz
If you know Romney you know this whole thing is not some grand glory chase for him. He’s not out to be a caretaker while our country fades into the sunset. Romney will do everything in his power to be successful in this job and he is choosing the right people to help him get there – Paul Ryan being numero uno. ·Aug 11 at 11:37am
Yes, I think Romney truly is approaching this as a “turnaround” deal. I get excited when I think he will choose a cabinet with real power, ability, and responsibility…and not just a bunch of cronies and identity politicians getting a payback for bundling.