Ryan: The most exciting politician in a generation
E. Thomas McClanahanMitt Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan as a running mate instantly reframes the race from duke-it-out in the mudbowl to an argument over real choices over the country’s future.
Romney-Ryan will advance a viable plan for moving the nation out of its slump and reforming our entitlement system. Along the way, voters may notice that President Obama has no plan at all, only smears.
Romney must avoid waffling on the Ryan plan. Instead, he needs to go on offense. Hedging will dampen some voltage he picked up over the weekend. Romney improved his stature with this choice. Four years ago, McCain diminished his by picking Palin.
Ryan’s speech at the return-to-Wisconsin event yesterday was riverting. Straight on, no guile, conversational in tone, direct — pitch perfect. The GOP’s chances have been aided immeasurably.
George Hunsucker
Northland
9 months, 2 weeks agoJust think the differences that will be apparent when Ryan debates big Joe…..
I can hardly wait…
Steven Fetter
66223
9 months, 2 weeks agoThe current economic path we are on is unsustainable.
To the extent Mr. Ryan can start a conversation regarding government entitlements and discretionary spending should be welcomed by all.
It should be noted that at least Mr. Ryan has submitted a budget that was passed by the House. The Obama budget was defeated 97-0.
Mark Hastert
9 months, 2 weeks agoIn the glare of the national spot light people will see that Mr Ryan is an emperor with no clothes and a scary one at that. Remember what Newt said? “Right wing social engineering”?
Phil Cardarella
9 months, 2 weeks agoLordy, lordy! Mac has the vapors!
Great hair, great teeth. I envy this guy both those and his seven-figure FOX News commentator salary — starting when he is free — as of 1/1/13.
But, seriously? He’s the “intellectual” of the GOP? A guy who took two decades to notice that his heroine Ayn Rand was an atheist? Who has yet to notice that his fictional hero — John Galt — ran a railroad: the MOST heavily subsidized industry in US history! (OK, except for actual tanks & rockets.)
Oh, and a guy who has yet to notice that unvarnished greed is NOT a Christian virtue. A guy who is so far right that the Catholic bishops — who apparently will support anyone with a pulse who is anti-abortion — say his budget proposals do not pass the minimum test for social justice.
But, that hair. Those teeth…
Of course, in a GOP that considers anyone who has read a book other than the Bible (and not those socialist Gospels, either)suspiciously moderate, one can hardly expect Bill Buckley.
Matt Henry
9 months, 2 weeks agoThe two previous posts represent the sort of no-substance attacks that will represent the bulk of the criticism that we can expect on Congressman Ryan in the coming months. Sad.
Ryan’s choice was indeed inspired because his seriousness makes their childishness seem all the more out of place in these very serious times. A grown up conversation scares the pants off of them.
George Hunsucker
Northland
9 months, 2 weeks agoThey can’t talk about the golden one’s accomplishments Matt, so they attack on a personal level. What better person to do that then a lawyer?
Mark Hastert
9 months, 2 weeks ago“Use the word radical and extremist often.”…
Gee Buzz, I read and reread my post and Phil’s I don’t see either of those words.
As far as Mr Ryan being wrong well you don’t have to take my word for it. The CBO says that Ryan’s budget will add $trillions to the deficit and doesn’t balance the budget until 2040.
They had unflattering opinions regarding his medicare plan. It will cost seniors about $500/month out of pocket and go up from there without any assurance that the coverage will be as good. Of course there is no bankruptcy protection for seniors (or anyone else) from medical bills. Medicaid is even worse.
I guess what I’m saying is, telling the truth isn’t an attack. If you get criticized because you’re wrong it just means you’re wrong. On these issues Mr Ryan and Gov. Romney are, as Steven put it, all hat and no cattle. Or as Newt put it,”right wing social engineering”.
Kent Mueller
9 months, 2 weeks agoMark, you say the Ryan budget comes into balance in the future? Why would you criticize a budget for becoming balanced too far into the future when the Democrats don’t have a budget that ever becomes balanced. Two measuring sticks there, Mark? Yep.
The CBO had unflattering opinions? They absolutely did not. Since when do you think they ever issue opinions? They issue numbers that they have crunched from the input they received. If they get good numbers to crunch, then their work is pretty predictive. If they get garbage, like they did just prior to the health care bill vote, then it is the old accounting adage, garbage in-garbage out. Not their fault, it’s their job to crunch numbers presented to them, not to issue an opinion.
Do the Democrats believe Medicare is financially stable going forward? If so, then they should fight any change. If not, then they should put forth their proposal. So, do you think Medicare is financially stable going forward in its current form?
I’m not attacking. I’m asking a few simple questions. Your answers?
Mark Hastert
9 months, 2 weeks ago“Why would you criticize a budget for becoming balanced too far into the future?”
Gee, cause he’s supposed to be a deficit hawk? Because he’ll add $trillions to the deficit? 2040? I thought that was a big deal to you guys. The CBO conclusions were “unflattering” in the sense that they point out the very significant deficiencies in the Ryan plans.
“Mark, see blueprint #4”
Yes I know. R&R use magic math and voo-doo economics .It’s a shame.
Jerry Thomasin
9 months, 2 weeks agoRyan is only exciting if you are rich, white and believe in the 1950’s. The rest of us who look towards the future understand he is a Washington insider and a tool of big business.
Mark Hastert
9 months, 2 weeks ago“It’s simply that he he is reasoned and a hard working pragmatic individual who is wholly capable in both policy inititiatives and research.”
Boy oh boy I would really like to see that research.’Cause it doesn’t match up well with anybody else’s. Paul is the new Newt. He sounds good until you start thinking about it too much.
Let you hear it from me first. This is about running Ryan against Hillary in ‘16, not winning in ‘12. Sorry Brownie, sorry Gov. Romney.
Kent Mueller
9 months, 1 week agoMark’s logic……Ryan is the VP nominee to position him to run against Hillary in ‘16….. “sorry Gov. Romney”.
For that to make any sense, then someone other than Romney chose Ryan as Romney’s running mate. Who did that, Mark? You must know.
Mark Hastert
9 months, 1 week ago“For that to make any sense, then someone other than Romney chose Ryan as Romney’s running mate. Who did that, Mark?”
…Rupert Murdock et al. You no doubt read the editorials in the WSJ and Weekly Standard and simultaneous clarion calls from the right? Ryan’s name hadn’t been in serious contention to that point. Pawlenty & Portman were reported to be the front runners. (poor schmucks, they’d been carrying Romney’s water for months and then got thrown over for a pretty face)
“every GOP politician is an insidious schemer” No not at all, I’m an admirer. These guys know how to play a long con. They run the ground game a few yards at a time over years, decades. Their patience is admirable. The Dems always go for the big quick score and often end up a bridge too far (sorry for mixing my metaphors)
No, this is about getting the rookie some exposure and experience on the national stage. In the mean time Brownie is stuck in the backwaters of Topeka and Mr Romney is about to become overshadowed like McCain. It’s clear that the powers that be have decided to write this one off and look to the future.
George Hunsucker
Northland
9 months, 1 week agono, no, no Buzz….
You didn’t create that business by surrounding yourself with smart agressive people; the government creates business, jimmy II told us that. Weren’t you listening when the messiah spoke? If this keeps-up, it’s off the big 0 reeducation camp!! :-)
Mark Hastert
9 months, 1 week agoSo I’m guessing that none of you read the WSJ & Weekly Standard editorials else you’d get my point? Gov Romney is doing contortions trying to embrace and reject Ryan at the same time. They’re not a natural fit any more than Palin was for McCain. No, this was an arranged marriage and not for Gov Romney’s benefit.
It’ll be an interesting race though, the older wizened former First Lady/Secretary of State vs. the young energetic congressman. By then Ryan will be more polished and have this ideas sorted. Hillary will have to be on her A game.
Phil Cardarella
9 months, 1 week agoLook, Paul Ryan is a handsome, wealthy (by any standards but Mitt’s), reasonably pleasant young man who noticed that there was an opening for “Party Intellectual Wanted” among the GOP right.
“Deep thinkers need not apply.”
Just the opening for a guy who did not notice Ayn Rand was an atheist — and who, after age 25, actually still thinks she was a coherent philosopher, not just a moderately-gifted fantasist.
This was not a job for most GOPers. Get caught reading a book other than the Bible (Old Testament, not those socialist Gospels) and you risk getting primaried. Ryan was safe there.
And since, in the faith-based reality of today’s GOP, even the science of math is suspect, it is not even a drawback that the Prince of Fiscal Conservatives voted for $7 trillion of deficit spending — averaging $7/8th trillion each of his first eight years in office. Or that his “balanced budget” seems to lack minor things like income to offset expenses.
His real quandry? How to avoid winning the election without being blamed. As VP, he’d sit in obscurity. When they lose, he gets to be a FOX TV Rock Star. Palin with a Penis. (Or, to be fair, Scarbourough with a better contract or Hannity with a passing knowledge of government.)
Kent Mueller
9 months, 1 week agoBy the way, Phil, why haven’t you answered very many of my questions on these blogs? I know that answering them would make you look funny, but still.
And I guess having money is only an issue if he is a Republican. Where is your disdain for Kerry (married money made by a consrvative), Corzine (made money on that so called by Democrats, Republican place known as Wall Street), Huffington (married money made by a conservative)and Pelosi (kinda like Ryan I guess…money but not in Soro’s league)
George Hunsucker
Northland
9 months, 1 week agothe card-shark maintains his silence at answering questions…..
And I thought they were so vocally “gifted”?