Why I like the Ryan pick
I was out of the house all morning and didn’t have a chance until now to blog about Mitt Romney’s pick of Paul Ryan as a running mate. But now I have time, and I must say: Ryan is an excellent pick.
I have made a few mentions during the past couple of months about my enthusiasm for putting Bobby Jindal on the ticket, and I still think he would have made a good choice. But he and Ryan, who for a long time didn’t appear to be on Romney’s short list, are like a No. 1 and No. 1a for me.
Some people will say Ryan is a risky pick because he has laid out the most detailed plan of just about any elected official — from either of the two major parties — about how to put Washington’s fiscal house in order. That means he brings a lot of targets with him onto the ticket, about Medicare in particular. To those people I say: You are crazy if you think the Obama campaign wasn’t going to make Romney answer for Ryan’s plan anyway.
For one thing, Romney already had endorsed the biggest aspects of the Ryan road map. For another, it’s already abundantly clear that the Obama campaign, which has already suggested Romney is a felon and tried to pin a woman’s death on him, considers nothing off-limits in this race. Romney could have disavowed Ryan’s plan altogether, and there still would have been a TV ad at some point showing Romney helping Ryan push Granny off a cliff.
So, I don’t think the risk is as great as you might be led to believe. But the potential reward is all there.
Paul Ryan has been the face of the GOP on these issues for more than two years now, and he has proven unafraid of taking arguments about taxes, spending, deficits, debt and entitlements straight to President Obama. He will boost tea-party enthusiasm about the GOP ticket, and he might be just the edge Romney needs to win in key Midwestern swing states: not just his home state of Wisconsin, but also Ohio, Michigan and perhaps Minnesota and even Pennsylvania. Giving him a national platform to talk about these issues and his plans to address them, and putting the Romney stamp of approval on those plans, means Obama won’t have to answer only about his mediocre record in office. He’ll also, finally, have to tell us exactly how he would tackle these problems.
Sorry, Mr. President, but the Buffett Rule won’t be enough.
It’s incredible, really, that the man who has presided over three straight trillion-dollar budget deficits, and whose proposed budgets make no attempt to rein them in, has been allowed to skate by as easily as he has on this topic. Even Obama’s own party, which still controls the Senate, makes no attempt to work with his budget proposals, much less approve them. He is very vulnerable on this issue.
Mitt Romney is not going to win a popularity contest, and he’s not going to win a small-issues election. Michael Dukakis tried to win on “competence” and couldn’t even beat George “The Vision Thing” Bush. Even the stagnant economy is not enough to put Romney in the White House — although he must still keep hammering at that issue. Incumbent presidents lose when the public thinks the challenger has a better idea of where to take us, and how to get there. Putting Ryan on the ticket means Romney intends to fight a big-issues election, and that he has the running mate to help him lay out that vision.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 12th, 2012
1:31 pm
The Ryan pick opens the door for substantive discussions on budgeting, deficits and the proper role of government.
Unfortunately, the only side willing and capable of engaging in these discussions are the GOP nominees.
The left and this current administration will simply continue their mind-numbing lies, exaggerations, and personal attacks.
It’s all they’ve got.
jconservative
August 12th, 2012
1:46 pm
“Mitt Romney is not going to win a popularity contest,…”
Generally that is what the presidential election is all about. See Bush in 2000 and 2004 and Obama in 2008.
“Putting Ryan on the ticket means Romney intends to fight a big-issues election…”
That is a problem, not an asset. The short attention span of the American voter does not allow for a complete explanation for a complicated subject. And the Ryan Plan is about as complicated as one can get in Washington. See Obama’s attempt to explain the Affordable Care Act, it is just to complicated to explain so, he just quit trying.
American elections are won by 10 to 30 second sound bites, not 30 minute explanations.
I believe this is a horrible selection!
getalife
August 12th, 2012
1:56 pm
“Tim Pawlenty: I Gave ‘A Bunch Of Tax Returns’ For VP Vetting”
mitt the twit needs to apologize to London and embarrassing our country like w then show 10 years of taxes to prove it.
Put up or shut up.
independent thinker
August 12th, 2012
1:59 pm
All it takes is one major national security or foreign policy crisis between now and November and these two wanabees will show how inept they are in those areas. They’ll keep using the same discredited Neocons as George W. to spew out all that neocon trash about acting tough without a clue as to the diplomatic issues and true security concerns. Syria is a good example as well as Egypt.
Neocons want us to intervene and overthrow Assad. Problem is the Syrian Christians ar on Assad’s side and fear a jihadist takeover by the Sunnis. Our puppet government in Iraq hates the Sunnis and supports Assad. If the rebels get control of the huge chemical stores Assad has, Israel will jump in while Turkey backs the rebels and has distanced from Israel. So Romney is going to jump into another Muslim civil war at the request of the Neocons?In this mess? Whose going to pay ?Don’t expect any Romney family member to serve- three generations escaped service. How soon will Romney declare Mission Accomplished? And what are we going to do when the Rebel Sunni Jihadists we backed start trouble in Iraq or threaten Israel and the Syrian Christians?? Don;t expect the Romney/Ryan team to have a clue- just follow the Neocons into another quagmire and financial boondoggle..
dawgfan75
August 12th, 2012
1:59 pm
I am a social liberal and fiscal conservative. I believe in taking care of all the people in this country first and everything else after that…ie defense, corporate welfare, money to other countries, ect. I do not believe we should be wasting money on inane projects. I believe that anyone that is supposedly working with the confidence of the people and gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar should get inordinately looooong prison sentences in a real prison. That includes politicians, bankers, cops, inspecters, ect. When will I see my interests represented by a pol from any party. Has not happened, yet.
getalife
August 12th, 2012
2:19 pm
This election was over when robme said trust me, I paid taxes but refused to prove it.
Watch his numbers tank.
He will get the con vote and that is all.
MarkV
August 12th, 2012
2:21 pm
independent thinker @1:59 pm
I am not sure what the Neocons want, I do not pay them that much attention, but I know what the Republicans in general say they want. The want Obama to intervene in Syria, because Obama is not doing it. If he did, they would say that he is bringing Al-Qaeda to power there. Just like in Egypt, first they attacked Obama for not supporting the people more aggressively, now they attack him for letting Mubarak fall and the Muslim Brotherhood come to power.
Thomas Heyward Jr.
August 12th, 2012
2:28 pm
“Why I like the Ryan pick”
.
Maybe cuz…………………….you’re paid to.
.
Pravda.
independent thinker
August 12th, 2012
3:04 pm
MarkV – your exactly right – Just past week that so called Jihadist in power in Egypt who the Neocons call a threat to Israel and the US ended up participating in a joint military oeration against terrorists with Israel. Israel ended up killing them after they killed 16 Egyptian soldiers. End result- both countries blamed Hamas. So what would Bachmann and the Neocons say? Nothing.
Neocons have screwed up any US involvement in the Middle East except making the Saudis and Kuwaitis very rich with our oil money.
These two would just continue the GOP tradition.
Paul Ryan's Dangerous Plan (Shameonya)
August 12th, 2012
3:11 pm
The Romney-Ryan plan would THROW seniors under the bus and undermine
their health security by ending Medicare as we KNOW it. It would INCREASE
health care costs for seniors, including those on FIXED income, by thousands
of dollars a year.
The extreme plan proposed by this year’s Republican ticket would bring
HUGE TAX BREAKS to millionaires, paid for by tax HIKES on the middle class,
and MASSIVE CUTS to investments that strengthen the middle class
priorities like education, health care, energy and scientific and medical research.
A Ryan Shame (His Dangerous Plan)
August 12th, 2012
3:16 pm
@jconservative
August 12th, 2012
1:46 pm
I believe this is a horrible selection!
______________________________________________
IT’S A RYAN SHAME
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 12th, 2012
3:22 pm
jconservative: I believe this is a horrible selection!
——————————
Right, because Joe Biden has so many accomplishments to his name and is such a promising talent.
Vote American.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 12th, 2012
3:31 pm
I see the poster who constantly changes his blog name at 3:11 has gotten the DNC talking points down pat.
No matter how inaccurate they may be.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 12th, 2012
3:52 pm
We know Obozo’s plan won’t work, because raising taxes to 100% on millionaires and billionaires would only reduce Obozo’s deficit by 5%.
What is Obozo’s plan for reducing his deficit?
Romney and Ryan have a plan. It’s called “letting America be America again”.
Evict the fascist vermin from Our White House.
Vote American.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 12th, 2012
3:59 pm
I immediately dismiss any comments made by someone who uses the term “independent” and “thinker” in the blog name, when all they do is bash one side in a debate and bring up old, discredited talking points from the DNC.
In short, they are neither “independent”, nor capable of “thinking”.
Standing on the top
August 12th, 2012
4:07 pm
You dismiss it, yet still cry about it?
Why even bother to post anything relating to that blogger if you were dismissing it?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 12th, 2012
4:08 pm
Just pointing out the nonsense.
Why do you care?
Standing on the top
August 12th, 2012
4:09 pm
Tiberius
Come over the Jay’s sometimes. Numerous right of center folks over there, but one more voice wouldn’t hurt.
getalife
August 12th, 2012
4:16 pm
ryan is another hail mary like palin and the result will be the same.
President Obama by 10 again.
Gates are open
August 12th, 2012
4:32 pm
CHARLOTTE – Mitt Romney requested “several” years of tax returns from his potential running mates, a senior adviser to the candidate said Saturday, suggesting that those considered for the ticket may have been required to reveal more financial documents that the candidate himself.
In a briefing with reporters in Virginia Saturday, senior adviser Beth Myers, who was charged with headed the vice president selection process, declined to specify exactly how many years of tax returns were required, saying only that “several” were requested.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 12th, 2012
4:32 pm
Sorry, Standing, but I have no respect whatsoever for the host over there and expressed such to hin in no uncertain terms.
He didn’t like it and he banned me.
Don’t miss him or his merry band of (largely) loony libs one bit.
JamVet
August 12th, 2012
4:34 pm
Gates are open,
Just another example of how the man is unfit to lead.
Standing on the top
August 12th, 2012
4:36 pm
Tiberius
Of I didn’t know that, however I figured another voice is always good.
I’m sure I will see you here from time to time.
Standing on the top
August 12th, 2012
4:38 pm
Meant to type “Oh” not “Of”
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 12th, 2012
4:40 pm
And Gates and AmVet continue their “small ball” deflections from the actual important issues.
Keep focusing on that stuff.
While the adults focus on the future of our country.
TGT
August 12th, 2012
4:43 pm
I am a social liberal and fiscal conservative.
Then you’re a liberal. One cannot be a Fiscal Conservative and a Social Liberal. They are contradictory positions. As another has put it:
Social Liberals view society as a field in which fairness does not exist but must be imposed. Where people are suppressed and not free to pick themselves up but need to be picked up and supported by others. It’s a society where others have “too much” and must be compelled to provide for others. It’s a Utopian vision of Society, leveling, a construct. Social Liberalism leverages “Social Justice”, redistribution of wealth (property) and Public Services as the means to an end.
…Fiscal Conservatives believe in smaller Government and a basic set of reasonable operational guidelines. The result is a less costly Government less involved in the “day to day operations” of peoples lives. Social programs are very clearly massive Administrative undertakings with a ton of overhead, duplication and cost and are typically anathema to Fiscal conservative.
Social Programs – Social Security, SNAP, MediCare, HealthCare, etc. – are massively costly. That is absolutely undeniable. Gun registries, bans, etc. are also massively costly. They also absolutely ensure that you pay for other peoples choices while being able to order them around. It’s the worst of both worlds wrapped up in the Nanny blanket of compassion and Utopia.
TGT
August 12th, 2012
4:51 pm
Mitt Romney requested “several” years of tax returns from his potential running mates…
And you libs can’t understand the difference between a private request and a public one. (Just as McCain requested–and received–several years from Mitt when he was being vetted for VP.) You libs love to keep the conversation focused on Mitt’s taxes instead of on Obama’s record. Another reason you are unfit to lead, or vote.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 12th, 2012
4:54 pm
“I am a social liberal and fiscal conservative.
Then you’re a liberal. One cannot be a Fiscal Conservative and a Social Liberal. They are contradictory positions.”
No, they are not, TGT.
I am a social liberal on personal issues, NOT on government issues. That means I don’t believe that government needs to get into who should and shouldn’t marry, who can or cannot have an abortion, and shouldn’t be in the middle of picking and choosing who can be discriminated against.
I don’t believe in a social nanny-state, which is my fiscal conservative side.
These are NOT contradictory positions.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 12th, 2012
5:16 pm
You’d have to be mentally deficient to expect that because Ryan gave his tax returns to President Romney, he should also give them to America’s enemies in the Obozo campaign.
JamVet
August 12th, 2012
5:24 pm
Tibby thinks he represents the adult voice in this country???
Huge LOL.
But then again he is making baby steps progress; he hasn’t got permanently banished from any more forums recently.
(Kyle has scared the hell outta these kids.)
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 12th, 2012
5:27 pm
Obama fundraiser in Chicago. ‘Admission only $51, but room is half full.”
Maybe no one wanted to hear the illiterate gibberish?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 12th, 2012
5:35 pm
At least some of us discuss the important issues facing this nation, AmVet, unlike the chronic whining and repetitive one-note harping on everything BUT the important issues, as you excel at.
But then, anyone who admits to voting for Ralph Nader really can’t be taken seriously as someone willing to discuss important issues, can they?
@@
August 12th, 2012
5:40 pm
Whooaaaa…not a good thing.
In Upheaval for Egypt, Morsi Forces Out Military Chiefs
Thulsa Doom
August 12th, 2012
5:47 pm
“Pravda.”
Thomas Heyward,
How ironical. You forget that Pravda was a left wing propoganda news organ. Too funny.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 12th, 2012
6:01 pm
Thulsa, you have to remember that anything short of Ron Paul is completely unacceptable to Thomas Heyward.
Paulistas – they’re the new crazy.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 12th, 2012
6:07 pm
Who’s Ron Paul voting for?
Logical Song
August 12th, 2012
6:14 pm
When should polls start showing the big bounce Romney will be getting from his VP selection?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 12th, 2012
6:16 pm
Depends. Might be a week or two.
If there is any bounce at all. I don’t put a lot of faith in either polls or VP picks.
JamVet
August 12th, 2012
6:18 pm
So go ahead, tibby, tell us your issues with Nader.
I’ll get some popcorn…
BTW, I loved how you got on independent thinking for doing exactly what you do.
Hysterical that you can’t even see your mammoth hypocrisy.
LOL at you.
I’ll check in later to see your scintillating, fact-filled, verifiable, die hard Republican issues with Ralph!
Or not…
Logical Song
August 12th, 2012
6:19 pm
Tiberius
I think he will get something then there is the convention. He should be tied or close come November. He better be
Logical Song
August 12th, 2012
6:20 pm
meant to say October during the debates, not November
Hillbilly D
August 12th, 2012
6:26 pm
Moderated? O.K., I’m gonna have to break this up.
I believe Kyle’s limit is one link per post.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 12th, 2012
6:29 pm
“So go ahead, tibby, tell us your issues with Nader.”
You mean the fact that he had no plan to govern if elected, and was merely running to keep his name recognition from waning even further than it has?
Waiting for the expected response featuring corporatocracy, neo-cons, oligarchs and the rest of your all-too-repeated phrases.
But never, ever any substance.
JamVet
August 12th, 2012
6:41 pm
No facts, tibby.
No data, no evidence, no quotes, no policy positions.
Nothing.
As always.
Just your dumb opinions. Which are like ________.
You don’t know what you are talking bout. THAT is why you don’t even try to discuss such matters intelligently.
Now, try again.
Or don’t.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
August 12th, 2012
7:01 pm
What are Thomas and the rest of the Paulistas going to do when, Ron Paul stands up at the GOP convention and says we need to get behind Romney/Ryan?
I don’t think they will join Jamvet and vote for Roseanne Barr, but then again, you just never know.
old timer
August 12th, 2012
7:08 pm
I agree…Kyle. good choice. Now, if Romney would get Neil Boortz, Herman Cain, and Newt to coach him for debates…we gotta game on.
DannyX
August 12th, 2012
7:28 pm
“In short, they are neither “independent”, nor capable of “thinking”.”
My favorite is when a person claims to be non-partisan but do nothing but preach the party line.
@@
August 12th, 2012
7:42 pm
Okay…so it wasn’t me that AmVet asked but here goes…
Ralph Nader doesn’t play well with others.
The dark side of Ralph Nader
He’s made a career of railing against corporate misdeeds. Yet he himself has abused his underlings, betrayed close friends and ruled his public-interest empire like a dictator.
Probably why AmVet likes him so much. Two peas in a pod, they…
@@
August 12th, 2012
7:55 pm
Say wh-a-a-a-a!!!
“Although Mr. Nader was earning approximately $500,000 per year in personal income, he paid little or no taxes since he deducted various expenses of his operations as ‘business expenses’ or he made contributions to ‘charitable organizations’ controlled by him.” Jacobs continued, “He also engaged in what I viewed to be questionable end of year tax juggling, often pre-dating or post-dating checks to get a deduction in a particular year. He would often pad travel expenses and double-bill for travel expenses when he had two engagements in a particular out-of-town city.”
Maybe we should have a look at NADER’S tax returns.
@@
August 12th, 2012
8:00 pm
N-o-o-o-ooooo
Ralph Nader was guilty of paying his employees low wages or NO WAGES AT ALL???????
The former associate also charged that Nader’s nonprofit enterprises were run with very little oversight by their boards: “No independent outside audits were made of any of the Nader organizations until various states required Public Citizen statements.”
Jacobs also wrote in the affidavit that Nader was “inordinately harsh in his dealings with his employees and others. Although he had amassed a reserve of over $2 million in various foundations, organizations and in his personal brokerage account, he paid extremely low wages and often refused to pay employees and others for work done.”
Whodathunkit?
AmVet’s hero is a skinflint?