Courtesy of the Romney VP app at 5am PT, here’s our team! While I would have preferred a few others, I think Ryan is an excellent pick. I have to admit, I was terrified Romney would pick Rubio. I’m grateful he didn’t and consider this first presidential decision a good one. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Representative Ryan once and found him to be personally a very nice guy, and a terrific speaker. This is a good team and it’s nice to know where we’re headed. I can’t wait for the VP dabate 😉
Here’s some background and the news. This post will be updated as news comes in, and I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts about this pick!
Chicago Tribune: Romney Campaign Confirms Ryan Tapped As Running Mate
US News & world Report: 10 Reasons Paul Ryan Should Be Mitt Romney’s VP Pick
Washington Times: Obama and Ryan have tangled repeatedly
NYT: A Campaign Staff Awaits the Unnamed No. 2
Video: Paul Ryan Takes Apart Obama and ObamaCare in 6 Minutes:
Byron York: Romney goes bold
Paul Ryan’s new Twitter handle is @PaulRyanVP.
Yes, I, too, cannot wait for the vp presidential debate. Ryan will make mincemeat out of Biden.
Ryan is a good choice for VP.
Ensures that Mitt endorses Ryan budget plan. Which Democrats will attack as throwing Grandma off the cliff, which isn’t a bad thing as I don’t believe that voters liked that ad.
My only pessimism is if Mitt wins that the Ryan budget plan morphs into the Cantor budget plan. But that’s a winner’s problem. Imperative is to beat BHO and Ryan advances the cause.
Obama looks like he’s thinking, “Oh crap…These peons weren’t suppose to figure this out!…Oh, what the hell…I’m the ruler here so I’ll still do as I damn well please!”
One word….BRILLIANT.
I wouldn’t say BRILLIANT, but at least I don’t have to hold my nose quite as tight to pull the lever.
I think the VP debate is going to be as interesting as Sarah’s one in ’08 with the man without a brain, especially when it comes to down to budget issues.
After reading this, I’m a lot more excited about the pick.
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/313555/ryan-way-robert-costa
The debates will be interesting. I think Joey’s going to not be a happy camper and the shit eating grin he has when he’s been bested by someone in debate is going to be fixed on his ugly puss.
I’m just grateful it’s not Santorum. Overall, I feel torn. Ryan had been doing so much good in his current capacity but I could definitely see him rallying the base. Seems Ryan as a pick is somewhat of a nod to 2008 and how Palin injected enthusiasm into conservative voters. Plus, while the Urkel gestapos will continue to aim all barrels at him regardless, some of their thunder has been stolen by him having had a high profile for a while and dealing with a steady stream of liberal attacks already.
I believe Ryan’s the best of the establishment bunch. A recent New Yorker profile on him indicated he really hates Boehner. His whole Road Map/budget plans, from what I’ve read, are spot-on but don’t go far enough – but with new Tea Party leadership in congress, maybe they will indeed go further. His SOTU response was very poor in my opinion, but hopefully he’s polished up since. Palin always endorsed his plans, and while I don’t remember him ever reciprocating by defending her, I don’t remember him dissing her, either. I think what we have in Ryan is the best we can expect from Romney. Thank GOD it’s not the fat-boy Jersey-boy islamist-pandering weeble.
neil, if he hates boehner, that’s good enough for me! and considering the other names floated, choosing ryan is easily defensible.
rick
Ditto!
Agreed Flaggman, it’s not the Krispy Cream, Muslim Lover from New Jersey!
Neil, thanks for the info about the New Yorker profile – I’m gonna go look for that article – I hope & pray that’s true as I despise Boehner!
I completely agree that he’s the best of the Establishment bunch and the best we can expect from Romney. Ryan is super smart & knows his stuff so we’ve got that going for us.
BTW – AMEN to your sentiment about the Fat Man from Jersey! Now THAT would’ve been a disaster!
Young, intelligent, engaging and charismatic. He stole my heart when he took Obama to school during the Obamanightmarecare “seminar” and was awarded the Obama middle finger. His personal story is interesting as well. He conducts a yoga class for the members of the House. Let’s go!!! RRR!!!! (Romney, Ryan, Republican).
G’day,
Can my American friends here please explain to me why a man who proposes to balance the budget by 2040 is considered a fiscal conservative?
ta
Ralph
It’s probably a matter of contrast. The problems are so deep and large, a plan to EVER balance the budget is refreshing when compared to no plan to balance the budget, or worse yet, the Democrat plan – drive us into economic oblivion with continued borrowing taxing and profoundly wasteful spending until there is NO HOPE of ever getting it under control.
I have to agree with you there! A long range plan is better than no plan. It may take two Romney terms AND two Ryan terms to restore our economy. America has liberal policy cancer which requires a prolonged course of Conservative chemo to cure.
I would have to say that what he means by “balancing the budget” is more along the lines of balancing the books. That means getting the debt under control and paid off. With the mass dump of money that Bush and Obama spilled all over and never bothered to clean up, let alone attempt to staunch, it is going to take more than 20 years to pay off these debts, even With an economy on an upswing. If we can get things under control we won’t be Greece and Italy and Spain. They will Never be able to pay off their debts if they continue on the roads they are on.
Ah the Lefty Media. They never disappoint! They are complaining that Ryan “doesn’t have enough Private Sector experience”. Really? Let’s look at Joe Biden. Senator for Delaware SINCE JAN 3 1973. 35 Years as a Senator, then elected for VP in 2008.. So that is almost 40 continuous years in Public Sector jobs.
Gosh that’s a lot of Private Sector experience…
Oh! but I forgot he rides the train, so he is a “regular guy”. Sure he is, in Accela First Class on our dime. 500$ each way… Yeah regular guy
Hmm, this private sector experience issue is a nonstarter for the democrats. Let’s review. JFK, private sector experience? NO. Ted Kennedy, private sector experience (other than making a waitress sandwich)? Hell NO. And then there’s Obama.
plaisir,
small correction. i believe ted kennedy was a designated driver, just before he became a criminal.
rick
Palin needs to speak at the RNC convention to seal the deal. I checked her Facebook page but no comment as of yet.
Palin made herself irrelevant last October 5.. It was her choice.. and one I personally lament..she could have been President, and a great one but it’s over..her influence is compromised and not likely to be restored.. She reinforced the quitter meme, and people are not going to trust her. Very sad, but it is what it is
Ryan’s work on budget issues will enable him to hit the ground running as opposed to Biden who hit he ground with a face plant. Don’t think Obama ever touched ground.
I was very impressed with the speech by Ryan – strong, succinct, exactly what we need. Onward – let’s get this team elected!
Onward!!!
I was hoping it would be Allen West, but we know that would never happen.
Yeah, picking Allen West would require a boldness that Mitt Romney simply doesn’t have.
Tammy: A question for you — Do you have any idea why Team Romney would have made this announcement on a Saturday when a good portion of the country was asleep? My husband is arguing this approach was a mistake, because it should have been more a production and timed to give it maximum national attention. While I, too, a baffled, I think Ryan is an excellent choice and a lot bolder than I thought Romney would go.
I think he’s a decent choice, but has Ryan released his tax returns or his medical records or his college transcripts or his birth certificate or his high school yearbook photo or his iPod playlists? It’s been like, two hours or something. We don’t want to upset Cher.
Mittenz finally did something right after about a month of sleepwalking. I must confess I’d rather see Ryan at the top of the ticket. The choice also puts Wisconsin in play. If the GOP could put Wiscy in their column it would make it a hard road for the Dumb Bastard.
Good Deal Mitt Romney!
Picking a fiscal conservative, a Taxed Enough Already speaker, a groomed disciple of and past aide to the late Rep. Jack Kemp, for all these reasons I say to Mitt Romney, Good Deal!
As a veteran, I would have preferred someone who has served their country in uniform-and Allen West would have been a great pick! Though controversial perhaps, he would have energized the conservative base-the same base that is a bit leery of Mitt Romney and his track record of flip flopping between liberal and conservative stances, if the truth be told. I suppose Paul Ryan will do, but the Romney campaign had better not dare think this election is a slam dunk. Much will be made by the Obama campaign (indirectly of course) about the fact that we once again have 2 white guys running, and you can bet that some evangelicals will be leery to vote for a ticket consisting of a Mormon and a Catholic-Obama and his Super PACS will capitalize on this as well. It’s sleazy, but we know the depths to which the Obama campaign will sink. I really was hoping for a VP candidate that would energize the conservative base and perhaps sway the independents and undecideds, and I’m not convinced that Paul Ryan is it. With some hard campaigning and effective responses to the opposition’s low ball tactics however, I believe victory is possible, but far from certain.
Was just reading that the DB already had a dislike for Ryan……Im hoping they can snap the DBs temper, I say let the sparks fly!
One of the ugly bully things that BHO did, was when he invited Paul Ryan to one of his speeches (Ryan thinking that BHO was going to say something middle of the road) and then proceeded to hammer Ryan as he sat in the front row.
Now as VP pick, Ryan gets to return fire.
This is a good choice: it pleases both the establishment and the base. Now, I’m even more eager to cast my vote on November 6.
But…America wanted Rubio! He must be crying his little eyes out. Should we send flowers?
I had literally just finished telling my dad that if Mitt picked Pawlenty, he was done for…Ryan is a VERY good pick. I’m interested in seeing how the left is gonna take this, because Ryan is squeaky clean. I don’t think there’s anything to dig up on him.
I say that now…I didn’t think there was anything to dig up on Mitt, but they’ve outright lied about him already.
Ryan young, smart, family man, boyish looks, great communicator….all good combo something for every voter. Now is the time to unite behind the ticket and not pick apart what could have been! RNC needs to have Palin and YES Ron Paul to speak. We need to show the Dems that we are united and we will defeat them.
GOOD!! CAN WE LOAD THE CANNONS NOW??? Enough with the slingshots.
LOL!
I would have preferred Paul Ryan stay in the House & work with the new administration (He’s not ,my Congressman, but from the district next door). It’s so very difficult for the cheeseheads in WI to vote in a Conservative for any type of representation….We are at a tipping point in this state & we’ve just lost a Republican seat. But yes, it could have been worse!
I’m so relieved it’s not Rubio! Tammy’s opinion of Rubio might be a little lower than mine but not by much.
I suspect Ryan will be less of a placeholder/figurehead VP than others. Ryan and Romney strike me as being somewhat similar in their approach to things: serious, detailed, with the financial facts mastered. I can see Ryan being someone that Mitt can and will work with, and rely upon. It suggests to me that Mitt is focused on the finances, and God knows it’s about time somebody paid some attention to them in DC. I like Paul Ryan, and respect him. He doesn’t fire me up and make me want to whoop and holler and jump into the parade and march along behind him like Alan West does :^) but he’ll be a great VP.
I agree MaryVal: “serious, detailed, with the financial facts mastered” and “suggests to me that Mitt is focused on the finances”.
No more Obama-feel-good-math!
Math? what math? There’s math? lol!
Five minutes after the gavel drops and ends the Republican National Convention, he should release(without comment of course) his notarized College Transcripts!
In your FACE, el Presidente’!!!
posted 8/11 235pm Texas[Say Cheese!]Time
hey RNC, are you listening to dennis? or heck, i’ll give you a quarter if you make sure to put a line in about college transcripts in his acceptance speech!
rick
Solid choice! Great to wake up this morning to such exciting news. Romney – Ryan 2012!
Best choice by far of those being considered. Amongst his many attributes, he’ll bring Wisconsin back into the fold. Of more importance, he will be smart, articulate and tough but he will be able to do so without upstaging Romney. That is key.
Hats off to Romney today. Bravo!
Maybe the key point is that the Ryan pick is Romney’s signal that his first priority is putting America’s financial house in order. If that’s the message, I applaud it. The domestic economy is the foundation upon which all else is built. We’ve been racing towards that fiscal cliff for a generation, and our leadership addresses every crisis with another stomp on the accelerator. Bush kicked the can, Obama kicked the can; when does it end? I can’t say Romney can or will handle this; I’m not sure it can be handled. But Obama won’t, that much is clear. Candidate Romney is saying the right things and doing the right things. But then, so did candidate Obama. Now they’re saying the Romney/Ryan pairing is unique in that the ticket lacks a protestant. Could it possibly be likewise unique in that the ticket lacks a bald-faced liar? Am I naive in even considering the possibility?
Hmmm, as an afterthought…with respect to Ryan being Catholic…seems that the Obamacare abortifacient debacle was a particular attack upon Catholic institutions. (Refresher: See Peggy Noonan’s article, “A Battle the President Can’t Win”.) Since then, Obama has in no way backed off or made peace. So it may be that this choice will remind people that the Romney administration is truly committed to an end to government bullying.
I disagree with the characterization that Obamacare was a “particular attack upon Catholic institutions”. they were just required to follow the same law as other employers. Catholics are not required to use birth control. The Church is not required to change it’s teaching on the subject. The whole birth control thing isn’t a big issue for me, but at the same time if I, as a non-Catholic, were an employee of a Catholic hospital I don’t think I would appreciate the coercive methods to enforce Catholic doctrine on me anymore than I would appreciate, say, a Jehovah’s Witness denying coverage of things like blood transfusions because of their religious views.
With that said, didn’t Romneycare require employers to cover contraception without regard to religion as well? and I think Romneycare covered abortions as well.
You have the choice to work anywhere you choose. If you are wanting prescription drug coverage for birth control and/or abortifacient drugs, abortion or sterlization procedures through an insurance plan, then don’t work for a Catholic institution. You can do whatever you please, there’s no coercion involved, and no one is requiring you to believe in any doctrine. If you choose to have an abortion or use birth control, that’s entirely up to you. Catholic institutions are not going to pay for it, though. Nor should they be compelled to by the government, it is a clear violation of freedom of religion in this country. The coercion is being applied by the Federal government.
American People need R&R from O&B 😉
i think ryan was a very good choice…but not the BEST one…i think they’ll shoot up in the polls if they acknowledge the corruption of the establishment, and vow to rout it outta DC wherever they find it!
Ryan good choice! Young, fresh, bold, unafraid, strong, must be brilliant… born in 1970?!? wow, are we old or what!? Ryan ushers in a new generation… out with the establishment, in with the new. AT LAST. get the Karl Roves out of the way, pleezy!!!!!
I saw 2016 tonight. Nothing new there, I follow D’Souza a bit and had heard him speak about his book. SO GLAD he made the movie!! As I sat there waiting for the movie to start (medium popcorn), I thought in horror, “WHAT WAS I THINKING? I’M GONNA HAVE TO HEAR OBAMA’S INFERNAL VOICE FOR TWO HOURRRRS???!!!” (D’Souza uses Obama’s reading of his ‘Dreams’ book, thereby Barry incriminates himself. excellent, Dinesh!!) Hopefully those not paying attention to the nation imploding around them will tear themselves away from reality tv to see 2016… and get a clue. Tho I think you kinda have to already be somewhat attuned to realize the full-impact of 2016…. but it’s a start.
RR in NovembeRR!!
Ryan is an interesting pick. I have some optimism about it, but I have reservations. His voting record does not indicate that he’s a fiscal hawk, though the Ryan plan is what I’d call “a good start.” At least he stuck his neck out and took a risk, which is admirable. Tammy has talked about some of his record in the past. He voted for Bush’s Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan. He voted for Bush’s ’08 (tax cut) stimulus, which did nothing to improve economic conditions. He voted, albeit reluctantly, for TARP (the bank bailout). He said, like Bush, that he was going against his principles–his belief in the free market–to preserve them. He voted for the auto industry bailout. He did not, however, vote for Obama’s $800 bil. “stimulus” bill in ’09.
I don’t feel as bad about this record as I do Romney’s MA health insurance program, but it reflects a willingness to “go-along-to-get-along” with religious Republicans’ “big government conservatism” program, and a tendency the party has for crony capitalism. I take his word for it that he does not like ObamaCare, but I feel as though his objection to it is really that it doesn’t put the government in the position of subsidizing the insurance industry “the way it should,” as in letting “business do business,” rather than the gov’t trying to control how they do it. That’s a small difference, and not one that’s necessarily advantageous to those who need access to medical care. This arrangement of letting the medical industry set its own prices while the gov’t subsidizes it is one of the main reasons medical costs have risen so dramatically. We’d be better off by weaning the industry of its subsidies.
I haven’t liked what Obama has done, but this is not the way to prosperity. This mentality of Romney and Ryan may get us out of the slump we’re in…*for now*, but it’s likely to cause another bust down the road, even bigger than ’08. It’s just that this time it’ll probably be created on Wall Street. If their past behavior is any indication, I’m thinking they’ll do just what Bush did in that scenario. I’d be surprised if they didn’t. They still represent a corrupting influence on the market. Even if they win, I think that the Tea Party will have to fight just as hard–if it has the staying power under a Republican administration–against these guys as they have against Obama’s policies, if it’s going to have any credibility as a genuine reform movement. A saying I’ve been hearing locally from libertarians/Tea Partiers is, “We have to first defeat the Republicans before we can defeat the Democrats.” By “defeat” I take them to mean “take over the GOP.”
The challenge to the Tea Party would be just as great under a Romney administration as under Obama, but for different reasons. There will be tremendous pressure from the Republicans for the Tea Party to keep a lid on it, to not give any ammunition to the Democrats, to not complain about their policies that continue to put gov’t in bed with big business. It must resist this “peer pressure” and continue to hold Republicans’ feet to the fire, voting Republicans out in future primaries who go along with the party’s anti-market agenda.
Is that a nonchalant finger Furkel is flexing @ 5:24? Arrogant POS.