Is That An Avalanche I Hear?

hughhewitt.com ^ | 8/19/2012 | Hugh Hewitt

[Signalman]

Bill Kristol is exactly right on the impact of the selection of Paul Ryan on grassroots conservatism across the country. Charles Krauthammer helped provide the explanation in his Friday column and it comes down to this: Paul Ryan is thoroughly conservative --a reliable, electable conservative-- who also provides the sort of charismatic leadership the center-right has longed for since Reagan and which George W. Bush could only provide at intervals and usually only on the war. Thus in Ryan there is a long term promise of renewal of the party and the movement, one preceded by the rise of the Tea Party and the accumulation of authority by serious conservatives in the Senate led by Jim DeMint and in the House with the rise of Cantor/McCarthy/Jordan and of course Ryan.

It is to Mitt Romney's great credit that he picked Ryan and recognized these benefits would follow even when many, including me, were urging the conventional pick of Tim Pawlenty and others of Rob Portman. Romney went big. It telegraphs how he will staff his administration and how he will govern. The selection of Ryan is a signal that Romney will govern with a reform agenda, will promote genuine talent and not just friends, has confidence in ideas and his ability to explain them, and aims to reform the federal government while renewing American military strength.

Key graph in Kristol's piece:

But perhaps the most important effect of the Ryan pick is this: It turns the GOP effort from a campaign into a movement. It transforms a mere electoral effort into a political cause. The Romney 2012 campaign no longer brings to mind its Republican predecessor, the McCain campaign of 2008. Instead, Romney-Ryan could end up more closely resembling Obama 2008.

Key thought in most young conservatives' minds: "I might want to work for this Administration."

There is a transition team already at work, but I hope Mitt Romney is sending detailed instructions to it and has added "Be sure to consult Ryan." The opportunity to engage the 35-and-under demographics is enormous, and all it will take is a few speeches by both Romney and Ryan on the years beyond 2020 and even 2030 and how they can be defined by American strength or American eclipse, both as to finances and as to military power.

I discuss in my Washington Examiner column Monday the possibility of Ryan conducting townhall events for the 25-and-under voters, perhaps moderated by and questions provided by younger journalists like Guy P. Benson, Mary Katharine Ham, Conn Carroll and Tim Carney. Talking heads and scribblers under 40 see a very different world than the Andrea Mitchells of the Beltway who are comfortable in their quasi-retirements and who want to refight old battles and keep their friends in places of power as they complete their circuit.

Mitt Romney is definitely from far outside the Beltway and Ryan is from far outside the ruling age demographic. Together they are a powerful combination that has panicked Chicago even as the president has lost his game and is afraid to meet with the White House press corps for fear of "You didn't build that" questions or additional unforced enormous errors.

The momentum is all with Romney/Ryan and the money is flowing in. (Have you contributed your $25 or $50?) It will be a great week in Tampa Bay and a fine fall, but the real fun will be in 2013 as things long undone finally get done, and the country explodes in the sort of productivity and optimism that marked the Reagan era.

[STD]

Wrong, I believe the proper term is a landslide

[JaguarXKE]

Landslide, Avalanche, Tsunami, what’s the difference, so long as the Democrats are standing it its path the result will be the same.

[MCH]

Nice, but just a VP. If elected he’ll become the standard VP figurehead & Willard will push him to the side and ignore him, just as most presidents do. Too bad the guy at the top of the ticket doesn’t elicit excitement. In the long run that’s all that matters, and it’s what will still make this a close election between a dangerous marxist lib and a milquetoast “moderate” with lib tendencies (I hope just tendencies). It’s an obvious lesser of the evils choice, but not really excitement worthy at all.

[piasa]

Desperaton does appear to be setting in...I think I just heard the tail end of a news report that Obama is contemplating a visit to Israel, for the first time.

[Daffynition]

Our local rag, The Hartford Courant had an TimesTrib article this morning about how, Medicare wouldn’t *even be discussed* at this point, if it weren’t for the Ryan selection. Heh.

[SamAdams76]

Mitt Romney spent the weekend in Massachusetts where he raised over $7m. Amazingly, it appears he has an excellent chance to actually raise more money than Obama. Four years ago, McCain was out-raised by more than 2 to 1 margin. Tell me that Mitt Romney doesn't want to win this race!

I've been following presidential elections since 1972 and I can't remember a time when the challenger picked his VP this far ahead of the convention. Has this ever happened before? In the past, it seemed that running mates were always chosen the week of the convention or the weekend before the convention itself. Thus, the convention is overshadowed a little bit by the VP pick.

We are still over a week away from the RNC and it seems like Ryan has been the running mate for quite a while now. It is genius having picked Ryan so soon. He's spent the past week on the campaign trail, drawing huge crowds and generating real enthusiasm for the ticket. Romney/Ryan are going to be hitting the RNC on all cylinders and it will be something to see.

So for the past week, the country has been wondering whether or not the VP is fit for the position. I'm not talking Ryan, I'm talking the incumbent Biden! In a week where Obama's campaign was hoping to sow seeds of doubt in Romney's VP pick, Obama is the one who had to put his running mate on ice - on a slow boat to China - while fighting back rumors that he was looking to have him taken off the ticket.

All in all, a very good week for the Romney/Ryan campaign and an absolute train wreck for Obama/Biden. I have a feeling that we haven't seen anything yet.

[spokeshave]

but the real fun will be in 2013 as things long undone finally get done, and the country explodes in the sort of productivity and optimism that marked the Reagan era.

Yeah,,,,and it's worth to vote for R & R just to contemplate the dim primaries for 2016....

Obama....Hillary.....Michelle.....Kerry.....Gore....Chucky....Barney Frank ....and for the tombstone voters...Lutenbergh/Biden

[Principled]

I disagree with the main assertion of your post. IMO Romney will utilize Ryan by delegating those responsibilities at which Ryan is expert.

Romney the CEO has no intention of failing to utilize a talented individual in his organization.

... i think...

[RayChuang88]

Here's a kicker few people know: Rep. Ryan worked at the Empower America organization in 1995 when that organization was led by one Steve Forbes. In 1996, Forbes proposed a major income tax overhaul, one that would drastically simplify the tax code to a no-loophole 17% flat-rate tax with a very generous initial earned income (wages and pensions) exemption to protect lower-income taxpayers; it would not surprise me at all that Ryan may have helped craft this income tax overhaul proposal, one that has the support of the Americans for Tax Reform and the Cato Institute.

Wouldn't it be a doozy if the Romney/Ryan campaign announces such a drastic overhaul as part of the party plank at the Republican National Convention? It would send the Democrats for such a loop the Democrats may never recover.

[Psalm 73]

Ryan wants to debate Zero - Zero says: “um maybe - let us think about it - we’ll get back to you....” - Ryan “calls out” Obama and Obama looks for a place to hide - this can’t end well for Barak.....

[ChildOfThe60s]

If Romney is smart he will use Ryan to do the heavy lifting on some of the more conservative goals and take credit in a somewhat indirect way.

Assuming he is elected, Ryan can be the hatchet man and let the media wail away at him. It would be good strategy to act “above the fray”.

My comments also assume that Romney will actually want to further (at least a few) conservative goals. I may have to vote for him, but I will believe nothing until I see action and proof. Show me the money, Mittens.

[Tau Food]

Key thought in most young conservatives' minds: "I might want to work for this Administration."

By "young" he may mean under the age of eight.

[WOSG]

“We are still over a week away from the RNC and it seems like Ryan has been the running mate for quite a while now. It is genius having picked Ryan so soon”

I wouldnt call it ‘soon’. It’s already past mid-August. I think it is more a factor of how late the convention is. In 1992, Clinton/Gore ticket was formed at the end of June/ beginning of July. They had an early convention.

We shouldnt have conventions this late. If it was a bit earlier, Romney would be able to get the fall campaign going 100% sooner. he has a lot of ground to cover.

“Romney/Ryan are going to be hitting the RNC on all cylinders and it will be something to see. “
I agree. The campaign has finally hit its stride with the Ryan pick.

[Nuc 1.1]

IMHO we will have two Romney administrations followed by two Ryan administrations. Provided Romney doesn't sell the country out. I don't think he will. BUT he must fight to root out leftists in the government as hard as he can to make this come to pass. He'll have my support in this election. After that we will see. I am sick of being betrayed so...we will see.

[Still Thinking]

Nice, but just a VP. If elected he’ll become the standard VP figurehead & Willard will push him to the side and ignore him, just as most presidents do. Too bad the guy at the top of the ticket doesn’t elicit excitement. In the long run that’s all that matters, and it’s what will still make this a close election between a dangerous marxist lib and a milquetoast “moderate” with lib tendencies (I hope just tendencies). It’s an obvious lesser of the evils choice, but not really excitement worthy at all.

You never know. Willard might have a stroke and keel over Jan 21, 2013.