Rep. Paul Ryan endorses Mitt Romney

The Hill ^ | March 30, 2012 | Justin Sink

[true believer forever]

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) is expected to endorse Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney before Wisconsin's GOP primary next Tuesday, according to media reports.

Ryan would be the latest in a string of high-profile endorsements for Romney this week, as party leaders have increasingly coalesced around the former Massachusetts governor's campaign. The Wisconsin lawmaker would join popular freshman Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and former president George H. W. Bush in signaling support for Romney this week.

[true believer forever]

Ryan just endorsed Romney on Fox and Friends.

[true believer forever]

And he used the “it’s time to coalesce around a nominee”, “this has been such a brutal primary season”, “if we take it to the convention... blah blah blah..

First DeMint, now Ryan. Oh where have you gone Tea Party, where have you gone?

[Diogenesis]

He could marry Romney. It does not matter.

NO ONE WILL VOTE FOR ROMNEY.

THESE are PAID ENDORSEMENTS. PAID.

to the inventor of RomneyCARE. NO SALE.

[A.A. Cunningham]

ryan

[ClearCase_guy]

I think Obama is going to win and he is going to have coat tails. A lot of People who dislike Obama will just stay home, because they will dislike Romney more.

[true believer forever]

He could marry Romney. It does not matter.

NO ONE WILL VOTE FOR ROMNEY.

THESE are PAID ENDORSEMENTS. PAID.

to the inventor of RomneyCARE. NO SALE.

Is there anyone who can explain to me what the heck is going on? I don't get this at all...

[marstegreg]

I just saw his half-hearted endorsement on FOX. The basis for his endorsement was money and organization. Oh and beating Obama (due to money and organization). No policies or anything specific. Don’t really know whaat to make of it.

[fatnotlazy]

First DeMint, now Ryan. Oh where have you gone Tea Party, where have you gone?

***

Are you kidding? Some big wigs in the Tea Party already endorsed Romney.

Well, folks, I hope you will all be happy under the Obama regime.

[jersey117]

Oh where have you gone Tea Party, where have you gone?

We're all still out here. It's basically reality check time. We cannot allow obama to dig us in deeper than he already has. He is without a doubt deliberately dividing and deconstructing our country. Hating Romney and sitting this one out isn't going to help. If obama gets another four years (or more), there will be no turning back.

[knarf]

I don't friggin' GET this ... everyone's endorsing Romney.

You've GOT to be correct about that paid endorsement crap, but ...

why are people we respect taking the bribe if that's true?

I don't get it, I tell ya' .

[true believer forever]

I just saw his half-hearted endorsement on FOX. The basis for his endorsement was money and organization. Oh and beating Obama (due to money and organization). No policies or anything specific. Don’t really know whaat to make of it.

RE "Don't really know what to make of this" -- How about, the GOP has tentacles, embeds, promises of power that we have yet to uncover or imagine. And people are weak and easily bought off... even those in the Tea Party... I'm thinking DeMint in particular..

[Timber Rattler]

Party before principle, eh Paul?

More evidence of the GOP-E full court press to try and force the Conservative base into line behind Romney. First DeMint, then Rubio, now Ryan.

Won't work.

[true believer forever]

We're all still out here. It's basically reality check time. We cannot allow obama to dig us in deeper than he already has. He is without a doubt deliberately dividing and deconstructing our country. Hating Romney and sitting this one out isn't going to help. If obama gets another four years (or more), there will be no turning back.

This has nothing to do with "Hating Romney and sitting this one out isn't going to help." That debate doesn't start until after the convention. There is still time to capture events and change them... I support Newton Leroy Gingrich with all my heart, but will vote for Romney if he's on the ballot. I won't like it. I will do it. I consider it a duty I have to my country.

[GnL]

This is all very simple. Romney is going to be the nominee. All these politicians know this. They are merely angling for their cut should Romney actually win. It is self-serving. Nothing more.

[Timber Rattler]

Is there anyone who can explain to me what the heck is going on? I don't get this at all...

The DC-based GOP apparatus has a new strategy to try and end the primaries and get the Conservative base on board with Romney by having Republicans with TEA Party credentials like DeMint, Rubio, and now Ryan to endorse him.

It started three weeks ago after Santorum swept the south and gave Romney a hard run in Illinois. It looked bad for Romney, and so this is how the party is stepping in to try and end it all. I can almost see the strategy sessions that went on in closed-door conference rooms at RNC headquarters, complete with PowerPoint presentations.

[jersey117]

Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E

So does that mean just say yes we can to obama? Like it or not, we are at the crossroads. Saving America depends on it. I'll take my chances with Romney. Rather than focusing on Romney's past -- look at obama's present and what he's done to our beloved country. The raising of the gay rainbow flag by our military just about did it for me. The Tea Party folks endorsing Romney are an indication that he is going to have to govern more towards the right.

[C210N]

everyone's endorsing Romney...

No, not everybody. We've NOT HEARD yet from Shirley, Rotney's twelfth cousin four times removed. I'm not yet on board with Rotney... but when Shirley gets in, WATCH OUT, I'll be heads over toes for him!

[1rudeboy]

I didn’t leave the Tea Party. The Tea Party left me. LOLOL

[Timber Rattler]

Hating Romney and sitting this one out isn't going to help.

Sorry, but there is no amount of begging and cajoling that will force me to vote for Romney, ever! If he is the nominee, and Obama goes on to win, then both the country and the GOP-E get the President they deserve.

[JudyinCanada]

IMHO, it’s as simple as everyone finally deciding to get behind the front-runner and starting to go after the bigger threat, Obama.

Honestly, there was nobody really strong running as the alternative to Romney. Nobody left you feeling confident. There were worries about both Santorum and Gingrich. It’s a shame that someone stronger wasn’t running....someone like DeMint himself.

[true believer forever]

Party before principle, eh Paul?

More evidence of the GOP-E full court press to try and force the Conservative base into line behind Romney. First DeMint, then Rubio, now Ryan.

Won't work.

The only silver lining is this: I have read that some people think Santorum doesn't have what it takes to withstand this push, and it is evidently and undeniably a PUSH by the gop-e... He may be convinced to take one for the team again (he does that so well), and if he does, next time, it will be his turn. that leaves, the stubborn ol' bastard, the hit me I keep on walking and talking Newt Gingrich. The Newtinator!

                                                                 NEWT GINGRICH.

[jersey117]

Unfortunately it’s our kids and grandkids who will pay the price for that temper tantrum.

[Josh Painter]

“Lacking the foibles of Gingrich and Santorum, Palin would have been a far more effective anti-Romney candidate because her strengths accentuated Romney’s weaknesses. Romney is known as the Etch A Sketch candidate; Palin is aggressively authentic. Romney is seen by many as a moneyed elitist; Palin is the conservative class warrior, happy to slam the ‘crony capitalism’ that benefits both big labor and big business. Romney’s limitations have been revealed, one by one, in the course of the primary campaign; Palin was well-vetted by the press in 2008 and has nothing left to say or do that would surprise us.”

[...]

“Polls suggest that many voters agree with Romney’s approach to the economy but think he lacks empathy for the struggles facing the middle-class. Were she in the race, you can bet your bottom dollar that Palin wouldn’t score so low on compassion and authenticity.”

“Most important, Palin has the character and reputation necessary to break out of the Republican Party’s demographic prison. In matchups with Obama, Romney’s core vote is financially comfortable seniors. He pulls even among all men and folks aged 35-54.”

“The Republicans desperately need a candidate who can appeal to lower-income voters, who can rally men, who can gain women’s votes, who can bring out conservatives in large numbers and who can appeal to a younger demographic. All these things happened in the 2010 midterms, when the GOP made inroads into blue-collar households and middle-class suburbs on a policy platform virtually embodied by the Alaskan maverick.”

“The GOP needs a Tea Party candidate — either Sarah Palin or someone very like her. Alas, it’s going to have to wait until 2016 to get its rogue.”

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/29/opinion/stanley-sarah-palin/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7

[marstegreg]

I am hoping that all of the true conservatives, tea party members, and generally all those who are sick of getting pushed around coalesce around Santorum. I hope Newt keeps working the delegates too. I don’t want another “progressive”. I want a conservative and I know I am not alone out there.

[JudyinCanada]

I agree.

Obama needs to be the focus of the attack now.

I think that Romney’s feet, should he win, will be held to the fire. I believe that he will move further right.

If he DOESN’T win....God help America.

[true believer forever]

I didn’t leave the Tea Party. The Tea Party left me. LOLOL

And they did it in record time. Atleast the GOP took a decade or so to get corrupt.

[Timber Rattler]

So does that mean just say yes we can to obama?

If Romney is the nominee, then I'm writing in Sarah Palin's name. I don't care about the Republican Party any more. It can go to hell.

The Tea Party folks endorsing Romney are an indication that he is going to have to govern more towards the right.

No it isn't...it means they sold out to the GOP-E. Period.

[true believer forever]

The DC-based GOP apparatus has a new strategy to try and end the primaries and get the Conservative base on board with Romney by having Republicans with TEA Party credentials like DeMint, Rubio, and now Ryan to endorse him.

It started three weeks ago after Santorum swept the south and gave Romney a hard run in Illinois. It looked bad for Romney, and so this is how the party is stepping in to try and end it all. I can almost see the strategy sessions that went on in closed-door conference rooms at RNC headquarters, complete with PowerPoint presentations.

I cannot fathom, due to lack of experience and in-depth knowledge, what is the presentation they are making? WHAT IS THE PRESENTATION THEY ARE MAKING that makes these conservatives sell their souls?

[Timber Rattler]

I think that Romney’s feet, should he win, will be held to the fire. I believe that he will move further right.

No he won't. His aides and campaign staff already let the cat out of the bag about his plan to go left with their "reset" and "etch-a--sketch" remarks.

More wishful thinking.

[Lauren BaRecall]

I’ll say it again, these people are not real conservatives: Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, and Rand Paul, etc.

I had high hopes for Paul Ryan, but when I saw him voting with Boehner, I knew he’s a RINO in conservative clothing. This endorsement comes as no surprise.

OTOH, Michele Bachmann, Steve King, and Ted Poe are the real deal.

It is NOT time to “coalesce” around a RINO nominee. Think 2010. We the People have a say, and it’s time to show this once again to Paul Ryan, et al.

[Lauren BaRecall]

PS: the primary season has been “brutal” because the RINO pick has made it so.

[Vaquero]

A lot of People who dislike Obama will just stay home, because they will dislike Romney more

???

no one here hates anyone more than they hate zer0bama(except maybe you?).

personally I am hoping for a brokered convention...my primary is later this month...I will vote then for anybody BUT Romney...but in November, I will vote AGAINST the Marxist threat that has destroyed America for 4 years....and it will be the Republican Candidate..

[Longbow1969]

This is all very simple. Romney is going to be the nominee. All these politicians know this. They are merely angling for their cut should Romney actually win. It is self-serving. Nothing more.

Bingo. These late endorsements are simply politicians realizing the obvious. It sucks, but Romney is going to be the nominee. I still hope Newt stays in till the end if only as a means to get his message out, but he is just not appealing to voters the way he does some of us here on FR. And for many of us, Santorum is simply not a credible alternative. There just isn't a non-Romney that all the grass roots, Tea Party, movement conservatives, etc, can really rally around. That leaves the establishment's hug the middle, cautious, milquetoast candidate winning the majority of delegates and the nomination. This is what will always happen if conservatives don't put forward an excellent, charismatic candidate to challenge the default, centrist establishment choice.

[freeangel]

“Unfortunately it’s our kids and grandkids who will pay the price for that temper tantrum”

What on God’s green earth makes you think it will be any different if romney gets in?

[true believer forever]

I agree.

Obama needs to be the focus of the attack now.

I think that Romney’s feet, should he win, will be held to the fire. I believe that he will move further right.

If he DOESN’T win....God help America.

RE "I think that Romney’s feet, should he win, will be held to the fire. I believe that he will move further right." -- you are quite possibly more naive than me, and that is patently dangerous. What makes you think romney will give a damn what the rabble want him to do, after the GOP has put him in power, and by defeating the conservative alternatives, proven they decide who runs, they decide how they govern, they decide who gets their backing. NOT GONNA HAPPEN. EVER.

[VanDeKoik]

The Tea Party got infiltrated by the “Purity Caucus” and ended up bouncing off and tripping up all of the good and exciting candidates or running off when the Rom smear machine got going.

Now we have pure bulls*it to work with.

[cripplecreek]

Shut up and eat your Romney-Os.

[Longbow1969]

If Romney is the nominee, then I'm writing in Sarah Palin's name.

Palin will end up endorsing, supporting and campaigning for Romney too. And she will tell anyone who wants to write her name in that the idea is silly and not to do it. Palin doesn't want your vote. She's chosen to be a paid political commentator rather than a political candidate.

[true believer forever]

This is all very simple. Romney is going to be the nominee. All these politicians know this. They are merely angling for their cut should Romney actually win. It is self-serving. Nothing more.

You speak Truth with a capital

T

[wilco200]

How bold?

I’m going to endorse Romney the after he’s elected.

[ClearCase_guy]

no one here hates anyone more than they hate zer0bama

Do you think that Free Republic represents the entire US?

I know many Independents. They might vote Dem, they might vote Repub. They don't really follow politics; they are somewhat apathetic. These are typical Americans.

The people I know, mostly, don't like Obama. He hasn't fixed the economy and he hasn't gotten us out of Afghnistan. But at least he's not a nasty, two-faced, flip-flopping Mormon like that guy Mitt Romney!!!!

You and I see Obama as the worst possible choice. I assure you that many Americans do not agree.

[Timber Rattler]

I cannot fathom, due to lack of experience and in-depth knowledge, what is the presentation they are making? WHAT IS THE PRESENTATION THEY ARE MAKING that makes these conservatives sell their souls?

The GOP-E is making the same mistake as the Rats in how they view the TEA Party. Rove, Priebus, and company think that it is anomalous to an up-and-coming political party (and it may just do that after the forthcoming disaster in November), and that if its perceived "leaders" (like DeMint, Rubio, Ryan, Bachmann, and even Palin) can be co-opted, then the Conservative base will fall into line, albeit with lots of grumbling. That's what they are counting on.

As for convincing these people to jump on the Romney bandwagon, the pitch is that if elected he will promise to govern as a Conservative, and that even though his record is overwhelmingly liberal, he is better than Obama. As far as Newt and Santorum go, the pitch continues, they have no chance of standing up to Axelrod and Plouffe's vicious smear machine, and Obama will dance on their political bones.

THAT's the pitch.

[Truth29]

"Unfortunately it’s our kids and grandkids who will pay the price for that temper tantrum."

Unfortunately, it will come much sooner than than. A second Obama term will break the country. In another four years, maximum leader will have either remade the country into a soft Marxist dictatorship or so weakened the country that it collapses under the onslaught of its external enemies.

[Lauren BaRecall]

Govern from the right? Romney is going to pull a “McCain,” and you can take that to the bank.

[jersey117]

What on God’s green earth makes you think it will be any different if romney gets in?

For one thing, last time I checked, he wasn't pal'in around with radicals and terrorists and appointing them to positions of power. There is a difference between a Rino and a hard core Marxist radical.

[Wisconsinlady]

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/145132135.html

Our Wisconsin primary is this coming Tuesday and I personally will vote for Rick Santorum. However, if Romeny eventually wins because of the large states like California and Texas, then we are going to need to stand together against the worst threat of our Republic and that is four more years of Barack Hussein Obama.

Choose Wisely.

[VanDeKoik]

“This is what will always happen if conservatives don’t put forward an excellent, charismatic candidate to challenge the default, centrist establishment choice. “

There is no such thing.

Conservatives want Reagan. The HIGHLIGHT REEL Reagan. Not a candidate with a blemish here or less than perfect record there, which was Reagan, and would be Palin, Newt, Cain, Perry, and lots of others that would have run if we didnt have such a stick up our rears sometimes.

[Nifster]

More is the shame for our country

[Timber Rattler]

Palin will end up endorsing, supporting and campaigning for Romney too.

I sincerely doubt it since she knows that his flying monkeys were behind most of the nasty attacks on her and her family in 2008 and 2009.

And I don't care if she wants my vote or not. I ain't voting for Romney, ever.

[Kenny]

I don't friggin' GET this ... everyone's endorsing Romney.

I think the GOPe set this up early on now we're left hanging. Newt's too damaged, Rick doesn't look like he'll make it except to an open convention, who's left?

No, I don't want Romney, it terrifies me. But my Romney terror meter is just a hair below Obama so I don't know if I can make myself vote for Sketch or not.