[mandaladon]

By the way, is there ANY legal or constitutional reason why Ryan could not BOTH be a congressman and VP?

[In Maryland]

By the way, is there ANY legal or constitutional reason why Ryan could not BOTH be a congressman and VP? Yes, beside the enormous conflict of interest entailed in the VP being the President Pro Temp of the Senate, and entitled to cast tie-breaking votes, there is Article 1, Section 6 of the Constitution:

"No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.