10 THOUGHTS ON ROMNEY’S RYAN PICK

Powerline ^ | August 12,2012 | Scott Johnson

[Hojczyk]

1. The Republicans have a deep bench from which Romney picked:

2. Paul Rahe suggests that the pick represents Romney’s declaration of war, and Professor Rahe is always worth reading. I think Romney has concluded he needs to go big and bold to win.

3. Paul Ryan is a remarkable man. He has made himself a national figure through his mastery of the federal budget. Who’d a thunk it?

4. Like the others on my putative short list, Ryan radiates decency

5. It would be nice to think that the Obama campaign played the murder card a little early, with its dip into the Soptic tank.

6. The Democrats offer no solution to the fiscal crisis we confront; they offer denial and evasion.

7. We have longed for a leader who would articulate our case — the case for the restoration of limited government — and stand by it. Ryan will help Romney on this score.

8. Quotable quote from Ryan’s remarks yesterday: “But America is more than just a place…it’s an idea. It’s the only country founded on an idea. Our rights come from nature and God, not government.

9. Looking at the pick in traditional terms, Ryan puts Wisconsin in play. But what about Ohio and Florida? Romney is playing to win not just by making himself an acceptable alternative to a failed incumbent, but by making a positive case through the force of ideas.

10. Revisiting point 5, the Obama campaign probably hit a new low last week in the matter of Mrs. Soptic. It’s hard to imagine the Obama campaign descending lower, but they will now have the use of Paul Ryan to show us how it’s done.

[ryan71]

I don't think anybody is more persuasive than Paul Ryan at illustrating Obama’s anti-American policies. I hope they let him go for the throat.

[Lou L]

Watching Romney and Ryan in North Carolina this morning-Ryan is “killing it” in his address...no teleprompters, either.

[Lorianne]

"We have longed for a leader who would articulate our case — the case for the restoration of limited government — and stand by it"

He voted for TARP and the auto bailouts. How is that articulating the case for limited government?

[Pollster1]

I’m not always a fan of symbolism, but I think the Ryan pick has a symbolic meaning that may also be real. Romney is naturally liberal but not stupid. My guess is that he noticed the ongoing lack of enthusiasm in the base he needs for the win. I think the Ryan pick means, “I will govern as Candidate Romney the ‘severe’ conservative, not as Governor Romney the Massachusetts liberal, and Ryan will help me to know how to do that.” I’m not convinced of his sincerity, but now I’m willing to listen objectively.

[Hildy]

Your post illustrates exactly why Romney picked Ryan.

[Pollster1]

He voted for TARP and the auto bailouts. How is that articulating the case for limited government?

I'm very unhappy with that also, but read his explanation. It's online, somewhere, and it's adequate even though it does not entirely make up for those two votes.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

“But America is more than just a place…it’s an idea. It’s the only country founded on an idea. Our rights come from nature and God, not government.

I don't know about this one. I think Israel might fit the description also.

[Sioux-san]

I agree - it’s NOT - neither of these two are “limited govt” types, but then who is these days on the National scene? There are only a handful in Congress and they are demonized constantly. I will settle for crumbs at this point, however, to stop Barry Soetoro et.al. Maybe R&R will surprise us and actually do the right things pro-activley. If not, prepare for the inevitable Crash, which is probably coming any way. Gotta have 60% in the Senate or it’s going to be difficult to turn this train around. (Bush had both Houses and look what happened there.)

As to the Democrats failure with the Economy - this is getting really tiresome to hear this. Barry and the Kids have been extraordinarily successful in ruining the Economy because that has always been their Goal. If you are a Marxist or fellow traveler, wouldn’t that be your goal?

[ryan71]

Where did you pull that quote from?

[Kenton]

I think one of the more interesting things surrounding this is how quickly the Dims responded with their highly choreographed slime attacks after the announcement. Ryan was still speaking and the talking heads were announcing Pelosi's prepared response.

The Democrats are in a state of panic. They have no campaign strategy. They have nothing left but political slander, and I think that's great, because Americans are turned off by that.

Let them say every stupid thing they want about Ryan, he's way smarter than they are and twice as tough. I can't wait until old Joe Biden has to go on TV to debate Ryan. Unless Joe decides that will be too humiliating and finds a way out of it.

To me, the best thing about Ryan is that we like him and they don't.

[Lorianne]

From the article above. Item No. 7

[BluH2o]

I can't wait until old Joe Biden has to go on TV to debate Ryan.

Joe Biden will be replaced on the Obama ticket long before then ... he's history.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Joe Biden will be replaced on the Obama ticket long before then ... he’s history.

I doubt the ‘rats will dump joey, but I’m betting they’ll figure out some scheme to avoid a head-to-head VP debate.

[Orange1998]

I am sure Romney/Ryan will get right on the banksters. Sarc

[citizen]

Point #9: I think Ryan not only puts Wisconsin in play but into Romney’s column.

Ryan is wildly popular in WI, he wins his congressional district with over 2/3 of the vote. His district represents 10% of the total vote. While it is true that a congressional contest isn’t the same as a presidential race, I feel Ryan will deliver his district w/ 60% of the vote or more. This means the other 9 districts will have to collectively over-perform for obomo by more than 2% just to overcome Ryan’s vote pull in his own congressional district.

The Dims will have to do that even as Ryan will pull in extra votes statewide for the Romney/Ryan ticket. Furthermore, they will have to do it in a state governed by the popular Walker, who bested the Dimocrat/union machine by 7% not once but twice in recent hard fought elections.

I think it’s safe to say that Ryan represents a 20 electoral college vote swing that Axlerod and obomo had not counted on.

[sportutegrl]

I said six months ago that everything the Obama team tries will backfire. Since then their campaign has been a disaster. ("The private sector is doing fine", "You didn't build that", Romney is lying about YDBT, but here is a video of YDBT, Romney killed my wife, Ann Romney, mother of five "never worked a day in her life", Sandra Fluck: "It costs $1000 per year to buy birth control", the orchestrated gay marriage issue with the failed hit on Chick Fil A, the attack on the Catholic Church, and so on.)

I am making a new prediction now: Obama and the MSM will try to destroy Ryan. They will fail, spectacularly. Obama will try a late October 'surprise' that will also backfire. He will resign before his term is up.

[bcsco]

Your post illustrates exactly why Romney picked Ryan.

I agree. I had the same thought yesterday when watching them in Virginia. Romney and Ryan articulated the same points, and I came to the same conclusion. Romney needs a lesson in governing conservatively, and Ryan is the best pick to help accomplish that. Romney needs that influence.

For example, Romney said again today, "We're going to repeal Obamacare, then replace it". It's the "replace it" that scares me. And I'm hoping Ryan can have valuable input as to what really needs to be done.

Polls have shown Americans strongly united against Obamacare. But the logical conclusion also includes our being united against any Federally run health system. Obamacare doesn't need to be replaced, the healthcare system needs guidance on lowering costs, more availability, better insurance coverage, and portability. Romney, with his business background, could be a great leader within the business community to get this accomplished. Ryan, with his Congressional experience, can be the facilitator withing Congress to get what comes from the effort through Congress. But, we don't need, nor want, a top-down, Federally mandated replacement. That's first and foremost.

[Norseman]

>>He will resign before his term is up.<<

Whoa, back. Get control of yourself there girl. We’ll settle for his relinquishing the office when his term is up. If he wins, he might not settle for that when his term is up in 2017.

On the other hand, if your prediction pans out, you can take charge of my investment portfolio.

[Norseman]

>>I am sure Romney/Ryan will get right on the banksters. Sarc<<

Don’t bet against it. The Dems keep pumping up the banks because they rely upon them, cynically, for campaign donations, and because they really have no clue how big a mess they’re creating.

Both Romney and Ryan understand that “too big to fail” is a dangerous concept, and also that Dodd/Frank is an unmitigated disaster for U.S. financial markets. I’d expect to see Dodd/Frank overturned, along with legal efforts to get banks to once again separate their banking and risk-trading functions.

Democrats rarely recognize financial calamity building, or they ignore it so they can assume new regulatory powers when calamity eventually ensues. Republicans at least usually see it coming; the question is whether they have the wisdom to do anything about it. I suspect both Romney and Ryan will try to do just that, and the Tea Party Republicans will back them all the way.