Posted on 10/13/2012 12:44:25 AM PDT by iowamark
Paul Ryan had never before struck me as an inspiring speaker. I mean, I like the fellow: he has sound ideas, he's charming and he has a demotic, boy-next-door quality which is unusual among cerebral politicians. But his chief appeal has always been as a policy specialist rather than an orator.
Until last night. Ryan's speech to the Republican Convention in Tampa was a masterpiece. As Roger Kimball observes, 'His manner is open, confident, but somehow also humble. There is nothing swaggering, nothing of the braggart or narcissist about him. He seems impressed, not by the sound of his own voice, but by the facts and observations he shares with his listeners'.
Ryan took complex issues – the debt crisis, reform of Medicare, unemployment – and made them simple. He spoke movingly of his home town, the town where he still lives, and of the factory there which Barack Obama had said would be open for another hundred years, but which had closed a year later. He humanised the recession, managing to lay particular emphasis on 'the heartland': the key swing states of the Midwest. College graduates, he said, shouldn't have to live out their twenties in their childhood bedrooms, staring up at their fading Obama posters and wondering when they could move out and get on with life. There was something fundamentally wrong with wanting a society 'where everything is free – except us'...
Mitt Romney isn't running against Ronald Reagan, for Heaven's sake; he's running against Barack Obama. How difficult a decision is that?
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.telegraph.co.uk ...
I disagree somewhat with Hannan.. Ryan was hitting on all eight pistons.. And he let the Bonehead keep digging the hole he was digging.. Bonehead told lies on top of lies..
Most journalists both sides knew he was lying..
AND still many argued for him in his behalf..
They have no shame.. Their jobs were and are at stake..
Martha Raddatz was obvious clumsy and complicit with Bonehead..
Went pretty good I think.. The cat escaped the bag..
The next debate will be different..
The idiot republicans that OK’ed this form of debate should be “bitch slapped”.. and eyes poked..
Paul Ryan is the real thing. He came across as intelligent, kind, honest and humble. Biden acted like he didn’t know if he wanted to be a loud obnoxious drunk, a silly laughy drunk or a soft speaking sentimental drunk, so he acted like all 3.
In much the same way, a certain type of UKIP supporter would rather attack Nigel Farage than me, rather me than David Cameron, rather David Cameron than Ken Clarke, rather Ken Clarke than Ed Miliband. If you don't believe me, watch the comment thread that follows.I don't follow much Brit politics and if someone would be kind enough to explain this paragraph I would be grateful.
Mitt Romney has his faults, but I give him credit for putting Paul Ryan on the national stage when all the pundits were calling for a safe choice of lesser quality like Marco Rubio or Rob Portman.
The comparison between Biden and Ryan reveals Biden as out of control and Ryan as disciplined and very in control. We need younger conservatives in leadership roles, for the future of our country. These grumpy old men should retire.
They had their chance to make a difference. Paul Ryan is very capable of excellence leadership for our future.
The comparison between Biden and Ryan reveals Biden as out of control and Ryan as disciplined and very in control. We need younger conservatives in leadership roles, for the future of our country. These grumpy old men should retire.
They had their chance to make a difference. Paul Ryan is very capable of excellence leadership for our future.
You got that right. How would anybody like to wake up some morning to find that complete, total, unmitigated IDIOT, Biden as POTUS? Heartbeat away from the Presidency. Would make me think seriously about becoming a reverse "wetback".
That's a good insight. There's a big difference between a speaker whose attitude is, "Pay attention to me!" and one whose attitude is, "Pay attention to this information."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.