Voted to ban marriage equality in the constitution, and against repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell. Voted against stem cell research, and is anti-choice. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law rated him a negative 10. Voted to build a fence on Mexico's border. Americans United for Separation of Church and State give him a 0 rating.

Because what Romney's campaign was really missing was not enough white male multi-millionaire social conservatives.

8/11/2012 6:57:48 AM

Ehhh, it's an appeal to the base who question how conservative Romney is while also adding a strong voice to the economic debate. Ryan is very strong on the econonmy and on federal fiscal policy. While peole who weren't going to vote for Romney anyway will dislike him, he's pretty inoffensive to "moderates" and "independents."

He's hardly my favorite human being, but he's not as bad as either Biden or Cheney.

8/11/2012 7:04:51 AM

^ That may be what Romney is thinking, but I don't think it makes any sense. The people who were questioning if Romney was conservative enough were never going to vote for Obama, anyway. You also run the risk of increasing opposition voter turnout if the Obama campaign can paint Ryan as an extreme right-wing candidate. In a two-party system, it almost always make more sense to appeal to the center.

8/11/2012 7:44:34 AM

Maybe, but this is one of those rare elections when I truly feel like social issues will play almost zero part in deciding the outcome. You have to be able to speak to economics, how we can control debt, how we will decrease unemployment, etc. As such Romney may have just picked the single best person available. One of the knocks on Romney has been the perceived lack of a plan, Ryan brings a plan. Moderates and independents definitely want a plan, look how popular Herman Cain became among republicans and independents when he rolled out 999, it wasn't a great idea, but at least it was something.

His name is familiar, he doesn't have any real black marks against him, he probably puts Wisconsin either into play or forces Obama to spend money in a state he thought he had locked up. It's also going to force Obama to put forth some real details about what his second term policies are going to be and what he will do to facilitate an economic recovery.

I think it's going to be hard to paint Ryan as a right winger, he's really not. Granted, he's towed the party line pretty consistently, but he's not way out on the fringe on any issue.

Romney's other choices were to pick a guy from Ohio or a guy from Florida just to help in those states. I feel like this is a pick with a slightly broader appeal.

8/11/2012 7:55:23 AM

^Yeah, but Ryan could hurt in Florida for obvious reasons. I think he also cedes the foreign policy grounds, although I don't know that Romney was ever serious about competing on that front. He does bring some experience to the table though, having been inside DC since the late 90s, which is longer than President Obama, since they're running from Romney's gubernatorial experience.

I'm a little surprised though they're doing this announcement so early on a Saturday morning when a lot of people aren't up yet, and when they're competing against Olympics coverage for their news cycle.

Quote :

"I truly feel like social issues will play almost zero part"

I hope you're right. It'd be nice to have an election where no one uses gay bashing to drive up turnout. Whether or not they focus on it though, he Paul Ryan does have a legislative record as a pretty social conservative guy.

[Edited on August 11, 2012 at 8:48 AM. Reason : .]

8/11/2012 8:44:42 AM

Good luck getting the elderly vote. One word: medicare

8/11/2012 8:52:00 AM

^The elderly are the main demographic of people who do vote at all.

8/11/2012 9:14:30 AM

RE: Old people. Bush's social security privatization plan was a watered-down version of Ryan's.

This makes no sense.

8/11/2012 9:15:02 AM

It does make sense if his goal is to excite the base, but it seems like of late in the game to still be worrying about that.

8/11/2012 9:17:28 AM

FUUUUUUCKKKKK YES

I'm dreamed of this moment for so long.

[Edited on August 11, 2012 at 9:25 AM. Reason : gotta break a few eggs]

8/11/2012 9:23:58 AM

Quote :

"I'm a little surprised though they're doing this announcement so early on a Saturday morning when a lot of people aren't up yet, and when they're competing against Olympics coverage for their news cycle. "

Yes, I'm sure this won't receive all the coverage, all day long today, and on all the Sunday talk shows. When an announcement is made doesn't matter nearly as much in today's 24 hour cable news world. Besides, the olympics are all but over. Every major event has been decided with the exception of men's basketball.

8/11/2012 9:29:11 AM

Haha, Romney just introduce Ryan as the next President of the United States.

8/11/2012 9:31:02 AM

Paul Ryan was not wearing a tie. You know who else didn't wear ties?

ADOLPH HITLER

8/11/2012 9:57:37 AM

^First of all, Adolf. Second of all, he almost always wore a tie.

https://www.google.com/search?q=adolf+hitler&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=6IY&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvnsuob&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=6GcmUOL-GIG29QTj4oDoCw&ved=0CEkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1152&bih=725#hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=Tys&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=adolf+hitler&oq=adolf+hitler&gs_l=img.12...0.0.0.46921.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.0...1c.6zhJj7le_KE&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=48a8402ab6de19b&biw=1152&bih=725

8/11/2012 10:11:35 AM

Quote :

"@Slate: Paul Ryan: "Our rights come from nature and God, not from government... this idea is under assault.""

Quote :

"I think it's going to be hard to paint Ryan as a right winger, he's really not. Granted, he's towed the party line pretty consistently, but he's not way out on the fringe on any issue."

nah, he's a pretty solid right-winger

[Edited on August 11, 2012 at 10:25 AM. Reason : going to be fun to see his economic plan get torn to shreds]

8/11/2012 10:20:18 AM

The idea of natural rights is not a new concept, and is about as American an ideal as one can have. The idea that rights exist by virtue of government is the foundation upon which tyranny is laid.

8/11/2012 10:28:00 AM

what gives him the right to say that without fear of having his head chopped off?

8/11/2012 10:30:37 AM

finally, Romney can lock up the conservative base vote

also:

Quote :

"A majority of Americans–57%–said in May that they oppose a Republican plan to change Medicare (similar to that of Ryan), while 34% said that are in favor of such a plan, according to a separate CNN/ORC International survey. Last November, a majority of Americans–51%–said they opposed major changes in the two entitlement programs, while 41% are in favor of changes."

will be interesting to see polling numbers on that post-pick.

8/11/2012 10:39:47 AM

^^

when asking if something is a right, think about it in this way:

If you're stranded on a desert island with no other humans, anything you can do is a natural right.

healthcare, education, livable wages, marriage, roads, etc. are not rights. They are entitlements. What entitlements are appropriate for the good of a nation is certainly up for discussion, but let's at least be accurate with our verbiage.

8/11/2012 10:53:49 AM

[Edited on August 11, 2012 at 11:05 AM. Reason : nevermind. don't think that was directed at me]

8/11/2012 11:04:08 AM

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/mitt-romney-ryan-budget.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

Quote :

" Mitt Romney: I’m Running With Paul Ryan, But Not On The Ryan Budget Does this mean Mitt Romney is adopting the Paul Ryan plan? • Gov. Romney applauds Paul Ryan for going in the right direction with his budget, and as president he will be putting together his own plan for cutting the deficit and putting the budget on a path to balance. • Romney’s administration will go through the budget line by line and ask two questions: Can we afford it? And, if not, should we borrow money from China to pay for it? • Mitt Romney will start with the easiest cut of all: Obamacare, a trillion-dollar entitlement we don’t want and can’t afford."

Yeah, good look with that.

In my opinion, this pick is a disaster for Romney. It's basically an Obama supporters wet dream. I honestly just don't get it from his perspective. It's more than just a gamble, it's downright desperation. So let's say the idea was to "shore up" the conservative base. So what? None of them were going to vote for Obama anyway. Once the Obama campaign gets the word out about Ryan's budget and legislative history, it will hurt him with independents, women, minorities, and the elderly.

Not only that, it fits right into Obama's campaign narrative of Romney being an out of touch rich guy who doesn't give a shit about the middle class and just wants to pass tax cuts for his buddies. It takes the focus completely off Obama's record on the economy and makes this an election about a choice between competing visions.

I feel like this pick was forced on Romney by the GOP establishment. They knew he was already a lost cause, and thought putting a "true conservative" on the ticket would at least help with the down ticket races.

..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWyk-Mr6cfc&feature=g-all-u

That didn't take long.

[Edited on August 11, 2012 at 11:40 AM. Reason : :]

8/11/2012 11:34:58 AM

I thought this was pretty good:
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/paul-ryan-romney-vp-pick-11562917#ixzz23FDNGZwu


Isn't the "tax plan" Mitt floated a few weeks ago basically a Paul Ryan idea? Didn't it just get hammered both by Obama and the media? Why would you double down on that? (basically that video)

[Edited on August 11, 2012 at 11:48 AM. Reason : .]

8/11/2012 11:44:04 AM

Obviously a pick from strength when you are moving to secure the right wing in August.

8/11/2012 11:47:45 AM

In response to the OP... so, he's a Republican?

8/11/2012 12:22:21 PM

Ben Swann WXIX
2 hours ago via mobile ·

Mitt Romney names Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as running mate. Wonder if media knows that decision is also up to delegates in Tampa. Either way... What are your thoughts on Paul Ryan?

8/11/2012 12:30:24 PM

because what the delegates are going to do is not approve the VP selection of an already weak and losing presidential candidate

8/11/2012 12:37:34 PM

hahahahah romney says "join me in welcoming the next president of the united states Paul Ryan" at @8:20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=X2jMViSW0x0#t=499s

8/11/2012 12:52:57 PM

8/11/2012 1:02:59 PM

They must have just been talking about how Ryan hates social security yet lived off it when he was in college

[Edited on August 11, 2012 at 1:10 PM. Reason : ]

8/11/2012 1:04:54 PM

Romany's announcement of Ryan as "President" is déjà vu for conservatives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLisC3ap4C0&feature=player_embedded

8/11/2012 1:19:44 PM

he hates social security huh?

8/11/2012 1:19:57 PM

8/11/2012 1:21:33 PM

^I hope that guy has on more than a hat and an O.

8/11/2012 2:20:15 PM

8/11/2012 3:05:26 PM

8/11/2012 3:22:29 PM

Who is this Adam Ryan and why is he not president of the universe yet?

8/11/2012 3:31:24 PM

8/11/2012 3:52:44 PM

also why aren't RANDY WOODMAN and JANE BLOWERS olympic gold medal winners/porn stars?

8/11/2012 4:09:54 PM

i am disappointed by the lack of sniping and conspiracy theories in this thread

8/12/2012 12:19:49 PM

i can't believe they had a 'biggest brown-noser' superlative. who the fuck would want to be elected that?

8/12/2012 12:27:05 PM

He's not a fan of authority but he'll certainly kiss its ass

8/12/2012 12:48:42 PM

I'm gonna take a huge leap of faith here and say that's a doctored photo. Still funny though.

8/12/2012 1:03:04 PM

It's not, actually.

8/12/2012 1:16:01 PM

How do you know?

8/12/2012 1:23:34 PM

You mean to tell me that someone other than me can't tell when a photo is doctored or not without knowing its history

8/12/2012 1:26:44 PM

Well, I don't, but npr was talking with someone that interviewed a bunch of people from his hometown and one of the ladies showed him the yearbook.

I suppose he could have lied. *shrug* lol

8/12/2012 1:28:26 PM

PAUL RYAN voted YES on $192B additional stimulus spending (2009), Voted YES on $15B bailout for GM and Chrysler (2008),
Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent (2005),
Voted YES on more gov't funding for nanotechnology R&D and commercialization (2009),
Voted YES on implementing CAFTA (2005),
Voted NO on withdrawing from the WTO (2000),
Voted YES on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant (2006),
Voted YES on requiring states to test students
(2001),
Voted YES on restricting independent grassroots political committees (2006),
Voted YES on extending unemployment benefits from 39 weeks to 59 weeks (2008),
Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage (2004),
Voted YES on $23B instead of $4.9B for waterway infrastructure (2007),
Voted YES on increasing fines for indecent broadcasting (2005),
Voted YES on banning Internet gambling by credit card (2003),
Voted NO on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq (2008),
Voted YES on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date (2006),
Voted YES on authorizing military force in Iraq (2002)

8/12/2012 3:25:46 PM

Video: 71-year-old taken to the ground for questioning Paul Ryan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBhdXfCdaA8&feature=share

8/12/2012 3:35:29 PM

Ryan is a great pick for Romney because it focuses the discussion on the economy, which is Obama's biggest problem and the one area where independents may favor Romney. With Ryan, Romney gets a fiscal policy wonk who has been pushing ideas for years as the leader of the fiscal conservatives in the House. Instead of being the party of"NO", Romney and Ryan can actually push a competing vision for the way out of this period of stagnant growth, high unemployment and massive deficits. It doesn't matter that Ryan's budget is a neoliberal wet dream which would probably make things worse; it just matters that some independents will buy into the fools' message of tax cuts and austerity, as they often do during a downturn.

As for Ryan's social conservative voting record, it doesn't matter. Independents won't give a shit, just as long as he's not Santorum ranting about abortion.

8/12/2012 3:46:58 PM

8/12/2012 3:51:16 PM