THE 2012 REPUBLICAN never too white or too male 2012 team theme team is official. What’s the theme? Austerity or bust, baby. Because it’s worked so well over the pond.
But what optics. With the USS Wisconsin as the stage, Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Mitt Romney, who jogged down to the platform set up to introduce conservative darling Paul Ryan.
What it says about Mitt Romney is significant.
Regardless of the optics, very white and all male, a demographic voting challenge for Republicans in poll after poll, Romney has made an audacious move to wrap his arms around the Ryan budget that will make the conservative base ecstatic and send a solid message about his presidency for the first time. No one will be able to say, at the end of this race, that Romney-Ryan didn’t offer a clear choice.
This race will not be a referendum on Pres. Obama. And Romney will not not go out with any cards left on the table. There’s no other pick that could have turned the page more sharply back to economics.
Here’s the official press release that dropped into my inbox this morning:
MITT ROMNEY & PAUL RYAN: AMERICA’S COMEBACK TEAM
Boston, MA – Mitt Romney today announced Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan as his Vice Presidential running mate. Below is Congressman Ryan’s biography:
U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan is in his seventh term in Congress representing Wisconsin’s First Congressional District. He is Chairman of the House Budget Committee, where he has worked tirelessly leading the effort to reign in federal spending and increase accountability to taxpayers. He also serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, where he has focused on simplifying the tax code and making health care more affordable and accessible.
In January 2010, Ryan gained attention nationwide after unveiling his “Roadmap for America’s Future,” a proposal to eliminate the federal deficit, reform the tax code, and preserve entitlements for future generations.
Representative Ryan was born in Janesville, Wisconsin on January 29, 1970. A fifth-generation Wisconsin native, Ryan was the youngest of four children born to Paul Ryan Sr., who worked as an attorney, and Betty, a stay-at-home mom.
In April 2000, Ryan proposed to Janna Little, a native Oklahoman, at one of his favorite fishing spots, Big St. Germain Lake in Wisconsin. Later that year, the two were married in Oklahoma City.
The Ryans reside in Janesville with their three children, Liza, Charlie and Sam. The family are parishioners at St. John Vianney Catholic Church.
Upon entering Congress in January of 1999, Ryan was the youngest member of the freshmen class at the age of 28. Prior to running for Congress, Ryan served as an aide to Republican Senators Robert Kasten Jr. and Sam Brownback, former U.S. Rep. and Vice Presidential Candidate Jack Kemp, and as a speechwriter for Education Secretary William Bennett.
Ryan is a graduate of Joseph A. Craig High School in Janesville and earned degrees in economics and political science from Miami University in Ohio. He is an avid outdoorsman and is a member is of his local archery association, the Janesville Bowmen.
From Mike Allen, whose heading reads: GOP asks on Ryan, brilliant or political malpractice?
RACE RESET: In making Paul Ryan his running mate, Mitt Romney is discarding one of the most basic assumptions that has driven his campaign until now: Make the race about President Obama, and he will lose. Don’t worry about being accused of being vapid and elliptical, went the Romney theory of the case: The more specific you are, the more chance voters will be distracted from a simple referendum on the Obama economy. Run out the clock, look credible and plausible, don’t lunge for shiny objects that take you off your economic message, and you’ll win.
This is too cynical and too thin of analysis.
Mitt Romney’s recent slide in the polls, but also his foreign policy Romney in shambles tour, could have likely tilted it finally in Ryan’s direction. But maybe not, because Romney always wanted to run on economics, because he thinks that’s the driving worry in voters’ minds. He also has to know that he can’t touch Obama on commander in chief territory or foreign policy, which was proven recently. Romney runs on his biz cred or nothing at all.
In life, whenever you make big decisions, the only way you weather the outcome no matter what it might be is to follow your own compass. Whatever you say about Mitt Romney, he’s done that here. Paul Ryan resonates with Romney’s surety that this election is about economics. Because it’s Mitt Romney’s only strong suit, he’s running with it all the way.
This pick will give indigestion to the Mark McKinnon moderate Republicans, but at the end of this race it will either lift the right to power or put it down for decades.
However, now it’s actually possible for the presidential race to be about something. In fact, to be about something important: Do voters want a conservative corporate Democrat or a conservative Wall Street Republican?
This column has been updated.
Taylor I think he would have done better picking someone like Tim Pawlenty. Paul Ryan is a lightening rod. The irony is Romney has picked someone who is a Randian who believes that Christianity perpetuates a slave mentality.
Tim Pawlenty wouldn’t have done squat for Mitt Romney. Nice guy, undefining, which Romney very much needed, especially with the base that doesn’t trust him.
Portman, same thing.
I understand this is a base play and a pander to the tea party but honestly where’s the appeal outside of that? A guy that voted to end Medicare is appealing to exact what percentage of the country?
It’s not just a base play.
I added this to my post:
Read the last paragraph in my post.
Joe Scarborough called them the bridge partners.
GREAT!! The only better choice, possibly, would have been Bachman or Palin!!!!
Oh, man, Paul produces a rich record for Obama to go after. A real live social Darwinist.
Yep, I you can sure bet Democrats will be all over it.
But this is another reason why it’s NOT just a base move.
I’ve written it in the post, but this defines Mitt Romney further than Team Obama has before, which casts it as conservative economic principles over rich guy wanting his so you can’t have yours.
It really does make the election about A Choice, which Team Obama believes they can win.
Now it’s actually possible for the presidential race to be about something. In fact, to be about something important: do voters want a conservative Democrat or a conservative Republican?
Exactly. And that’s why I think it could be a mistake in a larger sense.
It’s not a mistake for Mitt Romney.
If he loses it won’t be Ryan that does it, because people don’t vote against vice presidential candidates.
It will be because of Mitt Romney’s economic message, which is how he wanted to run in the first place.
Give the guy credit, he’s betting it all on his economic message, which is all he’s got.
I’ve never thought it will work, but people are sick of the status quo, so at least it’s a race now.
Any other white male Republican would have been a yawn & confirmed Romney as a coward. The pick of Ryan is a lot of things, but it sure as hell isn’t cowardly.
Well, this surprises me. I thought it would be Portman. So since 1984 I have been right exactly once (when Dukakis picked Bentsen) in predicting VP picks.
Romney needs this election to be about the economy, and the strong sense among the populace that it’s just barely chugging along, with the Democrats having no clear, strong plan to improve it over the long term. This is a problem the Democrats created for themselves, starting in the White House- every proposal put forward by the Administration has been a Republican idea tweaked slightly to make it look like it’s marginally more “Democratic.” After four years of this meandering nonsense, it’s entirely possible that the electorate will be in the mood for Bold in November- even if it doesn’t agree with the plan entirely, “at least it’s a plan.”
And on the Chris Hays show, I’m being told by Howard Fineman that “now the Democrats run as the party protecting Medicare, Social Security, etc….” here’s the problem with that- the Democrats have not shown themselves to be champions of those programs under Obama. Austerity was embraced by this White House years ago. Only the biggest fools believe that Democrats are really interested in “saving” entitlements- the D’s just want the death of those programs to come more slowly, so maybe we don’t notice.
Everything you are saying is right but Ryan completely undercuts so many of the squeals the GOP has been screaming for the last 4 years like “death panels”. Ryan is the original “death panel” guy. I just find this pick beyond hilarious. You have people who believe that we are a “christian nation” having to vote for someone who is Randian. Randians believe that Christianity is for weaklings and promotes a slave mentality. The Church of Satan for pete’s sake was based on the writings of Ayn Rand.
BS. Obamacare actually added benefits to Medicare. Free annual physicals with no co-pay which the CBO statfes will save hundreds of billions of dollars by diagnosing serious health problems early and with ealy treatment will produce better less costly outcomes. Obamacare also is closing the Prescription drug program ‘donut hole’ that costs thoudsands of seniors thousand of dollars annually. The cuts to Medicare come primarily from cutting taxpayer subsidies for private health insurance companies that offer prescription drugs plan. Basic Medicare by law does not offer any prescription plans.
Social Security and Medicare are the third rail of politics as Bush quickly learned and Romney – Ryan will soon learn. Romney has taken his most reliable voting block, old white people, and put them into play.
Romney has turned his planned strategy of making the election about the economy into exactly what the Obama campaign wanted a contrast election.
Yeah, whatever, RAJensen. Your ability to see what simply isn’t there in service of your Most Awesomest President Ever used to astound me. Now I just think you are boring.
Sure, we are going to have a real contrast here- between a guy who wants to embrace Austerity for the 99% while letting the rich keep their goodies, inflates the military budget, and looks for ways to gut Medicare and Social Security- and Mitt Romney. Super.
As someone who is very concerned about entitlement spending and making sure the programs remain solvent, I think Paul Ryan is a great pick for Romney. Romney, as people all over have pointed out, is going to be tied to the Ryan plan anyway. Have Ryan himself explain it. He’s smart, articulate, even-tempered, doesn’t fluster easily and explains things well. Feel free to disagree away with WHAT he wants to do, but at least he has a plan and is about the only guy who does. (Well, except for Bowles and Simpson,
and we know what happened to their ideas.)
FInally, we’ll have a race with some serious questions actually examined.
I think for Romney this was a good pick. Pawlenty and Portman? Bleh.
And this “white guy” stuff annoys me (and believe me, I was a Hillary backer). Of the four people at the top of the tickets, three are white guys. Who was Romney supposed to pick? Any woman, sadly, would have been compared to the Palin pick immediately. So sadly, that was out this time around. So you pick Jindahl just so you DON’T have a white guy ticket?
The white guy stuff may annoy you, but it remains a huge demographic problem for Republicans and Mitt Romney, which is very real, showing up in poll after poll with women AND people of color.
As for the rest of your comment, it’s exactly the message that is meant to be sent with this pick, bethinsuburbanChicago. Appreciate you weighing in & I hope others do as well. That part of your comment is dead on.
Considering that before 2008, every Democratic pairing but one consisted of two white guys, and that the odds heavily favor a Democratic party pairing of two white guys in 2016, I think it’s a pretty silly argument.
Quite frankly, it sounds like “hey look, we’ve got a black guy! How come you can’t find your own black guy?”
And considering that “our” black guy is a corporatist centrist Republican who calls himself a Democrat for convenience, well…..sorry, doesn’t mean much to me.
The demographics in polls reveals it matters, though this year economics trumps it, that’s for sure. Hispanics are huge, with the numbers rising even higher in recent years.
The Hillary effect solidified the importance of women, which no one can live without.
And as Bethinsuburbanchicago illustrates, as does my own anecdotal evidence, the thing #1 on women’s minds is *not* birth control, it’s economics.
Romney-Ryan sends a strong message, which could also put the far right down for good.
It sets up an actual debate…
I always wonder why people who are so concerned about “entitlement spending” are never concerned about all the money that’s wasted trying to be the world’s policeman.
That’s Different Because…..well, because….
Why are you Un-American?
Ok, in all seriousness– check out CSPAN’s Washington Journal whenever the subject is balancing the budget or entitlements. Caller after caller will dismiss any suggestion that the military be cut as “un-American” and “not supporting the troops.” If the caller is a veteran, he’s entitled to all of his benefits, and more, because he Served, so that’s different too.
The fact is that cowardly politicians will never make serious cuts to the military because they fear being called “Anti-Troops” and “Anti-Defense” more than pretty much anything else. And that goes for both D’s and R’s.
Yes. It’s the war’s that are killing our economy and making some corporations very wealthy in the process, of course who have relocated out of the U.S. to avoid taxes.
And when people talk about worrying about “the future of our children” and the “solvency of their social security” don’t seem to be at all concerned with the innocent children who are dying in the UNNECESSARY wars we have waged in Iraq and Afghanistan. Butt, who cares about those kids? They aren’t American so let those babies die….
Of course Mitt/Ryan posed in front of a battleship tells me that we can plan on being at war everywhere and forever if they get elected.
after researching Ryan forget trying to sell him. He voted for all of George W. Bush’s budget busting spending and even voted for increased “entitlement spending”. The more I look at this, the more idiotic picking Ryan becomes if cutting spending is what you’re trying to sell.
Now you are making more sense. Here’s what Paul Ryan voted for in his 14 years in Congress.
1. Tripling the defense budget without paying for it.
2. Voted for Iraq and Afghanistan warsa without paying for either war.
3. Voted for the Republican senior drug prescription plan without paying for it.
4. Voted to raise the debt ceiling six times while Bush was President without once asking for off setting budget cuts.
5. Voted for TARP.
6. Voted for the Auto Bailout
7. Voted against the equal pay for women act in 2009.
8. Voted to defund Planned Parenthood.
9. Voted to ban abortion with including abortion in cases of rape and incest, multiple times.
That’s just off the top of my mind.
However, now it’s actually possible for the presidential race to be about something. In fact, to be about something important: Do voters want a conservative corporate Democrat or a conservative Wall Street Republican?
Speaking for this voter, no. Jill Stein for President!
Well, now it is personal and I have no choice but to hold my nose and vote for Obama. They hate the poor and the middle class and they hate diversity. This ticket is all about hate, make no mistake about it. The white part doesn’t bother me but the hate part does.
IMHO, it is a choice between a conservative Democrat and the Party of Hate.
Oh my goodness! It’s Duke & Duke from Trading Places on the Republican ticket!
Those two chaps are quite a striking pair. I feel better already. These guys LOOK like money. We’re in good hands with Duke & Duke…. Let me stop with all the optics jokes.
Anyways, Romney now has a guy that makes his base giddy… Makes him “hot” on economics talk. And generally helps steer him away from weaknesses. But as mentioned earlier, Paul Ryan is a fat target for Democrats. They way I see it, Team Romney are about to saturate the waves with economic failure talk regarding Team Obama. Any talk about tax records and Bain Capital from Team Obama will be rebutted with:
SEE! They don’t wanna talk about the REAL issues. PICK ME ME ME!!
But in the end, The Ryan Budget can be successfully attacked and make economic and render the debate to stalemate-land. This VP pick is more of a “we need this to help us with our own” for Team Romney. I don’t see how this pick will give him a winning advantage. But hey, maybe this will spark some Duke & Duke magic for Team Romney (couldn’t help myself again).
I agree with ladywalker, this just made my vote for Obama a little easier.
Yes. You can say all you want about Obama. He has in hands in the corporation’s pockets as much as the other guy and will put the Grand Bargain on the table and who knows whether or not when I turn 65 in 3 years that there will be a cent left of the 40 years I paid into the Social Security system.
Obama is just wants to check off a second term on his “To Do List” so he will do anything to get that second term, even if it means abandoning and compromising progressive principals along the way and in doing so, I might be left standing in the street and inadvertently hit by a bus due to his negligence. However, I also feel for the most part, it isn’t personal. It is just it is “all about him” and too bad if others get hurt due to the fallout of his policies.
But I am certain Romney/Ryan are out to gut any programs that my hard work and tax dollars have funded for all of my adult life. Among the beings “those people” hate are the elderly. We are an easy target to raid. I honestly believe they are out to kill people like me because they just don’t give rat’s butt about us. Even worse, is that to them, we are expendable, easy to kill off and to take our money off our dead bodies and run.
Make no mistake about it: Romney and Ryan want people like me dead so now for me, this election is extremely personal and my only defense is my vote for Obama to ward off my certain murder if Romney is elected.
Once again you express exactly how I feel. Being 64 and on a fixed income I do take this as a threat to my life. I just hope enough people hold their noses and vote to make sure these two clowns don’t set foot in the white house.
Yes. I’d rather take my chances of potentially being accidentally done in due to benign Obama-neglect because he is so self-involved with his legacy versus most certainly being the target of premeditated murder by the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde (Mitt)-Jack the Ripper (Ryan) ticket….
Why would you even think that? Ryan’s plan specifically says people 55 and older are “safe.” You’re WAY outside the danger zone! You should be more concerned about any children or grandchildren, because unless Ryan and Romney get in, they can definitely kiss their Social Security goodbye.
While what you say is true about those 55 and older regarding the Ryan debacle and Medicare. You are leaving out those seniors who receive Medicaid which are in the millions and they will be effected badly by cuts in that program which will be given over to the States without Federal help.
Also, some people can be empathetic towards others. Just because some seniors are not effected by these cuts in MEDICARE, doesn’t mean they are not selfish gits who only think about themselves while others (in their family who are younger, friends who are younger and just plain other Americans who are younger) can go to hell. Not all Americans are selfish gits and that is what separates those of us with or without money who believe in the social safety net for all Americans
You’re not right about SS. The program is not broke. And, a simple solution is to raise the cap on payroll taxes when the deduction stops. Stop making a problem where none exists!
Beth….It is not your business to lecture me about who I should be concerned about. It is bullshit like what you wrote that keeps women down and bowing to the ever brow beating meme of, “Don’t be so selfish. Worry about the children.” BOVINE FECAL MATTER, BETH!!!! If that is how you want to live your life then fine, Go for it but leave me out of it because I think you are wrong.
And why should I believe anything Ryan promises? He has a boss now who is as secretive as they come and who won’t release his taxes and just expects US PEOPLE to bend over, take it in the rear and give him the job without being able to count anything he has done before.
Your words are a simply pat statement that the right throws out to shut people like me up. And you have your head up a very dark place if you believe these folks care about anything except their offshore bank accounts. The least patriotic and most Anti-American person of all Is Mitt Romney who sends his substantial $$$$ out of the country to avoid paying taxes. These folks are about nothing other than the 1% squeezing the life out of the most vulnerable among us.
As for the young; I have loaned my 1 and only son and his family thousands of $$$ over the years. They lived with me for several years, including for 6 months with my grandson while they were having their home built. I didn’t mind because I love my son and his family. During the Bush years and his war economy it became very difficult for young people to get on their feet.
The good thing is that my son is now well on his way and doing fine. From time to time, he gives me lip service about paying me back. The irony however, is that he posts on Facebook about how people need to go to work (when there are no decent jobs available) and talks about them being freeloaders. Well, I love him too much to point out back on FB that he has no room to speak until he gets serious about paying me back all the money he owes me. Don’t get me wrong–he is doing fine now and I am happy for that, BUT HE DID NOT DO IT ALONE!!!!! Few people ever do it all alone.
newdealdem1, once again, you hit the nail on the head.
Ryan is the kind of guy Obama is perfectly willing to listen to and negotiate with and “compromise” with on a regular basis- that is when he isn’t running for re-election. If Obama is re-elected, he’ll go right back to letting people like Ryan set the agenda, and then reacting to it on the margins.
If Romney-Ryan win, maybe it will give the Democrats a chance to re-organize as an actual Progressive party. I see zero hope if we get another four years of Obama As Willing Punching Bag.
You think Obama was dismissive of Progressives from 2009-12? Wait till he doesn’t need to worry about re-election.
+1
A taste of what is to come if Romney/Ryan comes to pass can already be seen in a recent survey of business interests. For the most part they are cutting back on hiring and investment in anticipation of huge cuts in federal spending. This is already creating a drag on a struggling economy. The government will be run by people who cannot even pass a farm bill in a time of crisis for the farming industry. In a small example of what would come to pass if Ryan’s ideas were actually tested, the city of Troy, Michigan rejected federal money to rehab an Amtrak station which would have contributed to improved rail service in the entire geographical area. No local money was involved. The city not only lost the construction jobs that went with the project but also lost the future revenue from the increased rail traffic through the area. In New Jersey, Christie cancelled a huge rail tunnel project between NY and New Jersey that would have created tens of thousands of high paying jobs because he believed the states share of the funding would have been to great. This was later proved to be incorrect. He then turns around and uses tax payer money to fund a defunct mall project and a money losing casino venture in Atlantic City. Welcome to the extremist Republican future of America.
Optics smoctics…what are those two jokers doing on a warship and who let them use the military like that? Mitt spent the vietnam era in Paris, none of his sons have thought of serving their country and Ryan, the elk hunter, does that count?
This might help McCaskill and Tester and Warren. Let’s just hope that the Dems don’t blow this rich opportunity. They really need to challenge the media and their preconcieved notion that Ryan is one of the ” serious players”.
Interesting to note that neither Ryan’s father or grandfather got old.Both died in their 50s. Grandma moved in with his family with alzheimers, so only one grandma conceivably used any entitlements (acutally earned benefits) as Angels and ladywalker point out.
” Mission Accomplished? ” The American voter: Fool me once, fool me twice; yeah, go ahead, fool me again!
Wisconsin is a museum exhibit these days. That museum is run by the city of Norfolk. The President gets to deliver speeches at military bases, I suppose it’s fair that his opponent gets to speak at military museums.
They didn’t use the military. The Wisconsin is a national park(I THINK it’s National but it might be local) but whatever it’s public….that being said these two confirmed cowards anywhere NEAR this ship is just to funny for words!!!
I can’t believe you used Warren’s name in the same sentence with McCaskill and Tester. Why the hell would any progressive want those Democrats in Name Only to get re-elected? They are barely preferrable to Joe Manchin, who will become a Republican five minutes after he wins re-election this fall.
Believe me jjamele, I know the destinctions. When you live in a state like MO McCaskill is about as progressive as it gets. She has voted with Obama on important votes and she does stand up for womens rights on occasion her opposition,Todd Akin is certifiable, having him in the Senate would be terrible for the country and for MO.
Speaking strictly for myself, no.
This probably does help to turn the subject to economics, or at least to the pseudo-economics of Paul Ryan and Co., but that strikes me as another indication of how crazy and ultimately worthless such discussions are. When the discussion boils down to how much of the wrong thing we should do, I find I’m pretty quickly bored with it.
We’re going to keep on doing the wrong thing until either the rich get tired of lost opportunities for profit, or until we’re all so powerless that we don’t even bother with elections.
Unless, of course, something truly cataclysmic happens in the meantime.
One of the major parties is insane, and the other doesn’t give a crap about anything but itself. Just remind me when this is over so I can start watching television again.
Calm down people. Before everyone on this page become too gooey over Obama chances of being reelected lets not forget both economic plans, Obama-Biden/Romney-Ryan are right wing plans. There was a plan developed by Congressional Progressive Caucus titled The People’s Budget that was never mentioned by the White House or covered by the media. This “economic discussion” that we are about to have, when choosing the Obama or Romney, comes down to how fast do we dismantle the remaining parts of FDR’s New Deal. Do we want to and why should we isn’t even on the table.
The budget deficit is not an emergency and this country is not broke yet these false narratives are driving our politics today. So, if you want participate in the discussion and be heard, you must comply and ignore the reality and the truth. On the other hand, anyone with a calculator and an actuarial table can figure this out. There is nothing wrong with Social Security that raising the cap on contributions from $106,000 will not solve. The Post Office no longer loses money if congress repeals the law forcing the Post Office to fund its retirement obligations 75 years in advance!
BTW, why are Republicans being allowed to speak at a Democratic convention?
BTW, why are Republicans being allowed to speak at a Democratic convention?
Because they are the nominees for President and Vice President? :>)
Look for “Ryan-Romney” bumper stickers. Romney just sold the last 3 ounces of soul he had left.
I think social issues are out the window. This campaign will be about money. Including taxes.
For today’s conservatives, money is a social issue: if you don’t have any, you are a burden on our society.
Everyone here seems to be well aware of the treasure trove of votes Ryan has taken in his 14 yrs in the Congress both large and small that the Obama Campaign can exploit. In my humble opinion though it’s the way he conducts his town hall meetings that gives a more accurate look into the man’s soul. When Paul Ryan holds a town hall meeting, his constituents have to pay to get in. They also have to agree not to video record the proceedings with their cell phones. If they violate that rule their cells are confiscated and they are physically removed by law enforcement! LOL!
That happened to me at a Madona concert once.
Want 2 have a confab with Congressman Ryan you better make sure you don’t forget your wallet! http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61454.html
Christmas came early for President Obama and the Dems!
Krugman is calling it the ” Gault / Gecko ticket .”
Shades of Simple Sara in 2008. I have to disagree somewhat with Ms. Marsh. I think that Mitt may have just lost the election with his VP pick. Team Chicago has to be dancing in the street with this nomination. Talk about a Target Rich Environment; Ryan has it in spades. Brace yourself Taylor, the FUD storm is coming; and you are going to be where one of the F-5 tornados of political FUD is going to touch down.
I was sure Mitt Romney was going to pick Marco Rubio for his Vice President or Condolezza Rice. I understand what Taylor was talking about when she said a white ticket. We are becoming a diverse nation, Romney was not picking a safe choice thats for sure. I guess the Republicans are happy leaving out Gays, Women and African Americans and Hispanics and Asians but in the future thats just not going to work. Well Sarah Palin does not have to worry about another woman stepping on her high heel shoes for another four years.
Well, this didn’t take long:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/11/mitt-romney-paul-ryan-budget_n_1767765.html
“I have selected this guy to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, but his budget is not mine…I am going to put my own budget together right now on my new Etch-A-Sketch.”
Boy, you can’t make this stuff up!
Ryan charges people to attend his town hall meetings and they have re-elected him five times. Do you really need to know anything more about the American voter!
How much does it cost to be in the same room with Obama and less than 2000 or so other people? $5K a plate? $10K?
Ouch!
So in your world there is no difference between a town hall meeting and a fundraiser?
Yeah there is- in a Town Hall meeting, politicians pretend to be concerned with what people are saying. At a fundraiser, they really are- because they are talking to their contributors.
What a sad world you live in.
I haven’t seen Democrats this happy since the GOP nominated Ronald Reagan in 1980. There was no way that we could lose to that crazy old dangerous conservative and his former Director of the C.I.A. G.H.W. Bush. Even though the economy was crappy our POTUS was better than the alternative. After all, America is a progressive thinking nation.
Exactly my mental response to all the ridiculous gloating and high-fiving I’ve seen on MSNBC and “Progressive” blogs today. My guess is that the reaction would have been exactly the same no matter WHO Romney picked- whoever it was, it would have been called the Dumbest Choice Ever which Makes the Election a Lead Pipe Cinch for the Democrats. WTF-ever.
Yeah charismatic Ronald Reagan who everyone liked, even most Dems is exactly the same as stiff awkward Mitt Romney who nobody really likes including Cons!
My take on this Romney pick.
I saw a headline tonight regarding this Ryan pick that read: “High risk and high reward”
which IIRC was almost word for word describing McCain’s pick of Palin in 2008. When McCain picked her, I thought it was a desperate move: a pick out of weakness and I think the same about Romney’s pick of Ryan, it’s done out of his weakness and it’s a desperate move. I don’t know if I would call it brave because he had no choice, imo.
Also, on a lighter note. As soon as I saw http://tinyurl.com/9z654n8 this evening and heard that music and saw Romney running towards the mic, the first thing that came to mind was the film AIRFORCE ONE” from which that music was taken. I’ve seen that film several times (which I loved btw) so I’m very familiar with that score. I got a huge HAHA out of that display.
The second thing that came to mind when I saw Ryan running to join Romney to the podium was the opening night of the Olympics in London two weeks ago. And, thought Romeny and his publicity arm or whatever it’s called in a POTUS campaign missed their chance. They should have made an entrance on the Wisconsin Battleship (now museum) skydiving onto the ship ala Queen Elizabeth and 007. Someone with photoshop skilz needs to make that happen.
A CEO picks a CFO. I like the logic.
I was at a party today and they loved the Ryan pick as he is an economic expert. FYI 20+ people in California and no white men. I’m just saying…
Uh, Ryan is not an economic expert. He’s a fraud and his plan is a fraud.
Wow 20+ people in Cali, a landslide!
20+ black people in a liberal state missy!
One would think all would be Obama voters.
I was surprised as I am usually the lone Obama hater at these gatherings.
You give yourself away with that post. Cali may be blue but there are pockets of red in that state which is strong which is why Prop 8 passed.
And, there is a very tiny faction of African Americans who are ultra conservative and didn’t vote for Obama 4 years ago and who won’t vote for him now regardless who the GOP POtUS nominee was and who that person chose as his running mate. And, the same goes for gay people who are ultra conservatives who vote Republican. Or, some women as well.
BTW, I’m a Hillary Clinton supporter for over twenty years and voted Green four years ago as a protest vote against Obama. But, I never hated the man like you stated here. I thought he was the wrong person at the wrong time and should have waited for 2016 to run. So, I have no hidden agenda here as an Obama supporter. But, I do believe in fairness and I will oppose conservatives like you who continue to twist things into unidentifiable objects that more often than not fall into the category of what Steven Colbert calls “truththines”.
And, “missy” I would think someone of your “alacrity” can be more inventive and less schoolmarmy than that.
“Missy” is a term of endearment my girls and I use when chatting. I am far from a schoolmarm. Lol
The people I was with are Dems who all voted for Obama and are very proud of our first Black president. Some are doners. However. Like everyone else their vote has to be earned. Mr. “Im not the President of Black America…” is making a mistake taking this voting block for granted. As one friend said about Obama, “We made history and I gave you 4 years. Now you have a record. I don’t know anything about Ryan. I’ll have a look.”
I loves me some Hillary!
I left the Dems in 2008 and now I am an Independent.
great comment newdealdem particulary the part about believing in fairness. So do I. I am very simple minded, the Golden Rule has always worked for me.
Well at least you finally came clean about what motivates you, hate!
Now Solo you of all people know of my dislike for Barrie. About as much as you love him. We should probably skip voting this year as we will just cancel each other out. Lol
Let’s go have a bottle of champagne and watch the results roll in. My treat. *wink*
Champagne? Don’t let your mouth write checks your a** can’t cash!
Also, Ryan a CFO? Ryan never worked a day in his short life in Corporate America and wouldn’t know what it takes to be a CFO let alone quaified for that position any more than Sponge Bob Squre Pants.
Yes he did. Construction. He was also a waiter.
He is smart too and you can’t knock him for that.
Email him. He answers and explains in simple language. He might be too busy now though. Lol
newdealdem1–You are on a roll. Thanks for making me laff. You speak the truth with great humor…
ladywalker68, thanks for that. Without humor, I would be lost in this sea of lies from the GOP and the oftentimes cowardly behvior from Dems which breaks my heart (and I don’t mean that in a soppy way). It sometimes drives me to distraction how things are twisted by the GOP and not fought back by the Dems. I have found that humor is the only thing that helps and keeps me getting through all the BS in all things political and not. it’s the only way I can deal with all of it. Laughter is a great healer and we all need more of it especially in these times.
AMEN!!! And Goodnight!
Ryan worked briefly for his family’s contruction company after he graduated from College as a “marketing consultant” LOL. Working briefly for his family in a position having nothing to do with finance hardly qualifies him as working in Corporate America let alone qualified as a CFO. I have more respect for his working as a waiter.
Also, the USA is not a corporation nor a person
and it’s a mistake and a gross misunderstanding of how government works and is funded and how a corporation works and is funded to think it can be run by someone who was a CEO or CFO or if that is what will qualify someone to be POTUS which is what Romney professes which is nonsense. They will never be the same thing no matter how much convervatives try to twist it to make it appear they are the same. it’s like a fish driving a car. 
newdealdem1….ROTFLMAO!!!
In my opinion I like success and think the experience from being a CEO is helpful. Better than a street-walker. Oops I mean organizer.
My previous career had nothing to do with my current one but it did help shape me for my success.
I think Ryan is smart and he is a numbers guy. They tend to be big brains. He also heads the budget committee. I also like his ability to simplify.
I also love that he’s a P90Xer. Beats being a smoker…
Todd Purdom has a piece in the recent Vanity Fair on that topic.