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Subscribe to RSSWith all signs pointing to Mitt Romney selecting Paul Ryan as his VP running mate tomorrow in Norfolk, VA, Romney went bold. And here is First Read's looks at the strengths and weaknesses Ryan would bring the GOP presidential ticket.
Strengths:
- As chairman of the House Budget Committee, the 42-year-old Ryan is a young rising star in the GOP, and has become their chief spokesman when it comes to reducing the deficit and debt.
- Romney picking Ryan as his running mate would signal that he’s doubling down on an austerity/deficit-reduction message. Indeed, while the Obama campaign and Democrats could point to visible improvements with the economy over the past three years (a lower unemployment rate, stronger GDP growth), there hasn’t been much progress in reducing the deficit. The deficit was $1.4 trillion in FY ’09; $1.3 trillion in ’10; $1.5 trillion in ’11 (projected); and $1.1 trillion in ’12 (projected).
- Ryan hails from a battleground state -- Wisconsin -- where polls show Romney currently trailing Obama. Obama actually won Ryan’s district in 2008, 51%-47%.
- Comfort level: When Romney campaigned with Ryan in the lead-up to the April 3 Wisconsin primary, the two men demonstrated a rapport that we haven’t seen with other Romney surrogates.
- He would be a person who could please both the conservative intelligentsia and the Tea Party base.
Weaknesses:
- Ryan’s budget plan has become a lightning rod, and it will be a focus of Democratic attacks in the fall. The most controversial component of the plan is that it significantly transforms Medicare, which is regarded as the government’s most popular program.
- In addition to Medicare, Ryan was one of the driving forces to partially privatize Social Security after George W. Bush’s victory in the 2004 presidential election.
- There are also holes in Ryan’s budget-hawk armor: He voted for some of the biggest drivers of the deficit/debt -- the Bush tax cuts, the Iraq war, and the Medicare prescription-drug benefit, all of which weren’t paid for. Moreover, Ryan voted against the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles recommendations.
- Has never held statewide office and has no foreign-policy experience. Both could be liabilities.
- As a member of Congress, Ryan currently works in -- and is a relatively high-profile member of -- one of America’s least popular institutions.
- And while Romney has criticized Obama for not having private-sector experience, the same is largely true of Ryan: As the New Yorker has written, Ryan briefly worked for his family’s business as a “marketing consultant,” but most of his adult life has been spent as a congressman, congressional aide, or speechwriter/analyst at Jack Kemp’s Empower America think tank.
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The republican party is endorsing an individual who has no foreign policy experience, (remember how Romney shined while in Israel - NOT), who has no experience or knowledge about us vets who served during the Viet Nam campaign, (he wasn't even born yet and we're at the age of retirement), who privatized our Social Security, and who now will increase Medicare payments. But, and I say but, he does have experience working as an aide (which I believe is another word for GOPHER) And this is the top candidate the republican's are endorsing. Need I say anything further
Honestly, how much experience did Obama have in 2008? and he ran for PRESIDENT. I seem to remember Clinton being a bit unfavorable to the Vietnam Vets, but at least he did have executive office experience. I agree with you, experience should be a requirement for the Presidency, but that idea was thrown out of the window years ago.
I'm an independent.
I have an equal dislike for Democrats as I do Republicans.
I dislike the the purported "news" programs which are abundantly one sided either way (think "Hannity" and "O'Reilly", as much as "The Ed Show" or "Rachel Maddow"), although I do give a little more credit to Fox for bringing in more alternative views on their shows, versus the liberal shows which use their media outlets seemingly just to preach to their bases and not allow dissent on their respective shows.
Having said this, I am FINALLY pleased to hear today that now one side, Romney's, has made a stand to talk about the most important issues of the economy, our national debt and deficit, and he picked a running mate in Ryan who KNOWS the problem, and had the guts to call that problem out while in Congress.
All I hear from Obama and his surrogates is demeaning insults and apparent personal attack on Romney. I'm disgusted with Obama and his surrogates doing so. He's PRESIDENT! ACT LIKE ONE! When the monthly jobs reports come out, I can COUNT on the liberals trying to drown out the poor economic numbers by asking for Romney's tax returns. Again.
Who knows what other distraction they will come up with as we move closer to the election, but Obama needs to stand on his record and account for it. Stop blaming others for almost four years of not being able to fix the economy.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT ROMNEY'S TAX RETURNS! I DON'T CARE ABOUT BAIN CAPITAL. I CARE ABOUT MY TAX RETURN!
This election is a choice between asking government to babysit those who have made poor decisions in their lives, and about the other option of AT LEAST someone telling it like it is ECONOMICALLY, in that we MUST make painful changes to survive.
The fact is, if any change is made to social security or medicare, it will affect me. I don't like it, because it really looked like a nice thing as it is. But, I am FINE with having to make some painful changes in how the system works NOW, versus waiting for another term of Obama shuffling the issue even further down the road, and having LESS time to plan for my retirement, if ever, some day!
I may not like Romney's personality, but he obviously knows economics. Since WHEN in America is it considered ok to attack success?
Mr. President, maybe if we were a socialist economy, your policies would play well and make that kind of economy work. But, we're not, and your policies haven't worked. You had your chance. You spent your first two years on your health care bill. You got that through. Congratulations. But, you failed on the economic front, and that's what this is now all about.
Stop distracting the people when job numbers come out. Stop asking for tax returns, or CRITICISING SUCCESS! This is AMERICA! Stand on your record. You failed!
As reluctant as I am to do so, I'm voting Republican, because at least I know Romney understands American economics, and Ryan has at least made a serious attempt at describing the harsh reality of what we need to do.
agreed, I only wish their was a viable 3rd party to vote for so both parties stop this BS. I don't care if he is the richest man in the world, if he could save the country it would be worth a billion dollar raise
Mitts father, George Romney, once said that any politician who won't release his tax returns is hiding something, and shouldn't be elected.
HEY MITT, LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER'S WORDS.
His father was a damned smart automobile man - Something Mitt-Flip wanted to let go bankrupt. Think about it.
Still waiting for Obama's school transcripts from Occidental, Columbia and Harvard....
They show he registered as a foreign student... he will not release them until well after his failed reelection campaign.
No problem, as long as we don't have to make Obama listen to his father's words. And by the way, why would a man not release his college records unless he has something to hide?
This is a win win for the right wing nuts and a win for the far left tree huggers. Of course this pick almost guarantees Obama to be re-elected, but it will also make the Tea Party crowd happy and they can cheer away as any hope of them retaking the White house slips away. Folks like me in the middle get to sit back and just be entertained by all the silliness on both sides.
In all seriousness though...regardless of your party affiliation. The Ryan pick does put the nail in the Florida coffin. Does any sane minded person really think all those seniors are going to be cool with abolishing medicare and privatising social security? Them seniors in Florida will be taking wacks at him with there canes and walkers!!
I think it is fair to say that putting Ryan on the ticket pretty much spits in the face of seniors. Then you have all the black folk who are not going to vote for Romney. Then you have all the women that the Republicans have ticked off! Then you have all the young people who are not going to vote for someone as boring as Romney. Then you have all those Christians who will not be able to bring themselves to vote for a mormon. Who does that leave for Romney? That leaves only middle aged white guys, but hold on just a sec. Doesn't Romney also want to destroy the middle class? So that pretty much just leaves middle aged white guys who make alot of money!!!! I am a middle aged white guy myself, but I am not even close to being rich enough to vote for Romney and the real funny thing is.....I am registered as a Republican, but actually now consider myself Independant since there is no such thing as a moderate republican anymore.
I am a late-middle age white woman of modest, and I do mean modest means who raised 3 chilren as a single mom for 7 yrs. (with no help from their dad or welfare) before marrying my current husband 29 yrs ago. Together we worked, sometimes a full and part time job each to build our home, educate our children at 3 of the top colleges in the country, and lived a little bit less than within our means so we could put away some for our retirement dreams. And I am one of those Florida Seniors you think you know so much about. Well let me set you straight...I guarantee you we will be voting Romney-Ryan. Why? Because we have actually taken the time to study the medicare/ss issue and believe it to be a good solution for all. At least it will be better than the "no solution, blame everyone else, non-leadership" environment of the current admin. If you believe this to be such an evil plan why do you need to keep insisting it will "abolish/privatise" these programs when it in fact will offer a choice in how you plan for your future. People like you always take bits and pieces but conveniently leave out key words like choice, or just blatantly change words and claim them to be what was said/written because you only care about getting people to believe your opinion is the only correct one. And by the way, there are many, many, many more of us in FL and other states that feel this way. I wouldn't let myself get too smug there if I were you.
Ryan is a radicals, radical!
He trained under several very radical mentors who were so radical that they were cast aside and now virtualy ignored.
Ryan's radical budget proposition will literaly KILL THE ECONOMY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, never ever to recover.
The Romney/Ryan duo will end Democracy in the U S A and push the U S A into a third world stagnation and deterioration. That will leave the citizens no choice but to revolt and overthrow the tyrant Autocracy, revolutions are messy.
How long have you been working for the socialist obama administration?
Post a link to support any of this troll dribble, because, there is plenty out from economists, the Congressional Budget Office and others who support the Ryan budget plan.
Show a link Troll
try it and see what side the military falls on...
Paul Ryan and a medicare or medicaid voucher, shall we be the former Soviet Union, to form a line for a toilet tissue too, and I learn his parents are from Germany and Ireland, is he going to bring his Birth certficate too?? Obama mother was a born American and his father was from Africa and he was born here, even that his birthplace was questionable, but Paul Ryan parents are foreigners and he was also born here, can we ask for his birth certificate? I think what is his name Trump won't have the gut to say anything, Romney and Ryan together, their names starts with R.R well well, what a combination.
NO Firemen, Teachers, Police, and senoir vouchers yes lest I forget how about women are they going to suffer too in the hands of R.R??, Haters and heartless sort of people, by thier names we will know them. I am a middle class individual, and I like someone who will help me to be like anybody, not few people who wants to supress the rest of us, and think they are the only ones who should have money and the rest should eat from the trash cann, selfish and mean GOP's, a party that does not have any other ethnic people within, only whites.
Just look behind all of them when they are campianing if you will see any different faces, rather than white people what does that tells anybody, I left it for you to decide, I don't even hear from their then Michael Steel the chairman of their Party, Colin Powell, Condi Rice the main Black people among them, you don't hear or see them nowhere, I don't know why, they are silent in all of this.
Herman Cain was another race and the Dems/media brought him down fast so he wouldn't have a chance. Those allegations never were proved were they???
Obama is a coward. He knows if he were to debate Ryan directly he would be exposed as a bloviating empty suit. You can count on Obama to spread lies through surrogates and in forums where he (Obama) cannot be challenged. Obama is a contemptible coward.
I do not like either candidate. I would love to see more people working and less on food stamps. No one has answered me about ss and the stock market. One of bushes better ideals that msnbc writers see as a weakness .
Investing in domestic not foreign stocks would help the economy and getting people off food stamps would free up the tax payers at least in theory unless it is wasted else where.
stop using corn as fuel and drill baby drill ...jobs baby jobs.
Obama, better get his teleprompter ready, he's gonna need it.
Romney/Ryan 2012
Obama's "vision" of America is not what Americans "envision".
He is a bullsh!t artist, not a president.
BS???? Oh yeah, he stated he would get Bin-Laden. I call that speaking the truth.
Bush Jr.??? He stated he would get Bin-Laden. Now you could call that BS.
The military and the powers that be NOT A SIMPLE PRESIDENT got Bin Laden.
A president is merely a figurehead.
There are powers WAY above a president that have been in charge THROUGHOUT ALL presidencies.
Ask him why he refurbished Gitmo, when he said he would close it.
Do you really think a four year or eight year wonder did this?
It was in the works since day one.
The only reason Bush didn't get credit was term limits.
Obama just happened to pull the handle on the slot at the right time.
That is all.
You tickle me Viewer
What would you say if Bin-Laden was killed under Bush Jr.? Never mind, I know that answer. Have a good day.
Sometimes, the basic truth is too hard for some to take.
I do not care for Bush OR Obama, but that does not change the fact that the deed
(Bin Laden) was not anything that Obama should get credit for.
When the monkey flips the switch in the space capsule, only the trainers should get credit.
And that analogy is not racist.
It just means that he was the one who pulled the "GO" switch on an operation
that had been in the works long before he was "president".
Regarding the long-overdue death of Osama bin Laden, President Obama (and ONLY President Obama) reprioritized the objective, approved the plan, issued the order, authorized the resources, maintained the secrecy, monitored the progress, and informed the nation and the world with steely resolve of the success of the Seal Team 6 mission.
George, Dick, and Donald were long since retired, basking in the glow of all that might have been had they only been up to the challenge.
bin Laden beat Bush.
bin Laden beat Cheney.
bin Laden beat Rumsfeld.
bin Laden lasted less than 28 months under Obama.
Deal with it.
Bin Laden beat CLINTON THREE times BEFORE 9/11
AND the operation was long in effect before Obama.
PUT in place by Bush.
Just to build the model of the compound took over 28 months.
YOU deal with reality.
THREE times the whore monger had a chance to kill him BEFORE 9/11.
And NO, Obama did not do squat but say "OK".
Nothing more.
I like to think it's a typo and they meant to say "Ron Paul", but I guess I'm wrong. If you want a no BS view of Gov. Romney, I think you should talk to someone from Mass. and how he did as Gov.
First of all Mass is full of Liberals now.
Second, ROmney must have done pretty good at SOMETHING to get this far.
What has Obama done?
Obama ran for president in 2008 and won.
Romney ran for president and lost to McCain/Palin ticket in 2008
Please limit your questions.
Four years ago Mitt Romney gave John McCain 23 years of his tax returns, in order to be considered for Vice President. Of course, John turned him down, and chose Sarah Palin.
Could somebody in John McCain's old organization have leaked them to Harry Reid? Or maybe McCain gave them to Reid himself. Or maybe is was Sarah going rogue again!
You really need to think about that don't you?
Had to put some cotton in the ears, the prospect of having to go to work next year has the parasites howling !!
I have never seen any man walk like mitt Romney. From all indications, he thinks like he walks: out of step.
But seriously folks! I am so
for having Paul Ryan as your new Veep candidate.
It is almost the best thing that could happen to insure the re-election of Obama/Biden! Palin would have been better, but Ryan is just as good.
p.s. Thanks for NOT announcing your choice during Prime Time Mitt! This announcement wasn't worth interrupting The Olympics or any other good TV.
Ryan's strengths..... Revealing Obama's weaknesses!
This is what I call a list minute attempt to stay a float. Fitting he chose a Fox News Monger to get all the zombies motivated.
Paul Ryan has a cash register where other people have a heart. And he is listening intently to the sound of all that cash falling into his hands and the hands of his corporate sponsors.
Romney selected someone to make the base happy. So all the right wing extremists will now vote for the Romney/Ryan ticket. Congratulations. But he has lost the moderates and the independent swing voters who have seen the result of austerity in Europe. They are now in double dip recession because no one has any money to spend and all the businesses are failing. It is going to take a long, long, long time for them to recover from that mistake. But the 1% have even more money than they had before. It's the trickle up economic theory in practice. "I have so much money I need more, so give me yours."
Would you like to enlighten everyone as to how you know this to be fact. I used to consider myself a moderate/independent until it came time to vote in '08. When Obama was the best they could come up with I quickly did some soul searching and changed my views. And Obama has certainly not shown me the hope and change I was looking for so I will again not be voting for him or anyone like him.
how does a seven term congressman be labeled inexperienced, amazing rhetoric.
I have one question? Did Mitt have to clear this pick with the koch brothers lol
who writes your paycheck? Soros?
Under Ryan’s plan, seniors currently in Medicare stay in the existing system.
But in 2023, people over 65 would pick an insurance plan in a new Medicare exchange system, with Medicare competing with other insurers for their business.
The government would send money, called a premium support payment, directly to the insurer picked by the consumer.
If the consumer picks a plan more expensive than the government premium payment they receive, the consumer must pay the difference out of pocket. If the consumer picks a cheaper plan, they pocket the difference in the form of a rebate check.
Don't be "fear mongered" by the no-plan, no-clue Dimocrats!
Eddie Munster as president of vice, and he will bring along Grandpa, Lilly and Herman. Then we have Willard who will control all the rats because he loves them so. Everybody, get your dog and strap it to the roof of the car because were in for a long bumpy ride to....................................
Okay Willard you've got your VP, now show us both of your tax returns!
First, I'm a moderate Republican...somewhat disappointed in my party's antics right now. It's funny how Ryan said about Obama "He's going to divide and distract this country to win an election by default, and you know what? We're not going to fall for that." The Republicans have been in a "hateful retoric", "do nothing", "complain", and "hope Obama fails" mode for 3.5 years. The entire political landscape is sooo out of touch...and I guaruntee you, THESE Republicans will not be the solution.
For Baby Boomers -- hang in there -- Paul Ryans issue on social security is just a change, and my understanding is the change is most for 55 and younger. If our change affects us, we can handle it -- look back and see all that we've been through and where we are now. Paul Ryan has everyone's best interest at heart -- under 55 will have a choice of paying into ss or doing their own thing -- for over 55 not sure what the change is at this point, but we can handle a little bit of change -- you know the old saying that "people fear change." Let's show the younger generations that we are not afraid of change and that it will turn out to be a good thing for us -- a lot better than the obama plan that's for sure -- obama took $750 billion out of our medicare fund to support obamacare -- I wonder if he plans to pay it back -- Paul Ryan wants to make sure that medicare can be sustained and I want my kids to be able to benefit from this whichever way they choose. So to all baby boomers and any of our parents that are still alive -- hang in there -- we'll be okay.
You don't seem to understand how these programs are funded. We are already projecting a shortfall of taxes going into them. Any future taxpayers who opt for a privatized savings program will cause an even worse shortfall. Oh, and all the private programs will be entirely unregulated (yes, READ the bill. No regulation of any kind to ensure taxpayer protection at all. Even from intentional fraud). Like most Republicans, Ryan has drunk the KoolAid (actually it was a knockoff called FlavorAid, but everybody says KoolAid) of Rand/Mises economics and wants to give Wall Street more of your money. These programs are not perfect and they need work but you don't burn down your house cause it needs a new roof.
Mitt is about as Real as a Plastic Bananna!
Is it Mitt ____________Romney?
“Political Puppet”
“I’m Not a Crook”
“Country Club”
“Middle Class Warfare”
“Not To Much..Out of Touch”
“Cheap Labor is Our Future”
“Outsourcing is Awesome”
“Just Tell me what ya Wanna Hear”
“Profits Over People”
“Corporations are People Too”
“F da Poor”
“No Substance”
“Let Detroit go Bankrupt”
“National Right to Work”
“Swiss Accounts”
“Flip Flop”
“Pray da Gay Away”
Mitt Romney’s Solution to all Problems…….Prayer and a Moment of Silence.
Da Biggest Threat to Mitt Romney’s Campaign……..da Truth!
Saw this in another Article........Great Description of Paul Ryan and really funny.
"At first glance, Ryan looks uncannily like a grown-up Eddie Munster. His gloomy expression, gray complexion and huge widow's peak make him look like some baleful predator.
Mitt "F da Poor" Romney and Paul “Middle Class Warfare” are nothing more than Two "Howdy Doodie Political Puppets” sitting on da Koch Brothers Lap.
You BetCha....Fer Sure.