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Subscribe to RSSCLEARWATER, Fla. – The former U.S. solicitor general under President George W. Bush will serve as the debate partner for Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, the Romney campaign announced with just three weeks to go before the only vice presidential debate before the November election.
Mark Wilson / Getty Images file
Ted Olson
Ted Olson has argued 58 cases before the Supreme Court, including a case that put him at odds with many Republicans: overturning the state of California's ban on gay marriage, known as Proposition 8.
Olson was originally highly praised at the start of the decade by the Republican Party as he successfully argued Bush v. Gore --the ruling that determined the outcome of the 2000 election -- before he was selected as Bush’s solicitor general.
“Mr. Olson is one of the most skilled, intelligent, and successful litigators in America -- just the kind of opponent needed to prepare the Congressman for Mr. Biden,” Ryan spokesman Brendan Buck said.
Olson will join Rep. Ryan for preparations leading up to the Oct. 11 match up with Vice President Joe Biden in Danville, Ky. The campaign says Olson and Ryan had one practice session this past week.
“Joe Biden has been in elected office for more than 40 years. There are few people in politics with more experience debating the issues than Joe Biden, so we are taking this process seriously,” Buck said.
Ryan held his only full day of debate prep in Oregon last Sunday but Olson did not join.
Saturday morning’s announcement of Olson is the final debate partner to be released.
President Barack Obama has John Kerry (D-Mass.) standing in as Mitt Romney, while Romney has picked Ohio Sen. Rob Portman to play Obama.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) will aid Biden with his debate prep and play Ryan. Van Hollen and Ryan serve on the House Budget Committee together.
Former Attorney General John Ashcroft told the Romney campaign of the selection that "Ted Olson possesses the extraordinary intellect, judgment, and character to be a strategic asset in any endeavor. Few lawyers have prevailed in as many of the country's most challenging battles to protect our national interest as Ted has. I, along with many other conservatives, welcome his increased participation in the Romney campaign."
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I hope he schools him on not too lie or thread a lie.
All I can say is, his practice partner has got his work cut out for him.
WHO CARES? I already know ALL I need to know about Ryan, the man doesn't know the difference between what is factual and what is false!
This should be interesting. Just how does one practice lying?
Even Lyin Ryans campaign admits that Biden is most skilled,intelligent and successful. Why change horses in mid stream.
"“Mr. Olson is one of the most skilled, intelligent, and successful litigators in America -- just the kind of opponent needed to prepare the Congressman for Mr. Biden,” Ryan spokesman Brendan Buck said."
You can't teach a liar new tricks...OOPS lies...Lyin Ryan:
Lyin Ryan would be better off having a truth detecting machine as a debate opponent. That way he can learn if what he says is true or not.
If I were preparing to debate Biden, I would use Homer Simpson to spar with, it would be more like Biden.
Homer Simpson tells fewer lies than Paul Ryan, has a sense of humor and can think for himself. I don't think he could beat Homer, either! Maybe, just maybe, Ryan could win against Elmer Fudd! Nah! I don't think so! All the country will need to see is Joe Biden being the statesman he is and Paul Ryan being the smug, arrogant little weasel he is, and there won't even be a need for Obama and Romney to debate!!
That wouldn't be fair. Homer Simpson is way smarter than Bitem.
I have a question about the debates... How do the candidates and staff prepare for a debate without knowing the questions? I know they have a general idea based on domestic or foreign policy but my point is that Ryan and Romney don't seem to do very well when their performance is 'unscripted'. And the only thing about Romney that has any foreign policy experience at all is his money (i.e., his money being parked offshore). If they try to lie, they're going to be called out on it immediately (I hope).
Only the Dems are given the questions in advance.
I watched a re-run of the talk show "The Young Turks" last night and it went over Ryan's fascination with 1940-1950 author Ann Rand. How Mr. Paul possibly named his son Rand after her, how Mr. Green span was a follower/ Crazy. Old Atheistic psycho pseudo intellectual author is the idol of these Right Wing Conservatives. Totally insane. Shamelessly shows Ryan trying to back track when at his level everything is recorded on video. How can anyone vote for them? Shame on the national GOP for the Norquest loon and these liars. Totally unacceptable.
Trust Mitt: Your lying; Trust the GOP & Paul Ryan TeaWackers, Mitt R. Bain, Citizens United and all the Alec corps : that pays off the RepublicanPUKES Politicians. Its all about the Wealthy getting richer and all the middle class getting poorer.....They don't want to help the poor...Who are the one's that leach off the taxpayer. The Wealthy: they get welfare both for themselves an for the Corps. ...But it seems that the Wealthy get away with it ..They steal billions and the few poor steals a few thousands. So what does the GOP want, is Screw the MIddle Class to get even with the few. As I say its the me me me and F everyone else.... The failures of the Republicans party trying to take away SS & Medicare & Health care for Woman so they can give their wealthy Blackmailers more money...To hell with the Poor and Needy. Let them freeze in the winter and stave the Old and Babies,let them die from bad water, do away with the EPA and thats what you'll have, just like all you TeaWakers want...You make me sick with your Me Me Me altitude. Greedy and you all call yourself a REAL AH! Morman. What a laugh: Wake up...Sounds like Mitt!!!!!!Fuss up your tax Return: Stop your lieing RYAN:
Ryan might want to take a clue from Clint, and do an Empty Chair Debate.
He would still lose badly
An empty chair is smarter than Bitem.
This should be an interesting debate year, Do Romney and Ryan have any type
of "fact practice" scheduled or will it just be another factchecker frenzy trying to
keep up with them??
Democrats must be laughing their butts off,,,,,,,,,Again
Mitt Romney only chose Ryan because he was told to by his big money supporters. The proof of that you say? The fact that he picked him at all!! Only his most extreme right wing supporters wanted Ryan, and since that's where the money is, that's where Swiss Mitt goes!! Some pair. Robme and Lyan!! For all of the gullible fools everywhere!!
Just about everybody of voting age is aware of Olson . Big mouth lots of hot air and no sense at all about government FOR the people. All he knows or cares about are the wealthy GOP folks .
meant to click reply, not 'like'......I guess you didn't get the memo that Ted Olson is the hero of the liberal left since he argued for marriage equality.
Oh this is good. Two lawyers seeing if one can recognize the lies of the other.
RDB I get it now. You are jealous because Democrats have sex and judging from the tension and frustration of your party, Republicans don't. I get it now. I see where your problem lies.
That's only because liberal men? would screw a skank. I mean a skunk. (Either one)
Google; Republican vs democrat women.
Ryan looks like Goofy, so Pluto should be his debate partner.
Shouldn't you be watching NASCAR, now?
I see that RD is in need of a shrink, He says he would assissanate Obama if Biden wasn't VP and now this? I'm turning him in to the FBI.
Willie, grow up. He didn't say that at all. You have however, shown how easy it is to spread misinformation to the ignorant.
Rd: Your a f-in moron, Racist pig, jerk off, low life scum bag.....I bet you don't have respect for the Bitch of a .......... of yours.
He should practice looking into the camera, telling the truth and providing details of Mitt's and his plan to save the world. He doesn't need a partner for that.
No, he doesn't need a partner. He just needs a plan! In his own words "we'll go into that process after the election". Romney himself said it would take at least two terms, if not more, to fix the economy, but they can't see why it might take the same under President Obama. They have no way of explaining themselves. They have no process for the truth. Not when lies come so easily.
Ted Olson and Ryan together? I wouldn't think of two people who could be so different. Ted is a man of integrity.
Too bad they couldn't just have had debates immediately after being nominated. The world would have seen just how devoid of real solutions Romney & Ryan are. Obama and Biden would have ripped them to shreds. They still will, but now R&R have time to polish their lies.
If that was the process, Obama wouldn't be where he is today, since he was as inexperienced a candidate as we've ever had.
If Ryan is elected every American woman will find out what legitimate rape is.
You ever see a over 25 muslim woman? Ugly
Are the Repubs. out wilding on this site today?
In the 1800s, the Republicans expanded their base by going west and killing Indians, Mexicans and buffaloes.
Now, they stand by these same principles of hatred, bigotry, chauvinism, gun rights and selfish individaulism.
It is absurd to believe that the ideals of the 1800s westerners should be imposed on the entire country in 2012.
I am neither a repulican or a demovcrat I vote for some one I can respect and not one of these persons have my respect... I have weapons just regular guns and I know a lot of people who want gun conrtol and respect it.. But start taking by taking guns away for the criminals and the gangs before you do the lawabiding citizens... The 1700's thru the 11800's made this country what it is a country with a lot of freedoms which we are losing everyday because of the people who don't like the country but like the freedoms like a lot of people that do some of these Posts>!!
I'm talking about the Wyoming political thinking today that was formed in the late 1800s. It is NOT what people stand for in New York and California, by any stretch of the imagination.
Oh, please, shut up about your guns already. They are an evil insult to the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are a scared little person, go hide and shut up. Nobody is coming to take your gun away.
Modern GOP started in 1885's. 20 years after Abe died
You see he needs to practice with some yes man he can win the debates with this guy, But can he win in real life???????
Besides Ted Olsen, have Liz Cheney join the team. She ALWAYS wipes the floor when debating 'libiots', especially brain-dead jackasses like "Plugs" Biden.
Romney....Ryan....Bain.
They all have the same stench......Umbrella.