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Ed Andrieski / AP
Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis speaks at a campaign stop at Walker Manufacturing in Fort Collins, Colo., Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Congressman Paul Ryan had a simple message for those gathered to hear him speak at America the Beautiful Park: A Mitt Romney administration would support America’s military.
“Mitt Romney and I want to be very clear with you. We value and respect your mission here and we believe in and support missile defense, and missile defense is necessary to keep us safe and we will not allow that to go through,” the Republican vice presidential nominee said. “To the soldiers in Fort Carson to the airmen at Peterson and Schriever Air Force Base and to those cadets at the Air Force Academy: We respect you, we appreciate you and we will back you because we need you. We need your support. We need what you do.”
Slideshow: On the campaign trail
Ryan, speaking just down the street from the Air Force Academy, talked about the joy and hope it brings him to appoint students to the various military academies around the country as a seven-term congressman.
“It is one of the greatest experiences because every year I get to sit down and to see these young men and these women and it gives you so much hope that there is such a great future for us because we are still raising such quality people here. I have had such an honor to appoint young men and women to the Air Force Academy here; I still get postcards and pictures and Christmas cards. This is a gem. This is one of the greatest things we do in this country,” he said.
The Wisconsin congressman also hit President Barack Obama for his “devastating defense cuts” to the military, something Ryan has talked about numerous times on the trail but made this very personal appeal for the first time here in the Centennial State.
“Of all the things that Mitt Romney and I differ, disagree with President Obama -- we need a strong military. We believe in peace through strength. We believe that when America’s military is strong, America is safer. This is so critical to our way of life, to our peace, to our security, to our democracy, to our prosperity,” he said during the outdoor rally that drew nearly 1,500 people.
“And these defense cuts that he is promising, these devastating defense cuts that he is promising not only undermine our peace, not only undermine our security, they compromise jobs right here.”
While Ryan campaigned in the battleground state of Colorado, Romney wrapped up a three-day Ohio bus tour with just 41 days before voters head to the polls in November.
The month of October will include debates leading up to the Nov. 6th election – the first one takes place on Oct. 3 in Denver.
Ryan was asked about Romney’s readiness to “take it to Obama.”
“Absolutely,” Ryan said. “But one little difference between then and now. President Obama has a record and President Obama has a record and a string of broken promises.”
The GOP vice presidential nominee is scheduled to spend the next several days focusing heavily on fundraising. Ryan heads to Tennessee, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York City to raise money through the weekend.
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There's no American out there that doesn't suppor the missile defense shield. But let's be honest here, our defense versus the offense is where we have a huge spending issue. When the Pentagon learns to actually submit audit reports that are 100% fully compliant with GAO standards, and every dang profit dollar regarding arms sales is accounted for, Romney and Ryan can discuss their military troop buildup. Till then, I say we start putting our money here into our National Guard at home. I really have no desire to have our military become America's hugest benefits program obligation and liability just so we can colonize other nations. Yes, I want our bases to be strategically placed in the event of a direct attack on America. But at some point other highly developed wealthy countries are going to need to also step up to the plate and spend on their military and put in the same manpower and resources we do to protect our so called allies.
Really, dollar for dollar, what other country gives away as much of their GDP as we do to all these peace efforts? Not many. And are they any less safe and secure than us?
You guys all miss the real objective with the R & R budget. It's about funneling dollars to their corporate buds.
Spending more on defense than the Pentagon is even asking for is just a way of getting cash to the large "Entitled" war corps. Converting Medicare to a voucher is just a way to funnel huge dollars to all of those "Entitled" insurance firms! We already know enough about their tax policy.
Get a clue folks - every policy piece from these guys is related to the money trail! Follow the money.
They aren't getting drowned in "Citizens United" related money from an elite set of donors for nothing.
If as an American you want a chance to succeed; you'd better vote this November - and you'd better vote Obama/Biden!
Obama/Biden 2012 ... & lets pray they drag along every down ticket Dem they can with their coat tails. We can't afford anymore obstruction.
Well said Tim. Ryan's 'strong military' means bigger contracts for the corporations that contribute to his campaign. The ones that build the war equipment the pentagon says they don't need. Someone needs to ask Ryan why he didn't support the jobs bill for veterans which was fully funded. I forgot corporations are people to my friend.
We have a STRONG MILITARY YOU F'N MORON!!!. So I'M NOT BUY'IN RYAN your BULL@!$%# ARGUMENT!!
Get off your ASS RYAN and TRIM THE FAT OFF THE MILITARY for SPENDING on $1,000.00 HAMMERS and SCREWDRIVERS. Excesses that should be CLOSELY WATCHED AND REGULATED. LOOK over the CONTRACTS RYAN instead of saying "THE MILITARY IS UNDERFUNDED".
You can not FOOL ME you FORKED TONGUE, TWO-FACED, CON-ARTIST. Your part of a WAR MONGER FANATICS REGIME like the rest of your DECEIT LYING asses GOP& TEA-SHYSTERS you ALL ARE.
TRYING TO STEEL MORE TAX DOLLARS ARE YOU SACK OF @!$%# RYAN!! The PROFIT to POCKET HEIST is it?
Republicans are intent on serving the most lucrative lobbies by building bombs instead of bridges, drones instead of clean energy, and employing soldiers instead of construction and service workers. Our children will inherit worldwide animosity rather than American abundance.
Our children? We HAVE worldwide animosity. Apparently the US precedent of drone use is being embraced by the international community. Perhaps we'll have a better perspective on it when your kid says "It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's a DRONE".
MJ, how much is sufficient spending on our military? Is the sky the limit? Do you actually feel that our military is underfunded? Bush practically doubled the budget for the Pentagon, this after we had won the Cold War. Don't you remember, there was supposed to be a "peace dividend"? What is enough for you people? I don't think you believe that your crowd would ever be satisified with military spending. It's just a knew jerk reaction, more, more and more again.
M.J. - CT
I agree the use of drones in going after terrorist targets doesn't endear us to any of the citizens of the countries we're operating them within - but; it is a better tactic than occupation by our own troops.
That said - I gotta tell you I love the "UnderDog" reference ;)
Maybe you could find Romney a "Power Pill" ring!
Obama/Biden 2012
Military spending IS a federal responsibility. Sure we could spend less. Sure we could make cuts. The Dems in CT fight to save work for plane engines, subs, helicopters, etc. Apparently Defense cuts are fine if it's in someone else's state.
Federal grants for public servants is bad business. Good for political gain. Our capitol just got a grant to maintain police officers. BUT, what happens next year? Taxes go up, jobs are lost, or the federal government has kick in again.
Republicans pile up "good" national debt, then call it "bad" when a Democrat inherits the mess.
AFFINITY, Amen to that brother. All the debt that Bush ran up in Iraq and then dumped in Obama's lap is now somehow the fault of Obama. And now the Right wants to spend even more of defense while simultaneously screaming about the deficit.
It never fails, does it??? So many on the Right, Bush, Cheney and now Willard, draft dodgers the lot of them, talking tough with their chests all puffed up. So much love an admiration for our military and yet when their nation called up on them to fight in a war WHICH ALL OF THEM SUPPORTED, they took the coward's way out.
But you'd never know that to hear them talk now. Quite the contrary, you could be forgiven to think they were seasoned veterans, recounting their vast military experience with the nation. These people are absolutely without shame and positively nauseating to listen to. World class hypocrites the lot of them. I'm hoping that this time around the voters will not buy into their jingoistic nonsense.
Then after using the fine men and women up in the Military, refusing to support them at home - basically discarding them like throwing out so much trash.
Dispicable.
Any veteran that supports them please do some research because they care nothing of your well being.
I suppose if Mitt would finally get around to paying his taxes (the missing ten years) we could probably afford a "strong military". But, all may be lost as it is sounding like Mitt did the IRS amnesty thing a couple years back when that Swiss bank was forced to "out" the American tax evaders.....
Hence - Mitt has no tax returns to release.
Why wasn't the word Veteran mentioned in your as Mittens calls it "Marvolious" Budget Plan ?
WHERE ARE THE PLANS to bring down the NATIONAL DEBT?? Is this one? Because it sure sounds LIKE we HAVE TO, I say HAVE TO by your sorry ass LOGIC SPEND MORE, when there is PLENTY I MEAN PLENTY to cut from the MILITARY.
YOU SHMUCKS ARE RADICAL OVERKILLS. A real DISGRACE to the COUNTRY on setting CONTROLS and REGULATIONS. It is SPEND, SPEND, SPEND, and FRAUD, FRAUD , FRAUD on the TAXPAYERS.
YOU the GOP and TEA CRAPPERS are the CAUSE of NATIONAL DEBT!!! YOU GUYS AND YOUR GO GO PROFIT TO POCKET POLICIES PUT US IN A CRASHED ECONOMY, If it WERE not for the TAXPAYERS to CONTINUE to PAY YOUR ASS WAY TO MORE RICHNESS AND WEALTH. YOUR ALL SICK GREEDY FANATICS.
Get OUT OF GOVERNMENT and run your business OUTSIDE of a GOVERNMENT. You can do ALL your steeling and shysting out in public if you ever have a CUSTOMER BASE???
you mean the one obama said he was going to cut in 1/2?
i think he gave it to solyndra
Actually, Shredder, the only way to reduce the debt is to reduce the military. It takes over half of the discretionary budget at $700 billion plus. If Republicans will quit playing war games with other people's children, life in this world would be a lot better. Ever come up with the real reason we attacked Iraq?
really? got links or a general accounting of that since you're trying to pass it off as fact
i think that's pretty standard math. if you don't spend it, you're reducing the debt. or at least making it less big.
asserting that it can only be cut from the military is not standard math
So let's see the rest of the Federal government take the same 50% cut in size that the military did after the Iron Curtain went down and peace broke out all over the world. Then we can talk about slashing the military again.
"I want a strong military , I will pat for it with tax cuts "Yeah worked really good last time . Boom economy and massive deficits . Lets see how well it works in a down economy
Note to Rep. Ryan - We HAVE a strong military. We have a military stronger than something like the next 20 countries combined. The problem is not that we have a weak military, its how we use that military. If the goal is to have a military capable of taking over the whole world all at once, we will have nothing but a military. And it won't work anyway so we need to keep honing our diplomatic skills. I'm all for reducing the size (and budget for) the military. If we have a smaller military we will learn to target our resources where they will actually have a positive effect. We may also learn to play nice in the schoolyard.
Can the AMERICAN CITIZENS get RELIEF from the TORTURE of these FALSE PROPHETS. Gosh it REEKS of EVIL and DEVIL at 100%. It permeates and must be gotten rid of, QUICKLY the WHOLE LOT OF THEM STENCHES!!!!
First, we have a strong military, and a very expensive one - we spend more than the next 17 countries (China, Russia, etc) combined. Second, the Republicans created the whole sequestration mess, now they need to own it.
No prsshredder the one the GOP and TEA Parties AMASSED while in GOVERNMENT for the PAST 50 years of SHYSTING you and I. De-Fog your BRAIN of waste it might save you!!!
reported as personal attack.
The same old supply side, chicken hawk arguments just aren't working any more Paul. Get rid of the useless cold war defense contractor expenses, heck cut the military budget in half, and we still outspend every other country by far. These guys want to spend more on defense than the PENTAGON IS REQUESTING! How will we pay for this ... we'll cut back on programs for our vets to fund rich, corrupt DoD contractors. Republicans recently blocked a non-partisan bill to help vets find jobs, they are the unpatriotic party.
There once was a Democratic Congressman who served his district in a Red State(That remains Red and poor to this day),he was along with the then Democratic Governor,involved in a Civil suit brought against him and the Governor for allegedly being instrumental in the Lay-off's of Registered Republicans that worked for the Division of Highways in his district, the pink slips were actually found to be rendered under the the Former Republican Governor and Republican Congressman of said district,the case was dismissed and the reputations of the men accused were restored.That Congressman was my grandfather and he served as Democratic Committee Chairman of his County until he was in his 80's,the moral of the story is,nothing is sacred to the Party of Lying,Cheating,and Stealing(GOP),their principles are not Christian or American.They will do anything to infest our Government and like roaches,you can not get rid of them once one gets in. The Founding Fathers did not accept this style of(ELITIST)Government,they fought it,and won.Now its our turn.
Hahaha wa hahaha! It takes some brass to accuse someone of what your doing. Hey Lying Ryan you are the one who required the cuts or you would not vote to raise the debt ceiling. You even held out so that you republicans cAUSED US TO BE DOWNGRADED. Now you decide your against the cuts. You nut you voted those cuts in even Robme said you was stupid for voting for the cuts. Now your all worried about our stength because you and Robme cant wait to jump right into another war. But what else can we expect from a morman who runs of to France so he will not have to fight for his country. He dont even believe that Jesus Christ died for his sins. And all you so called God Fearing Christians on the right are ready to elect a cult leader to the office of president. No morman no robme and the other liar Ryan. I know let's let them buy a gun and run off to Afganistan and support our troops there. Oh thats right it your kids they want to kill not there own. War mongers Ryan and Romney. Lets stop the madness of Bush. Vote for our great President Obama 2012. Your wingers really kill me your guys get more funny every day. Sit back and watch the comedy show lying robme and lying Ryan your losers get a real job you jerks and stop depending on the government to give you newer tax breaks daily. You are victims of tax breaks paid for by the working class and no we do not even like what you are and will not i repeat will not give you the keys to the whitehouse because they belong to the black man get over it all you racist facist on the right!!!!
So this is DRAFT DODGING MITT, who hid in Paris with his deferments in the Paris Ritz hotel little attack dog Paul Ryan mouthing off right. I am from WI, Ryan is a joke here, he couldn't get elected outside of his own district.
We have 11 carrier task forces, we spend more by 400 billion dollars in todays dollars than in Eisenhower's last year in office when we had Sputnik, a real Cold War. This country is ready to collapse in debt and the Republicans are afraid of gay marriage, etc. I am a 55 year old white male, that makes 3 times what you wal mart republicans make and will not vote republican again until you take your social issues and shove them down Ryans elephant ears and then shove his head up Romney's A$$. Keep your Christian Taliban out of my face and when you quit sucking off Grover Norquist
Since Ryan has been added to the ticket his chances of winning has dropped. I wonder why? Ryan is the perfect teabagger.
Oh RYAN are you DEPLOYED to be on the FRONT LINES any TIME SOON??????
What a TROLL !!! You look like one, go scare the So called adversaries!!!
Go to politifact look up each of the candidates. Now these people are all politicians, they all lie. What is interesting is that if you go to the page for the individual candidates there is a histogram of all the statements they have made that have been fact checked. Looks like the Romney/Ryan team LIE a LOT more than O&Joe.
G-ahead, tell me that politifact is left leaning. If you don't like the facts just stick your head in the sand and say they are spin.
Is this con-artist suggesting America is weak? Sounds like the terrorists. So why did he vote against the veterans jobs bill? Go figure.
maybe because the democrats filled it full of pork
The only thing that Lyin' Ryan cares about is himself and advancing his own career. Too bad it will be over when Mittens goes down in flames and Ryan is forever tied to that loser.
Can someone provide the list of all members of Congress that has lobbied for a weak military?
What freaking dolt Ryan is...