Paul Ryan

[CougarClaw]

So do you like the guy?

The more I read about him, the more I like him. Seems like he introduces brand new attack lines from Obama, but it really didn't matter who the VP was for that to happen.

Seems like he's energize mitt, brought new ideas to a star power advisoree team. I think he'll make an excellent Vice president.

If there's one problem, it's that he doesn't necessarily help Mitt win the election like Portman or Rubio might have done with Ohio/Fl. yes he helps a bit with Wisconsin but that's not quite as big of a prize.

[SpiffCoug]

He does have some problematic votes (TARP, auto bailouts, Medicare Part D, etc). But it does seem like he had a "come-to Jesus" moment when he decided to get serious about fiscal responsibility.

I like the pick. It's going to make it very hard to bring the conversation away from debts, budgets, spending, taxes and the economy.

He does seem to have energized Mitt. There was a lot of concern a week ago that Mitt wasn't doing enough. It now looks like he was really just focusing on picking his running mate. And that it is done, he is in full campaign mode.

I think they can keep the administration scrambling - like they have been the last week - for a good long time. The debates are going to be very important.

[snoscythe]

I hate it.

Takes him off of a crucial spot on the Budget committee. Likely cedes Florida to Obama because Ryan proposed changes to Medicare (despite not affecting seniors--do you realy expect that seniors will understand the nuance of Ryan's plan with all the media and Obama ads failing to mention it?) while perhaps delivering Wisconsin. Gives the Dems plenty of fodder to run negative ads from here to November.

It also dilutes Romney's argument that he's the guy for the job because he's been in the private sector his whole life so he knows what needs to be done. He's now hired a consummate DC insider as his #2.

Romney needed to go with a governor or someone else from outside of Congress for the #2. All he's done know is energize the GOP base, but at the expense of giving the Dems plenty of fodder to go after the independents Romney needs to win this thing. Now the Dems can point to GOP gamesmanship in Congress to stymie Obama and blame it, and the economic woes on the GOP in Congress-->Paul Ryan-->Mitt Romney.

This is just another Sarah Palin pick, but without the stylish glasses and ta-tas.

[Ddawg]

Hey Sno - back off Mister! I like "ta-ta's"

[snoscythe]

Hey Sno - back off Mister! I like "ta-ta's"

So you're excited that Chris Christie is giving the GOP keynote?

[SpiffCoug]

I think Americans are ready for a grown-up discussion about the benefits and entitlements that we simply can't afford. People aren't going to get all their promised benefits.

I think Americans are ready for real leadership and some straight talk about the tough choices we're going to have to make and the sacrifices that are going be necessary to keep our society alive

[CougarClaw]

I get the Medicare problem, but it's a REAL easy message that Ryan's plan affects 0 seniors on medicare.

Isn't it also an easy message that Obamacare takes 700B out of medicare?

[snoscythe]

I get the Medicare problem, but it's a REAL easy message that Ryan's plan affects 0 seniors on medicare.

Isn't it also an easy message that Obamacare takes 700B out of medicare?

Yeah, it's an easy message, but that doesn't mean it sticks or that people buy into it. All Obama has to do is keep repeating "I extended Medicare 10 years, Romney and Ryan want to end Medicare as we know it." The statement is facially true, and it makes Romney/Ryan look weaker in having to explain the nuances.

If the message was easy and it got through the cloud of fear that accompanies entitlements, the point would have been made long before Ryan got into the race.

The problem with most GOP supporters is that they think everyone else dismisses what the other side says as easily as they do. The true independents and undecideds view both sides with equal skepticism and distrust. That makes even simple messages difficult to stick when there is so much noise from the other side.

[tww]

I get the Medicare problem, but it's a REAL easy message that Ryan's plan affects 0 seniors on medicare.

Isn't it also an easy message that Obamacare takes 700B out of medicare?

Yeah, it's an easy message, but that doesn't mean it sticks or that people buy into it. All Obama has to do is keep repeating "I extended Medicare 10 years, Romney and Ryan want to end Medicare as we know it." The statement is facially true, and it makes Romney/Ryan look weaker in having to explain the nuances.

If the message was easy and it got through the cloud of fear that accompanies entitlements, the point would have been made long before Ryan got into the race.

The problem with most GOP supporters is that they think everyone else dismisses what the other side says as easily as they do. The true independents and undecideds view both sides with equal skepticism and distrust. That makes even simple messages difficult to stick when there is so much noise from the other side.

I don't think that Obama's attempts at twisting this are going to have staying power like they normally would. He is just too far off from the truth and the backlash is greater than he expected. The more the topic comes up the better it makes Romney and Ryan look and the worse Obama looks. Heck, even my mother gets it and she is on a strict diet of liberal media. Obama is not Bill "slick willy" Clinton.

Trying to tag Ryan as a DC insider is a stretch. Just because he has served in DC does not make him an insider especially when he has clearly stood against the DC establishment. Independents like Ryan because he is much easier to trust.

Ryan is a better choice than most of the other options because the others, like say Rubio or Rice, would have looked contrived to pander to racial segments of the vote. Ryan helps cement the focus on the economy which is where it needs to be. Ryan has much more depth and ability to persuade than does Palin.

We will see a much more broad cross-section of actual voters connecting with Romney-Ryan. This is a serious leadership team to fix America not a pandering trick and that is what most voters will see.

[SpiffCoug]

Obama hasn't extended Medicare 10 years. His response to it going insolvent in 12 years isn't to address the problem, it's to take nearly 3/4 of a trillion dollars to pay for a different health benefit.