Posted on 05/14/2011 12:56:10 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
“In over two decades of service in the Senate, Herb Kohl has done much to help the great state of Wisconsin and the lives of its residents. While Senator Kohl and I have had our policy disagreements in the past, he has always had my respect. It has been a privilege to work with him over the years, and I wish him the best in his future endeavors. I was surprised by Senator Kohl’s announcement and want to take some time over the next few days to discuss this news with my family and supporters before making any decision about how I’m best able to serve my employers in the First Congressional District, our state and nation.”
Two thoughts. One: If he does this, he’s off the VP list. I keep seeing him turn up in the blogosphere on 2012 “dream tickets,” usually with Christie or Daniels or some other dyed-in-the-wool fiscal con, but it would be absurd to draft him for the vice presidential slot while he’s busy running for his first Senate seat. The perception would be that he’s so personally ambitious that he almost doesn’t care what he runs for — first Kohl’s seat, and then for VP once the position was offered. (It’s less of an issue for incumbents like Joe Lieberman who run to keep the seat they already have.) That’s bad for the ticket and very bad for Ryan, who’d be in political limbo if the ticket lost next year. And two: Ryan campaigning for Senate at ground zero of the left’s big labor backlash would be the ultimate test of how far voters are willing to bend on entitlements. The GOP primary would almost certainly be contested and then the general election would be brutal, with Ryan painted for months as the Grim Reaper eager to see grandma and grandpa culled by the fiscal scythe. I’ll bet there’s pressure on him from Republican leaders even now not to run, that the party has more electable candidates and that having the architect of the “Path to Prosperity” gunning for a high-profile seat in the Senate could hurt the GOP’s national chances next year. There’s a reason, after all, why even tea partiers like DeMint and Rubio are lining up to co-sponsor Pat Toomey’s far less aggressive alternative budget to Ryan’s.
Exit question: How many Republican votes will Ryan’s budget get if/when it comes to the floor in the Senate? The fewer it gets, the stronger the Democrats’ “too radical for his own party!” anti-Ryan talking points will be in Wisconsin.
That would be a shame. He has eons more influence in his current position as budget chair in the House.
Ryan won’t run for senate.
He’d be in a far less influential position in the senate than he is right now. He’s doing the best good where he is right now. He has a lot of ability to influence things in the House.
LOL, let’s which would you rather be, 1 of 100 , with a six year term, are 1 of 435 and a 2 year term. Someone caught not thinking.
He’s a highly influential chair in a pretty safe district. He has more security there than running for senate in blue state during a Presidetial election year. Lots of risk, especially if...God forbid...Feingold jumps in.
It’s Wisconsin. Too many shenanigans. Safer inthe house, especially if we get control of the senate.
Ryan should play chicken with Finegold who-last I heard-is a loser. Ryan is not even 40 years old. The sky’s the limit for him. Therefore he should run for the senate seat. He can be a family man for 6 years w/o campaigning again. If he should lose he can run a company and get his ceo experience in.
Chance to pick up a senate seat and have Wisconsin with two Republican senators for the first time since? If Ryan is the Republican with the best chance to win that senate race, he should run for it.
Why all the unnecessary compliments to the Kohl? these people act to much like Royalty, and the government we have confirms it.
I guess comity and all that BS, and they’ve probably worked on a few projects together to benefit Wisconsin. But whoever has the best chance to win that Wisconsin senate seat needs to run. Don’t know if that’s Ryan, but Republicans need to take the Senate with enough Republicans with a backbone to block any more whacky Obama court nominees, among other things.
It would be the first time since 1957. Kohl occupies the Joe McCarthy seat, and McCarthy was the last Republican to win it in 1952. Way past time to take it back.
I disagree. That's not a good comparison. Ryan is a budget committee chair at the time when people's eyes are on him. He's from a quite safe district, so he'll be re-elected often. If he's elected to the senate, he'll be a junior senator from WI. Even if the Republicans capture the senate, he won't be a budget committee chair right away. Perhaps not for several years. Considering budget has to come from the House, not Senate, he is currently more influential than many committee chairs in the senate.
I do agree with you on something though. Someone caught not thinking.
You probably are correct, doesn’t have the ability to be anything but a congressman.
Paul Ryan is Chairman of the House Finance Committee and the House is the originator of all fiscal legislation, so that makes him a very important person vis-à-vis the other 434. If you are a "freshman" Senator you are not all that much above a page...You have to wait for one of the 99 fossils to die before you can hope for a committee appointment let alone a chairmanship.
Regards,
GtG
Yes I know, just like the democrats it is not about doing for the country, it is all about the position.
I think that Ryan would be a very good Senator, but that he’d be a lightning rod as a candidate. In any event, he’s far more influential now than he would be as a junior Senator.
Ryan should run and win. There are many capable legislators in the House. The Senate needs help.
Aren't you being a little hard on the Senate? After all, there's DeMint, there's Coburn, there's...uh...how about...ummmmmmm...gotta be...uh...
You're right. The Senate needs help.
Maybe. But he’s a good and rather effective congressman. The same cannot be said about many senators. Perhaps because Ryan knows where he can be effective for the cause.
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