“Isn’t Ryan the one who was shilling the pro Super-Committee vote, along with Boehner and Cantor?”
There is no one who would pass the FR purity test. No one.
In my opinion, Ryan gives us the best shot to win the general, and still have someone who will do good thing for America.
I can't get really excited about either of the top tier candidates of the RINO wing, Romney and Perry, though either might do reasonably well in a cabinet job which had nothing to do with socialized medicine and open borders, respectively.
Best of all, while I can't see the RINO/Country Club wing of the party getting overly excited about a Paul Ryan candidacy, I can't see them pulling out the long knives for him either. His position on social conservatism are solid, but not so outspoken as to attract the ire of Country Club set. His position on economic issues are sensible as well as salable.
He has a compelling life story and experience to boot! This is a rare combination which appeals to about 40% of the electorate which votes with their brains, and another 40% which votes with their feelings.