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Paul Ryan: I’d have to consider an invitation to join the Republican ticket (Watch Video)
Hotair ^ | 03/26/2012 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 03/26/2012 8:21:52 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Some Republicans have spent the last week wringing their hands over the new budget proposal from House Budget chair Paul Ryan. Others have suggested that Ryan's solid credentials and straightforward manner on spending make him an obvious choice as running mate for the eventual Republican presidential nominee. Fox's Chris Wallace asked Ryan the question on yesterday’s Fox News Sunday, and Ryan didn’t exactly rule out the idea:

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO

“Well, I’m already the point guy for doing it in the House,” Ryan said. “I just don’t know the answer to your question, Chris. It is not a bridge I have even come close to crossing. It is a decision that somebody else makes a long time from now. And, quite honestly, I am focused on doing my job in Congress, which I think is important, which is to give the country and alternative choice of two futures on how we save and strengthen America, how we save the American dream from what I think is this path the president has put us on to debt and decline. So, I can’t answer that question. I haven’t given enough thought to that.”

But Ryan didn’t close the door completely to the possibility, saying he would “consider” it.

“I would have to consider it, but it’s not something I am even thinking about right now because I think our job in Congress is pretty important,” Ryan said. “And what we believe we owe the country is if we don’t like the direction the president is taking us, which we don’t — we owe them a specific sharp contrast and a different path they can select in November and doing this in Congress is really important. That’s why I think I have a real good job right now.”

Ryan doesn’t count himself out of the Veepstakes with this answer, of course, and he shouldn’t be out of the running. (Marco Rubio was more categorical in his demurrals.) Ryan has considerably more experience in Congress than Rubio, having served since 1999, although he has only been chair of the Budget Committee for fourteen months. Both have considerable political skills, and few in the GOP can match Ryan’s level of seriousness on budget issues as well as his skill in explaining them. Ryan’s patient, non-combative style would mesh well with a presidential nominee without running the risk of overshadowing him.

However, Ryan lacks executive experience, and as a member of the House has a smaller constituency than a Senator or a Governor. Ryan might or might not carry Wisconsin for a national ticket, and it’s unlikely that his influence would go much farther than his House district. For a clean-up-Washington ticket and a clear contrast between the two former Senators on the opposing ticket, the eventual Republican nominee will probably want a governor — and considering the two at the front of the GOP race at the moment, it’s more likely they’ll need a Southern governor at that.

Besides, Ryan does have an important job in this session, and taking the Budget chair out of the House in August just as the budget votes start getting scheduled in Congress will mean sidelining our best talent for that effort.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: paulryan
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To: sickoflibs

SCOTUS already is treating Obamacare as a joke. Good first day.


21 posted on 03/26/2012 1:37:09 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
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To: stephenjohnbanker; sickoflibs; SeekAndFind; Gilbo_3; Impy; DoughtyOne
You are being cautious....good! So am I. We will get the usual “jump on the Ryan Bandwagon” FReepers.

I think it's likely that the left will be able to use the new Ryan budget proposal to their advantage.

Wasserman-Schultz: "It is a Republican path to poverty that would pass like a tornado through America’s nursing homes where millions of America’s seniors receive long-term and end-of-life care."

I think there may be stroke victims that would have problems paying for nursing care (unable to find a private plan that paid for it) under the Ryan plan, although it's not in the form of a bill. But I think Wasserman-Schultz seems to be ignoring the fact that last year Sebelius cancelled the long term care feature if Obamacare "CLASS" because even she admitted it was a financial loser.

This is what worries me: If the GOP can never do anything about entitlements because Dems will use it against them, how can we avoid becoming Greece?

22 posted on 03/26/2012 2:27:51 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Fool me once, shame on you -- twice, shame on me -- 100 times, it's U. S. immigration policy.)
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To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas

” This is what worries me: If the GOP can never do anything about entitlements because Dems will use it against them, how can we avoid becoming Greece? “

Tell Boehner & McConnell.....good luck!!


23 posted on 03/26/2012 3:13:13 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
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To: Clintonfatigued; AuH2ORepublican; fieldmarshaldj; GOPsterinMA; BillyBoy

People have turned down VP offers. Bill Bennett in 1996 turned down Dole. I’m sure there are others.

But most people who say they never think about it or don’t want it would in fact take it in a second. Saying “no thanks” is just part of the game with the media.


24 posted on 03/26/2012 4:42:19 PM PDT by Impy (Don't call me red.)
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To: CaptainK

I know. I like him too. It’s the likable one’s that are killing us, and Ryan’s plan solves what? Nothing.


25 posted on 03/26/2012 5:30:15 PM PDT by RitaOK (LET 'ER RIP, NEWT. Newt knows where all the bodies are buried, because he buried them.)
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To: CaptainK

I know. I like him too. It’s the likable one’s that are killing us, and Ryan’s plan solves what? Nothing.


26 posted on 03/26/2012 5:30:41 PM PDT by RitaOK (LET 'ER RIP, NEWT. Newt knows where all the bodies are buried, because he buried them.)
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To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas; stephenjohnbanker; SeekAndFind; Gilbo_3; Impy; DoughtyOne
RE :” I think there may be stroke victims that would have problems paying for nursing care (unable to find a private plan that paid for it) under the Ryan plan, although it's not in the form of a bill

She is talking about the Ryan block-grand proposal of Medicaid which pays for nursing home bills for those with no $$$. Those places are a pretty grim situation even now.

RE :”I think it's likely that the left will be able to use the new Ryan budget proposal to their advantage.

That is pretty easy to do.

I still remember Ryan last year getting heat after the vote and he said :” It's not a budget. It's just a proposal. It's just putting an idea on the table for a talking point start ”.

I don't see anywhere where Ryan has changed that Dem argument against into his favor against them.

27 posted on 03/26/2012 7:57:10 PM PDT by sickoflibs (Obama : "I will just make insurance companies give you health care for 'free, What Mandates??' ")
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To: sickoflibs

Neither do I.


28 posted on 03/26/2012 8:18:07 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
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To: sickoflibs; stephenjohnbanker; SeekAndFind; Gilbo_3; Impy; DoughtyOne
I don't see anywhere where Ryan has changed that Dem argument against into his favor against them.

2 big problems:

1) There are so many govt. moochers that any serious attempt to cut spending will face a severe attack (led by the left) and such an attack might be more successful than we think.

2) The GOP seems to assume that they can seriously reform entitlements, but apparently don't have the skill or energy to convince voters that it needs to be done. Even if they did possess that skill, I am not certain that the voters care whether we go broke, as long as we go broke down the road somewhere.

I hope my fear is misguided.

29 posted on 03/26/2012 11:16:43 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Fool me once, shame on you -- twice, shame on me -- 100 times, it's U. S. immigration policy.)
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To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas; sickoflibs; stephenjohnbanker
2) The GOP seems to assume that they can seriously reform entitlements, but apparently don't have the skill or energy to convince voters that it needs to be done. Even if they did possess that skill, I am not certain that the voters care whether we go broke, as long as we go broke down the road somewhere.

problem is, they mostly view their political CAREERS as more important than doing the business that they were elected to do...also, there is an ever growing *"R"* electorate that is accustomed to the handouts of all levels of gubmint, and we see it here every day...a willingness to 'cutoff' somebody elses perk as long as it doesnt affect theirs...

I hope my fear is misguided.

i believe you outta get beyond the *what if* mindset, and embrace the *when* ...its refreshing, in a way, to be rid of that and move forward in mental preparation...

30 posted on 03/27/2012 4:59:29 AM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Gov is not reason; not eloquent; its force.Like fire,a dangerous servant & master. George Washington)
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To: RitaOK

And whose plan solves anything more than his?
Got a name?


31 posted on 03/27/2012 5:37:33 AM PDT by CaptainK (...please make it stop. Shake a can of pennies at it.)
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To: Gilbo_3

TERM LIMITS


32 posted on 03/27/2012 8:19:20 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
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To: Gilbo_3; ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas; stephenjohnbanker
RE :”...also, there is an ever growing *”R”* electorate that is accustomed to the handouts of all levels of gubmint, and we see it here every day...a willingness to ‘cutoff’ somebody elses perk as long as it doesnt affect theirs...

Now hold on there. Republicans handouts are completely different than Democrat handouts. Ours are earned because we pay taxes so we deserve more and more benefits.
but Dem handouts are based on fairness, example : sjb has more money than some illegals kid in his state. So Dem fairness says he should pay more to ‘even the playing field’.

Keep the gubment out of my Social Security!

33 posted on 03/27/2012 9:36:25 AM PDT by sickoflibs (Obama : "I will just make insurance companies give you health care for 'free, What Mandates??' ")
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To: sickoflibs

Where is “even” in the Constitution?

And not to worry....I DO pay more : )


34 posted on 03/27/2012 9:47:45 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
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To: Gilbo_3; sickoflibs; stephenjohnbanker
problem is, they mostly view their political CAREERS as more important than doing the business that they were elected to do

Assuming that is true, they won't have much of a career. Who will vote for them? Those who want favors can get more from the Dems, and tea partiers will have little reason to vote for them. But they will get that congressional pension, if nothing else.

35 posted on 03/27/2012 10:12:08 AM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Fool me once, shame on you -- twice, shame on me -- 100 times, it's U. S. immigration policy.)
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To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas; Gilbo_3; sickoflibs

The ones currently in power don’t care about future House & Senate members, any more than they care about what happens to America.....or us.


36 posted on 03/27/2012 10:16:31 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
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To: stephenjohnbanker; Gilbo_3; sickoflibs
The ones currently in power don’t care about future House & Senate members, any more than they care about what happens to America.....or us.

There are probably a few good ones, but too many see their number one job as serving lobbyists, and if they don't get reelected, they got what they wanted. Plus the pension for the rest of life.

37 posted on 03/27/2012 12:30:12 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Fool me once, shame on you -- twice, shame on me -- 100 times, it's U. S. immigration policy.)
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To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas; sickoflibs; Gilbo_3

” Plus the pension for the rest of life. “

Then they go on speaker tours for 2 or 3 years....make 3-500,000 per year doing that....then they become a lobbyist
at 500,000 to 1,000,000 per year.

Ask the previous King of Whores, Trent Lott, how it is done.


38 posted on 03/27/2012 1:06:43 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
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