It’s Official: Paul Ryan is Being Vetted for Veep

Ryan, one of the GOP’s brightest young stars, is clearly a favorite of Romney allies. But some top Republican officials are wary of plucking him from the House, where he is the party’s most influential voice on fiscal issues.

Earlier this week, Romney campaigned with Ryan in Janesville, Wis., Ryan’s hometown. Ryan previously stumped for Romney in late March and early April, ahead of Wisconsin’s Republican presidential primary.

For their part, Ryan and his team remain mum on the issue, telling NRO: “Respecting their campaign’s internal process, we’re not going to comment.”

I for one genuinely like Paul Ryan. He strikes me as one of the few politicians inside the Beltway who isn’t afraid to either (a) tackle the tough issues facing our country or (b) lose his prestigious seat in Congress for doing so. (By the way, these are two qualities the president obviously lacks). Indeed, Rep. Ryan has been one of the most vociferous advocates for putting our fiscal house in order. He even introduced a budget proposal last March -- The Path to Prosperity -- which cut long-term spending to sustainable levels, reformed Medicare, and balanced the federal budget. Not too shabby. Setting aside the fact the president’s plan (which was voted down unanimously) accomplished none of these abiding goals, the proposal was -- surprise! -- demagogued relentlessly by Democrats and died in the United States Senate after narrowly passing the House. I suspect it’s scattered across Harry Reid’s desk right about now (underneath all those Republican jobs plans).

At any rate, given Paul Ryan’s many accomplishments, this does not necessarily mean he is without shortcomings. To my knowledge, he’s essentially spent his professional life in government and has no foreign policy credentials or executive experience. This may, indeed, hurt his chances of becoming Mitt Romney’s running mate. Tina Korbe, on the other hand, points out that placing Rep. Ryan on the ticket would demonstrate that Republicans -- finally -- were serious about resolving the nation’s impending debt crisis. And, of course, it would further underscore The One’s ineptitude and failure of leadership over the last three and half years. I like it!

Exit question: What do you guys think about a Romney/Ryan ticket? Feel free to duke it out in the comments section…

You never really know if stories like this our true but, I sure like the idea. Quite franky, the country needs the stark contrast in choices.

Both parties have been guilty of overspending but, it seems as if the GOP is more comfortable with the idea of backing-off the credit card. Paul Ryan has made a couple of bites at the apple with his proposals and this is what used to be called ‘leadership.’ His proposals would be a great jumping off point in a Romney administration.

As for a second Obama term, I really try to be open minded. While it is clear Obama strongly disagrees with the Ryan budget, he has not yet offered a ‘counter-plan’ to reduce the deficit. Instead he gives us 1.5 trillion dollar deficits that not even his own senate supports. We as voters are therefore left to guess what his deficit reduction plan might be. Based on his record, my guess is he has no plan which scares me. The fact is, to maintain his spending levels everyone’s (and I mean everyone’s)federal taxes will have to at least double. So, as voters, we are left to assume that there will be no deficit reduction plan from Obama or a ‘double taxes’ budget from Obama. No matter what, it’s crap leadership because we shouldn’t be guessing. We should know.

President Obama is an unusual leader. He carries and presents himself as good as any politician I’ve ever seen. Still, his speeches are not inspiring, rather they are preachy and condescending as he spouts orders indignantly and lectures those who disagree with him. In the end, he comes across as a politician who doesn’t know how to roll up his sleaves and work with people he neither agrees with nor likes. The details of politics...the give and take...the interaction....the things that are usually the mothers milk of a skilled politician.....completely escape President Obama. In short, he doesn’t enjoy the very thing a President is called upon to do...which is to craft agreement and law where none appears to exist.

Our greatest Presidents were labeled great not because everyone agreed with them all the time. They were labeled great because they brought people and ideas together in what was thought to be impossible situations. For example, all of the south and half of the north hated President Lincoln. Even with this head win, President Lincoln was still able to maneuver in that environment and maneuver successfully.

No, President Obama is no leader. He prefers to lecture, whine, politicize, pander, and hit the golf course by 1 PM....mistaking attitude and anger for negotiation and positioning. It is obvious he is in completely over his head. It is clear that President Obama hasn’t the skills or the patience to get his vision in place. Heck, I’ll even go one further. He doesn’t even have a vision. If he did, there would be more than the Ryan Budget Plan for us voters to consider.

Ryan should probably have been the Presidential candidate, with somebody like Newt to add a little more excitement and experience.

I’m not sure Romney would like to run with Ryan, however, since Ryan is a lot smarter and less liberal than Romney and I don’t think Romney likes competitors.

Rubio, having had a Mormon background and having becoming increasingly liberal lately, would also have been too much on the same line and I think Romney never seriously considered him. Romney gave money to Rubio’s Senate campaign because he was buying everybody he thought might be a rival to him.

That said, I’m not voting for VP again.

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