The author is trying to score points for himself swimming against the tide. My libertarian friends are thrilled with Ryan, especially his Ayn Rand quotes.
Apparently the Catholics got mad at Ryan for those quotes and Ryan was later forced to say that he did not believe in the philosophy of Ayn Rand, that it is an atheist philosophy and blah blah blah.
I like his Ayn Rand quotes as well. And Paul Ryan is well read ... to the point where he both understands and purports to be an adherent of the Austrian School of Economics (in stark contrast to Keynesianism).
Unfortunately, as clearly noted in the article, Ryan talks the talk, but he doesn't walk the walk. And that is a problem.