Posted on 08/11/2012 3:38:21 AM PDT by Kaslin
Sonic Boom (via NBC News):
Campaign sources indicate that Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin is Mitt Romney's vice presidential pick, NBC News reported Friday night. Earlier Romney's campaign said in a statement that it would announce a running mate at 9 a.m. ET Saturday morning in Norfolk, Va., just before he begins a four-day bus tour in the battleground state.
I spoke with a high-level Romney campaign source earlier this evening, who confirmed that the announcement will come at approximately 9am ET on Saturday, though he could not officially confirm that Ryan is the pick. The unveiling will occur at a rally in Norfolk, VA -- with the (ahem) U.S.S. Wisconsin as a backdrop. Another well-placed GOP source informs me that party operatives are being told to prepare for a Ryan VP roll-out. For additional details, read the Weekly Standard's reportage, which has been all over this. A chartered plane has also been spotted in Ryan's home town, so all signs point to Ryan. This is happening. ABC News is reporting that top other contenders such as Rob Portman, Tim Pawlenty and Marco Rubio have been informed that they will not be Romney's running mate. There's a faint possibility that this is a giant head-fake, but I sincerely doubt it. Multiple sources have told me similar things, plus the Romney campaign would be crazy to leak a name like Paul Ryan, only to surprisingly pick, say, Tim Pawlenty.
Any way you slice it, this is a game-changer. As I wrote earlier this week, Paul Ryan is one of the sunniest, most likeable conservatives on the scene today. He's also the party's top wonk and is completely fluent in fiscal issues. I predict that Democrats will publicly gloat over this pick ("he'll be so easy to demonize!"), even as they privately worry. Paul Ryan is earnest, smart, articulate, attractive, calm, good-humored, and exceptionally gifted in explaining his case in persuasive and unthreatening terms. He's from the Midwest, has blue collar appeal (unlike Romney, he did not grow up wealthy), and has a beautiful young family. The Left will launch vicious and totally dishonest attacks, as they have throughout the last two years of budget debates. But never before has Paul Ryan enjoyed a larger platform from which to make his case to the American public: The country is going broke, a fiscal calamity awaits, but we can avoid it if we take responsible, urgent action. This campaign is about to get a major (and needed) injection of seriousness.
It's time to brush up on Paul Ryan's budget -- on what it does and does not propose. Let's also recall that Ryan's bipartisan Medicare reform (which he co-authored with liberal Democrat Sen. Ron Wyden) does not affect anyone over the age of 55. Period. This message will need to be hammered in multiple ads and played on a loop in Florida, as "scare granny" tactics from Democrats will be off the charts. Medicare's own bookkeepers warn that the program will be insolvent within 12 years without meaningful reforms. Barack Obama has no plan on this front, aside from robbing $500 Billion from Medicare to pay for Obamacare, and empowering an unelected panel of bureaucrats to ration care. Paul Ryan is very adept at making this case, and every bit of that skill will be essential over the coming three months. Barack Obama's reckless budgets have been unanimously defeated for two consecutive years, and the Senate has not produced a budget in over 1,200 days. The president -- by his own administration's admission -- has no plan to deal with our long term debt, which threatens to swallow our economy and change the very nature of the American idea. Whether we like it or not, this is a debate America must have. Paul Ryan is one of the very best -- if not the best -- conservative communicators on the biggest issue of our time. Buckle up, guys. This is going to get intense.
Finally, this is a bold pick by Mitt Romney. It underscores his appreciation of the national moment and the seriousness of our economic and fiscal state. It should also eliminate any doubts about Romney's commitment to Obamacare repeal and entitlement reform, Paul Ryan's top issues. Parting thoughts: (1) Regardless of where this campaign goes, I cannot wait for the Vice Presidential debate. (2) Two clips:
UPDATE - The Ryan family:
UPDATE II - www.RomneyRyan.com "America's Comeback Team."
So much for the “boring, White guy”, Brian Williams.
Go ahead. Pick Ryan, then ride off into the sunset, make a left turn and never come back ,leaving Paul Ryan as the parties pick
More Paul Ryan — discusses Medicare reform proposal
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
More Paul Ryan — discusses Medicare reform proposal
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
Lol! My feelings exactly! Great VP candidate with lousy presidential candidate...hey, is there a GOP pattern here?
My 6am local news today (Saturday) led with the Ryan announcement...the local “reporter” called Ryan “controversial” and someone who “supports” lower taxes on the wealthy. There followed with a feed from NBC that was a complete hit piece.
Not one word about Ryan’s accomplishments or background, other than that he was seen by some as “anti-poor”.
Wow! It’s only August...what’s the media going to be like in October?
I am so glad he didn’t fall for the Rubio trick that the Dems and their media lackies were promoting. Accepting Rubio would have undermined the NBC issue and that is why they wanted him.
I suppose we could always just vote for Ron Paul.
He isn’t campaigning anymore because he ran out of money, but he hasn’t withdrawn either.
Capital idea is made.
A certain FR poster will be disappointed he can’t copy and paste like a madman - but it may prevent a case of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Should Romney win in November,he would probably be reelected in 2016, so in Ryan, we’re looking at the likely successor to Romney. I could think of worse things than that.
I’m searching through the recipe book looking to see how I’ll eat my plate of crow. I’ll probably use a lot ketchup, but I use ketchup on a lot of things.
RR.....Rolls Royce?
Excuse my stupidity of the nominee process, but what happens if Romney decides to back down, to leave,or even if he is rejected?
Does Ryan then become the nominee for POTUS?
I keep getting an image of a no show of Romney for the elections.
Good choice. If we have victory, he will be missed in the House.
Awesome. Can’t wait for the VP debates.
Make no mistake about it Ryan’s a good man and a great leader in Congress.......but wrong as the VP nominee. With him on the ticket, the pubbies will be blasted by Bam and the MSM for cuts to social security & medicaire (the third rail of American politics). This ticket in effect takes Bam off the hook for his lies, Marxism and incompetency. No way the seniors in FL. will go with Romney. Its unfortunate but their are not enough intelligent voters in this country to offset the morons. With Rubio, Romney would have won, hands down.
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