[nathanbedford]

With this pick Mitt Romney has made his intentions clear, he will run this campaign on the economy, and with Paul Ryan on the ticket that means control of deficits and debt, a commitment to the electorate to restrain spending and which in turn explicitly includes reform of entitlements. Ryan since the 2010 election has been publicly declaring that it should be the strategy of the Republican Party to work with Obama where possible but, anticipating that would not be possible, to offer the electorate a clear choice. That is why he presented his competing budgets, to make explicit the choice.

In other words this choice should reassure many conservatives that it will be the strategy of the campaign to depart from the passive aggressive approach of the John Boehner House of Representatives and embark on an explicit attack on the Obama economy. I hope the attack also includes a indictment of Obama as a rank socialist, a radical Alinsky redistributionist whose definition of "transformation" ultimately means the death of capitalism and democracy. I fear this is unlikely for these reasons which follow. I also hope that this attack includes a clear warning to the people of the existential threat facing the nation recently described by Marc Steyn as a "death spiral."

Many of us question why Romney has been relatively passive in his campaign against Obama when he was ruthlessly aggressive in his attacks which brought down competing Republicans in the primaries. I think his advisors tell him that he is pursuing two different electorates in the primaries as opposed to the general. In the primaries one is dealing with a committed base who want red meat and in the general one seeks to enlist the independents and undecideds who supposedly resist negative campaigns. I think this is much overblown. History reveals that truly vicious negative attacks such as those waged by Lyndon Johnson against Barry Goldwater were extremely effective with independents who became convinced that Goldwater would blow up the world. I believe that successful negative campaigns do not experience blowback when the candidate who wages it is likable. I think that both Ryan and Romney have the kinds of personas that will shield them from such criticism if they choose to attack, but that, of course, will be Ryan's job for which I think he is well-suited if he is temperamentally fit.

Ryan will not be flummoxed in the debate and he is very unlikely to make any serious gaffes on the stump so, from a practical political point of view, he fulfills the first criteria for a vice presidential pick, he will likely do no harm. Of course, that consideration follows only after the pick can be confidently presented as the man who can succeed to the presidency in the event of tragedy. Ryan fills those requirements splendidly.

His selection focuses the nation on the state of the economy. That is the terrain on which Romney has elected to run, probably at the expense to some minor extent of litigating the social issues. I am a social conservative in many respects as well as a fiscal conservatives but I am not concerned in this cycle about the ticket concentrating on spending, taxes, and jobs because I believe that the nation is careening toward a fiscal cliff from which there could be no recovery which would satisfy a conservative. This is a question of saving democracy and capitalism not advancing social issues which will die with the Republic-apart always from abortion which remains a dealbreaker for me.

I am concerned that the candidates will look like two nerds in a pod. Balancing that is the knowledge that Ryan is extremely likable, extremely telegenic, and therefore able to carry a negative message against Obama without appearing mean-spirited. Both of these guys are tall, physically attractive, physically fit and not the caricature by any means of nerds.

No candidate, of course, comes without negatives and Ryan's budget plan does open the door to demagoguery from the left but that is only the kind of demagoguery we get with Ryan rather than the kind of demagoguery we would get with another pick. In other words, we know how our enemy operates and if we are going to be compelled to wage a campaign against demagoguery let us at least do it when the subject matter is the budget.

My other choice for the slot was Marco Rubio and either man would have the advantage of being the right age in 2020 to make a credible candidate. I believe we are going to win the election this cycle and, if Romney can perform credibly, the next. But I am extremely concerned about the downstream effect of the demographic wave that is engulfing the nation with immigrants who simply do not share the culture, language, or understanding of the rule of law, of capitalism, of democracy all of which are part of our national fabric. Those who are not immigrants are being "transformed" at a frightening pace into welfare and entitlement dependents who will be likely to vote their purses.

[Bender2]

We interrupt this thread with BREAKING NEWS... Ken Brockman reporting--

Paul Ryan has been named Mitt Romney's VP running mate... and we now take you to the Senate Rotunda for remarks by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid--

Well, I now can report that an anonymous caller told me... that Paul Ryan beats his wife with a fireplace poker--

Also, I was told Paul Ryan... is know for browsing the world wide web for child pornography--

And he secretly runs... a covert dog fighting ring in a barn outside Jamesville, Wisconsin--

I get no joy from this information and report it... simply as my duty to be a good American!

We now take you to Joe Soptic... for his comments on Senator Reid's facts--

Wow, Senator Reid, I am so awed by your truth, I find I must also report that when Mitt Romney was killing my wife... Paul Ryan was his lookout and getaway driver--

And we also have remarks by Stephanie Cutter... on the Ryan selection--

Paul Ryan was the dirty dog... that photoshopped me into that photo... with President Obama!

And he doctored that conference call with Joe Soptic... editing my voice in to it when I have never met nor talked to Joe Soptic at any time in my whole life!

President Obama has also spoke out about Paul Ryan... saying he welcomes the Congressman to the race--

Paul Ryan brings a wealth of talent to this election... Talent, I say, in championing legislation that will give billionaires untold trillions of dollars in tax cuts, destroy Medicare and Medicare, starve the poor and elderly in doing away with Food Stamps, remove from the voter rolls all Blacks, Hispanics and Gays. And finally, Ryan will ramp up the continuing total war the GOP has on women and their reproductive rights. It is "Romnyhood & Ryan, Rape and Pillage" for the Radical Right-Wing GOP!

Now, we must stop all these negative attack ads... on me and get back to trashing the evil Romney and his spawn from hell, Paul Ryan!

There you have all the BREAKING NEWS this objective journalist can report. We now return you to this thread already playing... This has been Ken Brockman reporting.

[arasina]

Very well stated post!

[beebuster2000]

wow, that was a pretty good post !!

ryan is a bet on the intelligence of the electorate and the ability to grasp how deep we are in trouble. i hope it proves out, rather than finding out that the electorate is either clueless or just want the debt fueled gravy train to keep rolling till it can’t.

[Kit cat]

THANK-YOU for your commentary, I always wait to see your words of
wisdom, I am very happy with this pick!!! GAME ON!! We are about to
see how vicious the left can be!!!

[Nervous Tick]

well written

[randita]

Both of these guys are tall, physically attractive, physically fit and not the caricature by any means of nerds.

This is a point that is well taken. Romney's well, Romney. Okay, but not Clinton as far as appeal goes.

Paul Ryan has Paul Newman baby blues, a hairline that rivals Judge Napolitano's, and the clean cut image of the guy you'd love to take home to meet Mom and Dad. That means a lot in the age of superficiality.

Two demographics Ryan will appeal to are married women (who would like their husbands to be just like him) and metrosexuals (of either sex). The latter are the young adults who are economically savvy and know what's coming down the pike if something's not done about it soon. I think this group will like and trust Ryan because he's one of them.

[ZULU]

TOtally agree.

[PapaBear3625]

My other choice for the slot was Marco Rubio and either man would have the advantage of being the right age in 2020 to make a credible candidate.

I think Ryan is the better choice. Some Freepers think Rubio would lure some Hispanic voters away from the Dem camp, but I think that would work about as well as an Alan West candidacy luring Dem black voters, namely not very well at all.

A Rubio candidacy would mainly attract Hispanic voters by an implicit promise of amnesty, or other favorable treatment of Hispanics, and would turn off the conservative base more than it would help with Hispanics.

[netmilsmom]

>>I am concerned that the candidates will look like two nerds in a pod.<<

Our Governor RAN on his Nerd. (superbowl commercial and all) It’s the age of Nerds. Young people think that nerds are smart thanks to “Big, Bang Theory”. They think they are the problem solvers. And these young people who have to stay in school because they can’t get a job know there is a problem.

Remember, these are the same young people that got burnt by the “Popular kid” last time.
Maybe it’s time for a couple of Nerds.

[burghguy]

I almost always enjoy your posts. With your analysis of the Paul Ryan pick, you have again been right on point. Ryan is an excellent pick and will focus the election on the economy and our out of control debt. I am no Romney fan, but I am pleasantly surprised with this choice and look forward to voting for R/R in the fall.

[dagogo redux]

Thanks for a your great post here. Articulate and salient, as always.

[Last Dakotan]

That is why he presented his competing budgets, to make explicit the choice.

What competing budget? - the Democrats have never offered one.

It is a cynical strategy, knowing that balancing the budget will either raise taxes or cut spending, to offer no alternative. This keeps you innocent but able demagog your opponent.

[hampdenkid]

Great analysis. Thank you very much.

One question: What, exactly, did Paul Ryan propose on Social Security that caused such a firestorm against him? I recall it going largely unanswered. And I am concerned that unless he comes up with an ironclad response, it could cost us dearly with seniors.