I think it is a fine choice, and so do the Dems. They have already spouted hundreds of lies about Ryan's budget plans, and few hundred more will be no problem for them.
And since the damned, useless, lying media, backs up anything they say, I am certain Ryan is already well on his way to being Palinized.
I think the average voter - Republican, Conservative, Independent, even moderate Democrat - has no problem seeing through the li erals smear tactics and untruths and know the MSM is their lapdog. That's ok, it doesn't bother me one iota. Voters with working brain cells know we cannot continue to spend in the manner we've done so for the last 6 years and also realize that increasing taxes on the most wealthy would make no difference in reducing our debt. The problem is with spending and an enormous, bloated bureaucracy that will be really tough to dismantle but someone has to give it a start. Romney/Ryan vow to do that. Let the lying liberals say whatever they want about our candidates; they've never had the best interests of the country at heart. Their priorities are power and ideology. Time for a real change before it's too late and we are cemented in as Europe Junior.
How about they start with the 14,000 vacant government buildings? That would save $194 million right there plus the $$ that would be earned for the properties at auction.
FWIW I personally think Ryan is a fine choice, but that's just me.
As far as the election...
1) the Intrade prediction market initially bounced in Obama's favor, but now it's back about where it was when the announcement was made (60% chance of Obama re-election). So the professional gamblers/oddsmakers don't see a big move either way.
2) People are polarized. Those predisposed to vote for Obama will hate Ryan; the Republican base will be fired up (except for the Ron Paul people). The key is independent voters in the swing states; the media will try to place Ryan simply "beyond the Pale" for any "right thinking person" and that may work.
3) On the other hand Ryan (and Romney, too) are articulate and smart people. I've watched Ryan and the guy is one big friggin' geek (and I mean that in a good way), he's a scary proposition for someone who doesn't know what they're talking about (Joe Biden, I'm looking at you). The VP debates will be interesting... beyond that, the campaign has the money to put these guys on TV to make their case.
4) Romney has nailed his colors to the mast - and can't take them down. Any fear that he's going to equivocate, play it down the middle, go RINO, pull a McCain, whatever - that's over. He can't. He's running on fiscal responsibility and limiting the role of government. Full stop. He can't finess; perhaps he realizes the media will ice him anyway; or, just maybe, despite a fairly government spending friendly record, it's close to what he actually believes.
5) Romney and Ryan have to come out swinging. Now.
As to your final point, I liked how Romney responded to the heckler at the rally today, and capped off his comment with "Mr. President Get Your Campaign Out of the Gutter".
I'm a big Ryan fan, but was hoping that Rubio would be chosen for the VP slot, for this reason: Ryan is an enormous asset for us as chairman of the House budget committee. He and President Romney could have made a helluva tag team with Ryan serving in that capacity.
But I'm on board with this, I really am. If Romney is elected, he MUST utilize Ryan's skill, and not put him out to pasture to attend ceremonial functions and fluffy stuff. Ryan is far too valuable. Turn him loose, and let him work his tail off doing what he does best.
I loved your analysis lewy, and you're right. They must come out swinging, and swinging hard. This will be an ugly, dirty fight.
It will be an uphill battle for the private sector to win an election against the might of the media and the bloated army that feeds at the gov't pig trough, but it can be done.
I hope it can be done. If anyone can do it, it will be Ryan and Romney, IF they continuously push the truth.
Tell the electorate that we are in a war, for the future of the country, and that war is between the makers and the takers.
Do a series of ads designed to separate union members from union leadership. A series designed to show the absurd increase in regulation and how it kills opportunity, A series showing how incredibly fast the borrowing has increased, and how long it will take to get our kids out of hock.
Go around the damned, lying media.
Ignore, as much as possible, the immoderate moderators at the debates (they've named Candy Crowly as one, yay) and hammer the point that this is the last chance to get America back on the right path.
Concise review of where we are and how we got here; a narrative that I largely agree with.
Obama claims he inherited a mess - to be fair, this much is true.
It's also true that it wasn't (much) Bush's fault. That's true too.
It's not even the fault of the "too big to fail" (though there was plenty of felony level aiding and abetting, for which nobody has gone to jail.)
There is too much debt. Too much of that debt is bad. There will be liquidation, or there will be inflation. From what I can see, Romney's policies will lead to liquidation, and Obama's to inflation.
To be perfectly blunt, the middle class is screwed either way in the short run.
In the long run, Romney's path might return us to a country of limited government and a healthy private sector. Obama's path will create a state-centric banana republic which makes a virtue of dependence and mediocracy.
I know which path I prefer. But damned if I can tell people with a straight face Romney will make things better ASAP.
Ronald Reagan and Paul Volker threw the country into a deep, two year recession to save the credibility of the dollar and kill inflation. People weren't too thrilled with his program in '82 and '83. It wasn't until '84 that it was "Morning in America".
Here is a simple example of why I am delighted with the selection of Paul Ryan. Just watch Obama's face during Ryan's presentation. Listen to all of it, it is worth the time.
Given his personality and experience, it is definitely both.
I doubt he took even one economics class at Occidental or Columbia...and if he did, it would have been the de rigueur "Samuelson Econ 101" Keynesian boilerplate. Said class is similar to the de rigueur 2nd Pysch course, "Abnormal Pysch"...after which all matriculates are "experts" in head shrinking or economics. All of that genius with literally no advanced math or prob/stat analysis training...just "genius bullshit."
Putz is as Putz does. Forest Gump had more intellectual depth.
I think it is a fine choice, and so do the Dems. They have already spouted hundreds of lies about Ryan's budget plans, and few hundred more will be no problem for them.
ReplyDeleteAnd since the damned, useless, lying media, backs up anything they say, I am certain Ryan is already well on his way to being Palinized.
Great choice, he was my second pick after Rubio. Romney/Ryan will kick the dear leader back to Chitown after Nov. 6.
ReplyDeleteI think the average voter - Republican, Conservative, Independent, even moderate Democrat - has no problem seeing through the li erals smear tactics and untruths and know the MSM is their lapdog. That's ok, it doesn't bother me one iota. Voters with working brain cells know we cannot continue to spend in the manner we've done so for the last 6 years and also realize that increasing taxes on the most wealthy would make no difference in reducing our debt. The problem is with spending and an enormous, bloated bureaucracy that will be really tough to dismantle but someone has to give it a start. Romney/Ryan vow to do that. Let the lying liberals say whatever they want about our candidates; they've never had the best interests of the country at heart. Their priorities are power and ideology. Time for a real change before it's too late and we are cemented in as Europe Junior.
ReplyDeleteHow about they start with the 14,000 vacant government buildings? That would save $194 million right there plus the $$ that would be earned for the properties at auction.
ReplyDeleteFWIW I personally think Ryan is a fine choice, but that's just me.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the election...
1) the Intrade prediction market initially bounced in Obama's favor, but now it's back about where it was when the announcement was made (60% chance of Obama re-election). So the professional gamblers/oddsmakers don't see a big move either way.
2) People are polarized. Those predisposed to vote for Obama will hate Ryan; the Republican base will be fired up (except for the Ron Paul people). The key is independent voters in the swing states; the media will try to place Ryan simply "beyond the Pale" for any "right thinking person" and that may work.
3) On the other hand Ryan (and Romney, too) are articulate and smart people. I've watched Ryan and the guy is one big friggin' geek (and I mean that in a good way), he's a scary proposition for someone who doesn't know what they're talking about (Joe Biden, I'm looking at you). The VP debates will be interesting... beyond that, the campaign has the money to put these guys on TV to make their case.
4) Romney has nailed his colors to the mast - and can't take them down. Any fear that he's going to equivocate, play it down the middle, go RINO, pull a McCain, whatever - that's over. He can't. He's running on fiscal responsibility and limiting the role of government. Full stop. He can't finess; perhaps he realizes the media will ice him anyway; or, just maybe, despite a fairly government spending friendly record, it's close to what he actually believes.
5) Romney and Ryan have to come out swinging. Now.
God love ya, lewy. Great analysis.
ReplyDeleteAs to your final point, I liked how Romney responded to the heckler at the rally today, and capped off his comment with "Mr. President Get Your Campaign Out of the Gutter".
ReplyDeleteI'm a big Ryan fan, but was hoping that Rubio would be chosen for the VP slot, for this reason: Ryan is an enormous asset for us as chairman of the House budget committee. He and President Romney could have made a helluva tag team with Ryan serving in that capacity.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm on board with this, I really am. If Romney is elected, he MUST utilize Ryan's skill, and not put him out to pasture to attend ceremonial functions and fluffy stuff. Ryan is far too valuable. Turn him loose, and let him work his tail off doing what he does best.
I loved your analysis lewy, and you're right. They must come out swinging, and swinging hard. This will be an ugly, dirty fight.
It will be an uphill battle for the private sector to win an election against the might of the media and the bloated army that feeds at the gov't pig trough, but it can be done.
I hope it can be done. If anyone can do it, it will be Ryan and Romney, IF they continuously push the truth.
DeleteTell the electorate that we are in a war, for the future of the country, and that war is between the makers and the takers.
Do a series of ads designed to separate union members from union leadership. A series designed to show the absurd increase in regulation and how it kills opportunity, A series showing how incredibly fast the borrowing has increased, and how long it will take to get our kids out of hock.
Go around the damned, lying media.
Ignore, as much as possible, the immoderate moderators at the debates (they've named Candy Crowly as one, yay) and hammer the point that this is the last chance to get America back on the right path.
AEP: None of this would have been any different if banks had been saints. The forces at work are tidal in power.
ReplyDeleteConcise review of where we are and how we got here; a narrative that I largely agree with.
Obama claims he inherited a mess - to be fair, this much is true.
It's also true that it wasn't (much) Bush's fault. That's true too.
It's not even the fault of the "too big to fail" (though there was plenty of felony level aiding and abetting, for which nobody has gone to jail.)
There is too much debt. Too much of that debt is bad. There will be liquidation, or there will be inflation. From what I can see, Romney's policies will lead to liquidation, and Obama's to inflation.
To be perfectly blunt, the middle class is screwed either way in the short run.
In the long run, Romney's path might return us to a country of limited government and a healthy private sector. Obama's path will create a state-centric banana republic which makes a virtue of dependence and mediocracy.
I know which path I prefer. But damned if I can tell people with a straight face Romney will make things better ASAP.
Ronald Reagan and Paul Volker threw the country into a deep, two year recession to save the credibility of the dollar and kill inflation. People weren't too thrilled with his program in '82 and '83. It wasn't until '84 that it was "Morning in America".
I am definitely stealing your second graphic, lady red :-)
ReplyDeleteBTW, if you ever want to talk to a moron, call the Social Security Admin.
ReplyDeleteHere is a simple example of why I am delighted with the selection of Paul Ryan. Just watch Obama's face during Ryan's presentation. Listen to all of it, it is worth the time.
ReplyDeleteHat Tip to Legal Insurrection.
Ari - I can't tell if BarryO is sinply angry that anyone dare challenge him, or is unable to comprehend the argument that Ryan is putting forth.
ReplyDeleteProbably a bit of both.
Given his personality and experience, it is definitely both.
DeleteI doubt he took even one economics class at Occidental or Columbia...and if he did, it would have been the de rigueur "Samuelson Econ 101" Keynesian boilerplate. Said class is similar to the de rigueur 2nd Pysch course, "Abnormal Pysch"...after which all matriculates are "experts" in head shrinking or economics. All of that genius with literally no advanced math or prob/stat analysis training...just "genius bullshit."
Putz is as Putz does. Forest Gump had more intellectual depth.