GOP pros fret over Paul Ryan GOP PROS FUME: Romney Ceded Election With Ryan Pick
Away from the cameras, and with all the usual assurances that people aren’t being quoted by name, there is an unmistakable consensus among Republican operatives in Washington: Romney has taken a risk with Ryan that has only a modest chance of going right — and a huge chance of going horribly wrong.
In more than three dozen interviews with Republican strategists and campaign operatives — old hands and rising next-generation conservatives alike — the most common reactions to Ryan ranged from gnawing apprehension to hair-on-fire anger that Romney has practically ceded the election.
It is not that the public professions of excitement about the Ryan selection are totally insincere. It is that many of the most optimistic Republican operatives will privately acknowledge that their views are being shaped more by fingers-crossed hope than by a hard-headed appraisal of what’s most likely to happen.
And the more pessimistic strategists don’t even feign good cheer: They think the Ryan pick is a disaster for the GOP. Many of these people don’t care that much about Romney — they always felt he faced an improbable path to victory — but are worried that Ryan’s vocal views about overhauling Medicare [not to mention social views about women's rights, gay rights, etc.] will be a millstone for other GOP candidates in critical House and Senate races.
They’re worried about inviting Medicare — usually death for Republicans — into the campaign. They’re worried it sidetracks the jobs issue. They’re worried he’ll expose the fact that Romney doesn’t have a budget plan. Most of all, they’re worried that Romney was on track to lose anyway — and now that feels all but certain.
It is a strange pick for a man who wants to win an election. Makes much more sense to pick Rubio who could deliver Florida for you, but honestly, how many people make their choice based on the VP?
85% vote based on which party they like the most, 10% vote against a candidate and 5% actually vote for the guy they like the most.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
Like I said before... Ryan will do for Romney what Palin did for McCain...and for the same reasons. Romney's not a leader...Romney's a hostage.
A youthful man who looks even younger than his 42 years, Ryan could end up labeled as Sarah Palin with a PowerPoint presentation, several operatives said.
And Ryan's even got the Catholic bishops and other denominations down on him saying that his budget and his views run counter to "Biblical teachings." Man, if you can't even get those folks to go along with your crazy ideas, you're in trouble.
I'd much rather lose the election by actually putting up ideas to save the country. Democrats have no intention of doing anything to stop the car from going off the cliff. If putting Ryan on the ticket to cause the democrats to have an adult conversation about debt makes us lose, so be it. I think he is one of the few who can talk about the issues in a way adults can understand. We'll see who wins!
Too bad future generations aren't here to see all the great things we are spending their $$ on!!
LJ,
You slay me sometimes, there is no one Romney would pick that you wouldn't drag through the mud.
But the Ryan choice will generate financial support from the fiscal conservatives in the GOP. It is a sign that Mitt does care about out of control spending.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
GOP pros fret over Paul Ryan GOP PROS FUME: Romney Ceded Election With Ryan Pick
Away from the cameras, and with all the usual assurances that people aren’t being quoted by name, there is an unmistakable consensus among Republican operatives in Washington: Romney has taken a risk with Ryan that has only a modest chance of going right — and a huge chance of going horribly wrong.
In more than three dozen interviews with Republican strategists and campaign operatives — old hands and rising next-generation conservatives alike — the most common reactions to Ryan ranged from gnawing apprehension to hair-on-fire anger that Romney has practically ceded the election.
It is not that the public professions of excitement about the Ryan selection are totally insincere. It is that many of the most optimistic Republican operatives will privately acknowledge that their views are being shaped more by fingers-crossed hope than by a hard-headed appraisal of what’s most likely to happen.
And the more pessimistic strategists don’t even feign good cheer: They think the Ryan pick is a disaster for the GOP. Many of these people don’t care that much about Romney — they always felt he faced an improbable path to victory — but are worried that Ryan’s vocal views about overhauling Medicare [not to mention social views about women's rights, gay rights, etc.] will be a millstone for other GOP candidates in critical House and Senate races.
They’re worried about inviting Medicare — usually death for Republicans — into the campaign. They’re worried it sidetracks the jobs issue. They’re worried he’ll expose the fact that Romney doesn’t have a budget plan. Most of all, they’re worried that Romney was on track to lose anyway — and now that feels all but certain.
So it has come to adding editorial content of your own under the guise of quoting the editorial views of someone else? In the words of Joseph Welch, at long last, have you left no sense of decency?
FredHayek wrote: LJ,
You slay me sometimes, there is no one Romney would pick that you wouldn't drag through the mud.
But the Ryan choice will generate financial support from the fiscal conservatives in the GOP. It is a sign that Mitt does care about out of control spending.
Gee, I was under the impression that it was the GOP consultants, the Catholic bishops, and the other clergy that were dragging him through the mud. Who knew?
In more than three dozen interviews with Republican strategists and campaign operatives — old hands and rising next-generation conservatives alike — the most common reactions to Ryan ranged from gnawing apprehension to hair-on-fire anger that Romney has practically ceded the election.
The "fiscal conservatives" (read: teabaggers) donate more? Yeah, probably. Are they the majority of the party? Probably not.
Am I sitting on the sidelines, cheering?... YOU BET!! rofllol
And you guys will continue to drag Obama through the mud...for the next 4 years. Have at it.
GOP pros fret over Paul Ryan GOP PROS FUME: Romney Ceded Election With Ryan Pick
Away from the cameras, and with all the usual assurances that people aren’t being quoted by name, there is an unmistakable consensus among Republican operatives in Washington: Romney has taken a risk with Ryan that has only a modest chance of going right — and a huge chance of going horribly wrong.
In more than three dozen interviews with Republican strategists and campaign operatives — old hands and rising next-generation conservatives alike — the most common reactions to Ryan ranged from gnawing apprehension to hair-on-fire anger that Romney has practically ceded the election.
It is not that the public professions of excitement about the Ryan selection are totally insincere. It is that many of the most optimistic Republican operatives will privately acknowledge that their views are being shaped more by fingers-crossed hope than by a hard-headed appraisal of what’s most likely to happen.
And the more pessimistic strategists don’t even feign good cheer: They think the Ryan pick is a disaster for the GOP. Many of these people don’t care that much about Romney — they always felt he faced an improbable path to victory — but are worried that Ryan’s vocal views about overhauling Medicare [not to mention social views about women's rights, gay rights, etc.] will be a millstone for other GOP candidates in critical House and Senate races.
They’re worried about inviting Medicare — usually death for Republicans — into the campaign. They’re worried it sidetracks the jobs issue. They’re worried he’ll expose the fact that Romney doesn’t have a budget plan. Most of all, they’re worried that Romney was on track to lose anyway — and now that feels all but certain.
Oh, and just to keep a little "truth in advertising":
Janna Ryan, Paul Ryan's Wife, Lobbied For Cigar, Nuclear, Pharmaceutical Industries
WASHINGTON -- Janna Ryan was introduced to America on Saturday as a stay-at-home mom who has raised three children while her husband, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), built a career in Washington.
But the wife of Mitt Romney's vice presidential pick spent a decade in Washington herself, first as a congressional aide and then as a corporate lobbyist, whose clients included the cigar industry, a logging company, drugmakers, the health insurance industry and a nuclear power plant.
The details of Janna Ryan's lobbying career come as Democrats and Republican party insiders question whether Paul Ryan's career in government, and his scant private sector experience, are at odds with Mitt Romney's pro-business, anti-Washington message.
