Romney chooses Ryan

[Walt K.]

I ask the naysayers ..... If not Ryan, then who? Bashing a choice is ridiculous unless an alternative is forwarded with a credible argument.

Concur with the early post that Jindal would be a good option as would some other termed out, conservative leaning governors.

Instead, a vocal, active and effecive advocate for reducing government spending is being removed from the legislature where he can actaully impact it.

Well done!

Well done indeed!

 

[Walt K.]

There are many people out there that don't believe in god or look to the government to solve their problems. Many just want the government to stop creating problems.

I will second that!

 

[level.eleven]

This wasn't a case of flopping on an issue. This was a case of pandering to voters and flopping to get a vote. Shows he's a liar. Can't abide a liar in any form.

This is hilarious. He basically noted that Rand has been trending up amongst conservatives over the past couple years and jumped on the bandwagon.

"I just want to speak to you a little bit about Ayn Rand and what she meant to me in my life and [in] the fight we’re engaged here in Congress. I grew up on Ayn Rand, that’s what I tell people."


"I grew up reading Ayn Rand and it taught me quite a bit about who I am and what my value systems are, and what my beliefs are."


"It’s inspired me so much that it’s required reading in my office for all my interns and my staff. We start with Atlas Shrugged. People tell me I need to start with The Fountainhead then go to Atlas Shrugged [laughter]. There’s a big debate about that. We go to Fountainhead, but then we move on, and we require Mises and Hayek as well."


"But the reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be Ayn Rand."
"And when you look at the twentieth-century experiment with collectivism—that Ayn Rand, more than anybody else, did such a good job of articulating the pitfalls of statism and collectivism—you can’t find another thinker or writer who did a better job of describing and laying out the moral case for capitalism than Ayn Rand."


"It’s so important that we go back to our roots to look at Ayn Rand’s vision, her writings, to see what our girding, under-grounding [sic] principles are."


"Because there is no better place to find the moral case for capitalism and individualism than through Ayn Rand’s writings and works."


And then all of the sudden......


“I reject her philosophy,” Ryan says firmly. “It’s an atheist philosophy. It reduces human interactions down to mere contracts and it is antithetical to my worldview. If somebody is going to try to paste a person’s view on epistemology to me, then give me Thomas Aquinas,” who believed that man needs divine help in the pursuit of knowledge. “Don’t give me Ayn Rand,” he says.


What an anti-intellectual tool and flat out liar. Either he didn't "grow up" reading Rand or he never understood what he was reading for 30 years. Rand found the principles of Thomas Aquinas ay to altruistic. The more I think about it, I don't think he understood what he was reading.

​

 

[hornadylnl]

I have a 1/4"-20 bolt with a 7/16" hex head (tyrannical government) that I need to remove. If the only tools I have in my toolbox are a phillips and flat tip screwdrivers (Obama and Romney), I have to resign myself that the bolt won't be removed or I'll have to find the proper tool.

 

[Bapak2ja]

Given the culture in DC, how can anyone govern as a conservative? How do you shut up the Washington Post? Or all of those rich leftwingers who control the social life in DC? Everything is stacked up in DC to make it seem like the popular thing to do is be progressive. The same way the left does in the universities.

You shut them up by launching a new, powerful movement that will not compromise and will not stop. The Republicans did it in the nineteenth century. They lost the first time they ran a candidate, but they put their second candidate in office, Abraham Lincoln. It can be done if enough Americans will scream, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!" We must launch a new movement and stop settling for the lesser of two evils that is really just the same old wolf wearing a sheepskin.

 

[ArmedProgrammer]

No, probably vote for Goode on the Constitution Party ticket if he gets on the ballot. If not, I go Libertarian.
....snip...

Meaning no disrespect to those who will vote Romney. I just have no confidence he will actually overturn Obamacare, stop abortion, defend the Constitution or the Second Amendment, or anything else he promises. He lied to get elected in Massachusetts, ruled progressive, and now promises to be conservative. Why should I believe him now?

Respectfully, Bapak2Ja , as you and I have chatted before - and I consider you to be an honest and well thought out person....

Do you think that a Libertarian candidate will succeed any better in overturning Obamacare? stopping abortion???... Defending the Second - I'll buy the notion that a Johnson accomplishes more than say Romney. But I don't think it's all THAT different... here's why...

Why? What are Romney's STATED objectives? 1) The economy 2) jobs and 3) uhhh...more economy and jobs... That's why I think his Veep choice is telling. Of all of the choices he could have made - Paul Ryan is far and away the most pro-Economy and Jobs guy he could have found. And there isn't a real close 2nd place. Portman - maybe??? THe Ryan choice backs up the rhetoric that the Economy is Job 1,2 and 3.

So - we have Obama/Biden - who will pander to the social side of the Libertarian agenda - then go after freedoms like Hugo Chavez on steroids... And we've SEEN his actions - he's in the pockets of the Unions like there's no tomorrow. (And that may prove more true than anyone would like...)

Then we have Romney/Ryan. From both their words AND now their choices - you've got to think that the Economy is #1,2, and 3 on their minds. And there's only so much political capital available. I don't think that that valuable political capital will be used on anything but the economy - so Obamacare will get attention - because it affects the economy very badly. Abortion and the Second , and many other social issues will remain pretty much status quo - EXCEPT for the fact that Romney will appoint judges far more likely to be strict interpreters of the Constitution. And that counts for a lot.

Based on that, I respectfully but vehemently don't buy the notion that the Obama and Romney tickets will result in anywhere CLOSE to the same kind of governance.

I understand your frustration - Romney was not my choice (not even close to the top of the list).

Someone else said it here - other countries elect their legislatures and THEN form their coalitions to govern. We form our coalitions in the primary campaigns and then elect one of the coalitions in the fall. It sucks - but it is the case.

I like the choice of Paul Ryan - more than for the political wisdom of it, it tells us a good bit about the true direction that Romney is headed.

 

[Kutnupe14]

Ugh... nothing to see here folks, the show is still the same

 

[Bapak2ja]

Consider expanding our options.

Fifty may be excessive, but I could see four or five being a good thing.

If we always do what we have always done (vote for one of two parties), we will always get what we already have (rule by a Washington DC oligarchy of RINOS and Progressives who are destroying the republic).

 

[ArmedProgrammer]

You shut them up by launching a new, powerful movement that will not compromise and will not stop. The Republicans did it in the nineteenth century. They lost the first time they ran a candidate, but they put their second candidate in office, Abraham Lincoln. It can be done if enough Americans will scream, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!" We must launch a new movement and stop settling for the lesser of two evils that is really just the same old wolf wearing a sheepskin.

A Romney presidency buys you the time to do that ....

To argue otherwise implies that we need to flush the country down the toilet for four more years so that people will get pissed enough to "throw off the chains". I don't like the notion of tanking an election for that reason any more than I liked the Sacramento Kings throwing a season in the crapper to get a better draft pick... It's a bad strategy either way. Ask the folks who did it to get LeBron James....

And the consequences of tanking an election at this point are HUGE.

 

[ArmedProgrammer]

As I've said to ATM and others - most folks around here would agree about much of WHAT WE WANT...

It's the "how to get it" part that we honestly may disagree on...

 

[firehawk1]

He is also the tie breaking vote (should there be need of one) in the Senate.

THIS is also what I was contemplating. The GOP is wanting to gain control or at least close the gap with the Democrats in the Senate and Ryan as VP would be the tie breaker.

IMO, this is a smart move on Romney's part. Ryan is likely to bring leery voters towards him. YES, it's politics EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE would/will do it.

 

[Bapak2ja]

Respectfully, Bapak2Ja , as you and I have chatted before - and I consider you to be an honest and well thought out person....

Do you think that a Libertarian candidate will succeed any better in overturning Obamacare? stopping abortion???... Defending the Second - I'll buy the notion that a Johnson accomplishes more than say Romney. But I don't think it's all THAT different... here's why...

Why? What are Romney's STATED objectives? 1) The economy 2) jobs and 3) uhhh...more economy and jobs... That's why I think his Veep choice is telling. Of all of the choices he could have made - Paul Ryan is far and away the most pro-Economy and Jobs guy he could have found. And there isn't a real close 2nd place. Portman - maybe??? THe Ryan choice backs up the rhetoric that the Economy is Job 1,2 and 3.

So - we have Obama/Biden - who will pander to the social side of the Libertarian agenda - then go after freedoms like Hugo Chavez on steroids... And we've SEEN his actions - he's in the pockets of the Unions like there's no tomorrow. (And that may prove more true than anyone would like...)

Then we have Romney/Ryan. From both their words AND now their choices - you've got to think that the Economy is #1,2, and 3 on their minds. And there's only so much political capital available. I don't think that that valuable political capital will be used on anything but the economy - so Obamacare will get attention - because it affects the economy very badly. Abortion and the Second , and many other social issues will remain pretty much status quo - EXCEPT for the fact that Romney will appoint judges far more likely to be strict interpreters of the Constitution. And that counts for a lot.

Based on that, I respectfully but vehemently don't buy the notion that the Obama and Romney tickets will result in anywhere CLOSE to the same kind of governance.

I understand your frustration - Romney was not my choice (not even close to the top of the list).

Someone else said it here - other countries elect their legislatures and THEN form their coalitions to govern. We form our coalitions in the primary campaigns and then elect one of the coalitions in the fall. It sucks - but it is the case.

I like the choice of Paul Ryan - more than for the political wisdom of it, it tells us a good bit about the true direction that Romney is headed.

Good reasons, well presented. But as long as we settle for RINOs, will get what we now have and the republic will disappear. A new movement that unites all of us into one determined effort to save the republic is needed. RINOs and Dems will never yield their current power and control of their parties or of the government. We must go outside of their power structure if we hope to save the republic.

I respect your arguments and your presentation, ArmedProgrammer, but I think your solution will only lead to the dissolution of the republic. We have tried to reform things from within and it has brought us the Illegal One. But the RINOs, like McCain, still demand that we reach across the aisle and work with those who are destroying the republic. I will not waste my vote on another RINO.

In any event, God bless the USA.

 

[Bapak2ja]

THIS is also what I was contemplating. The GOP is wanting to gain control or at least close the gap with the Democrats in the Senate and Ryan as VP would be the tie breaker.

IMO, this is a smart move on Romney's part. Ryan is likely to bring leery voters towards him. YES, it's politics EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE would/will do it.

Out of rep so I can only say I agree with your analysis.

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

It takes more than one or two election cycles to rid the GOP of the RINOs. Anyone who can't see the GOP changing isn't paying attention.

This election sees our great nation at a crossroads. We can continue to be even more a european socialist nation, adding millions more of our fellow countrymen to the soul sucking roles of the non-productive government dependency crowd.

On the other hand, we can vote for the best choice we are offered that can actually win. Even if that is not our ideal choice, it is still better than the alternative incumbent.

We have made great strides in weeding out the RINO herd. They are paying attention. They hear our footsteps coming for them. We must remain diligent.

Romney is but one step in our journey toward reclaiming our nation.

 

[spec4]

It takes more than one or two election cycles to rid the GOP of the RINOs. Anyone who can't see the GOP changing isn't paying attention.

This election sees our great nation at a crossroads. We can continue to be even more a european socialist nation, adding millions more of our fellow countrymen to the soul sucking roles of the non-productive government dependency crowd.

On the other hand, we can vote for the best choice we are offered that can actually win. Even if that is not our ideal choice, it is still better than the alternative incumbent.

We have made great strides in weeding out the RINO herd. They are paying attention. They hear our footsteps coming for them. We must remain diligent.

Romney is but one step in our journey toward reclaiming our nation.

Exactly!! I hope that all the folks who won't vote for Romney, or will write in Mickey Mouse, or whatever give serious thought to what their decision can leave us with. I'm no medic, but I know that the first step is to stop the bleeding.

 

[theweakerbrother]

If the last name were "Paul" I might have an interest.

Yes.

 

[gvbcraig]

Best comment on Ryan's flip floppery yet. Comes from author J. Neil Schulman.

I am Any Rand fan, but I too do not accept her athist point of view, nor am I a Morman, but that does not stop me from supporting one.

Also Rand was raised in the soviet union where religion was not thought nor practiced.

 

[indiucky]

Can't wait for the VP debate. This guy will eat Biden alive and expose him to the world as the ass he is.

Actually Biden does that very time he opens his mouth.


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VAzOIT4Ef8&feature=related[/ame]

 

[gvbcraig]

For the record, Romeny/Ryan is probably a better option than the Illegal One/Ignorant One that currently controls our republic.

So you know that we are going to get one or the other. The third party option is still out there a long ways away. So why waste your vote and take a chance that we en up with Illegal / Ignorant?

 

[Expat]

I see the anarchist wing has been weighing on the choice while I was out. No big surprises from them.