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#1 Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:53 am
by Dark Silver
via CNN.com
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan is Mitt Romney's choice for running mate on the 2012 Republican presidential ticket.

The official word, which began leaking overnight, came early this morning from the Romney campaign via a smartphone app and a news release.

It's something of a surprise. While Ryan was on all the lists when it came time to speculate about Romney's likely choice, the conventional wisdom had been that it was more likely to be someone such as Ohio Sen. Rob Portman or Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

Ryan comes from a competitive state with just 10 Electoral College votes. Ohio's 18 and Florida's 29 are much more valuable prizes.

But Ryan is a favorite of conservatives across the nation for his tough talk about tax cuts, spending cuts and fiscal discipline. The two are set to formally accept their party's nominations at the Republican National Convention later this month in Tampa.

We've been following the news about the choice of Ryan, the 42-year-old chairman of the House Budget Committee who is nationally known for his championing of tax and spending cuts. Be sure to hit your "refresh" button to get our latest updates.

Update at 9:50 a.m. ET. Now, "A Different Conversation":

With the choice of Ryan, NPR's Don Gonyea says, the Republican ticket can now "start a different conversation and a conversation about what they plan on doing."

Update at 9:46 a.m. ET. And In Conclusion, Ryan Pledges To "Get This Done!":

As he wrapped up his remarks, Ryan said he is thrilled to be part of the ticket and promised that a Romney/Ryan administration would "unite America and get this done!"

Update at 9:45 a.m. ET. Reapplying The Founding Principles:

Ryan gets more strong approval when he says: "We won't duck the tough issues, we will lead. ... We won't blame others, we will take responsibility. ... And we won't replace our founding principles, we will reapply them."

Update at 9:43 a.m. ET. Strong Cheers:

Some of the biggest cheers so far for Ryan come when he says "our rights come from nature and God, not from government."

Update at 9:38 a.m. ET. This Isn't "The New Normal":

Ryan says that under President Obama, the "new normal" for many Americans has become "diminished dreams, lowered expectations, uncertain futures." That shouldn't be, he says.

Update at 9:36 a.m. ET. "Debt, Doubt And Despair":

The Obama administration, Ryan says, has compiled a "record of failure."

"We find ourselves in a nation facing debt, doubt and despair," he tells the crowd.

Update at 9:35 a.m. ET. "To Save The American Dream":

"It is our duty to save the American dream for our children and their's," says Romney.

Update at 9:33 a.m. ET. Ryan Says He's "Committed In Heart And Mind?"

"I am committed in heart and mind" to putting his experience to work in a Romney administration, Ryan says.

Update at 9:30 a.m. ET. Romney's Recovery:

Saying that every once in a while he makes a mistake (as in, referring to Ryan as "the next president of the United States"), Romney just came back to the microphone to say he didn't make a mistake in choosing Ryan.

Update at 9:28 a.m. ET. Romney Calls Ryan "The Next President Of The United States":

In the excitement of introducing his running mate, Romney just said "join me, in welcoming the next president of the United States, Paul Ryan."

Update at 9:27 a.m. ET. Obama Campaign Reaction:

As Romney continues his remarks, Obama campaign manager Jim Messina has sent reporters a statement that says, in part, that Romney has chosen "a leader of the House Republicans who shares his commitment to the flawed theory that new budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy, while placing greater burdens on the middle class and seniors, will somehow deliver a stronger economy."

Update at 9:25 a.m. ET. Romney Promises "Positive" Ideas:

He and Ryan, Romney says, will offer a "positive governing agenda."

Update at 9:23 a.m. ET. Ryan Is In Politics For Right Reasons, Romney Says:

Ryan isn't in politicos "to advance his personal ambition," Romney says, "but to advance the ideals of freedom and justice."

Update at 9:21 a.m. ET. Romney Gets Right To The News:

"It's an honor to announce my running mate and the next vice president of the United States, Paul Ryan!" Romney just announced.

Update at 9:20 a.m. ET. Romney Arrives:

Romney just popped out of a door aboard the USS Wisconsin, jogged down to the dock, and is at the microphone. He's getting a loud welcome.

Update at 9:10 a.m. ET. Candidates To Be On Stage Shortly:

Both of the candidates' spouses are now on stage in Norfolk and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is at the microphone. So it looks like Romney and Ryan will be appearing shortly.

Update at 9:05 a.m. ET. First Rule Of VP Picks Is "Do No Harm":

On NPR's broadcast, correspondent Don Gonyea just said that the first rule when selecting a running mate is "do no harm." It remains to be seen, of course, whether Romney has succeeded with his choice of Ryan.

Update at 8:57 a.m. ET. Live Streaming:

We'll be updating with highlights from the candidates' first joint appearance. Of course, it's also going to be broadcast on the cable news networks and will be streamed online by various outlets, including C-SPAN.
Funny enough, shortly before this, the Political Positions of Paul Ryan Wiki Page was deleted.

I'm wondering how they are going to paint the fact that Ryan's budget proposals were poisonous and ass backwards and generally horrible things for anyone BUT the richest in the country?

#2 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:48 am
by Derek Thunder
Well now, this is a rather fascinating turn to the campaign. I suppose I should be thrilled - Finally, we're ending the phase of the campaign about trivial differences between two barely-ideological politicians seeking a chance to spend four years making awkward small-talk with "important people," making supreme court picks, and gaining/keeping the keycode to Area 52 - They really do have some cool shit down there.

Instead, the Ryan pick puts the very core values of the New Deal on trial. My hope is that the defeat of the Romney/Ryan ticket will preserve at least some semblance of a sane safety net for another generation, but my hope is blunted by the degree to which Romney is out-raising Obama, and the amount of money poured into this campaign so far by crusty reactionaries with far too much money for their own good. I'm not a hyperbolic person by nature, but a Ryan presidency would be a deathly wasteland where a stiflingly-hellish wind blows the ground bones of the poor into treacherous shifting dunes, the aeolian landforms made inevitable by Randian ideology. The survivors, at least those not blessed with godly wealth by globalization, will use what little water remains to fashion this gruesome clay into bricks, which shall make small shanties, in which they will pray for the sweet release of death as they toil in the fields to raise grapes for their masters' extravagantly grim champagne. I suppose it would also go without saying that some of these laborers would be pressed into constructing a 500-foot effigy of Obama made from children's letters to Santa Claus - This would then be burned to symbolically quench the last vestiges of child-like hope and innocence possessed by the 99%.

#3 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:20 pm
by frigidmagi
fivethirtyeight has Obama at a 71% chance of victory. Other odds setters have Obama at 60 to 65%. While it's not impossible for old mittens to win... Frankly I don't think Ryan will help. I will give Romney this, he has managed to pick a man that will electrify the base, both of them.

#4 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 5:37 pm
by Dark Silver
There's a thought going aroung that Romney chose Ryan for a very very specific reason.....

His numbers were already dropping. By choosing Ryan now and announcing it early in August, when the defeat DOES come, he can say "I was doing great until he came on board, then we tanked!" It's a calculated manuver to say if he lost, that the Far-Right is obviously out of touch.....

I'm wondering if it will work though.

#5 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 6:42 pm
by Josh
I think the concept of eleventh-dimensional chess that gets thrown around for pols is a bit overrated. I'd expect that the response to that rumor about a 'boring white guy' went over like a lead balloon for a campaign that's already singularly failed to energize the base. So in the fashion of Kerry picking up Edwards to get the young shiny face on the ticket, so Romney went to get the darling of the Tea Party wing. Romney set out to offend no one, and so he likewise excited no one. This is his attempt to get some emotion into what's been a very soggy, limp campaign.

#6 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 3:43 pm
by rhoenix
I'm posting this because I'm a nerd, and I'm feeling a little salty about facing a Monday at work.
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

#7 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 3:57 pm
by General Havoc
rhoenix wrote:I'm posting this because I'm a nerd, and I'm feeling a little salty about facing a Monday at work.
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.
Which one involves orcs?

#8 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 4:01 pm
by rhoenix
Well played.

#9 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 5:51 pm
by Josh
If Galt's speech had been "Is a Nob not entitled to da dakka of 'is gunz?" it would've been so much more readable.

#10 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:11 pm
by Hotfoot
"A Boss chooses, a Git obeys!"

#11 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:19 pm
by rhoenix
First, Atlas Shrugged became a movie.

Now, Atlas Shrugged will reclaim its glory as a written work, by re-translating from the original Orc.

The time has come, people. This is the version of Atlas Shrugged that we deserve.

#12 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:50 pm
by Dark Silver
oh gods...

what hath you unleashed Rheonix?

#13 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:46 pm
by Josh
"'e was a Boss who'd never accepted the ideer that others had the right to stop 'im."

"Ork 'as no automatic code of survival. 'is partic'lar distinction from all other living gits is tha necessity to act inna face of alternatives by means 'o dakka."

"'oever, to whatever purpose or extent, initiates the use o' dakka, is a killa actin' on the premise o' death in a manner wider'n murder: the premise o' destroyin' ork's capacity to WAAAAAAAGH."

"Erry ork is free to rise as big as 'e can git, but it's only as big as 'e thinks that figgers how big e'll get."

#14 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 9:10 pm
by Josh
BONUS RANDQUOTE EDITION:

"The question ain't who's gonna let me; it's who's gonna stop me. "

"WAAAAAAAAAGH is a typically Orkie 'oliday... the big shoota is a symbol o' the fact that abundant dakka is the result an' reward o' 'avin' plenty o' shootas."

"'appiness is that state o' consciousness which comes from the achievement of WAAAAAAAAAGH."

"Erryone 'as the right to make 'is own decisions, but none 'as the right to force 'is decision on others. Unless e's bigga."

#15 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:16 pm
by rhoenix
This is fucking priceless. Josh, you're getting co-author credits if I write the book.

#16 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:03 am
by Josh
"Da boss don't share credit wit' puny humies."

#17 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:23 am
by rhoenix
Josh wrote:"Da boss don't share credit wit' puny humies."
"Da boss don't need ta ask. Da boss takes, 'cuz he's the boss."

#18 Re: Romney picks Paul Ryan as VP

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:24 am
by Josh
rhoenix wrote:"Da boss don't need ta ask. Da boss takes, 'cuz he's the boss."
Dis boss gets whud it's about!