Hmm, I thought I would be the first to know by downloading the smartphone app. Of course, there is no official confirmation of the pick, and supposedly Mitt will make the announcement today. Oh, well. ABC News says Ryan is a high risk high reward pick (if he’s the actual pick)
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, who Republicn sources tell ABC News has been selected as Mitt Romney’s running mate, is young and politically tested.
Just 42 years old, he’s already been elected to represent Wisconsin’s 1st District seven times. Within the Republican Party, he’s regarded as a rising star, and conservatives would be delighted if he was added to the ticket. It’s no secret that the more hardcore factions of the GOP have had their doubts about Romney (see: Rick Santorum’s longevity in the primaries). Having Ryan riding alongside the candidate would ease the bulk of their concerns.
On the flip side, Paul Ryan is young, politically tested, and arguably more popular inside the Republican Party than Romney. Here’s a challenge: Name another vice presidential nominee with similar credentials whose ticket won the general election? Exactly.
Um, that seems more like a win win, not a on one side and on the other. ABC provides a few of the “negatives”, which includes
Against – He’s specific about how he would do it. However one feels about the “Roadmap” proposal, and people tend to feel rather strongly, there’s no doubt about what it would entail. The top tax rates would be cut to 25 percent from 35 percent; all taxes on capital gains, interest, and stock dividends would be eliminated; and, most controversially, the Ryan plan would privatize Social Security and Medicare.
So, it’s bad to have a specific plan to deal with the exploding federal budget? Did we enter an alternate universe while I slept?
Against – Ryan’s ability to raise money is tied to his reputation as the party’s foremost deficit hawk. But as a vice presidential nominee, he would be required to compromise some of his fiscal purity. Every running mate has to give a little up for the good of the ticket. The question for Ryan is whether giving up tailoring his brand to fit the current GOP platform will cancel out his initial appeal.
If Mitt is picking him, I seriously doubt that Mitt wanted Ryan to moderate, but, instead, bring real conservative cred to the ticket.
I guess we’ll see today if the AP, ABC, Washington Post, Fox News, et all are correct.
More: I suppose updating to note that Mitt’s pick is Paul Ryan would be in order. Received the official notification at 8am or so.
PS: it’s interesting to see all the liberal blogs, interest groups, and news sites already had their hit pieces tee’d up and ready to go. Can’t link the specific Memeorandum thread using Droid, but my goodness, the Barking Moonbats are out in force.
