The case for Congressman Paul Ryan for V.P.

By Tom Quiner

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=j-MswXzp2p4]

I sat on my patio last night with some fellow conservatives. The question I asked is: who would you like to see as Mitt Romney’s running mate?

The Junior Senator from Florida, Marco Rubio, was mentioned first.

We discussed his merits, which include conservative conviction and eloquence. Few conservative politicians on the scene express themselves as powerfully and credibly as Mr. Rubio.

His addition to the ticket would boost Republican’s chances to take Florida, something they must do to win the election.

Mr. Rubio is solidly pro life and would enflame the hearts of conservatives in way that Mitt Romney never will.

I made the case for Congressman Paul Ryan from Wisconsin. No politician on the scene has a better grasp of the fiscal cliff the U.S. sits on and how to save us than, than Paul Ryan, who is also solidly pro life.

He has demonstrated leadership and political courage by offering a specific plan on how to restore fiscal sanity and put America back on a path to prosperity.

The rap against Mr. Ryan, said one of my guests, is the very fact that he HAS put forward a specific plan. His very courage has set up his plan to be dissected and disparaged by proponents of expansive federal government. They can point to this cut or that to demonstrate that he and his party are heartless SOBs.

The cowards in the Senate, on the other hand, have refused to submit a budget for three years, despite federal law that calls for them to do so.

Should we reward these cowards?

No. Congressman Ryan is a credible and compassionate man. We need someone who will talk to us like we’re adults. We know Barack Obama won’t do it. Frankly, I’m not sure Mitt Romney will either.

Paul Ryan does … and will.

He points out that if we continue down the path of Obamacare, Medicare is going to go broke.

Is that a compassionate goal?

Of course not. Many voters in the middle may not be clear about the fiscal peril big-spending politicians on both sides of the aisle have put us in. Paul Ryan shows the danger. He presents the solution. He presents hope with a plan that can work if we don’t delay much longer.

The financial peril from Obamacare alone is staggering.

Debt continues to grow under the president’s budget.

Mr. Ryan points out that despite $2 Trillion in tax increases on hard-working Americans, debt will continue to skyrocket under the president’s budget.

The risk we face is sudden cuts in benefits, huge tax increases, and stagnation at best and chronic recession at worst.

The Paul Ryan plan takes power away from Washington and puts it back into the hands of the people.

I guess what I like about Congressman Ryan is he’s a straight-shooter. He doesn’t come across like your typical politician, as you can see in the video above.

For example, Mitt Romney has to dance  around the Obamacare debate because he put a similar plan in effect in Massachusetts as Governor.

On the other hand, Congressman Ryan can calmly and clearly articulate what’s wrong with Obamacare:

1. It is a massive tax increase on the middle class. The Supreme Court said so. Mr. Obama insisted it wasn’t.

2. The president promised healthcare premiums would go down if Obamacare passed. Turns out they’re expected to skyrocket by 19 to 30%.

3. The president promised that if we liked our current policy, we could keep it. Now the Congressional Budget Office tells us 4 million Americans are going to lose their current coverage.

Who should be Mitt Romney’s running mate? There are some good choices out there, including Senator Rubio.

For my money, I vote for Congressman Ryan.

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8 Comments

  1. juwannadoright on July 12, 2012 at 5:52 pm

    I would side with your friends on Marco Rubio – although I think that Mr. Ryan is an excellent, tell-it-like-it-is (and he knows what it is) Congressman. I’d like to see him whipping the Congress into actually addressing serious remedies for our serious problems.

    And did no one suggest the name, Condoleezza Rice for VP?



    • quinersdiner on July 12, 2012 at 6:04 pm

      I could go with Rubio in a heartbeat, but not Ms. Rice. If I understand correctly, she is pro-choice. Republicans need a solidly pro life VP candidate to fire up the base in light of Mr. Romney’s mercurial record on Life issues. Thanks for writing.



  2. justturnright on July 12, 2012 at 6:47 pm

    I’m on record as wanting Ryan for VP for months now. As much as he would be missed in the House, he would be a vibrant addition to the ticket.

    You’re 100% correct, Tom: no one can articulate the coming economic destruction like Ryan can. He has more street cred and brains than anyone else in that regard.

    For that reason alone, I’d love to see him ride shotgun with Mitt.



    • quinersdiner on July 12, 2012 at 6:51 pm

      I’m with you. Thanks for writing.



  3. Tom Maly on July 12, 2012 at 6:56 pm

    Condi Rice….NOT! Although a great intellect and has some clear political moxie, i have never sensed she has the passion for elective office. A more amusing show i can’t fathom then a debate between current vice president mouth mmmmmmmmmmm excuse me, Biden and Sen Rubio or Rep Ryan. It would be a show between a professor and a middle schooler!! Although either Rubio or Ryan would be great, i have to give a lean to Rubio. Ms. doright has a good point that Ryan is way valuable where he is. A possible downside with Rubio is that his senate seat would open up…who knows what might happen there!?!?!?



    • quinersdiner on July 12, 2012 at 7:14 pm

      We need 51 votes in the Senate. I don’t want to lose Rubio. Thanks for writing. Great points.



  4. Lisa Bourne on July 12, 2012 at 8:42 pm

    Unfortunately I think Ryan, as utterly awesome as he is, would overshadow Romney, and that’s neither a good thing in reality nor likely to happen with an Establishment-established presidential candidate. That’s truly the only thing that was wrong with the choice the last time around. All sorts of quasi-pundits still rip and insinuate that the choice in 2008 was poor due to a deficiency in intellect and experience; when a lack of brains and background, in addition to a deficiency of character and morals, and a overabundance of unfounded ego and rampant narcissism in the Oval Office (not to mention the golf course or bowing somewhere overseas) have been taking the country down the tubes steadily since Nov 2008. No, she overshadowed him and it took the whole ticket down. It’s time for VP Allen West.



    • quinersdiner on July 12, 2012 at 9:34 pm

      Interesting choice.