Of the VP list I was pretty content with any option, but Ryan's geekiness and general blunt honesty appeals to me. It's not going to change my vote obviously, I'm voting for Romney anyway obviously, but I feel as a whole this improves Romney's chances, though any of the top tier would have so I don't know if this was the best choice, but I'm entirely comfortable with it and I could pro/con the others too.
If I were American, I have to say I'm not really sure which effect this would have on my vote. It does kind of seem to shift the race, and what's at stake, in a way - strengthens the case for voting Republican for budget balance and fiscal responsibility reasons, for sure. I still don't think I'd vote Republican, but Ryan's selection forces me to rethink that decision than any other of the obvious VP candidates would've done, so I guess that answers my own question.
Are you really so sure this will improve his chances on the whole, though? The Republican rank and file does love to talk about austerity and small government, but when push comes to shove they're not that thrilled about Medicare being reined back, either. Or at least that's the impression one gets.
It's always hard to tell, IMHO Ryan shores up the base, he'll bring in a lot of TEA and libertarians too who are soft on Romney, but that's mostly enthusiasm as opposed to raw vote gain. I don't really consider Wisconsin in play but it's note entirely out of play either and Ryan will help there, at a minimum by forcing Obama to treat it as in play. He'll also cut into the Catholic vote, and he's counter-intuitive polling high among seniors in terms of favoribility, kinda counter-intuitive. As a whole? I really don't know. Anyone who isn't just an awful choice adds to Romney's numbers right now, nobody will not vote for Romney over Ryan who was already with Romney, but some on the fence will shift to Romney, that would have happened with any reasonable VP choice.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
Paul Ryan is selected as Republican VP candidate
11/08/2012 05:01:47 PM
- 1764 Views
Personally? No, I'm not voting Republican at all this year.
11/08/2012 05:18:06 PM
- 805 Views
Ya know that narrative of the right getting further right is pretty ridicolous
11/08/2012 06:43:44 PM
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it could possibly be the "all or nothing" budget fights and gay marriage among other things
11/08/2012 08:19:11 PM
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Yeah, I forgot the Dems are very enlightened about gay marriage now for what? 2 Months?
11/08/2012 08:59:17 PM
- 867 Views
yet despite that, dems didn't put referenda and push bills discriminating against gay people
12/08/2012 07:55:38 PM
- 894 Views
They certainly have, they've just done it less and less recently
12/08/2012 09:39:53 PM
- 768 Views
I dunno, but from my perspective (and this is from one who doesn't follow politics closely)
11/08/2012 08:32:43 PM
- 1007 Views
I'm sorry, but anyone that votes for Obama after the past 3 and 1/2 years is a moron.....
12/08/2012 03:30:47 AM
- 715 Views
If you are proud of not voting, please shut up: The adults have a country to run.
12/08/2012 04:11:49 AM
- 737 Views
Candidates have to earn my vote - I'm not a slave like you to the 2 party system.
12/08/2012 04:24:02 AM
- 879 Views
Who said anything about the two-party system?
12/08/2012 04:29:36 AM
- 711 Views
No offense intended, but voting third party is as stupid as not voting.
12/08/2012 04:42:28 AM
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I'm with Joel on this. There's a big difference between voting third party and not voting.
12/08/2012 07:31:29 PM
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Nice asshatery.
12/08/2012 07:56:57 AM
- 953 Views
Wouldn't you love to have a "none of the above" option.....
12/08/2012 03:36:54 PM
- 726 Views
Or you could use a PR system and act like responsible adults. *NM*
12/08/2012 05:47:14 PM
- 388 Views
Not voting sends no message but "we will let politicians do as they please."
12/08/2012 05:12:55 PM
- 1151 Views
Well there's a difference between not voting at all and not voting in one race
12/08/2012 05:55:47 PM
- 891 Views
Usually only in degree, not kind, though I mostly had the former in mind.
12/08/2012 07:27:54 PM
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I hope that most of the disenchanted Obama 08 suppoerters feel the same way *NM*
13/08/2012 11:27:15 AM
- 377 Views
I'm happy with it, I like Ryan
11/08/2012 06:47:21 PM
- 788 Views
What a shock.
11/08/2012 08:18:35 PM
- 909 Views
Most Republicans are fine with gutting Medicare.
11/08/2012 08:31:03 PM
- 1005 Views
Everyone with an ounce of common sense is okay with "gutting" Medicare.....
12/08/2012 03:37:17 AM
- 724 Views
The only thing bankrupting Medicare is unsustainable US healthcare costs eating 20% of US GDP.
12/08/2012 03:56:28 AM
- 1032 Views
Silly comment - 30% of Medicare is FRAUD.....and the program is fatally flawed.
12/08/2012 04:09:26 AM
- 860 Views
So private insurance costs are really growing SIXTY percent faster?!
12/08/2012 04:24:49 AM
- 865 Views
Medicare worked for 50 years and SS for 80 because most people were DYING before 65.
12/08/2012 04:29:26 AM
- 662 Views
Eligibility age for both must increase (SSs has, but not enough.) They are not "unsustainable."
12/08/2012 04:31:57 AM
- 651 Views
Re: What a shock.
11/08/2012 08:51:12 PM
- 883 Views
definitely a bold pick but not going to help him enough in november
11/08/2012 08:27:59 PM
- 815 Views
Since I forgot you asked Americans if it would change our votes: No, still voting Jill Stein (Green)
11/08/2012 11:07:12 PM
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Who cares? He's hot.
11/08/2012 11:53:42 PM
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I actually said, "He's not hot enough."
13/08/2012 01:15:58 PM
- 710 Views
On the plus side, you need not fear Ryans failure to mention abortion and contraception.
13/08/2012 03:17:45 PM
- 895 Views
Legolas a question for you, what is your opinion of George W Bush Social Security Plans in 2005?
12/08/2012 01:03:24 AM
- 724 Views
Wonderful choice! Truly wonderful.....check the video.
12/08/2012 03:22:48 AM
- 710 Views
No, it doesn't change my opinion any
12/08/2012 07:50:21 AM
- 897 Views
I hear even the DNC has rejected its TN Senate nominee.
12/08/2012 05:46:37 PM
- 804 Views
Yes, they disavowed him
12/08/2012 08:00:33 PM
- 801 Views
Apparently the TN Democratic Party agrees voters should write in someone elses name.
12/08/2012 08:34:46 PM
- 771 Views
Does not work in the US
13/08/2012 01:17:58 AM
- 756 Views
We do not need most of the populace to cast protest votes, only most voters.
13/08/2012 01:33:41 AM
- 716 Views
I was going to vote Romney anyway, so no, it doesn't change anything.
12/08/2012 10:39:15 PM
- 797 Views
But I'm guessing you're glad with Ryan? Prefer him over the alternatives? Or not?
12/08/2012 10:49:35 PM
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Makes sense for you. You are Romney's target audience.
13/08/2012 01:19:26 PM
- 730 Views
What should Obama have done?
13/08/2012 07:31:23 PM
- 760 Views
Mmm, Objectivism. Another reason for me to vote Obama.
12/08/2012 11:00:34 PM
- 880 Views
But doesn't he say he detests Rand?
12/08/2012 11:53:47 PM
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No he doesn't disavow Ayn Rand, he still believes in her
13/08/2012 01:15:34 AM
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that is pretty mild of you campare it to the radical influence in Obama's life *NM*
13/08/2012 11:35:52 AM
- 489 Views
Ah, the classic "it is OK because their guy rapes puppies, too, even though he does not" defense.
13/08/2012 03:23:29 PM
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Obama doesn't have a history of openly endorsing the views of said radicals. *NM*
14/08/2012 12:32:52 AM
- 532 Views
he has a much closer and more personal realtionship with radicals than Romney or Ryan *NM*
20/08/2012 03:54:17 AM
- 495 Views
Link to audio of Paul Ryans address to The Atlas Society.
13/08/2012 03:37:27 AM
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Or you could have just read my response which posted prior to yours
13/08/2012 01:45:07 PM
- 696 Views
Don't get me wrong
13/08/2012 12:53:10 AM
- 735 Views
Actually I believe he promised to vote for Romney if I did
13/08/2012 03:48:35 AM
- 875 Views
What an amusing retrospective.
13/08/2012 04:20:02 AM
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I tried reading it again, but my eyes glazed over when you started babbling about lesbian covens.
14/08/2012 12:30:03 AM
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It was a hyperbolic reference to the extreme left (one stolen from Matt Groening, btw.)
14/08/2012 10:12:09 AM
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Interesting.
14/08/2012 11:34:30 AM
- 809 Views
They have a pill for that now.
14/08/2012 01:14:39 PM
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I'm pretty sure the solution is you learning elementary composition. *NM*
15/08/2012 11:33:57 PM
- 511 Views
Your willful reading incomprehension is neither my fault nor problem.
16/08/2012 07:40:46 PM
- 804 Views
Disillusioned, sure. But I don't recall ever considering voting Republican.
14/08/2012 12:31:17 AM
- 812 Views
No birth control, no right to choose, no planned parenthood?
13/08/2012 01:58:51 PM
- 669 Views
I saw a theory just after the announcement speculating Ryan was chosen as a scapegoat.
13/08/2012 03:33:56 PM
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I agree with your statements
14/08/2012 12:53:41 AM
- 889 Views
It's mostly nonsense
14/08/2012 04:46:11 AM
- 798 Views
Well
14/08/2012 02:54:06 PM
- 1009 Views
'Nonsense' refers to the thing said about the religious right by the media
14/08/2012 04:01:47 PM
- 1002 Views
I'm wondering if "belittles" is the wrong word.
14/08/2012 06:30:23 PM
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Re: I'm wondering if "belittles" is the wrong word.
15/08/2012 01:45:59 AM
- 752 Views
I have to keep this short, because I am on the iPad.
15/08/2012 05:38:48 AM
- 711 Views
Triple reply chain is usually a good point for the trim-edit anyway
15/08/2012 05:27:20 PM
- 897 Views
The question, as for Tom, is what you believe Romney would improve for small businesses.
14/08/2012 01:38:29 PM
- 830 Views
I am aware of that, thank you. And I don't distill my choice down to small business, either.
14/08/2012 02:24:24 PM
- 880 Views
I see your point, but...
14/08/2012 02:30:22 PM
- 652 Views
Well
14/08/2012 03:09:18 PM
- 836 Views
Are you really going to let Obama con you into voting for him again?
21/08/2012 02:00:06 PM
- 658 Views
Expanding our perspective does not improve our options much, sadly.
14/08/2012 04:23:48 PM
- 776 Views