Wonderful anaysis of this dangerous VP pick!

The only thing Romney sees in the pretty boi is a hope that there won't be a floor fight or a dump Romney movement during the convention in two weeks. That's why they announced this pick early: diffuse any embarrassing moments on prime time.

Two Republican closet-case PIGS out to screw, blue, and tattoo the United States. I'll PASS, thanks.

If Romney was hoping for more votes out of picking Ryan as VP, his strategy isn't working. Ryan's biggest problem (which is now Romney's biggest problem) is that he's a dull thud on the national stage. He's boring. He'll play for a couple more news cycles, and then be little more than extra baggage on Romney's Corporate Jet to Nowhere campaign.

I think the knee-jerk dismissal of the Medicare voucher plan is a little bit disingenuous to the political process. Whilst I agree that it is not the best plan, it is marginally better than the current course, whereby Medicare slowly bleeds the country to death.

Medicare funds too many things, and has too few limitations on what it will provide. It offers extraordinarily expensive medical resources to people who have lived long full lives and who are ready to die. All people cannot be kept alive at all costs for as long as possible.

We should be bouncing off the voucher plan to say, yes, this needs to be reformed, but let me explain to you why this alternative is much better than your voucher system. Of course many of these reforms are already occuring through the ACA, but there are things we still have not gotten yet. Just like with more stimulus, we should not assume that because we passed one bill, we now just have to be on the defensive for a few decades.

Basically, lets not commit the same intellectual mistake that conservatives always do, which is respond only with fear and anger, and actually present a counter argument and a plan.

@5 (give me pom):

The New England Journal of Medicine reports that Medicare and Medicaid spending has decelerated in recent years, and not just because of the Great Recession. The public programs have seen their cost growth slow significantly compared to private health insurance. And this is expected to continue for the coming decade.

* * *

These data belie the claim that spending for Medicare and Medicaid is “out of control” and that the programs must be fundamentally restructured by adopting Medicare premium support [i.e., vouchers] or converting Medicaid into a block grant.

* * * *

--- "Medicare, Medicaid Far More Cost-Efficient Than Private Insurance," FireDogLake.com, 10 August 2012

Great Daily Show piece on Tuesday about his responsibility for the debt crisis. Ryan voted for the Bush tax cuts, both wars, the pharmaceutical benfit program, the stimulus and the TARP.

Please, Paul, don't compare Ryan to George Clooney. Ryan's looks don't come near Mr. Clooney's and his politics and morals compared to the Oscar winner's are a joke. I understand your intention, but it is offensive to have them mentioned in the same sentence as Mr. Clooney is a Democrat, a supporter of the president and in general, a good guy who does good, not evil. Also, while James Stewart was an avowed Republican, I cannot imagine if he were alive today that he would support Mittbot and his stooge. I am sure the fictional "Mr. Smith" wouldn't be on speaking terms with Congressman Ryan.

Sorry, I know it is nit-picking, but Ryan is so offensive to me, I can hardly stand it. He makes Sarah Palin look like a sweetheart. She might be an opportunist, too, but she isn't too bright. He is and that makes him as dangerous as a meth house about to blow.

Good piece, though, Paul. Thanks. As always, I adore you.

An observant,well written article.
An excellent job.This guy Ryan,and Romney, need to be exposed every minute of every day.
Yes that's a love affair alright:Ryan and Romney.

An observant,very good article on Ryan and Romney.They need to be exposed and revealed every moment of every day.

Oh,my first comment went through!
"Romney loves Ryan" a fine article.

we could be facing a crisis of millions of insolvent, bankrupted senior citizens right now.

No, we wouldn't. The Bush/Ryan privatization of Social Security specifically exempted current retirees and anyone close to retirement age, just like the Ryan Medicare plan. Seniors overwhelmingly vote Republican. As rabid as Republicans have become, and Ryan is their vanguard, they're not going to kill their golden goose.

What we would have, however, is an increasingly crushing debt as the system would be forced to pay current and near-future benefits while exempting the rest of us from having to pay into Social Security. The feds were going to cover the difference. So much for fiscal responsibility.

@8,

Paul Ryan is Claude Rains' character, without the conscience.

I'm convinced this is a tactical long-game move by the Republicans. They know Willard "Mitt" Money(R) doesn't stand a snowball's chance in Hades of finding any support among the 'aw-shucks' ignoramuses that comprise the base of the Republican party. Obama has this easily won just by virtue of demographics.

They are putting Ryan up there to get a national spotlight on him for nearly a year. They will paint him as a young party leader... as an economic intellectual, and when Obama is done in 8 years with no suitable Democratic follow-up... well. Mister Romney wasn't misspeaking at all.

Paul Ryan is being positioned to run and win the Presidency in 2016.

Aww. It's so cute when the Stranger and its readers try to be political. But nobody is fooled. You've had nothing to say through four years of incompetence on the part of Obama and batshit insanity on the part of Biden, so you really can't pretend to be deep thinkers. And it's laughable how you can realize that there is a need to cut spending, yet keep strapping the old people and the kids to the bumper to take the knives first.

Everyone knows Medicare cannot continue in its current form. Even Obama, who takes the same cuts to Medicare ... but instead of putting it in a trust fund (Ryan's plan) SPENDS IT ON OBAMACARE, yet another unfunded entitlement.

Ryan has a checkered past. But the sheer disingenuousness of your argumentation is obvious: you cannot argue that he simultaneously wants to kill granny and isn't conservative enough.

Intelligent people realize Ryan's plan isn't enough, but hes the only one with a plan. Your joke of a Messiah just wants to go to Hollywood parties and chat with zoo crews. Which is why he's polling behind.

Keep thinking it's all about gay marriage and abortion, and wondering why the country is going off the rails. It's hilarious.

Aww. It's so cute when the Stranger and its readers try to be political. But nobody is fooled. You've had nothing to say through four years of incompetence on the part of Obama and batshit insanity on the part of Biden, so you really can't pretend to be deep thinkers. And it's laughable how you can realize that there is a need to cut spending, yet keep strapping the old people and the kids to the bumper to take the knives first.

Everyone knows Medicare cannot continue in its current form. Even Obama, who takes the same cuts to Medicare ... but instead of putting it in a trust fund (Ryan's plan) SPENDS IT ON OBAMACARE, yet another unfunded entitlement.

Ryan has a checkered past as a conservative, but politicians go with the times. Right now the country wants a party that will bring the debt under control and revive the economy. They know that's not Obama, or any Democrat. But the sheer disingenuousness of your argumentation is obvious: you cannot argue that he simultaneously wants to kill granny and isn't conservative enough. What should we expect, though, from someone who calls peaceful, intelligent protesters with employment 'teabaggers' and cheers on thugs who shit on cop cars and break windows and rape and murder people.

Intelligent people realize Ryan's plan isn't enough, but hes the only one with a plan. Your joke of a Messiah just wants to go to Hollywood parties and chat with zoo crews. Which is why he's polling behind. Hell, even Obama's fiscal responsibility co-chairs think Ryan's on the ball. So spin, spin, spin. Because you don't care about the country, you care about saving your stupid man-crush.

Keep thinking it's all about gay marriage and abortion, and wondering why the country is going off the rails. It's hilarious.

Looks like atheist conservative exemplifies the idea that you certainly can fool some of the rubes all of the time. All that whining and sniveling - and not a fact to be found.

For liberals too stupid to understand that plans which fail to pass both House and Senate tend to get revised:

Paul Ryan's 2012 budget proposal, which is dead, voucher program = mandatory

Paul Ryan's 2013 budget proposal, which is the framework for going forward if Romney wins the election, voucher program = one of a variety of choices from which one can choose, including a remaining in the traditional medicare program as it exists currently.

Got it yet?

@18: It appears that you're too stupid to vote wisely.
Got Bushwashed?

Can a Mormon Coporate Raider and a Catholic Randian have a true bromance?

Given Constant's obsession with Ryan, you'd think *he's* the one that wants to bend Ryan over a table, kick his legs apart, and pack some fudge.

Yeah, that Ryan. He's no Biden.

@19

You mad that your messiah is an even bigger corporatist cocksucker than Bush ever was?

BTW, 21 civilians dead in Pakistan today from Obama's drone strikes. NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LOL

RE: Dishonorable Disclosures
You treasonous racist pussies should be ashamed of yourselves. Tough Guys, that's laughable. Everyone knows your motives for producing this embarassing turd of propaganda. You disrespect everyone who has ever served to protect this country. You must be proud of the anti-american criminal cult member that you are backing as your Republican candidate. A tax cheating, foreign account money laundering, self enriching money grubber who has not a bit of compassion for the average American. A man who lies at every turn, be it about his residency in Massachusetts when runing for office, his control of Bane Cap. or the contents of his tax returns. Not to mention his feretfaced, pinheaded, Ayn Rand loving running mate who appears to be a bigger liar than he is. Next time you lot meet for a circle jerk, maybe someone should school you all on what's important to the people of this country. You conflicted misanthropic overcompensating sissy action heros have it all wrong.

RE: Dishonorable Disclosures
You treasonous racist pussies should be ashamed of yourselves. Tough Guys, that's laughable. Everyone knows your motives for producing this embarassing turd of propaganda. You disrespect everyone who has ever served to protect this country. You must be proud of the anti-american criminal cult member that you are backing as your Republican candidate. A tax cheating, foreign account money laundering, self enriching money grubber who has not a bit of compassion for the average American. A man who lies at every turn, be it about his residency in Massachusetts when runing for office, his control of Bane Cap. or the contents of his tax returns. Not to mention his feretfaced, pinheaded, Ayn Rand loving running mate who appears to be a bigger liar than he is. Next time you lot meet for a circle jerk, maybe someone should school you all on what's important to the people of this country. You conflicted misanthropic overcompensating sissy action heros have it all wrong.

Ryan looks like an ugly version of Jake Gyllenhaal if we're going to compare to movie stars here. Romney's announcement of Paul Ryan as his running mate (incorrectly labeling him as the future president of the United States), and the long, uncomfortable jog he did to reach Romney on the ship where the announcement took place just goes to show how uncoordinated this team seems. However, their outfits match on occasion make them look like a creepily coordinated couple. But we all know their stances on Gay Marriage, or just equality for LGBT couples/singles, so that wouldn't happen. Honestly, it's enough that Romney is so adamant in his stances against LGBT rights, and women's rights that would make it enough for me NOT to vote. That is without all of his other stances, and future plans for our country. He's ass-backwards to what we’ve spent the last 60 years building, I don't think he's what we need for our country right now, and I don't think our country will choose either him, or fugly Jake Gyllenhaal, er, Paul Ryan, as the leaders of our nation.

Ryan looks like an ugly version of Jake Gyllenhaal if we're going to compare to movie stars here. Romney's announcement of Paul Ryan as his running mate (incorrectly labeling him as the future president of the United States), and the long, uncomfortable jog he did to reach Romney on the ship where the announcement took place just goes to show how uncoordinated this team seems. However, their outfits do match on occasion, making them look like a creepily coordinated couple. But we all know their stances on Gay Marriage, or just equality for LGBT couples/singles, so that wouldn't happen. Honestly, it's enough that Romney is so adamant in his stances against LGBT rights, and women's rights that would make it enough for me NOT to vote. That is without all of his other stances, and future plans for our country. He's ass-backwards to what we’ve spent the last 60 years building, I don't think he's what we need for our country right now, and I don't think our country will choose either him, or fugly Jake Gyllenhaal, er, Paul Ryan, as the leaders of our nation.

@23: No, but I AM amazed at how terminally stupid and clueless Romney / Ryan pawns like you are.

Have you forgotten already who eliminated Osama bin Laden?
I'll give you a little hint: it WASN'T Mr. "stay the course" Dubya Bush!!
Oh, that's right. You're just another dumb Republican. You're exactly what they want, and the dumber the better. How many welfare mothers have you knocked up?
Sorry, I can't laugh out loud. At least I can read without having to abbreviate.

...claims to be a big Rage Against the Machine fan...

I hear that's not mutual.

@8 I know, I don't see it either. I think the widow's peak makes him look like he has horns, but maybe that's because I'm aware of what he stands for, such as saying "Restricting pro-choice for rape & incest victims and mother's health threatened is 'A GOOD START'" and because he's all about giving another 5 trillion dollars tax cuts to the top 1 percent.

Your last paragraph is right on target. Can't wait to read your thoughts about the convention. It was nice talking to you while protesting in Tampa today.

Your last paragraph is right on target. Can't wait to read your thoughts about the convention. It was nice talking to you while protesting in Tampa today. Ray