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Monday, August 13, 2012

When Will the Ryan Backlash Begin?

Posted by on Mon, Aug 13, 2012 at 10:44 AM

Over the weekend, the media went crazy for Paul Ryan. And why wouldn't they? He's young, (according to Slog) politics-hot, super-fit, and he's way more charismatic than Mitt Romney. And as Mark Halperin points out, the Romney campaign deserves credit for their vice presidential candidate rollout; it's the first thing they've really gotten right in a month-and-a-half.

The question is when the blowback is going to come, what it's going to be about, and how hard it's going to hit. This video of Ryan mocking a protester for yelling about Ryan cutting Medicare and Social Security by saying "I hope he's taken his blood pressure medication" is already making the rounds:

The story of how Ryan put himself through college on Social Security survivor's benefits (his father died when he was 16) is gaining traction. I haven't seen as many reports of Ryan's “Social Security Personal Savings Guarantee and Prosperity Act of 2005," which would have allowed people to put their Social Security savings in the stock market.

And this beauty from Slate came back to light today:

Ryan attended a closed meeting with congressional leaders, Bush's Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on September 18, 2008. The purpose of the meeting was to disclose the coming economic meltdown and beg Congress to pass legislation to help collapsing banks. Instead of doing anything to help, Ryan left the meeting and on that very same day Paul Ryan sold shares of stock he owned in several troubled banks and reinvested the proceeds in Goldman Sachs, a bank that the meeting had disclosed was not in trouble.

This kind of congressional insider trading wasn't illegal at the time—it is now—but it's another story to add to the Paul-Ryan-only-cares-about-Paul-Ryan file. Once the media is done telling the "exclusive" spoonfed stories of how Romney made the Ryan pick, they're going to have to start digging. I wonder when the first bomb will hit, and how Ryan will respond to this exceptional level of pressure.

 

Comments (11) RSS

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Cato the Younger Younger 1
It's beginning; Keith Olbermann tweeted that Ryan's initial approval from the retardicans is 6 points LOWER than Palin's was. (Dan retweeted it and it appeared on my twitter)
Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on August 13, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Max Solomon 2
the MSM will have to start digging? no, they won't. Obama's going to have to throw more mud for them to take any notice. they'll be too busy being dazzled by Ryan's budget-y bullshit and giving Ryanomney an equal hearing.
Posted by Max Solomon on August 13, 2012 at 11:11 AM
3
Of course, only momentarily, to convince everyone (including Paul Constant-type douchetards) that the far rightwingers like Obama/Biden are far preferable to the extreme rightwingers like Romney/Ryan.

Let us finally display some sanity:

http://www.btlonline.org/2012/CTPT/mp3/1…

http://www.btlonline.org/2012/seg/120817…

Posted by sgt_doom on August 13, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Original Andrew 4
“Should we spit or swallow?” will be the only question the traditional media will ask Ryand over the next few weeks.
Posted by Original Andrew on August 13, 2012 at 11:33 AM
5
Basically, Romney borked himself.
Posted by seatackled on August 13, 2012 at 11:40 AM
6
As Frank Rich said, Nuke Em. Two weeks till the republican convention, two weeks to lead the MSM by the nose to any serious questions.

I do like Krugman naming them the Galt/Gekko ticket. Doubt the kids will get it, sadly.
Posted by Large Hardon Colluder on August 13, 2012 at 11:51 AM
7
Here he is today, not quite losing his cool, but not really able to handle a heckler with any grace.

http://core.talkingpointsmemo.com/tv/vid…
Posted by seatackled on August 13, 2012 at 12:07 PM
Catalina Vel-DuRay 8
Sgt Doom, I applaud your use of links in lieu of your usual tl;dr screeds. Links don't require much scrolling to ignore them.
Posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay http://www.danlangdon.com on August 13, 2012 at 12:35 PM
9
Keep 'em coming! I was scanning TPM today and it looks like the backlash is going to come fairly strong and pretty quick.
Posted by floater on August 13, 2012 at 12:48 PM
10
Slate has retracted the story. Dang. It was beautiful while it lasted. http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2012…
Posted by Jin Seattle on August 13, 2012 at 1:15 PM
Bauhaus I 11
Already getting tired of all the talk about how hot Ryan is. Please. Anyone who votes against every form of government oversight - financial and environmental to name two types - and anyone who vigorously opposes marriage equality in the name of his religion - and anyone who enjoys killing animals for sport is NOT hot. Ever. No matter what the face and body say.
Posted by Bauhaus I on August 13, 2012 at 11:35 PM

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