Can anyone explain to me Mitt Romney's grand strategy in choosing Paul Ryan as a running mate? If he has one at all it baffles me. All he did was solidify those conservative / Tea Party folks who were going to vote for him anyway. He might now be able to bring in Ryan's home state of Wisconsin, but it will probably cost him Florida and several other states with large senior populations.
And politicians usually like to talk in vague, opaque language, giving out as few details as possible so the opposition will have a difficult time pinning them down with specifics to pound on. Not this time! Ryan has a detailed, articulate budget plan that will be a lightning rod issue. Again, those who were already going to vote conservative will, while those who weren't still won't. But now many of those absolutely vital moderate swing voters, many of them elderly, will have reason (Medicare / Social Security) to vote Democratic. You just don't make the elderly's Medicare or Social Security benefits the centerpiece of a campaign, especially if it is to "reform" it.
This violates all rules of general elections. You appeal to your core supporters in the primaries, and then move towards the middle when appealing to the larger population. Just watch....Obama will appeal to the moderates with reassuring words while criticizing Romney as an extremist, and Romney will have to distance himself from his own Veep's controversial budget plan. He should have brought Ryan on board later after the election (if he won) as a cabinet member.
This is just bizarre.
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I am a liberal republican. Yep, you heard right. Very liberal yet republican and I 100% guarantee you that this Ryan guy scares the absolute crap pout of me.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't the republican party see that there are those of us who could believe in legalized drugs, abortion, and general separation of church and state yet understand that we are also not into socialism?
The liberal republican is a very very overlooked member of the party. There are lots and lots of us who are sick of these right wing parties overtaking the whole damn thing....
Can we scratch both candidates and start over again?
Being vague and having no plans to fix our dept and the economy is what has been done for 50 years. It is time we look at the real situation and act. It may not be politically wise but it is right to address these issues. Time for a dynamic change.
ReplyDeleteIf only they would delve into the truth and not distortions. IE:"Ryan's plans throw granny off the cliff" When in reality nothing changes for those 55 and older and for those younger there would be more options available.
I am not hearing any other solutions. "Failure to plan is a plan"
Scott...but before you can change anything you first have to get elected. I think Romney is putting the cart before the horse.
ReplyDeleteBobby... Looks bleak, huh?
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I know zero about Paul Ryan, I do know that many COnservatives do not see Mitt as conservative enough. He may have chosen Ryan to bring these conservatives out to vote (they won't vote for President Obama, but they may not vote at all) and also to fend off any third party candidate which may split the vote.
ReplyDeleteObama, considered by most to be very Liberal chose Biden, a in knee jerk Liberal as strong as they come for his persieved expertese in international politics, but he certianly did not move to the right and yet he won the election. I only wish these things were more about substance and less political sport.
If Romney and Ryan get elected this will no longer be the United States of America but the Feudal States of America.
ReplyDeleteInteresting perspective Joe. I think it's too late for a viable 3rd party candidate, but it might get some off the fence.
ReplyDeleteEllen...I think the country will survive, with perhaps some seriously ruffled feathers, regardless who wins.
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I think it's a good thing for the country in general, although perhaps not the wisest move politically. A clear division between the candidates will allow the voters to make a decision based on issues, not on skin color or personal finances or other ephemera not actually having anything to do with qualification for the office.
ReplyDeleteJim...you're probably right. With such differing clearly defined choices we can see once and for all which direction the majority wants to move. But as I mentioned earlier, before any candidate can initiate change they first have to get elected. Big picture... Will Ryan help or hurt Romney? I guess we'll find out.
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I don't think Ryan will help Romney much. If Romney wanted to convince people he's his own man and a candidate with big ideas, he could have done much better. Ryan's tax plan is a disaster and an easy target for Democrats, but on a personal level I wonder if Ryan's health can withstand this. The men in his family have a history of dropping dead from heart attacks in their fifties. Politics aside, I wouldn't wish this for Paul Ryan.
ReplyDeleteAs the President has said repeatedly, the country has tried their ideas and it didn't work. I liked him calling them "trickle down fairy dust."
ReplyDeleteI don't know if Ryan will help or hinder Romney. What I'd like to know is how Ryan feels about the Social Security benefits that he collected and enabled him to go to college. Will he pay them back now?
ReplyDeletePeeper...I think he subscribes to "heads I win, tails you lose."
ReplyDeleteS
I too am interested in why he chose Ryan. I don't think it is a wise move in this politics game. I don't know if it was just me but Romney looked a bit hesitant as he took the stage after Ryan's remarks (when he was announced as his running mate). His wife looked hesitant as well. It makes me wonder if it was even his choice at all. Just an observation.
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