Like John McCain in 2008, Mitt Romney needs a game changer VP pick - and party leaders think they may have found the man. U.S. Representative Paul Ryan could, they say, make a persuasive vice presidential pick thanks to what he himself calls the 'checklist.'
'I check a series of boxes,' the Wisconsin Republican reminded the media in 2008. 'Young guy. Economics guy. From a swing state. Catholic.'
It could be the magic political formula that Romney is seeking to bolster the public's perception of him as a rather uninspiring and dull candidate. Thanks to the controversial budgets that Ryan persuaded House Republicans to pass in 2011 and 2012, he's become a national figure and something of a star of the hard right.
Romney understood that magic allure when he asked Ryan to campaign with him for five days in Wisconsin this spring. But at this stage it's still too early to tell if Romney will tap him to be running mate.
First of all the math isn't promising. Only two sitting House members were selected for the vice presidential spot since 1948 by either party. Both tickets lost and neither VP pick ever held elected office again.
Ryan’s age is another factor. At 42 he would be the third-youngest vice presidential selection since World War II, after Richard Nixon, 39, in 1952 and Dan Quayle, 41, in 1988.
According to the Boston Herald, political science researchers and academics debate whether running mates have any effect at all on presidential elections. In a 2001 paper called 'Requiem for a Lightweight,' author David Romero of the University of Texas argued they have none.
Even GOP strategist Karl Rove agrees: 'Running mates haven’t decided an election in more than a half-century,' he wrote in The Wall Street Journal last week.
But Ryan may not have gotten the memo. Since the start of 2012 Ryan’s seven appearances on Sunday news shows this rank him second only to Ron Paul, who has been running for president. Ryan has reportedly appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox, MSNBC, CNBC and other channels.
Ryan may be a practicing Catholic but that was not enough to stop the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops ruling his budget would hurt the poor and vulnerable. Bishops urged lawmakers to 'resist for moral and human reasons' the cuts to hunger and nutrition programs in the Ryan budget. Just last week more than 80 professors and administrators at Georgetown University signed a letter to Ryan before his appearance at the famous Catholic school accusing him of wrongly citing Catholic teaching to argue for his budget.
Ryan's budget calls for biting cuts in Medicaid and a total overhaul of Medicare for people currently under the age of 55, making both Ryan and his policies a political lightning rod.
Romney could benefit from choosing a running mate popular with economic conservatives, but he could also be opening himself up to the divisive shortcomings of that choice too. Time will tell.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.BrianO | May 02, 2012, 10:32 PM EDT
We are states united under one national government. The constituition defines what the national government is limited to. The tasks you wish to have government do for the most part are the states responsibility. I am well aware of the greatness of my country, that is why I am so fervent in keeping the freedoms we have left. The further away from the taxpayer the project is the higher fraud and abuse occurs, are you familiar with the Big Dig in Boston? The bribe to one state doesn't excuse the bribe of another.
EphraimKibbey | May 02, 2012, 08:15 PM EDT
@BrianO - because we are ONE nation! The government is elected to spend our COMMON-WEALTH for the good of all. Using my taxes and your taxes together to build roads, bridges and dams, protect the innocent, educate or kids, equip an army and stimulate the economy when needed are all essential functions of OUR government. The earmark for a project in another state while not of interest to you is vital to that community and the next earmark may be vital to you. We all work for the common good, not just our own betterment. The great thing about America is that we can do both if we are not too greedy. If we are too greedy it all collapses like a house of cards and everyone suffers. This is basic civics (a course apparently no longer taught in High School.) You should be PROUD to be a taxpayer in this great democratic nation. Believe me that there are MILLIONS of people around the globe just waiting to trade places with you if you would like to swap lives. We get to argue with each other like this and vote for representatves who determine how our taxes get spent. The limited things you are mentioning for government are not adequately funded now except for defence. Our infrastructure crumbles, our borders are a sham, our educators, policeman, firemen and other public servants are a shadow of those needed because of cuts in taxes over the last administrations tenure and the refusal to raise taxes now that we need to do so. Thanks W, Grover and Paul for messing up our country.
seanomelb | May 02, 2012, 07:52 PM EDT
How dare stevenstar call anyone on idiot,but I suppose he has the idiot gene and is an expert on the subject. Again 4 MORE YEARS.
BrianO | May 02, 2012, 11:40 AM EDT
Aren't inheritance the accumulated wealth of a person that has already been taxed? There is a role for government, it's when government turns into parents that i have a problem with it. many on this site differ from me, why should their money go to fund one of my pet projects, or my money to fund theirs? The government should be held to certain important tasks (defense,borders,interstate highways) and the individual to their own personal wants and needs, Many a rich person after being a son of a bit** his whole life has a change of heart, Carnegie, Roosevelt,Mellon. Hospitals, concert halls, art museums, are a result of these evil men.
EphraimKibbey | May 02, 2012, 11:25 AM EDT
@BrianO - You are correct in that it must be a finely tuned balancing act. The USSR found that out but the taxes during the Clinton administration seemed to be just right for both the economy and the individual. The market seemed to be doing quite well. Too much (like 90% on millionaires in the early 20th century and you stymie individual incentive. Too little or not using what the government takes in to heat up spending domestically and the economy crashes (W with massive tax cuts and spending on 2 wars.) I'm definitely still a capitalist but I believe that the current tax system with low capital gains taxes and more flatened rates than during the eighties and ninties is the real drain on our economy. The pendulum has swung too far right and we need to bring it back to center. The system needs to be less flat so that the individuals who will spend their income have more to spend and those who will just sock it away have less. The disperity of income graphs at several web sites show it is a great predictor of recession as it widens. We also need to up the taxes on inheritence to prevent the current 1% from keeping the nation's wealth bottled up off shore. The nation's wealth only serves the nation when it is circulating.
BrianO | May 02, 2012, 10:22 AM EDT
If raising taxes is the answer why not take all income and fairly distribute back to the earner. This would be great we could make up for past mistakes, the japanese who where illegally prisoned by their loving government could get a nice check, the sons of slaves should be next, all those who potentially were racially profiled next, The current earner would be stripped of hisincome but would be happy to toil away knowing the utopian model has been achieved. reagan learned his lesson not to trust liberals, the tax increase compromise or deal called for $3 of cuts for every $1 of tax increase, a deal the democratic controlled house didn't fulfill, Reagan held to his cuts in income taxes as they give the most power back to the earners, Why do people who rail against government wish to give them more power over you?
Kenzie | May 02, 2012, 02:35 AM EDT
It seems that the spot for VP starts to heat up.
EphraimKibbey | May 02, 2012, 12:42 AM EDT
@BrianO - Reagan both lowered and then raised taxes during his two terms. The increase in GNP came as a result of raising them and putting the money back into the economy. The rich do not put money INTO the economy, they take it OUT and invest it in companies that ship jobs overseas and replace real people with machines. When Clinton raised taxes and put the money back into the economy, our economy took off again. Note that when W massively cut taxes the economy stagnated and eventually collapsed. Check the online graphs at several sites and note that when taxes are raised the economy strengthens and when they are cut it faulters. The trickle down myth that the GOP has been pushing on the American people has finally died a long deserved death. As REAGAN said, supply side economics is VooDoo economics. It flys in the face of every economics course ever taught. Ryan wants to take us back to the policies that got us into this mess. Did you know that the unemployment rate would now be 7% if all of the teachers, policemen, firemen and other public employees that republican states have caused to be laid off through their austerity measures were rehired. That means that Obama's prediction of being below 8% would have been a conservative estimate if not for the election of state republicans in 2010. The GOP is an an anchor holding America back. It is time THEY started packing!!!
jamthecat | May 02, 2012, 12:04 AM EDT
Paul Ryan has the moral integrity of a snake and the decency of a scorpion. His hypocrisy and venality are so well documented, the fact that anyone still treats him as serious only shows how easy it is to fool people when they want to be fooled. I learned a long time ago, when someone like Ryan plays with a man's hate or envy, he can make that man believe anything he wants him to. I pity this country if he remains in office in any capacity whatsoever; he will destroy everything we stand for, all so his rich buddies can have even greater tax breaks, paid for on the backs of the poor.
STEVENSTAR | May 01, 2012, 11:36 PM EDT
AND TO THE TWO IRISH IDIOTS clevelander & seanomelb LET ME JUST SAY THAT IF YOU LOST YOUR JOB TOMORROW ..TRY GOING TO AMERICA THROUGH SHANNON OR DUBLIN/ CORK IMMIGRATION .. YOU'LL BE FINGER PRINTED.. YOU'LL BE QUESTIONED, YOU'LL BE QUIZZED AND YOU'LL BE SCREENED AND THEN THEY' LL TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR EYES AND THATS ALL BEFORE YOU EVEN GET ON THE PLANE TO AMERICA TO GO ON HOLIDAY ..NEVERMIND WORK.. AMERICANS TREAT US LIKE CROOKS AND CRIMINALS .. ON THE OTHER HAND TRY GOING TO WORK IN ENGLAND WITH THE MILLIONS OF OTHER IRISH IN ENGLAND AND YOU'LL BE WELCOMED AND LEFT IN WITH NO RESTRICTIONS WHEN I HEAR IDIOTS LIKE YOU GIVING OUT ABOUT BRITISH PEOPLE BELIEVE ME WITHOUT THE UK AND ALL THE IRISH PEOPLE WHO GO THERE FOR JOBS ETC ETC WE IN IRELAND WOULD BE IN A MUCH BIGGER MESS THEN WE ARE ALREADY IN NOW ..YOUR OLD ATTITUDES NEED TO CHANGE AND NEED TO CHANGE FAST BEFORE IRELAND BECOMEES AN EVEN BIGGER LAUGH THEN IT IS AT THE MOMENT..
BrianO | May 01, 2012, 08:56 PM EDT
four more years are coming God willing, but it's a little too early to call, you know the old Lincoln scenario about fooling all of the people all of the time.
seanomelb | May 01, 2012, 07:49 PM EDT
It matters not who is VP as no one can save Romney.FOUR MORE YEARS are on the cards.
BrianO | May 01, 2012, 05:59 PM EDT
BytheBay you must have been on the dole a long time to be so bitter, its time to leave your mothers basement and try interacting with the world in a constructive way. Maybe get a loan and start a business, all your government friends will be a great help I'm sure.
BrianO | May 01, 2012, 05:55 PM EDT
If I assume your premise which is shaky at best, what does the offshore bank do with all that money, hmmm what would a bank do with money, if they were wise they woul loan it to virgining businesses so they can GROW.
Bythebay | May 01, 2012, 05:17 PM EDT
Why won't Romney release his US Federal Income Tax returns?? Because he's put his money in offshore accounts where he doesn't have to pay US taxes!!!!
Bythebay | May 01, 2012, 05:10 PM EDT
If someone of another religion was supported solely because of that religion, you Americans of Irish descent would be screaming prejudice!!!! But you do it all the time. Just continuing bigotry and prejudice.
Bythebay | May 01, 2012, 05:08 PM EDT
BrianO, they hide their money in offshore accounts mate. What world have you been living in? The world of Nod?
BrianO | May 01, 2012, 05:05 PM EDT
BTBay, what do rich people do with their money, keep it in their mattresses? How much money is made at a market ,restaurant, department store, from the poor? very little. Business is in business to make money. you scrape together some CAPITAL as in capitalism, and you work hard, sometimes you do well sometimes you do poorly, hopefully you do very well. Then you can expand hire employees buy more resources to expand more, you know grow. How much did Bill gates growth cost his neighbor, nothing. People chose his product because they wanted it, it filled a need. When government agencies come up with a program it's at the cost of you and your neighbors no choice. The next time someone says lets tax the rich they should be more honest and say, you are allowed to steal from anyone who makes over a certain amount of money. Just take their cars, tvs, Belleek vases, heritage crystal glasses, newbridge silver,
BrianO | May 01, 2012, 04:51 PM EDT
patricia, again a false premise. Why is it all right for one and not the other, is false. The rules are the same. You would be stupid not to take every advantage that is legally available to you, this is why Buffet pays less in taxes (by percentage) than his secretary. Social security benefits to those collecting now are being paid by the young workers, it is not an account, 401k,or 203b, the weight of this payment has todays young worker understandably upset. I'll read up on Nordquist as I am not that familiar with the details. You have paid fica since you were 14, if that was kept in a separate account instead of being part of the general fund you would have no fear of it being confiscated by some government agency, and it would have GROWN with the market.
PatriciaMarya | May 01, 2012, 02:58 PM EDT
Observation: when, unfortunately to be sure, Paul Ryan's father passed away, Ryan used the Survivor funds that are paid by Social Security for his college education even though he comes from a wealthy family. Why is alright for him to take advantage of these decent social programs such as Social Securitys Survivors' Benefits even though his family had the funds to cover his education but it is anathema for the rest of us? How can this hypocritical thinking be considered "courageous" by the GOPs? Grover Norquist is a traitor to this country due to his role in Iran-Contra and yet nobody seems to recall that horrendous act. Yet Paul Ryan signs his Anti-Tax Pledge? Must be that Norquist knows where the "bodies" are buried. At age 72, I have been paying into FICA since I was 14. Stop frightening people and insulting the program by considering it a Ponzi scheme as Ryan does.
Bythebay | May 01, 2012, 02:54 PM EDT
BrianO, ha, ha, ha, what a laugh. The rich never create growth mate. They create their own personal wealth.
SeanO | May 01, 2012, 02:47 PM EDT
Wow come my comments dont get published, they are strong opinions,based on truthful facts , and not out of order.? ? ?
BrianO | May 01, 2012, 02:44 PM EDT
The ignorance is amazing. What did JFK mean by a raising tide lifts all ships? What happened to the revenue taken into the treasury when Ronald Reagan lowered taxes on the "rich", for those who do not know let me school you. Lowering taxes raised the revenue to the treasury. How can this happen? It's called growth. Get out of the way, leave people to produce for themselves. What does raising taxes get you? It stunts growth. It grows dependence on the meager social programs it kills pride and initiative.
SeanO | May 01, 2012, 02:23 PM EDT
Ryan for the Rich, Ryan for Rich welfare, Ryan for bailing out Wall Street joker banksters who get their Lobby Johns to pay our elected Political Prostitutes to give them "TOO BIG TO FAIL" status for middle-classs tax-payer bailout & million dollar FAILURE BONUSES for the feckless CEO's..
seanfer7 | May 01, 2012, 02:01 PM EDT
This pencil neck Wisconsin never worked a day in the public sector work for his families business. He is looking to jack up the debit 5 trillion for the rich
EphraimKibbey | May 01, 2012, 01:24 PM EDT
Now I understand the GOP position of protecting the 1%. I now understand why the GOP supports a budget that would increase taxes on the poor, gut the social and medical safety nets, allow corporations to hide more of their income off shore and cut taxes further for the wealthest. Thanks to the RCC Bishop's open letter regarding the Ryan budget, I better understand why self-described "Christians" voted for a budget that goes against all of Christ's teachings. In fact it goes against most religion's teachings regarding the treatment of the poor. We all knew that Paul Ryan requires all his staff to read Ayn Rand's books and that he has said that she was the NUMBER ONE influence in his life. I always thought that she was just a selfish person that the "ME" generation had latched onto as a prophet. Learning from the Bishops that she was an atheist has put the GOP economics in better pespective for me. I know that many atheists are socially conscious people and accept moral principles for their logic if not for their devine source but obviously Ayn Rand rejected the social compact completely. That she saw neither logic in, nor had belief in the higher morals that Jesus taught explains a lot. We now know that Paul Ryan has placed the god mammon above the God he professes when he calls himself a Catholic. His followers, including Mitt Romney, who has said he strongly supports the Ryan budget, are being led to worship at the foot of the idol of wealth at the expense of their beliefs in the teachings of their religions.
Bythebay | May 01, 2012, 10:23 AM EDT
So you're pushing a Catholic? Where's the so-called separation of church and state in the US???? Another lie?
borefield | May 01, 2012, 09:37 AM EDT
Perhaps, if the abuse of these social programmes were publicized the American people would realize we need Paul Ryan. He is brave to even take this step and to show if the abuse is stopped then, perhaps the people who really need this help will be able to avail of it without bankrupting the system. Most of the time the people who really need the help have a difficult time getting it because of the greedy who abuse it and then brag about it.
carollover | May 01, 2012, 09:22 AM EDT
Ryan represents the truly frightening modern face of the Republican Party, doing the bidding of heartless greedy goons like Grover Norquist and the Koch Brothers. He proposes to cut everything but defense and reduce more taxes for the rich. And when the tax cuts result in fewer dollars coming into the treasury, they'll just cut even more. Ryan wants to turn Medicare, the greatest single payer plan ever developed, into a voucher program. It's a survival of the fittest mentality. Ryan,Cantor, Walker and all the other Ayn Rand disciples wil destroy this nation.
beachcomber | May 01, 2012, 09:03 AM EDT
Great, a guy who checks boxes and a guy who uses bully pulpit tactics...we certainly can't go wrong here! ...better the devil we know...