Florida State Seminoles

[sardis]

Granted, I haven't read all of Ryans' plan, but I don't think privatizing S.S. was part of it. I think that is an assumption by opponents who are thinking of the slippery slope of conservatism. He does want to privatize Medicare by giving vouchers to seniors. Medicare, unlike S.S., is not a pay-in program where you receive credit for what you pay in. It is basically a tax dedicated for a specific entitlement. Social Security, with age adjustments and increased immigration, is a salvagable program. Medicare, in its current form is not.

[eCat]

I'm not sure it was the best choice for Romney.

I don't think it even solidifies his base once Obama starts picking apart what it actually means to vote for Ryan's plan.

For now its an exciting pick for Romney but it was too soon. I bet Romney comes in flat for the RNC.

[Bklyn]

Ah ha, but then that begs the harder question...who would be the best choice to run with Romney? Jindal? Rubio? Portman? Pawlenty? Condi Rice? Rand Paul?

They all have serious flaws that don't give Romney any chance at a tailwind. At least Ryan gives him that. It may not hold, but there is a chance (which is better than I think he would have had with any of the above as his mate). Besides, most of the country does not know Ryan, so it gives him a chance to define himself and actually campaign. Most of the country does not know Mitt Romney either, but that's not for lack of him being around. He's been campaigning nationally for over 4 years now. As a result, people have begun to accept that he has no real center, just a man built on ambition and privilege.

To counter that caricature created (by/for) Romney, he has chosen what his center will be. Whether it was the right center to choose is in the air, at least he has one now. Ryan helps him there.

I do think it was a bit too soon, though. You're right about that.

[Jungle Rat]

Doesn't matter who he chose. He ain't winning.

[THE_WIZARD_]

You are the dumbest fucktard I have ever known.

[Bklyn]

Well, Rat has a better than even money chance of being right. I don't know if that doesn't make him a fucktard (let alone the dumbest one) but he is most likely not wrong on that one.

[hedge]

Poor Wiz. All he's got to look forward to is 4 more years of rage. Of course, that would be the case no matter who wins the election...

[THE_WIZARD_]

He's still a dumb fuck.

[Jungle Rat]

Wiz is still mad at me for those days back at CNN/SI when I slept with one of his daughters.

[THE_WIZARD_]

No. I taught my daughters to stay away from retarded felons.

[eCat]

polls all over the place but this one is USAtodays

mericans don't believe GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney hit a home run with his choice of Paul Ryan as a running mate, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, with more of the public giving him lower marks than high ones.

Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman, is seen as only a "fair" or "poor" choice by 42% of Americans vs. 39% who think he is an "excellent" or "pretty good" vice presidential choice.

Romney pollster Neil Newhouse said in a statement that the findings reflect the fact that Ryan, a House member since 1999, isn't widely known.

USA TODAY/Gallup polls of registered voters after the announcements of running mates since Dick Cheney in 2000 all showed more positive reactions. Only Dan Quayle in a 1988 Harris Poll of likely voters was viewed less positively than Ryan, with 52% rating Quayle as a "fair" or "poor" vice presidential choice. The Ryan poll includes all adults, not just registered voters.

Since Romney introduced Ryan as his running mate on Saturday, Democrats have set out to portray the House Budget Committee chairman as an extremist for his plans to revamp Medicare. President Obama called Ryan an "articulate spokesman" for "a vision I fundamentally disagree with."

[AlabamAlum]

A shooting at TAMU? This crap is ridiculous.

[eCat]

yea I just heard.

[AlabamAlum]

And, unfortunately, it will start many on the left talking about more gun laws.

[eCat]

no, unfortunately it will start many on the right to begin talking about it.

People have a saturation point with this even if statistics tell them otherwise.

Without knowing the details, lets see if its a glock, a pump shotgun or a AR-15 as the weapon of choice.

Something is going to have to give with this.

[AlabamAlum]

Damn video games.

[aTm]

This doesnt sound like a shooter rampage to me. It sounds more like thugs/drug types deciding not to come quietly.

[AlabamAlum]

Coincidentally, I own several Glocks, several pump shotguns, and something that looks a bit like an AR-15.

[eCat]

Coincidentally, I own several Glocks, several pump shotguns, and something that looks a bit like an AR-15.

I won't own a glock. Quality is good but just a personal preference

[Bklyn]

Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman, is seen as only a "fair" or "poor" choice by 42% of Americans vs. 39% who think he is an "excellent" or "pretty good" vice presidential choice.

Romney pollster Neil Newhouse said in a statement that the findings reflect the fact that Ryan, a House member since 1999, isn't widely known."

Yep. That's basically what I was saying. Paul Ryan is so thinly known that he can actually campaign and create the narrative he wants. Romney doesn't have that luxury as he has mangled his narrative (at best)...or the narrative is spot on with who he is (at worst).

The key is taking control of your narrative. This is where I think Romney made a mistake. He can not spend any of this cash he has been raking in since he was the nominee until after the convention. So, if he would have waited to roll out Ryan until the convention, then he could counter the White House and talking head shows with ads on TV. He is going to get "outspent" on that in the short term. He must be simply hoping that Ryan's national brand is not too battered by the time they can start spending money. The press will not spend a lot of time covering his stump speeches (unless there is controversy), but every time the President talks (or his Press Secretary) it will get plenty of coverage.

Romney should have waited to do this, the more I think about it.