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Is Paul Ryan a good choice for Mitt Romney's running mate?
Is Paul Ryan a good choice for Mitt Romney's running mate?
I notice that IDEA's uestion of the week on the My Debate is 'Is Paul Ryan a good choice for Mitt Romney's running mate?' I think this deserves some discussion.
A few thoughts to start off;
Personally I think Ryan is a good choice, both for Romney and for the election.
1, Ryan shows that Romney is serious about cutting the deficit
2, It makes it less likely Romney will revert to his old flip flopping ways
3, It makes the election about the big issue of Obama's socialist policies against needing to cut the deficit. The election will therefore be about big issues and will have more chance of being more substance than style.
4, For Romney Ryan helps him connect with the conservative base that was unsure about him in the primaries... remember Bush/Rove won by mobilising the base not by taking the center. And there is plenty to mobilize the base about!
40 weeks 3 days ago
NO. I think that Ryan was a horrible choice and represents all the negative sides of the Republican party.
In response to your 4 points.
1. I don't know how seriously Ryan is about budget cuts when he plans on destroying the live of the poor but cutting the majority of programmes that protect them. In addition to slashing budgets on education. This includes raising less money in tax revenues by $2 trillion than Obama. I may not be an expert on state budgets, but surely you want more tax revenue?
2. Ryan hardline extreme position on all issues social should make anyone flip flop. Ryan helps encourage Romney to take an extreme position on women rights such as this:
Romney made the case for his opposition to abortion, which he believes should be banned except in the case of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is at risk. (His running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, would outlaw abortion even in cases of rape or incest, though he has said recently that he was “comfortable” with Romney’s position because “it's a good step in the right direction.”)
Personally, I'd rather him flip flop and make better decisions on issues than stick to his guns and make horrible decisions.
3. In regards to Obama's "socialist" policies I think a bit of background on Mitt Romney is needed here. He doesn't believe in Obamacare, yet has managed to achieve the same goals as it with his Massachusetts healthcare plan.
4. Ryan helps Romney connect and mobolize from the base. They are both Right Wing Republicans- they are the base. The base are people who already really support them and have the same viewpoints, they need to be securing more votes from more moderate republicans, who currently believe they are too right winged and that the current fovernement is moderate enough to meet their interest and needs.
37 weeks 1 day ago
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It might be a good thing for the election; certainly an election that focuses on the issues and the big picture is a good thing (I wonder if it will have any impact on negative campaigning?) rather than one that focuses on style over substance.
However for Romney's election chances I dont think he is a particularly good pick. Ryan is pretty right wing and so is appealing to right wing conservatives - in an election in which Romney is considerably to the right of Obama is this really a segment of voters that Romney was ever likely to loose. You mention winning by energising the base; I guess it is possible but I would have thought that given the vitriol directed at Obama the republican base would be pretty energised regardless of the VP pick.