Naming Paul Ryan as veep is a collosal mistake by Romney

[scheming daemons]

Naming Ryan makes the Ryan budget effectively the Romney budget.

The Ryan budget may be the singularly least popular piece of legislation proposed since prohibition.

The ads write themselves. Obama and our superpacs can now pull line items out of the Ryan budget for use in ads..... like ending Medicare, extreme cuts to social services and to the wealthy's tax rates.

It will be a goldmine.


The fact that he is an Ayn Rand fanboy is an added bonus.

[SidDithers]

1. I agree...

but ain't it great?

Sid

[roguevalley]

31. Rumnuts fave book is Battlefield Earth (Scientology) and Ryan is Randian. He also loses

Florida. Among other places.

[Brother Buzz]

2. Take stock in Napoleon's words

"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

[part man all 86]

32. Nice!

[Fawke Em]

53. We should shut up, then.

But, geez... how does one actually laugh without making noise?

[PurityOfEssence]

95. Snicker baby, snicker

Never count out the well-financed reactionaries, though...

[Motown_Johnny]

3. no attempt to balance the budget for 28 years

I heard that one today on Ed's show (I think) and almost fell off my seat. Ed had some old conservative I don't know throwing out names for VP that would be better than Ryan. Maybe Ed heard something ahead of time and wanted to get that stuff on the record.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

4. HuffPo says he's it

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/11/paul-ryan-mitt-romney_n_1684794.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008

[Cognitive_Resonance]

5. An Obama landslide is now a real possibility. nt

[elzenmahn]

12. Maybe MittWitt can take some of the Repub congresscritters down with him...

...when he is shown the door in November. Obama needs a congress he can work with.

[yurbud]

108. the real question: will it exceed Papa Bush v. Dukakis or Reagan v. Mondale...

or FDR v. Alf Landon as the most lopsided in history?

[matmar]

6. Not to mention the Catholic Nuns have called his budget anti-human.

[tblue]

13. Oh yeah. Don't mess with the nuns.

Put them in a commercial!

[Lefty Thinker]

27. Whatever will the Catholic bishops say?

They called Ryan's budget immoral, but seem to have a, hmmmm, predilection for a Rmoney win.

[catbyte]

51. Actually it was the Bishops. The nuns merely agreed.

A small yet important distinction.

[JoePhilly]

112. And boarded a bus, crossing the country to criticise the Ryan budget.

That's the nuns, not the Bishops.

[Ikonoklast]

7. Dammit, ix-nay on the istake-may!

Picking Ryan is a masterstroke of genius!

Don't anyone pay attention to the OP, he's talking crazy talk!

Democrats are trembling in fear over this brilliant move!

[tblue]

16. Brilliant. Because nobody likes Medicare and Social Security.

Brilliant

[BlueStreak]

19. Cat food isn't as bad as it sounds.

[Chemisse]

102. Yum. I can't WAIT to turn 65!

[part man all 86]

37. Need to go to college go ask your parents for the money.

The government is not a bank for you people.

[Tunkamerica]

40. what's that, guy?

please explain

[tavalon]

61. I think it's irony

but I'm not sure. It could have used a sarcasm tag.

[Tunkamerica]

65. It could use a couple of things.

[backwoodsbob]

68. it is

something RMoney said

[jeff47]

85. Nah, just use Social Security benefits, like Ryan did. (nt)

[Firebrand Gary]

8. We get to run against Ryan, literally in EVERY SINGLE HOUSE AND SENATE SEAT!

[elzenmahn]

10. And the playbook to use is his own budget proposal...

...I'm loving this already. Ryan has had his head up Ayn Rand's ass so far he can't see what a political liability his budget will be.

"The Path To Austerity"...indeed.

[elzenmahn]

9. If memory serves me correctly...

...didn't Rmoney already state that he supported the Paul Ryan budget?

BTW, for you home owners out there with mortgages - I'd check Mr. Ryan's budget plan if I were you. Is there not a mention in there regarding removing the mortgage interest tax deduction? If so, that will certainly win over some voters.

This is rich - and I think, exactly what the Obama campaign was hoping for. I am delighted.

[BlueStreak]

21. Yes, but now he OWNS it.

Obama can attribute anything in the Ryan budget directly to Romney. They simply have to refer to it as the "Romney/Ryan Budget plan".

We should not underestimate the ability of the MSM to fawn all over Ryan, but hopefully they got that out of their system 9 months ago.

[Auntie Bush]

105. How about calling it the Mittryan budget plan? Easy to say.

We can also speak of them collectively as Mittryan. i.e. Mittryan is a sleaze bag. Kills 2 birds with one stone and deprives both of then publicity.

[golfguru]

30. But I am just a lowly renter and not a home owner or landlord

I get no mortgage deduction anyway. I will settle for lowering tax brackets instead.

[Fumesucker]

66. Even for a lot of homeowners the standard deduction beats itemized..

I was in that situation for at least a decade, if you don't owe a great deal on your home the mortgage interest deduction is not that good a deal.

[yardwork]

74. Lots of those coveted independent voters are home owners. They love the deduction.

Think of the typical "independent" voter. They live in a slightly rural area in the midwest or south and own their home and some land around it. They have a garage and maybe a wired workshop. They have a riding mower that they bought on credit, and they're planning to add to the deck this year but they're worried that "Obamacare" will take their money. Now they hear that the Romney ticket is planning to take away their mortgage tax deduction?! That's the only part of the tax code that they understand - you buy a house because you get to deduct the mortgage on your taxes.

Fatal, fatal, fatal.

[ellenfl]

77. i don't pay enough mtg interest to itemize and so have to take the standard deduction.

i bet many other americans are in the same boat. imo, that benefit is a myth for many.

ellen fl

[yardwork]

78. Maybe so, but they may not even realize it. I'm serious. It's the perception that matters.

[ellenfl]

79. the ones who don't realize it are surely first time buyers.

as a real estate paralegal, i'm not seeing a lot of those in today's market. the decline in real estate values affects this as well.

ellen fl

[jeff47]

88. And you think raising the effective cost of all houses by 12-15%

is gonna do good thing for real estate values?

[ellenfl]

94. huh?

[jeff47]

100. Mortgage interest deduction reduces the effective price of houses

That deduction gives many homebuyers money back, especially just after the purchase when mortgage payments are almost all interest. About 40 million people take the deduction, so it's not an insignificant number of income tax payers.

It's estimated* that this cash back effectively makes houses 12-15% cheaper. So eliminating the deduction, despite not effecting you, would raise home prices by 12-15%, and do so in a way that current homeowners can't benefit.

That's not going to be good for real estate.

*Estimate is by the National Association of Realtors, so they are not exactly unbiased. But I have not found any other estimates.

[vankuria]

92. It's not a myth to us

and for many homeowners I know. The mortgage interest tax deduction is a big deal, so you can't speak for everyone.

[ellenfl]

96. i didn't say i spoke for everyone. i'm just saying i was surprised and

disappointed that when i finally could deduct, the amount was not enough. it also meant that my insurance premiums were from taxed income. i know i shouldn't complain that i didn't have costs enough to itemize and so get a break in my taxes, but i don't think i'm the only taxpayer who actually pays the tax rate and not a lower effective rate.

oh well, i guess i can save money not having to buy turbotax anymore.

ellen fl

[Chemisse]

103. If there was no mortgage deduction, the standard deduction could go much lower

and people would still take it because it is more than when itemizing.

So this will hurt us all.

[golfguru]

80. Those rural home owners you describe are most likely NOT in a high tax bracket

Over the years, I have greatly appreciated the standard deduction increasing
each year indexed in some way to inflation. Also, many deductions are no longer
allowed such as interest on a car loan. So, unless you have a high mortgage amount
and a high tax bracket, most people are better off with the standard deduction and
a lower tax rate.

Make a note that the mortgage deduction is only as good as your tax bracket.
The mortgage interest on a $200,000 mortgage at today's rates is about $8000 per year.
In a 15% bracket (most people), that is $1200 savings in taxes.
The standard deduction even at 15% tax bracket is worth more, for most people.

[ellenfl]

97. i wish my tax rate was 15%! eom

[golfguru]

114. Nurse, teacher, policeman, fireman, city bus driver, garbage truck driver etc

all make enough $$$ to be in 15% or higher bracket.

[ellenfl]

119. i think 'or higher' applies. eom

[jeff47]

101. Slightly rural, not rural

Think newer suburb, where the houses are bigger than the 1960's-era suburbs.

[golfguru]

115. Median Family income in 2011 was $56,000 (2 wage earners)

Rule of thumb is that you should not spend more than 1/4 of your income on house payments. That gives us $14,000 for principle + interest + tax.
Interest + tax are itemized deductible items. At beginning of mortgage period,
most money goes to interest and near end of mortgage period most money goes
towards principle which is NOT tax deductible.

Hence even at start of mortgage period, your tax savings will be $2100 due to
mortgage deduction, for median American family. Compare that to standard deduction
of $11.900. It is a no brainer that standard deduction is the winner.

[jeff47]

118. The poor aren't buying houses.

Thus, median income is the wrong stat to use. You need to use median for home buyers.

About 40 million income tax payers take the mortgage interest deduction.

[jmowreader]

45. No one's sure what the "loopholes" Ryan intends to close are, because he won't say

However! The Path to Recession calls for eliminating taxes on corporate profits earned overseas (translation: no more good jobs in the US because they'll ALL be outsourced), reducing corporate tax from 35 percent to 25, and eliminating the alternative minimum tax.

[jeff47]

86. He said he supported it....and then that he doesn't support it. (nt)

[Kalidurga]

11. Um no picking Ryan is great...

I have been rooting for him for a long time. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it was going to happen. If I had to hand pick a running mate for Romney this is the one I would have picked. Who else in the GOP is just as heartless as Romney. Not even Palin who never met a dollar she didn't like is as heartless. I think Romney has just enough rope now.

[NYC Liberal]

36. I see what you did there.

Totally agree...we should be REALLY worried now.

[fishwax]

14. It ties Romney both to the unpopular legislation and to the unpopular Congress

Last edited Sat Aug 11, 2012, 10:42 AM - Edit history (1)

I guess the thinking is that it will make the base happy, but while a few wingers who don't like Romney might now show up to vote, that will be vastly outweighed by the undecideds and older voters he drives away.

I agree with you. Colossal mistake. (Thanks, Mitt )

[grantcart]

34. exactly

[neverforget]

15. This unmasks the vision Republicans have for America: the wealthy rule and no safety net for you

[Delphinus]

84. You are

absolutely correct! Thank you for stating what is in my heart.

[Panasonic]

17. That will get the baggers side even worse

since Ryan's a bagger....

So he's picking one of their own to try to control the freaks...

Here's Ryan's job from now on - dogshit picker, and he doesn't get to use a plastic bag. Or gloves.

[Warpy]

18. That handful of Koch led billionaires want to groom him to run in 2016

They don't honestly care how much the people of this country who are paying attention despise the overgrown punk, he's their boy and they want him in the top spot and think everything will be in place in 2016: Citizens United plus whatever devilment the USSC and state GOP do to make sure only white male Republicans can vote.

[Aerows]

20. This is fucking awesome

I can't imagine how anyone could see Paul Ryan as a bad pick for Democrats.

Rock on. I love it.

[Rowdyboy]

38. It really made my day....I was concerned about a couple of possibilities but Ryan wasn't one of them

Rmoney\Ryan is about as good as it gets for our side-it effectively ties Romney at the hip to House Republicans-not just Ryan's insane budget but he represents House Republicans. What a gift....

[Grammy23]

22. I agree----Paul Ryan is a gift

And that Budget of his is the big, bright bow on top! There will be so many opportunities to explain to the voters exactly what Mittens and Ryan have in mind for them for the next 4 (possibly 8) years. And it's not pretty for anyone who is not rich. It ought to be a cake walk for Obama. Unless.....

My biggest concern....that the Republican voters' hatred of Obama is stronger than their dislike of Romney and Ryan (or whoever he chooses.) With fingers firmly pressing their nostrils together, they will vote for Romney anyhow. I think they believe that none of what they are hearing will come to pass with Romney, even though he has promised to do a bunch of things on "Day One". And the Romney team is going to pull out all the stops to make sure their people show up to vote.

And then there is the voter suppression of likely Democratic voters.....What should be a sure thing, a landslide for Obama could be stolen again. This is what makes me nervous and very angry. Is anyone else confident in our electoral system any more???

[Avalux]

23. But let's not allow Ryan's budget to take the focus off of Romney's taxes.

We know that's what they want. Everyone will be in a tizzy about Ryan that the tax issue will fall by the wayside. Can't let that happen.

[Caretha]

69. I don't think we need to worry about that

Harry Reid has been playing this political keep it in the news move brilliantly. Everyone has been speculating for a couple weeks now who Harry's source is on MitWitt's inside tax info. I suspect that at just the right moment the "inside man's" identity will be revealed, and it will start a new round of "Show us your tax returns.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

24. Almost as awesome as a Jindal pick would have been. Ryan is not a credible choice. nt

[UnrepentantLiberal]

25. It's Christmas!

After the Andrea Saul fiasco he really had no choice.

Boy is EarlG going to be happy when he wakes up tomorrow.

[Tx4obama]

54. EarlG already know. He posted a photo, see link below

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/101747812

[UnrepentantLiberal]

57. He's in photoshop heaven!

[Raine]

26. BEST news in the world for us, I'm thrilled! nt

[Lone_Star_Dem]

28. They had to be afraid they were gonna lose the Teabaggers.

They couldn't afford that down ticket, so they're tossing the presidency to the wind to get the Baggers in to vote for the others.

I. Cannot. Believe. This.

[SunSeeker]

29. Oh come on! Herman & Eddie go so well together.

[Kablooie]

33. A colostomistake.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

35. This strikes me as a purely defensive play. Probably afraid their base would stay home endangering

down-ticket races. This is not a winning move for Romney. Portman was his best shot if he wanted to stay competitive.

[Bjorn Against]

83. Paul Ryan is going to seriously endanger all their down ballot choices

The Ryan budget is very unpopular and nearly every Republican voted for it, the selection of Paul Ryan as VP will make the Ryan budget vote a top issue in every Congressional district in the nation. I am sure the DCCC is having a huge party today because they know every one of their candidates has just been given an electoral gift.

[thecascadian]

39. What, was Sarah Palin not available?

I thought Mormons weren't allowed to get high... Whoops!

I'm crossing my finger in hope this means choosing god-awful running mates
has become a Republican tradition. Romney would have been better off with
Mr. Burns as his veep. He would have to call Cheney out of retirement to
make a worse choice. Keep up the good work Mittens, you're on track
to make your 2012 GOP defeat even more embarrassing than McCain's in 2008.

[renate]

110. welcome to DU!

[Fozzledick]

41. We can only hope so.

But it sure makes him an easy target!

[synapticwave]

42. This could be a longer-term strategy by the RNC

to shut the tea party up. Pick their guy, watch him go down in epic flames and then tell the tea party and ultra conservatives to STFU and get in line for the mid-terms and 2016 race. I highly doubt it is part of their strategy, but it may have that side affect anyway.

[D23MIURG23]

43. To be fair he didn't have many good options.

[TicketyBoo]

44. Wow, I hope this is good news

because I really FEAR that ticket if they were actually to end up elected.

[libodem]

46. New Yorker

Article tells it all. Has that hit good reads?

[Guy Montag]

47. Thanks for the early Christmas gift Willard, This is a guaranteed loser of a pick

This makes mcLame's choice of the half gov. look positively brilliant.

[DallasNE]

48. The Fox News Poll Friday

That showed Obama with 17% support from those who identified themselves as Tea Party supporters and the WSJ editorial that endorsed Ryan as the VP pick sort of tied Romney's hand when it came to picking the VP. This also takes away some of the steam of Ron Paul supporters at the convention. The challenge will be for Ryan not to show Romney up.

[PeaceNikki]

49. Ryan "denounced" Rand earlier this year. presumably in

Preparation for this.

[Qutzupalotl]

50. He's doubling down as if he's going to win the argument

against Obama. Not likely. More likely they'll doom each other.

But he's so dreamy!

[Firebrand Gary]

52. The Romney/Ryan plan gives themselves tax cuts and we don't even get to see if they need them??????

[still_one]

55. I hope you are right. I am not sure how dense the American public is though. One thing for certain

there should be no doubt in anyones mind that this choice should leave no doubt in any independents mind that romney is no moderate

[caseymoz]

56. A lot of possibilities here . . .

. . . not all of them good. However, is it also possible that Romney might end Paul Ryan's career, too?

The bad possibility is this: that the base does rally around the duo and Ryan brings the Randite loonies out on election day, while gerrymandering, voter suppression, and vote hacking do the rest for the GOP, with the Supreme Court there to install Romney if all else fails.

We'll still likely win, but the consequences of losing this one are now even more enormous than ever.

[Cali_Democrat]

58. My thoughts exactly.

I'm still scratching my head over this one. It's a HUGE mistake by Romney.

This will be a landslide election.

[Poll_Blind]

59. Everything you said is true. I'm hoping it really is Ryan.

We might even gain some seats in the goddamned House with a ticket that completely fucked up.

That's gonna be about as popular as running Hermann Göring and Idi Amin.

PB

[tavalon]

60. I see this as an early Christmas present from RMoney

I never knew he cared about us so much. It is the perfect gift, isn't it?

[rad51]

62. +100

I can't wait to see the polls in 2 weeks!

[cali]

63. I'm not sure it will make much difference

As Romney had already endorsed the Ryan budget, dems are already free to dig tidbits out of it and use it against romney, and as people so often note, the number 2 on a ticket, historically hasn't made much difference. Still, I think it's a pick that shows romney is increasingly desperate. I also think having 2 unlikeable assholes on a ticket makes things worse for romney.

[NYC Liberal]

75. Yep, but Romney needed someone who could make a difference.

The last thing he needed was someone who hurt him or someone who did nothing. Ryan, at best, does nothing.

[sendero]

64. One wonders how much power the GOP itself..

. has over these sorts of decisions. It's like they are throwing the game. Like they have decided Romney cannot win this year so they are preparing for 2016.

That's what it looks like to me anyway.

[DearAbby]

93. I don't believe the Adults are in charge at GOP

Tea party has more power within the GOP than we realized. The Bush Presidency caused a shift of power. The moderates of the party have some real serious thinking to do...save the country..or vote party and take us all down. Are you Patriots, or party loyalists?

[randome]

109. You are absolutely correct.

The TP is like an infection within the GOP. They are delusional with fever if they think they can win with Romney/Ryan.

[madokie]

67. And the fact that he is as dumb as a stump

adds some comic relief to this election season

[nichomachus]

71. I don't think he is

And that's going to be a problem. Also, unlike Mitt, he's very quick on his feet.

[cali]

73. whatever else he is, he's not stupid. and he's not inarticulate.

thinking he is either of those things is a mistake.

[madokie]

90. read what he tried to pull off with his budget and tell me he is 1: smart 2: articulate

he's stupid and dumb as a stump to boot

Sometimes you make me laugh and this is one of those times

[gulliver]

82. He thinks he's an intellectual.

He's like a younger, dumber Newt Gingrich before Newt had a chance to discover his inner existential demons. Ryan thinks we are living in an Ayn Rand novel. He is a simpleton, but smarter than his fans. Like a David Koresh, just a tad higher up the bell curve, but not by much.

[Bluenorthwest]

89. I very much agree, and perfectly stated.

no need to add a thing

[nichomachus]

70. I thought the Teabaggers hated career politicians

Ryan has never had a real job. His whole career is in politics. Aren't these the people the Teabaggers want to throw out?

Mitt has never had a real job either.

[yardwork]

72. I think that the Koch brothers think that they can buy this election.

It's the only thing that makes sense.

[DCBob]

76. agreed.

Its not a game changer for sure. He doesnt really appeal to anyone outside of the Norquist/teabagger/budget and tax nerd types. Short term minor bump at best and long term a negative.

[Odin2005]

81. Even the RCC hates him!

[Ruby the Liberal]

87. Gekko/Galt 2012

Let the debate begin.

[IDemo]

104. That's worthy of a bumper sticker

Except the Randites would likely believe it was intended as a compliment.

[Ruby the Liberal]

106. Let 'em.

[pampango]

91. The ONLY way this works for mitt is if it placates teabaggers for 3 months and

he can track to the center after the conventions without losing the base that has never been thrilled with him.

If he continues to pander to the teabagger/libertarian wing of the party all fall, I think he is toast. But if he starts talking like a moderate (with a wink to the far-right - "I gave you Ryan. Just get me elected and watch the 'fun') he might have a chance. That strategy would rely on two traditions: 1) most voters don't vote for a ticket based on the VP (while hoping that baggers and libertarians will do just that) and 2) many voters don't start paying attention until after Labor Day, so that won't know or care what mitt has said during the primary campaign.

I think Ryan is a bad pick but I don't see that he had a good one. I doubt that baggers will really be able to hold their collective breaths for 3 months. Mitt may think he has some kind of deal with them with the Ryan pick but it will be interesting to see how long the far-right can stick with any 'deal'.

[HooptieWagon]

98. I disagree, its not a mistake at all.

If Rmoney had any RW appeal at all, he could afford to tack to the middle and select a moderate for VP. That he had to pick an extremist RWer for VP shows the campaign is desparate to fire up an unenthusiastic base, and they have no intention of even trying to appeal to moderates and swing voters. Rmoney's strategy is right out in the open... a media barrage of attack ads, slander, and lies; and voter suppression.

[hifiguy]

99. The WH oppo researchers are popping the champagne

as we type. They are going to pound this silly fucker into the ground like a tent peg. The Zombie Eyed Granny Starver is the last nail in the Mittwit's political coffin.

[yurbud]

107. they should play up that Ayn Rand angle in the Bible Belt

and contrast it with some of the Bible parable like the Good Samaritan and some of the social justice commandments of Jesus.

[Skraxx]

111. It Was A Panicky, Base-Pleasing Pick

And he was absolutely corralled into it by a superlative Obama campaign.

He HAD to please his base.

This pick guarantees that the election WILL be about the issues that matter.

Well played Mr. President.

[4 t 4]

113. it's not a mistake if you're throwing the whole race

Obama will win the next 4 years No question hands down and then you will see a republican in the white house. Do you really think for one single second that these two clowns are taken seriously by Anyone- anyone even Fox News. This is a complete set up .

[B Calm]

116. Republicans are not deep thinkers!

[Tarheel_Dem]

117. K&R