Definite sign of weakness by Romney, abandoning the center in an attempt to motivate his supposed base. In a campaign where he's already portrayed as out of touch and not caring about the poor or middle class, Ryan (and his budget) reinforces and doubles-down on that perception.

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It has to be photoshopped? I cant tell.
tib

Glad you can't tell. That means I did a good job... because yes, I added the banner. Modeled after infamous Bush photo. Surprised (or not) that any Republican would hold major press conference on ship these days... especially when comparisons to Bush policy are so rampant. Feel free to share.

He's not a walking Markov chain generator like Sarah Palin, so that might make him more dangerous.

The Obama campaign needs to come out swinging and define him as the right-wing extremist Koch-whore that he is.

Palin was marginally less qualified, but Ryan gives the game away with his budget shenanigans. Both appeal equally to the worst instincts of the base, though in different keys, Palin rousing racism and Ryan rousing selfishness and greed.

"Romney loves America like a tick loves a dog."

Palin worked out pretty well for us and I think Ryan will as well.

and has ideas - really bad ideas of course. He's an Ayn Rand acolyte. Palin likely has no idea who the hell "Ann Ran" is. Palin was a blank slate and was marginally qualified for a statewide off at best, with little grasp of issues outside her home state (I'd actually say her bubble was even smaller - barely extending outside of Wasila). Of course, Romney has shown over the course of his travels abroad, he's not that much more informed either. Ryan does have considerable more experience on national issues.

I think this is a welcome debate and I think this year's election is an incredibly stark contrast in differing political philosophy and ideology. Ryan's vision for the future is appalling and is a very clear display of the GOP's plan to greatly accelerate the transfer of wealth already under way from the poor and middle class to the 1%. I fear that the administration will boil this down to "saving medicare as we know it". Fine, that likely helps with a lot of seniors in FL, but I think this fight is much greater than that. I'm just worried that by itself it's not quite enough to resonate. But the Chicago team is smart and fast so I'm sure they can broaden the argument beyond just SS and medicare (which for younger people especially, doesn't resonate much). This election is about the basic social contract the government has with the people. If it looks like his plans to destroy SS and medicare are bad, Ryan basically wants to cripple spending to a point where it can barely perform even the most basic functions (we're talking food, highway safety, air/water quality inspections, national parks). It's a return to the gilded age.

The entire safety net created from the New Deal onward is at stake this election. You might go even further to TR. I think Ryan really is that extreme. This is Norquist's dream candidate...

the Repubs are trying a move to the right after the primaries. Last time it was a 'social' move to the right. This time it is a fiscal move to the right.

I hope it meets with the same success.