Huzzah for Ryan!

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves; an exciting conservative VP does not automatically elevate a lackluster moderate candidate. Ask John McCain if you doubt me. Having said that Mitt Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan as a running mate does not strike me as an attempt to pull the wool over conservative’s eyes. Remember how McCain instantly began downplaying Sarah Palin as soon as it became apparent she was more popular than he was,  more so when she “went rogue” and continued to campaign as a conservative instead of a populist.

Romney will always be the guy who thought Romney care was a good idea and like so many candidates he has had a number of evolving stands on issues. Some of us have questioned rather Romney is a true conservative at heart, or more importantly does he plan to govern as a conservative.  Paul Ryan is not the guy you pick as window dressing in a campaign, he is articulate and intelligent but he represents the wing of the Republican Party that actually wants to do something to fix this mess. The pluses of Ryan the candidate are not insignificant but this is a choice made with an eye on governing not just winning.

The choice of Ryan says to me that Romney is committed to dealing with issues of debt and spending and is willing to cross the minefield of entitlement reform, all of which are essential steps if we are to save our nation from default.

More importantly, if the expert analysis is correct, and Romney is prepared to take the campaign to the level of ideas we’ve won already. Thus far the campaign has went: “Romney hates women and dogs” “Obama has had the most consecutive months of +8% unemployment since the depression” Romney doesn’t pay taxes”  “Obama’s welfare reform policy is misguided” “Romney killed my wife” “Obama’s spending is irresponsible”  I don’t think this is getting us where we need to be. In a sense every election is a referendum on the incumbent, but I think we need a clear and distinct vision for Romney’s America, to contrast Obama’s America. The ideology of conservatism is the winning argument; properly presented it translates into landslide victories. Romney- Ryan is likely to do a far better job of making the case than Romney’s campaign against Obama’s failed stewardship has done so far.

Finally this is a solid indication that President Romney may well be willing to pursue the kind of change we have been discussing over the last few weeks. In the coming weeks we’ll look at Ryan’s budget proposal in depth, but next week we’ll look at reigning in the out of control powers of the Federal courts.

Until next time, Keep on the firing line!