He will be the next president, because that’s what the market is dictating. I told you this weeks ago. Just sayin’.
Says the Weekly Standard:
Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan is strongly considering a run for president. Ryan, who has been quietly meeting with political strategists to discuss a bid over the past three months, is on vacation in Colorado discussing a prospective run with his family. Ryan’s concerns about the effects of a presidential campaign – and perhaps a presidency – on his family have been his primary focus as he thinks through his political future.
“He’s coming around,” says a Republican source close to Ryan, who has been urging the 41-year-old to run.
“With Paul, it’s more about obligation than opportunity,” says another Wisconsin Republican. “He is determined to have the 2012 election be about the big things. If that means he has to run, he’s open to it.”
Ryan hinted at his thinking during a candid interview Friday with Charlie Sykes, an influential talk radio host in Milwaukee, telling Sykes that he was unsatisfied with the current crop of Republican candidates.
Sykes asked Ryan about state of the Republican presidential campaign. “Looking at the Republican field right now, are you confident that the candidates there are able to articulate the issues of the debt and the deficit and the need to reform entitlements in the way that you want to see done?”
Ryan laughed. “Why did you ask me that?”
“You know exactly why I asked you that question.”
“I know. We’ll see. I didn’t see it last night. I haven’t seen it to date. We’ll see. People’s campaigns evolve – they get better. So we’ll see.”
UPDATE: The Hill now says he “denies he’s considering 2012 bid”, but that doesn’t seem to be an accurate description of the new statement from Ryan’s spokesman:
“While grateful for the continued support and encouragement, Congressman Ryan has not changed his mind,” spokesman Kevin Seifert said.
That’s not a denial of consideration, it’s a carefully worded response pointing out that Ryan has not entered the race. My take is that Ryan went a tad further than he intended in his appearance with Sykes, and that if he does choose to run, it won’t be a wink-wink affair in the days prior as happened with Huntsman’s clownish meta-campaign. Ryan is a Tea Partier: no Roveian PR, just an announcement when he is ready.
What good news! He would be excellent. Fair-minded-concerned-brilliant-handsome-good hair(apparently that wins elections) and a serious devotion to principles and country. A family man who wants his daughters to grow up in the country he grew up in.
I would love to see Paul Ryan and Obama in a debate.
If Obama would even show up to such a debate…
A Perry/Ryan ticket would look very nice.
Bill Kristol has been pushing Ryan for months so the objectivity of the report is in question.
Personally, I’d like to see Paul Ryan jump in. The more quality candidates the better.
Hot Air has a good post about this.
If Ryan gets in, it will just about guarantee that there will be an “adult conversation” about SS and Medicare.
That sounds ok, but somehow, the adult part of that conversation sounds like it will be just the Republicans. The other side will be about rabid wolves eating granny.
As Ed Morrisey says, are you ready for a really really big bet?
Now that he brought it up, on second thought, I’m not. Stay home this time Mr Ryan.
I think it would be a good experience and learning how to effectively deal with a hostile press would serve him well in the future.
I don’t understand the American electorate well enough to know if Ryan could win, but there is no doubt in my mind that of all the possible candidates, announced or not, Paul Ryan is quite simply the finest human being in the whole bunch. He is:
Dazzlingly brilliant, and can explain complicated things in ways that people can understand. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJIC7kEq6kw
Not intimidated one iota by Obama. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPxMZ1WdINs
Gracious, quick on his feet, can easily handle questions off-the-cuff, has sunny disposition and realistic but optimistic outlook http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_Sv4nOuWMM
A self-starter, hard-working, eager to learn, and LOVES his job http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/knowledge-power_526877.html
Totally understands “the American idea,” the Founders’ principles, and passionately, articulately defends them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwk1aHU-pms
Can hold his own with even the battiest, far-left loon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8T_m3ERkH8
Unlike George W. Bush, he responds directly and promptly to attacks against him http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-cyIlM8ZwE&feature=relmfu (These comments were right after Obama publicly dissed Ryan as he sat in the front row for Obama’s budget speech after Obama himself had invited him)
If Ryan ran, the House would lose its most important and influential defender of the purse strings. For that reason alone, I think Ryan should stay where he is.