1 can we draft him?

2 Liar!

But did you see the -wink- -wink-?  So, yeah.. we all know he's running.

3 I have never followed the beginnings of an presidential election before, when do we know who the final contestants are?

4 Sorry Ed but his budget appear to be doomed anyway. If the squishes on the House budget committee don't kill it the squishes in the Senate will.

5 awesome week of writing too, ace...

6 I saw the way he looked into my eyes.  He's teasing us.

*fans self*

7 Whatever you think of Ryan, at least if he stands his ground here primary voters may start having to scrutinize the field they have instead of wishing for a savior-swooping-in-from-above campaign.

8 What logprof said.  Sigh.

9 Everyone knows that "no" really means "yes".

10 Well I'm slightly disappointed He isn't running, but i hated to think of the slander and hate that would be directed  at his young children.

11 Get on the Von Ryan Express

12

I have never followed the beginnings of an presidential election before, when do we know who the final contestants are?

January.

13 RON PAUL has one of the same names as Paul Ryan! RON PAUL!

14 Maybe he doesn't have what it takes to be CinC, but he'd be a great person to have as a Cabinet member or some other high position to affect fiscal policy. 

15

Sorry Ed but his budget appear to be doomed anyway. If the squishes on the House budget committee don't kill it the squishes in the Senate will.

You mean the Dem-controlled Senate?

16

Posted by: Zombie Frank Sinatra at May 22, 2011 06:11 PM (9b6FB)

Nice.

17 AND RON PAUL'S FIRST NAME IS SHORT FOR RONALD, as in Reagan.

18 Squishes, (sigh) is there anything they can't do.
Wait...umm...never mind

19 Ace for President! I bet he could drop more f bombs in Vegas than Trump, write a 20,000 word essay on the importance of saving belly lint, and ban more reporters than Dear Reader.
 
Thanks for a solid week's worth of good reading.

20 Shit.  Kidnap him and make him do it.

or is that illegal, or something?

21 Good!  He's just another establishment elite insider RINO!

22

This is a smart move by Ryan.  Clearly he has seen how much traction Tea Party favorite Buddy Roemer has gotten, and realizes he would just be wasting his time.

Good call.

23 Kratos===Anyone who would give up the chairmanship of the House Budget Committee for a cabinet position is.....not thinking clearly

Cabinet posts are for former Congresswads and defeated opponents

Ryan must not think he can win this time. 

24 "IÂ’m not planning on running for president. If youÂ’re running for president, you got to do a lot of things to line up a candidacy. IÂ’ve not done any of those things. ItÂ’s not my plan."

I dunno...I see wiggle room in there.  It's not in his PLAN, you see.  He hasn't PLANNED to run.  But maybe, if things come to a truly dire pass....

Who am I kidding?  He's not running and I'm chasing rainbows.

25 14 Maybe he doesn't have what it takes to be CinC, but he'd be a great person to have as a Cabinet member or some other high position to affect fiscal policy. 

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at May 22, 2011 06:12 PM (c0A3e)

It would really be great to have him in a debate though where he can slap all of the others over the head with his plan and later they can get on board with it easier. 

26 Racists!!

27 Paul Ryan Shamelessly Lies To Public Yet Again

Heh.

28 There's hope yet!!

Saw a Kia in the parking lot of my Kroger this afternoon.  It sported the following bumper stickers:

An Obama sticker partially covered over with an anti-war sticker (!!)

A "The Meek Are Waiting" sticker (??)

And alas, a Coexist sticker

The car had Pennsylvania tags.

29 Everyone is clearing the path for that charismatic tsunami that is T'Paw.

30 My Spreadsheet of Justice says he can't win!

31 I think Sarah Palin should announce not only that she is running but who would be on her team. Ryan for vice president, Bolton for Secretary of State, Guiliani to Homeland Security, Petreaus to Defense or Joint Chiefs.....and so on. Who would be the ideal team to turn this country around?

32

Who's going to be Teh Fred! in this race?

Christie has said in no uncertain terms that he's not running, Ryan is out, Pence is running for governor.  Rick Perry (bitch!)?

Sorry, I can't say "Rick Perry" in my head without it coming out "I'm Rick Perry, bitch".

33

This is a smart move by Ryan.  Clearly he has seen how much traction Tea Party favorite Buddy Roemer has gotten, and realizes he would just be wasting his time.

You keep cracking me up with those. I haven't heard a word about him since that one speech, but I live in fear.

34 Don't worry, I'm sure Al Gore will be available. Down with purity tests!

35 Or perhaps they know the timebomb goes off in 2013/2014 for the debt, and don't want to be in office, but rather let the Democratic President go down with the ship. 2016 will be wide open, with Republicans like Ryan, Christie, Walker (hopefully both of whom receive a 2nd term) and the rest who WARNED of the doom finally getting their credit. D's "run the country" with a newly-reelected Obama (despite losing the Senate). They drift out of SuperAwesomeReelectionHarbor, and hit the DebtBomb, which goes off late 2013/early 2014. Republicans capitalize on it massively, gaining a supermajority in the Senate, flipping Colorado, California, New Hampshire and Illinois' governors mansions red (Brown will die/not seek reelection in California, Colorado will hopefully NOT have the same ill choice for the GOP, Quinn's chasing of business out of the state finally tips that 2% that gave him a 2nd term to the GOP, New Hampshire's heavily, heavily conservative statehouse and 2nd coming of Republicanism forces that last one). Republicans end up with an inverse of the 1930s- crushing majorities in the Senate, House, and statehouses. Or, you know, we just find a new way to fuck it all up.

36

Who am I kidding?  He's not running and I'm chasing rainbows

If this field remains largely as is, I will be shocked.  I can't believe a Ryan, Christie, or someone less well known, but competent...say a McCotter or something, wouldn't see this as a golden opportunity to capture the nomination.

Doesn't Christie have a bit of an opening/excuse now that Daniels has bowed out?  He could spin it to his favor how his guy decided not to run, and he feels compelled to step in and offer the voters another choice.

Maybe I'm dreaming, but I can't see Mitt and TPaw alone fighting it out in less than a year.

37 O/T:

Hey Arthur K., Thanks all to hell for that link to Powerline in the sidebar. Now I have to go rinse off the squish.

38 All these top name declining to run is a bit worrisome.  Some have suggested that they don't want to be in charge when the math wins.

Perhaps there is something to that.

39

I haven't heard a word about him since that one speech, but I live in fear.

Heh.  I think he was on Fox last weekend in the daytime if I recall.

Catch the fever!

40 Behold my Graph of Pain! TPaw by a tip!

41 Or perhaps they know the timebomb goes off in 2013/2014 for the debt, and don't want to be in office, but rather let the Democratic President go down with the ship.

Perhaps I should hit refresh before chiming in.

42 41 Or perhaps they know the timebomb goes off in 2013/2014 for the debt, and don't want to be in office, but rather let the Democratic President go down with the ship.

Perhaps I should hit refresh before chiming in.

Posted by: toby928™ at May 22, 2011 06:27 PM (GTbGH)

Nonsense.  Double-posts are a requirement here.

43 In other news, after a week of delicious unseasonable cool weather on the gulf coast, it's back to the mid 90s.  I can only stand to work outside for an hour and then retreating back into the a/c for an hour.

44 How about drafting Harold Camping?  I like his style.  Bold.

45 Jane, I THINK the "meek are waiting" sticker is a psalms reference.

46 Ryan ain't stupid. He has more power and more political safety right where he is.

47 Daniel's wife said no.

48 AND RON PAUL'S FIRST NAME IS SHORT FOR RONALD, as  . . . in MacDonald!!!1!11!!!

49 Ryan, Paul!!!! Ryan, Paul!!!!

50 45 Jane, I THINK the "meek are waiting" sticker is a psalms reference.

Posted by: todler at May 22, 2011 06:30 PM (OluE0)

Anyone using that sticker is not one of those waiting.

51 45 Jane, I THINK the "meek are waiting" sticker is a psalms reference.

Yeah, I know.  But I'm wondering what it means on a lib's car?  I have yet to meet a meek lib.

52 Ryan ain't stupid.

He has more power and more political safety right where he is.

Posted by: eman: Japanese Babe Rescue Team at May 22, 2011 06:30 PM (AYNHC)

'Tis true.  After watching Charlie Wilson's War ('cause I don't read) I asked a well connected military individual if it was really true that he could pull all that stuff off and had that kind of power.  The response was, "Yes.  A congressman has a lot more power than the President."

53 *sigh*

54
In that case . . .

Ryan/Christie 2012! They're the only team who can beat Obama/Clinton.

55 maybe it's a rectal cranial inversion reference? or a study in irony?

Or it's another one of those libtards believing they are high and mighty?

56

I'm a huge Paul Ryan fan, but dont think he'd translate well on the campaign trail unless he was running against some Dukakis or Mondale type of character. I just have this image of Barrylecturing him and staring down at him in debates like adult reprimanding a boy.

 

 

57

it was really true that he could pull all that stuff off and had that kind of power.

The coke and the babes?

58
He has more power and more political safety right where he is.

I bet that's something Hillary is grinding her teeth over, too.

59
is this the Egyptian food thrad?

60

of Barrylecturing him and staring down at him in debates like adult reprimanding a boy

Naw, did you see the way Ryan schooled him at the HC summit?  Ryan would make Ostumble look very ordinary.

61 And alas, a Coexist sticker

The car had Pennsylvania tags.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at May 22, 2011 06:20 PM (UOM4

Did you pee on it?

62

The coke and the babes?

Posted by: Delta Smelt at May 22, 2011 06:34 PM (A0VTZ)

Well, look, if you were banging Julie Roberts, would you need the coke, too?

63 I just have this image of Barry lecturing him and staring down at him in debates like adult reprimanding a boy.


You're kidding, right?  Ryan would run rings around Bammy in a debate.

64 ... WOULDN'T you... blah.

65 Some have suggested that they don't want to be in charge when the math wins.


Math? The collapse is all going to be blamed on Booooosh. And racism.

66 Isn't "the meek are waiting" a reference to Jesus's Sermon on the Mount in Matthew (New Testament)?

67
I think Sarah Palin should announce not only that she is running but who would be on her team.

That's a brilliant idea, because I've said it, too. And who was it around here? -- Peaches, lacey, rushbabe, Miss80s? -- who said that word is, that is precisely what she is quietly setting up.

She has said that if she runs, her announcement and her run will be "unconventional." It's enough to put a twinkle in a Palinista's eye.

68 Posted by: goddessoftheclassroom at May 22, 2011 06:37 PM (3ZmpR)

Blessed are the cheesemakers.

69
Math? The collapse is all going to be blamed on Booooosh. And racism.

Posted by: HeatherRadish at May 22, 2011 06:37 PM

As we have often noted around here: Math IS racism.

70 Debates, like campaigns, are as much about optics as they are about substance. Remember the old SNL skit with John Lovitts, as Dukakis, using the remote control to elevate his stepping stool.

71 goddessoftheclassroom, yes, actually.

72 I am totally game for the Palin team announcement as long as John McCain is not included other than to be the Capital Building on-call toilet bowl plungerer.

73

Did you pee on it?

Posted by: Unclefacts Luxury-Yacht at May 22, 2011 06:36 PM (6IReR)

Shoulda keyed the hood.

74

Shoulda keyed the hood.

Posted by: ErikW at May 22, 2011 06:41 PM (ew5/L)

with a pickaxe

75 Watching Fox New Sunday re-run.  Juan is apoplectic that Bibi dared to speak to General Gutsy Call the way he did in the Oval.

And Liz Cheney was observing Juan like a honey badger observes a cobra.

76 And Liz Cheney was observing Juan like a honey badger observes a cobra.

I would like the entire Cheney family to run for President.

77 52 Ryan ain't stupid.

He has more power and more political safety right where he is.

Posted by: eman: Japanese Babe Rescue Team at May 22, 2011 06:30 PM (AYNHC)

'Tis true.  After watching Charlie Wilson's War ('cause I don't read) I asked a well connected military individual if it was really true that he could pull all that stuff off and had that kind of power.  The response was, "Yes.  A congressman has a lot more power than the President."

Posted by: Papa Editor at May 22, 2011 06:33 PM (6neGz)

--Can he run for the Senate seat and his House seat at the same time?

Hell, if Slow Joe and Kerry could run for Pres and VP and the Senate concurrently, why not?

78 66 Isn't "the meek are waiting" a reference to Jesus's Sermon on the Mount in Matthew (New Testament)?

Yes.  It is part of the Beatitudes methinks.  (Matthew 5: 3-12)

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

79 "I have never followed the beginnings of an presidential election before, when do we know who the final contestants are?" When they appear in bathing suits.

80 Maybe Ryan could do the keynote speech if Allen West won't?

81 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at May 22, 2011 06:43 PM (c0A3e)

Oh it's the Meek, how nice for them, they have a hell of a time.

82

 when do we know who the final contestants are?"

Talent competition.

83 She has said that if she runs, her announcement and her run will be "unconventional." It's enough to put a twinkle in a Palinista's eye. Posted by: arhooley at May 22, 2011 06:38 PM (CPTh9) Haven't you heard? She can't win.

84 Re: comments at 56,60,63:

The #1 reason to support drafting Paul Ryan as the GOP nominee in 2012 is to watch him shred Obama into little, cringing, whining pieces in a presidential debate!

The all-time Most Satisfying Six Minutes On YouTube:
http://tinyurl.com/ybmedmq

85 80 Maybe Ryan could do the keynote speech if Allen West won't?

Posted by: logprof at May 22, 2011 06:44 PM (BP6Z1)

I want Col. West to give the keynote. And by keynote I really mean I want him to beat the living shit out a liberal on stage.

86 Blessed are the cheesemakers.
Posted by: Unclefacts Luxury-Yacht

The cheesemakers? what have they done? sure I like a good Cheddar, but....

87 Haven't you heard? She can't win.

Posted by: eman: Japanese Babe Rescue Team at May 22, 2011 06:45 PM (b6rTA)

And you are teh stoopid if you support her.

88

Yeah, I know.  But I'm wondering what it means on a lib's car?  I have yet to meet a meek lib.

Snark at those "Christianists" because it hasn't happened yet.

89 Damn, it's starting to feel like last night's ONT.

90 when do we know who the final contestants are?

Each of them has to sing two songs, their choice and the judges choice.  At the end of that round,  we all text AT&T to see who gets voted off and then we'll know who gets to go to the Finale.

91  todler, shut up. We'll take it.

92 Paul Ryan Ron Paul Paul Ron Paul Paul 2012!

93 89 Damn, it's starting to feel like last night's ONT.

Posted by: Papa Editor at May 22, 2011 06:47 PM (6neGz)

Don't check the comments in earlier threads probably past the one about Fright Night.  Some guys got their rageboners out again and did another little circeljerk.

94 Talent competition.

Christie twirls a flaming baton.

95 78 66 Isn't "the meek are waiting" a reference to Jesus's Sermon on the Mount in Matthew (New Testament)?

Yes.  It is part of the Beatitudes methinks.  (Matthew 5: 3-12)

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at May 22, 2011 06:43 PM (c0A3e)

--Which is funny, because the Democrat base does everything but behave meekly.

96 bigred, add some smoked gouda and I'm IN

97

Yahoo's has this:

AP - President Barack Obama defended his endorsement of Israel's 1967 boundaries as the basis for a future Palestine, telling America's pro-Israel lobby Sunday that his views reflected longstanding U.S. policy that needed to be stated clearly.

Lolz.

Bush was always wrong.

Except for when he was right, but unclear.

Which makes him wrong.

98 I'm feeling fairly mellow tonight.  Husband came home and saw the dead snake I saved for him in the garage....the one that fell out of his sleeping bag from his last campout.  His reaction was teh funnay.

I'm grilling scallops for a nice salad, with roasted chickpeas.

I'm into a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio.

99 The cheesemakers? what have they done? sure I like a good Cheddar, but....

Posted by: todler at May 22, 2011 06:46 PM (OluE0)

I don't think it was meant to be taken literally, it refers to any manufacture of dairy products.

100 todler, we got it all here.

101 95 78 66 Isn't "the meek are waiting" a reference to Jesus's Sermon on the Mount in Matthew (New Testament)?

Yes.  It is part of the Beatitudes methinks.   (Matthew 5: 3-12)

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at May 22, 2011 06:43 PM (c0A3e)

--Which is funny, because the Democrat base does everything but behave meekly.

Posted by: logprof at May 22, 2011 06:49 PM (BP6Z1)

Like I said at 50.  Anyone using that sticker is not one of those waiting.

102 Jane, directions to your house please.

103

She has said that if she runs, her announcement and her run will be "unconventional." It's enough to put a twinkle in a Palinista's eye.

Let me guess- "unconventional" means hiding from the big meanie MSM behind the wall of Facebook, Hannity and prepared speeches before a paid audience.

Then again, maybe she means she's going to buy a blimp, bus in obsessed supporters to debates and straw polls, and spam the shit out of online polls and blog comment sections.

104 Mama AJ, it's simple, to a lib Bush was ALWAYS wrong. and the things we are keeping the same only really started when JEF took the oath, so it wasn't bush's policy anymore because JEF had to reauthorize it, or re-approve it, or decide to not change it, so it was ALL his ideas. All the brilliance of JEF,

the evil warmonger illegal bushitlermchalliburton was ALWAYS wrong.

At least that's the "logic" I get out of the libs around here

105 Posted by: Hollowpoint at May 22, 2011 06:54 PM (SY2Kh)

jesus will you fuck off already

106

Yahoo's has this:

AP - President Barack Obama defended his endorsement of Israel's 1967 boundaries as the basis for a future Palestine, telling America's pro-Israel lobby Sunday that his views reflected longstanding U.S. policy that needed to be stated clearly.

Lolz.

Bush was always wrong.

Except for when he was right, but unclear.

Which makes him wrong.

Posted by: Mama AJ who no longer wishes to remain sober at May 22, 2011 06:51 PM (XdlcF)

MEMO

To: Predient McEarflaps

From: Israel

RE: 1967 borders

No, fuck you.

107

She has said that if she runs, her announcement and her run will be "unconventional." It's enough to put a twinkle in a Palinista's eye.

Let me guess- "unconventional" means hiding from the big meanie MSM behind the wall of Facebook, Hannity and prepared speeches before a paid audience.

Then again, maybe she means she's going to buy a blimp, bus in obsessed supporters to debates and straw polls, and spam the shit out of online polls and blog comment sections.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at May 22, 2011 06:54 PM (SY2Kh)

Have you heard about Mitt Romney yet?

108

Roll Call:

Gregory pressed Ryan further, asking whether he might consider running for vice president instead.

“I’m not going to get into all those hypotheticals,” Ryan answered. “I’m not running for president. I’m not planning on running for president. ... You never know what opportunities present themselves way down the road. I’m not talking about right now.”

So he's still open to being VP.

109

jesus will you fuck off already

Aren't you running late for the daily Conservatives 4 Palin circlejerk / worship session?

110 Fap Fap Fap Rage Fap Fap Fap Fap Rage Fap Fap Fap Fap

111 Have you heard about Mitt Romney yet? Posted by: Dan at May 22, 2011 06:56 PM (BP6Z1) This would be a hilarious smackdown. Romney V Palin. Two branches of furious supporters. and we end up with them as our ticket- Palin Romney. Well...at least theres 2016.

112 So hollowpoint is either a paulbot or a libtard?

113
I'm grilling scallops for a nice salad, with roasted chickpeas.

I've often made that recipe, too, but with my own twist. I substitute Cheetos for the scallops, leave out all greens and chickpeas, and douse with a bottle of Ranch dressing.

114

Aren't you running late for the daily Conservatives 4 Palin circlejerk / worship session?

Posted by: Hollowpoint at May 22, 2011 06:58 PM (SY2Kh)

You sound exactly like the retarded liberals in my family.

115 Have you heard about Mitt Romney yet?

Which one?  Mitt v3.0 or Mitt v4.0?

116 Some people are saying Ryan should run because he's really the only one who can explain the budget plan in a way people can understand.

Heaven knows the campaign trail would give him the opportunity to do so, often and everywhere.

Unless there were a 100% media blackout of all things Paul Ryan, his message could not help but get through -- and when he's given the chance to explain things, he is very, very, very convincing.

He's the smartest person in politics, the most honest, and he's even got a sense of humor and a friendly manner and doesn't get all combative. Like Reagan, he's able to handle the attacks.

The one and only question I have about him is I don't know squat about his positions on foreign policy. The Islamic enemy is both within this country already, and without, and things are getting dicier all the time. Is Ryan too doggone nice to kill these bastards?

A lot depends on whether there's another big-scale terror attack within our borders between now and election time. That would most likely result in a Draft Allen West scenario. Unless the attack were so big-scale that it resulted in Barry declaring martial law and suspending the elections. (Always a possibility with such a dictator wannabe as Obama.)

By the way, why are so many AoSHQ readers fans of Chris Christie? He's a total disaster on the anti-Islamist front.
http://tinyurl.com/3og9jmp

117 I just know we are going to have to eat the crap sandwich the RNC makes.

118 Isn't "the meek are waiting" a reference to Jesus's Sermon on the Mount in Matthew (New Testament)?

Yes.  It is part of the Beatitudes methinks.  (Matthew 5: 3-12)

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Maybe it's just a Rush fan.

119

 the things we are keeping the same only really started when JEF took the oath, so it wasn't bush's policy anymore because JEF had to reauthorize it, or re-approve it, or decide to not change it, so it was ALL his ideas.

I think it really might be possible to make their heads explode with the "logic" of this one.

120 So hollowpoint is either a paulbot or a libtard?

No, just boring.

121 113
I'm grilling scallops for a nice salad, with roasted chickpeas.

I've often made that recipe, too, but with my own twist. I substitute Cheetos for the scallops, leave out all greens and chickpeas, and douse with a bottle of Ranch dressing.

Posted by: arhooley at May 22, 2011 06:59 PM (CPTh9)

That sounds pretty damned good, actually.

122

So he's still open to being VP.

Kinda reads that way.

He's still reasonably young; I believe he'd still be under 50 in 2020.

It's tough to get nominated and elected straight out of the House, but VP would be a different story.

If his "extreme" budget plan fails, I'm not sure the nominee would pick him though.

123 Liz Cheney needs to seriously be considered for a position in whatever dream team we get *cough* elected *cough*. 

I love her.  She's got her mom's quiet class, and her dad's Balls of Steel. 

124
Haven't you heard? She can't win.

Posted by: eman: Japanese Babe Rescue Team at May 22, 2011 06:45 PM (b6rTA)

Well, I found out at 06:54 PM today that she will use her very best crayons in her bestest hardest coloring book.

125

I think it really might be possible to make their heads explode with the "logic" of this one.

Posted by: Mama AJ

Thanks mama AJ, I'd like to take credit, but I think the bottle of Chardonnay i'm working on gets most of it

126 ^{This is our year, Bitches!}

127

So he's still open to being VP.

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at May 22, 2011 06:57 PM

He's also open to being president some time after 2012.

128 ^{This is our year, Bitches!}
Posted by: The Meek

enjoy it while it lasts.

bitches

129
#150, #167, and #172

concern trolls!

130
^{This is our year, Bitches!}
Posted by: The Meek at May 22, 2011 07:05 PM

Please be gentle.

131
fyi, to whom it ay concern:

Memo to: AoS Horde of Morons

I do not keep track of the comment number of my comments.
I also do not read this blog nor do I read the comments in the comment thread.

Sincerely Yours,
le soothsayer, the great seducer
(let my penis make contact with your mouth...twice)

132 122 Kinda reads that way.

He's still reasonably young; I believe he'd still be under 50 in 2020.

It's tough to get nominated and elected straight out of the House, but VP would be a different story...

His statement has been quoted in some outlets as saying he's willing to be drafted and others that it was just a statement about VP. It apparently depends on who you ask. But despite the repeated requests he's apparently getting, I don't see him jumping from his position to run against Obama. If he becomes toxic enough, he could be facing a more competitive race for his seat in 2012.

133 :-(

134 133 :-(

Posted by: Y-not at May 22, 2011 07:24 PM (pW2o

Y sad Y-not?

135 Not to interrupt this Ryan circle-jerk, but what private sector experience does he have?

136 Damn ,I am always last in these threads.