Congressman Paul Ryan Announces that He is Not Running for President

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Kempite
Bookmark and Share   Despite my high hopes for the presidential candidacy of Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, today he announced that he hasn’t changed his mind about staying out of the race.

Early in the day on Monday, Ryan released the following statement on his website:

“I sincerely appreciate the support from those eager to chart a brighter future for the next generation. While humbled by the encouragement, I have not changed my mind, and therefore I am not seeking our party’s nomination for President. I remain hopeful that our party will nominate a candidate committed to a pro-growth agenda of reform that restores the promise and prosperity of our exceptional nation. I remain grateful to those I serve in Southern Wisconsin for the unique opportunity to advance this effort in Congress.”

For me the certainty of Congressman Ryan’s not being a potential President in 2012 is disappointing. I am also disappointed by the lack of focus within the Republican presidential field that his absence will allow for there to be on the fiscal issues of the day and the economic problems we must confront. His absence from the race leaves me still uncommitted to anyone . I hope that will change, but for that to happen, a candidate, declared or declared, will have to show me that they are opposed to the Washington D.C. political establishment and politics-as-usual. They will have to show  me that they truly understand that we spend too much and need to start spending less and reducing the size and scope of government. They must also demonstrate to me that have the vision to lead our nation on a reform minded agenda that is willing to make real changes to many things including our existing code.  They also must be willing to insure that above all else, America remains a loyal defender of liberty that is willing to strengthen it at home and defend from threats abroad.

In many ways I will I judge the candidates by the standard set by Paul Ryan and President Ronald Reagan as well as my political mentor Jack Kemp.  . A standard that requires a temperament that is forceful but not combative, is passionate about their commitment to the cause of conservatism, especially fiscal conservatism, and has the wherewithal to conduct themselves in a way that makes me proud of them, my Party, and our nation. And while none of these standards are impossible to meet, the trick is trying to meet all of them or as many as possible, while also demonstrating to me that they have capacity to campaign and articulate the conservative cause in a way that attracts enough voters to end the reign of the Obama Administration.

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Paul Ryan for President

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Kempite

Bookmark and Share    “If Ryan does decide to run, win or lose, I will be behind him either until he wins the nomination and the presidency or ends his campaign.”  -Anthony Del Pellegrino, aka: Kempite

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Reports have indicated that Wisconsin Congressman and Chairman of the House Budget Committee Paul. Ryan is in the final stages of deciding on a presidential run. According to The Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes, Ryan associates have been quietly going around and laying the groundwork for a run which has included establishing the deadlines for gaining ballot access to the ballot in each of the 50 states. Hayes reports that Ryan has been discussing the possibilities of running with advisors and close firlends about a run since last spring. He further adds that Congressman Ryan had been expecting Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels to run and he was looking forward to a Daniels candidacy. But after a call from Governor Daniels to Ryan to give him a heads about his decision not to run, Ryan’s thinking about a run for President changed profoundly.

Hayes also reports that a Republican source close to Ryan, claims the Congressman is;

“coming around,” and adds “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.”

For its part Roll Call reports that the Congressman discussed the matter with House Speaker John Boehner when the subject of a spot on the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction arose.

But Roll Call also reports that while Paul Ryan is considering a run for president he is unlikely not to run for the same reasons that held him back so far……….to avoid the fundraising and political demands that would keep him away from his family for extended periods. Another consideration for Paul Ryan would also be the possibility of losing the election and losing his influential position of the House Budget Committee where he is doing good and critically important work.

Much of the speculation about Ryan’s possible presidential candidacy arose from a talk show interview the Congressman conducted by Charlie Sykes, a Milwaukee based radio show host. That exchange went as follows:

Sykes :  “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 :  (laughing) “Why did you ask me that?”

Sykes :  “You know exactly why I asked you that question.”

Ryan :  “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.”

Ryan :  “Look, the way I see 2012 – we owe it to the country to let them choose the path they want our country to take. And I just have yet to see a strong and principled articulation of the kind of limited government, opportunity society path that we would provide as an alternative to the Obama cradle to grave welfare state.”

Sykes :  “Do you think that it is absolutely essential that there be a Republican candidate who is able to articulate…”

Ryan : (cutting Sykes off) “I do. Because this is how we get our country back. We do it through a referendum letting the country pick the path not by having a committee of 12 people pick the path or not by having just the inertia of just letting the status quo just stumble through by winning a campaign based on dividing people.”

Sykes :  You understands why people think that person should be you?.”

Ryan :  “Well, I keep hearing that. I’m hoping that people will step up and I’m hoping that somebody – I can help them fashion this. You know my story and you know my answer – and I haven’t changed it. We’ve got a long way to go. There’s 15 months left.”

The interview which was conducted last Tuesday, came before the official entry of Texas Governor Rick Perry, who as of today, according to a Rasmussen survey finds Perry the frontrunner in the race ahead of Mitt Romney by 11% and Michele Bachmann by 17%.

Whether or not Congressman Ryan believes that Rick Perry is the candidate who can offer the “strong and principled articulation of the kind of limited government, opportunity society path” that we need,  has yet to be seen, but either way, the Congressman can’t really wait much longer to decide. The very latest he can get into the game would be October. Anything beyond that will be placing any chance for the successful financing and organizing of a campaign a a great disadvantage that will be hard to overcome.

Much like Paul Ryan, my thinking about the Republican presidential race also changed “profoundly” when Governor Mitch Daniels decided not to seek the nomination. For me, Mitch Daniels was one of the best qualified people to address our predominant economic problems and was a candidate with whom a good campaign to defeat the President could have been built around. With Daniels out, and others like Sarah Palin not in, while I have found many things I liked about such people as Mitt Romney, I have not yet  been confident enough to throw my support behind any of them. But that will not be the case if Paul Ryan runs. If Ryan runs, White House 2012 will have itself a Ryan 2012 correspondent in me.

Paul Ryan represents the true future of the G.O.P. and as a fiscally responsible leader he is just what America needs. He is a new generation Republican, one who works from the premise of what is best for the nation, not for his poll numbers. That kind of thinking may not win a him the nomination through the type of popularity contest that is today’s politics, but it is the type of honesty that American voters should welcome and demand.

At some point one must stand behind what they believe in not just what they think will win. And beyond any shadow of any doubt, I believe in Paul Ryan , therefore if Ryan does decide to run, win or lose, I will be behind him either until he wins the nomination and the presidency or ends his campaign.

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Is Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity Also a Path to the Vice Presidency?

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Kempite
Bookmark and Share Few budget proposals that come out of Congress, ever offer significant change. Most federal budget proposals to come out of the Congress and the White House, tinker with things around the edges, but rarely do they ever strike at the heart of fiscal problems. In fact, budget proposals that come out of legislative bureaucrats, usually only exacerbate the fiscal problems and kick the can down the road for another Congress or the next generation to handle. But on April 5th, 2011, Wisconsin Republican Representative Paul Ryan, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, introduced to the American people a budget proposal that not only meets the needs of today, but helps to make sure that the needs of tomorrow are met.

In November of 2010 voters gave House Republicans a mandate to shrink government, create sustainable, private sector jobs and to cut spending. Now in one of the first real opportunities for the new Republican majority to show the American people that they got this message, took it to heart, and are serious about acting out in terms of the federal budget, Congressman Paul Ryan has stepped up to the plate for the G.O.P., and hit a homerun.

The budget that he has convinced fellow Republicans to support, cuts $6.2 trillion over 10 years, imposes a cap on discretionary spending, reduces the tax rate for individuals and businesses to 25% and gives states the flexibility to manage Medicaid rather than keeping it in the hands of bureaucrats in Washington.

Below this post you will find a video introduction to Rep. Ryan’s Path to Prosperity, a Republican attempt to control spending and put us ona path to prosperity and a balanced budget. The details can be found here.

In both the video and the details of the budget, what we see is a man who is passionate about the budgets ability to put America back on track and to save future generations from a crushing debt that will eventually consume every cent of each tax dollar they send to Washington. And in the video you see a man who is not angry, not using inflammatory political rhetoric or trying to demonize political opponents. He uses soft spoken words to explain hard hitting facts that tell the truth about sensitive issues such as Medicaid and other entitlement programs. From the perspective of a American taxpayer, what Paul Ryan says is legitimate and honest, but from a political perspective this video shows a man who possesses a mix of economic understanding, passionate beliefs and the ability to articulate and address the problems facing this nation and the solutions needed to address those problems.

That is why no matter who the Republican presidential nominee is and no matter whether he likes it or not, Paul Ryan will be on a short list of names to be considered for Vice President on the 2012 presidential ticket. Ryan has already sworn that he is not running for President in 2012 and says he honestly does not see that in his future, but it would be futile for him at this time to state any objections to the number two spot for Republicans in 2012. If the call comes, the pressure is put on, and the political climate continues to echo the need for economic leadership, the times will dictate that Paul Ryan accept such an offer. For no man who truly loves their country can refuse to serve it when they are convinced that duty calls. And right now America calls out for the type of leadership and fiscal understanding that Paul Ryan brings to the table and possibly to the presidential ticket.

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