◼ Romney/Ryan 2012: This is what “FORWARD” really looks like - Michelle Malkin
◼ Paul Ryan comes out swinging: ‘If you have a small business, you did build that’ - Joel Gehrke/Washington Examiner @Joelmentum
“I’m proud to stand with a man who understands what it takes to foster job creation in our economy, someone who knows from experience, that if you have a small business—you did build that,” Ryan will say, according to excerpts of his speech released by the campaign.
Ryan then praised Romney for his career at Bain Capital — mentioning that company’s role in launching Staples, especially — before offering this implicit rebuke of Obama’s attacks on Romney: “We Americans look at one another’s success with pride, not resentment, because we know, as more Americans work hard, take risks, and succeed, more people will prosper, our communities will benefit, and individual lives will be improved and uplifted,” Ryan plans to say.
He will also say: “We can turn this thing around. Real solutions can be delivered. But, it will take leadership. And the courage to tell you the truth.”
◼ Romney goes bold with Ryan as VP pick - Byron York/Washington Examiner
By... choosing Rep. Paul Ryan, Romney is sending a clear signal that he intends to run a more daring and more ideologically vigorous campaign than he has run up to this point.
◼ Veepstakes over. And the winner is… - Jazz Shaw/HotAir
◼ Reports: Romney Picks Paul Ryan, Announcement Saturday Morning in Virginia - Guy Benson/Townhall
Any way you slice it, this is a game-changer. As I wrote earlier this week, Paul Ryan is one of the sunniest, most likeable conservatives on the scene today. He’s also the party’s top wonk and is completely fluent in fiscal issues. I predict that Democrats will publicly gloat over this pick (“he’ll be so easy to demonize!”), even as they privately worry. Paul Ryan is earnest, smart, articulate, attractive, calm, good-humored, and exceptionally gifted in explaining his case in persuasive and unthreatening terms. He’s from the Midwest, has blue collar appeal (unlike Romney, he did not grow up wealthy), and has a beautiful young family. The Left will launch vicious and totally dishonest attacks, as they have throughout the last two years of budget debates. But never before has Paul Ryan enjoyed a larger platform from which to make his case to the American public: The country is going broke, a fiscal calamity awaits, but we can avoid it if we take responsible, urgent action. This campaign is about to get a major (and needed) injection of seriousness.
◼ Excerpts of Ryan's Speech - Weekly Standard
The commitment Mitt Romney and I make to you is this:
We won't duck the tough issues...we will lead!
We won't blame others...we will take responsibility!
We won't replace our founding principles...we will reapply them!
We will honor you, our fellow citizens, by giving you the right and opportunity to make the choice:
What kind of country do we want to have?
What kind of people do we want to be?
We can turn this thing around. Real solutions can be delivered. But, it will take leadership. And the courage to tell you the truth.
Mitt Romney is this kind of leader. I'm excited for what lies ahead and I'm thrilled to be a part of America's Comeback Team. And together, we will unite America and get this done. Thank you.
