If nothing else, Mitt Romney’s selection of Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., as his running mate has made a dull and joyless campaign a little more interesting.
When I heard the news, my internal monologue went something like this:
“Are wonks suddenly cool?”
“Why is a guy my age potentially a heartbeat away from the presidency?”
“Does he really only have 6 to 8 percent body fat?”
“Why do I know that?”
“Will someone please buy Ryan a suit that fits?”
Some conservatives are considerably more exuberant, viewing Ryan as the budget-slashing paladin we’ve long been waiting for. As a curmudgeonly libertarian, it’s my job to pour cold water on the flames of political passion. So — hey girl: If you’re over the moon about the Ryan pick, let me confess: I’m not so excited. And I just can’t hide it.
Ryan was a loyal soldier throughout the free-spending George W. Bush years, voting for No Child Left Behind and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, among other debacles. At the dawn of the Tea Party, Ryan lent his support to the auto and bank bailouts. He voted for TARP and gave “one of the most hysterical speeches” demanding others do the same, as Michelle Malkin observed in 2009.
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