Romney makes perfect pick — for Democrats

On my Current TV show last week, I begged Mitt Romney to choose Paul Ryan as his running mate. But I never thought Romney would be dumb enough to take my advice.

I’m so glad he did. Barack Obama himself could not have picked a better veep candidate for the Republican Party.

First, can anybody seriously pretend that Ryan — with zero executive or foreign-policy experience — passes what Dick Cheney says is the ultimate test for a vice-presidential candidate: ready to take over at a moment’s notice? Really?

Second, did anybody look at Paul Ryan’s record before they picked him? In 13 years, he has passed a total of TWO pieces of legislation, one of which was naming a post office.

Third, does Mitt Romney realize the entire focus of the campaign has suddenly changed with Ryan’s appointment? The central issue is no longer jobs, which Romney wants to talk about. The central issue is now Paul Ryan’s budget, which ends Medicare as we know it, eliminates Medicaid, gives an additional 20 percent tax cut to the wealthiest Americans and raises taxes on the middle class.

Yes, this is the budget Mitt Romney called “marvelous.”
And, remember, Paul Ryan’s original budget document also eliminated Social Security — replacing it with a privatization scheme later adopted — and quickly abandoned — by George W. Bush.

No doubt about it. John McCain destroyed his chances in 2008 by picking Sarah Palin. Mitt Romney just destroyed his chances for 2012 by picking Paul Ryan.

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