Representative Paul D. Ryan (R-Wisconsin) - what can you tell me about him?

[End Of The Road]

Wisconsin DUers (and others in the know): I was looking at potential Republican candidates for the White House in 2012, and this guy's name appeared. He's about the only person on the list that I know nothing about (beyond reading the Wiki entry).

He's young (born 1970) and first got elected to the House in 1998, and has handily defeated all challengers since then.

What do you think of him? On a Republican scale, from totally nuts to moderately sane, where does he fall?

Do you think he has any shot at the Repub nomination, and how would Obama fare against him?

Thanks for your expertise. I'm trying to prepare for what may be coming down the pike...

EOTR

[kentuck]

1. He's a dumbass but...

the media builds him up as a rational voice in the GOP because he is a perfect tool for them.

[WI_DEM]

2. Very conservative and very ambitious, probably will go up against Kohl in '12

or be on GOP ticket as VP.

[QC]

3. He had a brief but distinguished career as a child actor.

[emulatorloo]

5. Good training for pushing make-believe economic solutions, don't you think? n/t

[emulatorloo]

4. He's good at talking points, his proposals are unworkable, he isn't opposed to lying, he's a P90X

fanatic. (not that there is anything wrong with that part of his portfolio. Look like a decent program)

TV workout pumps up Hill - ANDIE COLLER | POLITICO CLICK
http://www.politico.com/click/stories/0910/new_workout_pumps_up_hill.html

Oct 21, 2009 ... It was Paul Ryan's abs that sold Kevin Brady on the regimen ... ... who calls Ryan and Shuler “walking billboards” for the program. ...

[End Of The Road]

8. Sociopath? Narcissitic Personality Disorder?

Or am I jumping to conclusions?

[Botany]

6. his voting record

http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=26344

[HereSince1628]

7. My dear daughter, a republican, has been trying to figure him out for a year

and she is still in the dark.

He's been consistently pushed as one of the radical republicans young bulls. He parrots tax cuts for every problem and even when there isn't a problem. He was very against HCR, but want everyone to buy an insurance policy from a for-profit company.

For my daughter, he blends into the general GOP background and isn't very distinctive.

[NoNothing]

9. He's a liability for the GOP to be honest

Because he's one of the few that has not just talked about reducing the deficit, but actually come up with plans to do so - plans that almost everybody hates for obvious reasons.

[End Of The Road]

11. Thanks - I'm starting to get the idea

the media may like him but his own party may not like him very much. He must represent an overwhelmingly Republican district to win by such big margins.

Doesn't sound like he's much of a threat for 2012, at least so far.

Thanks!

[dragonlady]

12. His district isn't overwhelmingly Republican

It is not as solidly Republican as Sensenbrenner's district. He hasn't had an opponent who was sufficiently attractive to gain support from the party (which is another whole issue in itself).

[pinboy3niner]

13. He also co-authored 'Young Guns'

[Myrina]

10. Shallow end of the intellectual pool. With swim fins.

n/t