• American Debt Linit,  American Economy,  John Boehner,  Paul Ryan

    John Boehner’s Debt-Limit Plan is a Good Start?

    It is a good start towards replacing Obama as President next year.

    It is, as many conservatives have said in floor speeches and statements of support for the Boehner bill, an important first step. The immediate cuts are small relative to our $14 trillion debt, but the trajectory of spending will now go down.

    Before we get ahead of ourselves, it is important to remember this has to come to a vote in the House. (I suspect it won’t be all that close, unfortunately relieving some die-hards of the necessity of discarding their political purity.) It also has to get through the Senate, where other hardline Republicans, not to mention a whole lot of Democrats, will have to decide: Boehner or default?

    And should this get through both houses, the president will have zero choice in the matter. He will sign it, and we will avoid default. And then the spinning begins. As for those GOP pols and pundits who favored the burn-down-the-building approach, there is perhaps time to reconsider whether they want to be on board with a vote that may change the course of our fiscal future and the shape of the Republican party.

    Read Rep. Paul Ryan’s treatise on the revised legislation here.

    And, looking at the polls today in the key battleground states, in another year, the GOP House Leadership  will not have to worry about negotiating with Harry Reid or the White House.

  • Chris Christie,  Herman Cain,  Jeb Bush,  Mitt Romney,  Newt Gingrich,  Paul Ryan,  Polling,  President 2012,  Sarah Palin,  Tim Pawlenty

    President 2012 Iowa GOP Poll Watch: Romney 21% Cain 15% Palin 15% Gingrich 12%

    According to the latest PPP Poll.

    Favorable Vs. Unfavorable:

    • Newt Gingrich – 39% Vs. 41%
    • Sarah Palin – 59% Vs. 31%
    • Mitt Romney – 51% Vs. 34%
    • Tim Pawlenty – 48% Vs. 18%
    • Herman Cain – 38% Vs. 24% Vs Not Sure = 38%
    • Michele Bachmann – 53% Vs. 16%
    • Jeb Bush – 51% Vs. 20%
    • Ron Paul – 42% Vs. 29%
    • Rick Santorum – 29% Vs. 18% Vs. Not Sure = 53%
    • Rudy Giuliani – 49% Vs. 31%
    • Donald Trump – 28% vs. 56%
    • Jon Huntsman – 7% Vs. 23% Vs. Not Sure = 70%
    • Chris Christie – 42% Vs. 12% Vs. Not Sure = 46%
    • Rick Perry – 21% Vs. 16% Vs. Not Sure = 63%
    • Paul Ryan – 42% Vs. 14% Vs. Not Sure = 45%

    GOP Primary Caucus Head to Head:

    Given the choices of Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Sarah Palin, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, and Mitt Romney, who would you most like to see as
    the Republican candidate for President next year?

    • Romney – 21%
    • Palin – 15%
    • Cain – 15%
    • Gingrich -12%
    • Pawlenty – 10%
    • Ron Paul – 8%
    • Jon Huntsman – 0%

    If Sarah Palin does not run then?

    • Romney – 26%
    • Cain – 16%
    • Gingrich – 15%
    • Bachmann – 14%
    • Pawlenty – 10%
    • Paul – 11%
    • Huntsman – 1%

    If the Republican nomination came down to Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin, who would you vote for?

    • Romney – 48% Vs. Palin – 41% Vs. Not Sure = 11%

    If the Republican nomination came down to Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty, who would you vote for?

    • Romney – 41% Vs. Pawlenty – 41% Vs. Not Sure = 18%

    If the Republican nomination came down to Mitt Romney and Herman Cain, who would you vote for?

    • Romney – 48% Vs. Cain – 34% Vs. Not Sure = 19%

    If the Republican nomination came down to Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann, who would you vote for?

    Romney – 46% Vs. Bachmann – 38% Vs. Not Sure = 16%

    Mitt Romney is leading in Iowa ever since Mike Huckabee exited the race, but he is being challenged by a surging Herman Cain. Iowa will be the first primary state for the 2012 Presidential nominee and is a caucus state.

    Cain and Palin have been the biggest beneficiaries in Iowa of Huckabee and Trump’s decisions not to run. Cain is at 15% now despite not even having been included on our last poll. Palin’s gained 7 points in the six weeks since our last poll compared to 5 point gains for Romney, Pawlenty, and Bachmann, a 3 point gain for Gingrich, and a 2 point bump for Paul.

    Romney’s leading in Iowa based on his strength with centrist and center right Republican voters. With moderates he’s at 34% to 16% for Palin, 13% for Paul, and 11% for Gingrich. With ‘somewhat conservative’ voters he’s at 24% to 15% for Pawlenty, 13% for Palin, and 12% for Gingrich and Cain. His strength with those two groups outweighs his continuing weakness with the furthest right group of voters in the state, which constitute the largest segment of the Republican electorate at 41%. With those ‘very conservative’ folks Romney can muster only a fourth place finish at 13%. Cain and Palin tie for the lead with that group of voters at 19% followed by Bachmann at 15%.

    I would think one would have to say that while Mitt Romney is leading, conservative candidates Cain, Palin and Bachmann are splitting votes. If Iowa conservatives were to consolidate on one candidate, then Romney is in trouble. Surprisingly, Tim Pawlenty, a moderate-conservative does the best head to head with Romney though.

    Here is a summary of the favorable vs unfavorable data:

    So, what does this all mean?

    There is definitely room for the entry of a “new” candidate like Paul Ryan, Chris Christie or Jeb Bush. The $1 million question is whether Sarah Palin runs and if she does, whether the GOP establishment then run someone else against her, ie. Ryan,Christie or Bush?

    Tim Pawlenty is not catching fire and Jon Huntsman fledgling campaign is on life support – at least in Iowa.

    The entire poll is here.

  • Medicare,  Paul Ryan

    Video: Paul Ryan – Saving Medicare, Visualized

    House Budget Committee Chairman Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan explains his Medicare Budget reforms

    Watch the video above and if you rather read his remarks here is the link to the full transcript.

    To learn more about the House-passed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget – The Path to Prosperity: http://budget.house.gov/fy2012budget/

    To learn more about the facts on the House Republicans’ plan to save and strengthen Medicare: http://budget.house.gov/SettingtheRecordStraight/

  • Paul Ryan,  President 2012,  Tommy Thompson

    Updated: President 2012: Should Paul Ryan Run for President? Tommy Thompson to Run for Wisconsin Senate – Ryan Won’t

    +++++Update+++++

    The path is cleared for Rep. Paul Ryan to run for President as the U.S. Senate race has picked up another candidate, Tommy Thompson.

    Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) has told friends he plans to run for the open U.S. Senate seat in Wisconsin, Politico reports.

    “There’s no chance Thompson would run against Paul Ryan, so the former governor will await the Budget Chairman’s official announcement on the race before jumping in. Ryan has suggested in private conversations with GOP officials in recent days that he will take a pass on the race and focus on his House chairmanship.”

    And, NBC News is reporting that Ryan will soon have a news conference soon announcing he will NOT be a candidate for U.S. Senate.

    House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) unveils the House Republican budget blueprint in the Capitol in Washington April 5, 2011

    Yes, and the case for a duty call is obvious.

    Jennifer Rubin makes the case as well.

    In a very practical sense, the question for Ryan is: Why not give his party and the country six months (September 2011 to February 2012)? By then hell either have failed to catch fire or hell have a clear path to the presidential nomination. Six months. Twenty-four weeks. For a politician constantly at work in Congress, in town halls and in media appearances, that doesnt sound like that much. (In fact, I would venture that his schedule is more rigorous now than the average presidential contenders.)

    You see, there is no good reason for Ryan to avoid a presidential run. Sometimes, if you dont see the opening and seize it, a better one never comes along. Bill Clinton understood this in 1992.

    Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie and Paul Ryan should all consider running for the Presidency. Obama is wounded and the GOP needs popular and articulate candidates.

    Duty Calls.

  • Chris Christie,  Mitch Daniels,  Paul Ryan,  President 2012

    President 2012: Should Paul Ryan Run for President?

    House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) unveils the House Republican budget blueprint in the Capitol in Washington April 5, 2011

    Yes, and the case for a duty call is obvious.

    Jennifer Rubin makes the case as well.

    In a very practical sense, the question for Ryan is: Why not give his party and the country six months (September 2011 to February 2012)? By then he’ll either have failed to catch fire or he’ll have a clear path to the presidential nomination. Six months. Twenty-four weeks. For a politician constantly at work in Congress, in town halls and in media appearances, that doesn’t sound like that much. (In fact, I would venture that his schedule is more rigorous now than the average presidential contender’s.)

    You see, there is no good reason for Ryan to avoid a presidential run. Sometimes, if you don’t see the opening and seize it, a better one never comes along. Bill Clinton understood this in 1992.

    Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie and Paul Ryan should all consider running for the Presidency. Obama is wounded and the GOP needs popular and articulate candidates.

    Duty Calls.

  • Herb Kohl,  Paul Ryan,  U.S. Senate 2012

    WI-Sen: Herb Kohl is Out and a GOP Senate Majority is More Likely

    U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) speaks at a news conference Friday, May 13, 2011, in Milwaukee. Kohl said he has decided not to run for re-election after serving in the U.S. Senate since 1989

    The conventional wisdom was the GOP had a more than a likely chance they would replace Harry Reid as majority leader and take control of the U.S. Senate after the 2012 elections. This is reinforced by the announced retirement of incumbent democratic Senator Herb Kohl.

    Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will be on everyone’s mind to replace Kohl, but many think he won’t run. After all, he passed up a chance in 2010 to run against Russ Feingold. Republicans also like the state attorney general, J.B. Van Hollen, one of the few Republicans to win statewide in 2006. In 2010 he was reelected with 58 percent of the vote. Unlike other contenders, he could run without risking his current job. Duffy also mentions former congressman Mark Neumann but notes that he “made an unsuccessful bid against Feingold in 1998 and ran for the GOP gubernatorial nomination last year. He got 38 percent after running a dreadful campaign.” A GOP operative with whom I spoke also says “worth mentioning” is wealthy businessman Tim Michels, who ran in 2004.

    For now, the betting on the Hill is that the Senate will flip to a Republican majority. I won’t say “control” because 60 is well out of reach. Nevertheless, with Wisconsin, Virginia, Florida, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, West Virginia and Nebraska as potential pick-ups, the Republicans could wind up in the mid-50s. Much will defend, of course, on the nominees and whether the GOP has a strong candidate at the top of the ticket.

    Wisconsin will also be in play for the Presidential race and will be a key battleground state. With a contested Senate contest, the spending and media attention will accelerate.

    The GOP’s Senate prospects are only looking better.

  • Paul Ryan

    Astrofail: Rep. Paul Ryan Exposes Astro-Turf Anti-Ryan Activist as Fraud

    Rep Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin)at Town Hall


    Astrfail is right.

    USA Today exposes the fraud that is activist-organized protest at Republican town halls this recess. Their story opens with Paul Ryan calling on a man in the front row before recognizing him, “You changed clothes!” USA Today reports that the man had been at a separate event six hours earlier. Politico reports that “Citizens Action of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Labor Council have enlisted a traveling band of seniors to follow Paul Ryan’s every move.” But the leftist activists have been unable to match genuine support for Ryan. The Weekly Standard‘s John McCormack posts video of constituents giving Ryan a standing ovation after a town hall near Milwaukee.

    When the protests are NOT sincere, it is easy to expose them.

  • Mike Huckabee,  Mitch Daniels,  Mitt Romney,  Newt Gingrich,  Paul Ryan,  Polling,  President 2012,  Ron Paul,  Sarah Palin,  Tim Pawlenty

    Wisconsin GOP President 2012 Poll Watch: Ryan 30% Vs Huckabee 17% Vs Gingrich 12% Vs Palin and Romney 9%

    According to the latest PPP poll.

    • Paul Ryan – 30%
    • Mike Huckabe – 17%
    • Newt Gingrich – 12%
    • Sarah Palin – 9%
    • Mitt Romney – 9%
    • Ron Paul – 5%
    • Tim Pawlenty – 4%
    • Mitch Daniels – 3%

    What is surprising is how poorly Mitt Romney is doing in Wisconsin, finishing tied with Sarah in fourth place. He does no better if you take Rep Paul Ryan out of the race, continuing to finish fourth.

    If you take the Wisconsin favorite son, Rep. Paul Ryan out of the race then:

    • Mike Huckabee – 23%
    • Sarah Palin – 15%
    • Newt Gingrich – 15%
    • Mitt Romney – 12%
    • Tim Pawlenty – 10%
    • Ron Paul – 5%
    • Mitch Daniels – 3%

    Favorable Vs. Unfavorable:

    • Ryan – 67% Vs. 10%
    • Palin – 65% Vs. 25%
    • Huckabee – 58% Vs. 18%
    • Gingrich – 54% Vs. 23%
    • Romney – 49% Vs. 25%

    So, the race is bunched and two of the frontrunners, Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin are doubtful candidates.

    Huckabee’s shaping up to be the strongest Republican candidate in the Big Ten states- in addition to his lead on this Wisconsin poll, he’s also led in every other every state we’ve polled in the region so far in 2011- Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and Iowa. If Huckabee does end up running you’re going to have his strength in the South and Midwest butting up against Romney’s strength in the Northeast and West.

    This is a bit of a broken record but still an important point: Republican voters love Sarah Palin but don’t want her to be their Presidential candidate. She has the highest favorability of the GOPers besides Ryan, 7 points higher than Huckabee’s and 11 points higher than Gingrich’s. But she still runs 8 points behind Huckabee on Presidential nomination choice and just ties with Gingrich. Liking someone and thinking they should occupy the White House are two very different things.

    The entire poll is here.

  • Herb Kohl,  J.B. Van Hollen,  Mark Neumann,  Paul Ryan,  Russ Feingold

    WI-Sen Poll Watch: Dem Sen Herb Kohl Looks Safe Against all GOP Challengers

    According to the latest PPP Poll.

    Favorable Vs Unfavorable:

    • Rep. Paul Ryan 36% Vs. 35%
    • Former Rep. Mark Neumann 24% Vs. 27%
    • Atty. Gen. JB Van Hollen 25% Vs. 28%
    • Former Sen. Russ Feingold 51% Vs. 39%

    Job Approval Vs. Disapproval:

    • Sen Herb Kohl 50% Vs. 30%
    • Sen Ron Johnson 32% Vs. 28%

    Heads Up:

    • 52% Kohl Vs. 37% Van Hollen
    • 49% Kohl Vs. 42% Ryan
    • 51% Kohl Vs. 37% Neumann
    • 51% Feingold Vs. 39% Van Hollen
    • 49% Feingold Vs. 42% Ryan
    • 50% Feingold Vs. 40% Neumann

    PPP surveyed 768 Wisconsin voters from February 24th to 27th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.5%.

    It has been rumored for some time that Senator Herb Kohl will retire and that defeated Senator Russ Feingold (who is still popular in the state despite being beaten by Ron Johnson last November) would try to regain a Senate seat.

    No matter from this polling data, either Democrat, Kohl or Feingold looks safe.

    Also, it is doubtful that Rep. Paul Ryan who is the best Republican in this poll is interested in running for the Senate.

    Note, however, Wisconsin WILL be a key battleground state for the 2012 Presidential race and voter participation will be high in this election. This will not be a priority for the NRSC unless Kohl retires and the seat becomes open.

    The full poll results are here (Pdf.)