“What motivated Ryan then as now was a passion for the ideals on which America was founded, of respect for individuals and their liberty.” Edward Hudgins, The Atlas Society
Many libertarians and objectivists were quick to praise the selection of Congressman Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s running mate, even as they questioned the particulars of his budget plan and whether or not it goes far enough.
Edward Hudgins, writing for The Atlas Society said, “Paul Ryan respects objective reality and realizes that it will not be changed or altered by the evasions of political hacks. He understands what is in store for America if reality is not faced right now and measures taken to change radically the policies of economic destruction. One might rightly question the particulars of his plan. One might say it doesn’t go far enough. But Ryan is attempting to deal with the real world, not some wished-for fantasy that really is a nightmare.”
Atlas Society CEO Aaron Day noted that, “Ryan highlighted the principles of liberty, freedom, free enterprise, and self-determination…” all core beliefs of America’s libertarians.
However, many libertarians question individual votes Ryan has cast while in Congress and the slow pace at which Ryan’s “Path to Prosperity” budget addresses the nation’s spending crisis.
Writing for Real Clear Politics back in 2009, Michele Malkin said of Ryan, “He gave one of the most hysterical speeches in the rush to pass TARP last fall; voted for the auto bailout; and voted with the Barney Frank-Nancy Pelosi AIG bonus-bashing stampede.” She also quoted Milwaukee blogger Nick Schweitzer, who said: "He [Ryan] ought to be apologizing for his previous votes, not pretending he was being responsible the entire time, but I don't see one bit of regret for what he did previously. And I'll be damned if I'm going to let him get away with it."
While Michele Malkin has since come around on Ryan, saying, “Paul Ryan is fresh, young, energetic, smart, courageous, and ready for prime time.” Jane Aitken, founder of the New Hampshire Tea Party Coalition, writing on LewRockwell.com, summed-up grassroots libertarian concerns about Ryan succinctly saying, “Paul Ryan Is No Ron Paul.”
Thanks
Richard,
Thank you for quoting my article on Lew Rockwell. Here is where I see things now. I am sorry that Romney has alienated a whole conservative and youth wing of the party. He cannot win without them. Is this the death of the GOP?
http://www.nhteapartycoalition.org/tea/2012/08/26/gop-rejects-tea-party-...
Paul Ryan, "budget cutter"
I may be a bit out of date in terms of what might be Paul Ryan's most recent budget cut plan. However, one of his much vaunted plans was going to cut a trillion dollars over the next ten years. Well, that's merely $100 billion a year, or less than the idiotic, insane, ignorant war in Iraq cost us in a given year, and less than the equally idiotic (at least at this point) war in Afghanistan is costing us, now that both Obama and the GOP were STUPID enough to triple US fatalities there per year by tripling our troop presence. Afghanistan alone is now well over $100 billion. So cutting $100 billion is really no big deal - except for the fact the Dems and even some RINOs are too STUPID to attempt even THAT modest goal. Equally unimpressive is the fact that Ryan recently started back-tracking some of his pro-Randian remarks so he could hold onto the "women should be forced by rapists to have babies because Opus Dei and their pawns Santorum and Pawlenty said so" vote. Looks like his back-tracking worked and is getting him in bed with Romney and his Mormon underwear.
Mr. Romney is
no Paul Ryan