Paul Ryan To Give GOP State Of The Union Response

Good luck to him.

From the release.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today that House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) will deliver the Republican address following the President’s State of the Union address to Congress on January 25, 2011. Last year – in an unprecedented failure – Congressional Democrats chose not to pass, or even propose a budget, punting on a duty that represents the most basic responsibility of governing. Chairman Ryan will deliver the Republican address Tuesday night from the House Budget Committee hearing room, where the Democrats’ spending spree will end and the Republicans’ push for a fiscally responsible budget that cuts spending will begin.

In making the announcement, the GOP leaders noted that Chairman Ryan is a leading voice for fiscal discipline and common-sense solutions to cut spending and create jobs. Known for his thoughtful and detailed critiques of big-government policies, Ryan has helped put to rest the Democrats’ argument that more government spending and higher taxes is the answer to most of our nation’s ills. His commitment to free enterprise and limited government make him the right choice to outline a vision for how a smaller, less costly government will help create the right conditions for the creation of good, private sector jobs.

“Paul Ryan is uniquely qualified to address the state of our economy and the fiscal challenges that face our country,” said Speaker Boehner. “We’re broke, and decisive action is needed to help our economy get back to creating jobs and end the spending binge in Washington that threatens our children’s future. I’m pleased that Paul will be outlining a common-sense vision for moving our country forward.”

A very good choice I'd say. Ryan is an up and coming star who is now head of the House Budget Committee, so yeah, fiscal issues are going to be the main thrust of his talk.

The last time Ryan went up against Obama was at the "Health Care Summit" and he pretty much schooled him.

Still, I wouldn't get my hopes up to much that his response will have much impact. It's really unfair to expect anyone in this spot to look very good compared to any President. The visuals are simply a mismatch. The President is the center of attention in a House chamber filled with members of Congress, the cabinet, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Supreme court, the Diplomatic Corps and on and on. The responder is usually someone sitting or standing by themselves, talking into a camera. It's not an even match.

Either way, no one ever really remembers the State of the Union, let alone the response. Unless you're Bobby Jindal and then you wish everyone would.

posted by DrewM. at 11:28 AM

| Access Comments