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Young Voters Speak Out: Each day, RR.com will spotlight politically minded youth writers from throughout the U.S. speaking their minds on Election 2012. First-time voters, student journalists and new graduates will debate the Obama vs. Romney race to the White House. Young Democrats, Republicans and ‘Undecided’ Americans are eager to play politics and choose the next Commander & Chief.
Read James Gibbons' thoughts from a right-leaning perspective:
After much speculation, Mitt Romney has finally chosen a running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. I was certainly surprised as Ryan is a very safe choice. My first reaction when hearing this news was disappointment. I was hoping for a running mate that would create a little more buzz. Paul Ryan is just another generic face of the Republican leadership in Congress. Perhaps that is what Romney and company wanted. Now it's time for the media to start digging up dirt and asking what type of newspapers he reads.
Most voters recall Ryan's recent plan for the budget. In it were major changes to Medicare and spending. While this is Ryan's major claim to fame, it will be interesting to see how this plays out in the general election. I can already see Obama's ads that will cause seniors to think that Romney and Ryan are going to cancel Medicare and Social Security.
In many respects Paul Ryan is a lot like Obama. He is only 42. More important is his prior experience. After graduating from Ohio's Miami University, he quickly went to Washington and has worked for Congress ever since.
All of this points to an election that will quickly get very intense. The players have all been picked. Jobs are going to take a backseat role and the main theme will be the fiscal crisis. Unfortunately, the plans that Ryan and Romney supported are rather modest. Obviously the Obama team will not disclose that.
The main event I am looking forward to is the Vice-Presidential debate between Biden and Ryan; youth against experience, pragmatism versus wit.
Stay tuned and check back here for more insight. The conventions are coming up shortly and the protests will be entertaining. Ryan's status as Romney's running mate makes a formidable team. The GOP has certainly learned from its flawed choice in 2008.
