There was no question Sunday: Presumptive Republican candidate Mitt Romney energized a Wisconsin conservative voting base by adding Wisconsin native Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate.
Bumper-to-bumper traffic snaked along Highway 164 in Pewaukee all the way to the gates of the Waukesha County Expo Center. An estimated 13,000 supporters gathered to get a glimpse of the new Republican duo they hope to send to the White House in November.
“What a homecoming for a terrific guy. I guess you think I made the right choice?” Romney asked the crowd – which responded with roars of approval. “I know I did.”
Romney announced Ryan would be his running mate Saturday in Virginia, and the pair immediately hit the ground running making two campaign stops in North Carolina Sunday before attending a homecoming rally in Waukesha – a city that’s long been a stronghold for Republicans.
“It is good to be home. I tell you, I love Wisconsin,” Ryan said to a fired up crowd. “What we learned in this state just a little while ago is that we want to elect men and women into office who tell us who they are, what they are going to do, and when they are elected – they do that. That’s what we do here in Wisconsin.”
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State Republican heavyweights were in full attendance as Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, Rep. Sean Duffy, Rep. Tom Petri, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and more spoke before Romney and Ryan. All four GOP candidates for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat were also shaking hands with voters and getting on the cameras.
Walker was often cited by speakers as an inspiration for what kind of leadership the country needs. Ryan told the crowd that it was time to replicate the conservative successes demonstrated in Wisconsin on the national level.
“We’ve seen a few elections in Wisconsin lately. We’re ready. We’re tested. Our leaders fixed the problems in Madison, and we as voters said (are going) to keep doing it,” Ryan said. “On June 5, courage was on the ballot in Wisconsin and courage won. We Wisconsinites saved Wisconsin. On Nov. 6, we Wisconsinites will help save America.”
Romney touted Ryan’s ability to reach across the aisle in Washington, his acumen with budgets, and his strength in conducting negotiations with honesty. Romney said they will need those skills to restore America, and bring it back into economic prosperity.
“This is another big step to restore America. I wanted someone who was a leader. This is a man who has passion for America, and has what it takes to get America on track,” Romney said. “This is a campaign about America’s future. So Mr. President, time to take your campaign out of the gutter and let’s talk about the real issues that people are facing.”
Romney once again outlined his five steps to getting the country on track. He proposed increasing education options for workers. Second, he wants to maximize energy resources like wind, solar, natural gas, and coal. Romney said cutting federal spending and balancing the budget, championing small business, and reforming trade regulations were the remaining three.
“We are not going to change America into something we don’t recognize. We are going to restore it to what made us the shining city on the hill,” Romney said.
Republicans Praise a Romney-Ryan Ticket
Perhaps they were a bit biased, but Wisconsin Republicans were united Sunday in their approval of Romney’s pick for vice president.
“The Romney and Ryan ticket is a dream ticket, and it’s a dream ticket that’s going to end the Obama nightmare. It will finally put the grown ups in charge,” said Rep. Sean Duffy.
For Wisconsin Republicans, a healthy dose of Wisconsin leadership is what’s needed to turn the entire country around. Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch remarked that future generations will take notice of what’s happening up in Wisconsin.
“When America needs help, Wisconsin’s leaders step up,” Kleefisch said. “When children a generation later look back at 2012, they’re going to wonder what was in the water in Wisconsin. Romney and Ryan are going to give Obama the R&R he really needs.”
Walker, who survived two elections in one year, received a hero’s welcome at the Expo Center Sunday. Reince Preibus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, dubbed Walker the greatest governor in the country. Walker kept his commentary short.
“Isn’t great to have a cheesehead on the ballot?” Walker said. “On June 5 we stood on this ground and claimed a victory – not for a candidate – but for the taxpayers of the great state of Wisconsin. On Nov. 6, we’ll claim victory for not just the taxpayers of Wisconsin, but of this nation.”
Voters Approve Romney’s VP Pick
Wisconsin Republicans were ecstatic over Ryan being named running mate to Romney, in the GOP fight to the White House against Obama.
For Waukesha County Register of Deeds Jim Behrend, it is a chance to see someone he’s known for 20 years rise up through the ranks. Even as a young, 20-something man in Wisconsin, Ryan was successful, “a cut above everyone else,” Behrend said during a rally supporting former Gov. Tommy Thompson for U.S. Senate.
“I just like somebody who can speak so eloquently on economics,” Behrend said. “I think that is where it is at and we never seem to get there. I think from Wisconsin’s perspective, I think we have a good chance of taking the state for Romney. I think if we do, there is no scenario where we won’t win nationally.”
Seniors present at the rally weren't fearful of losing their medicare as opponents have maintained would happen under Ryan's budget plan, either. Phyllis Ecker from Milwaukee, who is 79, said "statements meant to scare us seniors have just been stupid. I was part of the campaign to help elect (John F.) Kennedy, and that was the last time I supported a democrat."
Linda Carrivau of Sheboygan made the trek to the Waukesha County Expo with thousands of others from southeastern Wisconsin.
“I think Paul Ryan is a great pick,” Carrivau said. “He is eloquent. He has got a plan. He has a solid outlook on the economy.”
After the rally, voters weren’t any less enthusiastic.
Nick Jablonski, a political science student who plans to attend University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall, said he enjoyed with the rally and was happy that it wasn’t too negative against Obama.
“I thought it was fair and balanced between their plan for the future and showing the difference between the two sets of candidates,” Jablonski said. “I think it makes Wisconsin more in play, but I would say it is still going to be an uphill battle with the swing states.”
Mary Goodman of Glendale said she was proud to see “a choice from Wisconsin as intelligent as Paul Ryan.”
“I think Obama just lost Wisconsin,” Goodman said.
Dems Raise a Shout, Romney Fires Back
The Republicans' party wasn’t without guests from across the aisle, and they attempted to make themselves heard during Romney’s speech. An Obama supporter screamed near the front of the crowd demanding Romney address Bain Capital’s involvement with Sensata.
Romney’s former company owns Sensata, a Freeport, Ill.-based firm. Workers are currently protesting layoffs, which are expected to occur in November.
Several shouters were quickly escorted out of the assembly by police officers amid jeers from others in the crowd. Romney also fired back at the group that attempted to disrupt the rally.
“We believe in listening to people with dignity and respect. Young man, you’ll need to find somewhere else to be disruptive,” said Romney, singling out one of the shouters.
A small contingent of Obama supporters also gathered outside the gates to the Expo Center, but went largely ignored by those entering the rally.
I see that the blue fisters showed up and attempted to spoil the celebration - honestly, what in the hell is their problem???
Where in the article does it say that people 'jeered' about people losing their jobs to offshoring? "Several shouters were quickly escorted out of the assembly by police officers amid jeers from others in the crowd." They were jeering people who were attempting to shout over Romney's speech, as interrupting people while they're speaking is consider to be rude etiquette. Did you honestly not know this? This point is made even more clear by Romney's reaction, wherein he stated: "We believe in listening to people with dignity and respect. Young man, you’ll need to find somewhere else to be disruptive.” You know as well as Hoffa does that Romney has nothing to do with the events that the protestors were shouting and attempting to interrupt about. Ergo, they were just trying to put on a show and get some attention - like a child having a temper-tantrum. BTW - Neither Tammy Baldwin or anyone from her staff ever responded to Hoffa's email to the campaign concerning Tammy's strange interest in La Crosse, as mentioned on her website. However, Hoffa is now stuck on Tammy's email list even though he kindly asked them to remove his email address from their bulk mailing list - thanks a lot!
The fallacy of GOP economics is that rich people convert tax breaks into jobs. No, they move that money offshore -- with the jobs.
Mr. Hoffa, I'd re-send it understanding that interns are probably reading the emails. WEACHATER, I believe residency requirements should be set for making "if you don't like it, move Please!" statements. To ask another resident to pull up stakes (political "cleansing") you must demonstrate a greater claim to the space you yourself occupy. Which colonies/states have streets named in honor of your family? How long has your family resided in this area, in this country, on this continent? Your creds need to be superior to mine or I'll have to send someone to help you pack! ; ) Keith, the value of the tax breaks/corporate welfare is in providing capital to support the offshoring process. Luke, you do know that Henrik Fisker is Danish and Nissan is a Japanese car company, don't you?
"Mr. Hoffa, would the people jeer if they believed the cause of the protesters was just?" Again, you're missing the point - they were interrupting and trying to shout over a speech. It was neither the time or the place to be doing what they did! "Romney has had ample opportunity to respond and has chosen not to do so/act." Romney has nothing to do with Bain anymore - they are directing their cause at the WRONG person. They should be protesting Bain, Gov. Pat Quinn, and Pres. Barack Obama, as those are the only people that have any power or authority to address the issue that they want to raise. If the protestors want to be taken seriously over this issue, then why are they committing their time and resources to protesting the wrong people? You know as well as everyone else that this was nothing but a cheap political stunt looking to score political points. It's Saul Alinsky tactics at their worst. It's also exploitative and personally insultive to those who stand to actually lose their jobs to outsourcing. You're just not willing to be honest about the situation - shame on you Bren!
Talk about "consuming your souls" indeed. Most kids realize that teamwork and respect are more effective in goal attainment than trying to ram one's opinion/vision down someone else's throat, and they thus take Rand in stride. But there are apparently some, like Ryan, who are beguiled by the subversive negative energy that masquerades as self-empowerment in Rand's books. One possible rationale for Rand's celebration of antisocial behavior could be that it assuaged the frustration that the social homogenosity of her country of origin (USSR) may have inspired in her self-aggrandizing nature. While maintaining an atheistic stance, her books interestingly include strong elements of mysticism as evidenced by the near deification of central characters. I attribute this to her dim awareness of a higher plane of enlightenment without sufficient intellectual and spiritual gifts of perception and insight. It would be interesting to know if Paul Ryan believes that Rand's "works" are "spiritual" in nature; if so that belief is counter-intuitive to the Rand paradigm.
I've never read Saul Alinsky; from what I understand his model is far more aggressive than Gandhi's for achieving awareness of social issues. But I learned very early that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to every problem. And if it makes you feel any better about being on Tammy's e-list, I'm on Scott Walker's. ; )
If you cared less about objects and more about people, discover how we would be less likely to climb on your behinds.
Say did you care about the folks in Shorewood when you pitched your bookstore pyramid scheme?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Vnvd4e3fA