Romney forced to select extremist as VP.

[Avalux]

He really was in between a rock and a hard place, much like John McCain was 4 years ago but a whole lot worse.

The GOP base is not sold on Romney and there's no way he can change that on his own; they really don't like him. On the other hand, independents and moderates aren't sold on him either and his numbers keep going down, down, down.

If Romney chose a moderate as VP, someone who would appeal to those in the middle and undecideds, it may have helped him but would have been a huge risk. However chosing an extremist as VP to inject emotion into the campaign and motivate the base is much more of a sure thing. The cold hard truth is that Romney needs ALL Republicans to come out and vote for him in Nov. or he can't win.

Listening to Ryan speak this morning confirms he was picked to fire up the GOP base...he is able to pull off the pretend concern, and he speaks in short simple sentences that sound good but mean nothing.

It's a losing strategy but so was the alternative. And let's not be confused about who did the choosing here....Romney was TOLD who his running mate would be.

[Andy823]

1. I agree.

This was all about the base, the crazy, far right, radical, teabagger base. This was all about making them happy, and making sure they continue to get money from their big donors who want to privatize the country, get rid of medicare, SS, lower wages, and get rid of any kind of health care reform.

Only one problem, it won't help Romney at all with the votes he really needs to win. Of course since most republicans did NOT want to be his VP, he had to simply follow the marching orders from the powers that be, and they wanted Ryan!

[notadmblnd]

2. You bet Rmoney was told what he was going to do.

Rmoney doesn't actually want to be the President. He wants the title. I heard that Faux news slipped and called Ryan the next president of the United States? Ryan is there to insure that Rmoney tows TPTB (Koch, Norquist, etc.) agenda or he will be taken out. Forcibly if necessary.

[truebluegreen]

3. I remember hearing

some Reich wingnuts cackling with glee about McCain / Palin, and how, once they won the election, all they had to do was get rid of him.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear something similar very soon.

[MoonRiver]

5. Did Romney have a premonition about this

when he called Ryan the next POTUS?

[sarisataka]

4. Could it be...

the GOP realizes they cannot win the Presidency?
This is a move to try and mobilize their supporters and get control of Congress. Try for a four year gridlock, blame it on Obama and go for broke in 2016?