Paul Ryan has a unique ability to unite Republicans of all different hairstyles (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
Stephen Hayes:
Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan is strongly considering a run for president. Ryan, who has been quietly meeting with political strategists to discuss a bid over the past three months, is on vacation in Colorado discussing a prospective run with his family. Ryan’s concerns about the effects of a presidential campaign – and perhaps a presidency – on his family have been his primary focus as he thinks through his political future.
“He’s coming around,” says a Republican source close to Ryan, who has been urging the 41-year-old to run.
“With Paul, it’s more about obligation than opportunity,” says another Wisconsin Republican. “He is determined to have the 2012 election be about the big things. If that means he has to run, he’s open to it.”
Yeah, he wants 2012 to be about big things, all right...big things like ending Medicare. And he doesn't think the GOP has yet found a candidate able to articulate such a vision.
Look, the way I see 2012 – we owe it to the country to let them choose the path they want our country to take. And I just have yet to see a strong and principled articulation of the kind of limited government, opportunity society path that we would provide as an alternative to the Obama cradle to grave welfare state.
So Paul Ryan isn't happy with the GOP's 2012 field because he doesn't think there's a candidate in the mix who can explain why we should end Medicare. In other words, Paul Ryan wants Paul Ryan to run.
Unfortunately, Paul Ryan has said he's not running (at least that's what he's said so far). And just today, his office told Greg Sargent that nothing has changed. "While grateful for the continued support and encouragement, Congressman Ryan has not changed his mind," his spokesman said.
As Greg points out, that's not a definitive dismissal of the report, however. It's entirely consistent with the possibility that Ryan simply hasn't changed his mind yet. Let's hope he does. I can't imagine a better way to spend the 2012 campaign than fighting against a Republican Party whose nominee wants to end Medicare.