This morning Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan was announced as Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's pick to be Vice President. The announcement of Ryan, who like his partner on the ticket has never served in the military, was made on the decommissioned U.S.S. Wisconsin in Norfolk, Va. The choice lends much needed energy to the Romney challenge to incumbent President Barack Obama as the former Massachusetts Governor has been hammered in the last month due to a number of public follies and gaffes.

Romney welcomed Ryan to the stage with the greeting "I'd like to welcome the next President of the United States!" Romney corrected himself after making the title error.

During his speech Ryan acknowledged that Obama had "inherited a bad situation," but he failed to turn the country around during his first two years.

"Our rights come from nature and God and not from Government," Ryan said during his acceptance speech to chanting of "U.S.A.!"

Ryan said the idea that government makes decisions with "the consent of the governed" is one that is under attack. He promised that if elected he'll help Romney "reapply" the country's founding principles and give citizens "the right and opportunity to make a choice."

He asked what kind of country and what kind of people "do we want to be" with audience members responding "free!"

Ryan said Romney will have the courage to tell the people the truth and that he's excited to be part of "America's comeback team."

The seven-term Congressman is currently being challenged for his District 1 seat by businessman Rob Zerban. In a statement this morning Zerban said, "Once Wisconsinites and voters across our country learn the truth about Ryan’s radical plot to end Medicare as we know it, de-fund women’s health care, and preserve tax breaks for millionaires, they'll vote against him not just once, but twice. In the coming weeks, our campaign will work with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden to continue getting the word out on Ryan’s indefensible record, and building momentum to ensure victory on Election Day."

Ryan became a superstar in the eyes of Republicans during the Obama Presidency due to introducing an "alternative budget" that heavily targets Medicare. His nomination will ensure that the future of the program will became one of the main platforms of the 2012 fight for the White House. Ryan's plan would partially privatize the program, but will also include some government subsidies.

Ryan's "Roadmap for America" also makes more tax cuts for the wealthy and eliminates all taxes on corporate profits, capital gains, and dividends.

Tea Party Republicans had been hot for a Ryan pick as he'll give Romney something he doesn't have - consistency. Ryan has been focused on cutting the deficit and government benefits.

Ryan may also provide something else for Romney that previously wasn't in contention - Wisconsin. The Obama campaign has been mostly absent from the state since the start of the 2011 Wisconsin uprising and recall effort against Gov. Scott Walker. Obama, who took the state in a landslide during the last election, has continued to stay above the margin-of-error in most polling keeping it in the "safe" category. This could change with Ryan sharing Romney's ticket.

The Ryan choice might make Wisconsin ripe for a fight this year forcing the President to come to the state and respond to Progressives who've felt snubbed by his silence.

Jesse Russell

Co-Editor

Jesse was born and raised in Connecticut, began blogging in 1997, and moved to Madison in 2003. In 2005, he co-founded dane101 along with Kristian Knutson and Shane Wealti. In addition to helping nearly a dozen contributors run this website he's helped launch various events in the city including What's Your Damage?!, the MadPubQuiz of Awesomeness, the Fire Ball Masquerade, Dane101's Freakin' Halloweekend, and more.