Rep. Paul Ryan flames out

By Richard K. Barry

Yeah. This goof.

What's up with Rep. Paul Ryan's popularity? A new Rasumussen poll finds that just 35% of all likely U.S. voters view Ryan favourably, which is down 15 points from his 50% favourability rating last August just after Mitt Romney picked him as his running mate.

Fifty-four percent (54%) have an unfavorable opinion of the Wisconsin congressman. These figures include 17% with a Very Favorable view of him and 23% with a Very Unfavorable one. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided.

So, what happened?

Two things: The stench of defeat rarely helps anyone's popularity, and then there's this, as noted by The Week:

In his new budget outline unveiled last week, Ryan once again put forward the policies he championed in the 2012 election: Lower tax rates across the board and cuts to programs aimed at the poor. Those policies did not sit well with voters last year, and they're not getting any more popular. Even the Republican National Committee conceded that point, saying the GOP had to change its ways because voters considered the party's positions "scary" and "out of touch."

Democrats were supposed to be oh-so-scared of this very serious Republican thinker after he was chosen by Romney to share the ticket. I didn't buy it then, and I don't buy it now. Paul Ryan's ideas suck and the American people get that. 

That's what's happened.