After Obama's big rally yesterday, I'd like to see Wisconsin's own Paul Ryan do an event at the University of Wisconsin here in Madison. I'd like it, first, to give the University a chance to demonstrate its neutrality as between the 2 parties, and, second, because we have a tradition here of "sifting and winnowing" ideas, and Paul Ryan could present the ideas that are an alternative to what Obama (and Baldwin and Pocan) are purveying, and he could do it in a way that reaches the younger audience.
I just criticized the Obama event for being a such a hardcore get-out-the-vote rally, when — to fit the university setting — it should have had more of an intellectual character, teaching students about political ideas and present-day policy issues. Show some real respect, even veneration for the academic milieu and justify trumping whatever was planned by the professors in their classrooms. I think Paul Ryan could do that. Teach conservatism and let the students continue the "fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found."
October 5, 2012
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Normally conservatives aren't allowed to speak at Big Education (except in small controled situations). But I think Ryan could do fine...similiar to how Ron Paul can hold events in liberalland.
"I'd like it, first, to give the University a chance to demonstrate its neutrality as between the 2 parties, and, second, because we have a tradition here of "sifting and winnowing" ideas, and Paul Ryan could present the ideas that are an alternative to what Obama (and Baldwin and Pocan) are purveying, and he could do it in a way that reaches the younger audience."
No, it's a waste of time.
Were the University really interested in a balanced, "sifting and winnowing" ideas, they'd have invited both campaigns, simultaneously, and forced them to focus on policy rather than driving out the vote.
You're asking a prostitute to save her reputation by selling herself to moral men - but moral men don't play that game, and *everyone* already knows the prostitute's reputation.
Better for the Legislature to cut funding, and force the administrators to come up with the funds to pay for their campaign event for their failed president.
nah, garagey mahal won't want him there.
It would be a great to highlight the differences in how each is treated.
it should have had more of an intellectual character
How could it possibly?
Ryan should just drop in unannounced one day and chat with folks around campus. Seriously.
It would be interesting to see if the left allowed him to be heard or if they shouted him down and threw pies.
Do conservatives do that? After all, the left pretends to be the party of intellectuals.
Show some real respect, even veneration for the academic milieu
Good lord. You really buy it, don't you?
The powers-that-be at UW Madison just prostituted themselves and the institution, have evidenced their corruption and the institution's decay, and you believe it must be venerated?
Ryan coming to campus would attract mostly grown-ups.
Your thoughts on this seem entirely reasonable and within the realm of academia.
But under the boot of the DoE, NHS, NIH and its army of grants, your request is radical.
The little darlings would shout him down.
Does anyone really believe he'd be permitted to speak?
Liberals react quite badly when "Wingnuts" invade their sacred spaces -- if he's lucky he'll just be shouted down, or have security cancel his speech because of phoned in bomb threats or threats to riot.
Still, it's a great idea. I'd love to be proven wrong.
I do think Paul Ryan would excel at this. I'd love to see more of Romney and Ryan (but especially Ryan) speaking directly to college-age voters. This election in particular-- this particular moment in our nation's fiscal & economic situation-- demands it.
Almost by definition, any conservative speaking at a college campus is not going to beg for votes (that would be futile), but must provide a substantive, well-reasoned, compelling argument to persuade a skeptical audience (temperamentally and culturally predisposed against them) of some of the merits of conservative (or libertarian) thought/ policy.
I know it seems like a lost cause, all the decks are stacked against them (systematically, institutionally, culturally), but I really wish conservatives wouldn't concede academia and "youth" to the left.
Bryan, that would be best. No chance for the Democrats to try to shout him down in an organized way.
Just walking around and talking with students....he would be good with that. And when the lefty comes up to argue with him.....well....we saw the debate in Denver.
You would have to bus in conservatives from Northern Wi. and Waukesha if you wanted to get a good crowd. The UW venue was a piece o' cake for the Obama campaign. Hell, they could get 30k Obama supporters within walking distance.
It would be interesting to see if UW-Madison professors are more dignified than those in the state system.
At UW-Eau Claire, a history professor organized the group who went into an arena and tried to shout down Bush 43.
Is there a phone booth on campus?
Grand idea, Madame, and I applaud your willingness to hear the other side, but, keep in mind, security will be just as tight.
They should ask Rex Ryan to talk to the students.
Then they might have a chance of winning.
What evidence is there that Madison students would try and shout Paul Ryan down?
When Palin spoke with Breitbart, it mostly out-of-town bused -in Chicago people and older guys like garage mahal who tried to shout them down. There's an Althouse video of that somewhere and a garage mahal confession too, IIRC.
They should ask Rex Ryan to talk to the students.
Then they might have a chance of winning.
When Palin spoke with Breitbart, it mostly out-of-town bused -in Chicago people and older guys like garage mahal who tried to shout them down
The only people bused in were Tea Partiers.
I believe events like Obama's at the university is an important educational and historical event in the students' lives. The memories will give them something to talk about after Obama's re-election and their graduation, as they stand in soup lines.
What's in it for the Romney/Ryan campaign for Paul Ryan to come to Madison?
My first college roommate was an SDS revolutionary from Madison. From what I can tell Madison hasn't changed much since then. I doubt there's all that much "sifting and winnowing" going on there.
There is a huge opportunity cost for Ryan to come to Madison before the election. There is also a substantial chance that the University and its students will attempt to humiliate Ryan in any number of ways.
I don't see much upside for a Ryan visit right now.
If UW-Madison wants to demonstrate its neutrality--which would surprise me--it could invite other conservatives to speak. Maybe Hugh Hewitt, who is a law professor, as well as a conservative spokesman and a Romney supporter from 2008. That's someone you could reach out to, if you think it's important.
"sifting and winnowing"
Hee--I think that motto is "no longer operative." But, my God, do you have that chick's phone number?
garage reveals: The only people bused in were Tea Partiers.
Who then wwere carrying on that old Badger tradition of shouting down and booing conservatives which we saw on display that day?
Just you and your friends?
"I'd like it, first, to give the University a chance to demonstrate its neutrality as between the 2 parties, and, second, because we have a tradition here of "sifting and winnowing" ideas,"
Does Damon Williams still work for UW Madison?
Seriously? And you thing Ryan would actually be allowed to speak?
Ha! More likely, he'd be screamed and shouted down by every nutball protestor on and off campus in Madison.
Vaginas, union, commies, the whole gamut would be there.
Sifting and winnowing? When did that happen between political ideologies at UW? Not now, and not back in the hippie era when I was a grad/undergrad.
The important question is whether they'd charge the campaign the same "fee".
Who then wwere carrying on that old Badger tradition of shouting down and booing conservatives which we saw on display that day?
Just telling you that AFP had buses from around the state to deliver the tea partiers. It's pretty easy for lefties to get huge crowds in Madison. Saw some funny shit that day.
I grep for truth, myself.
Shouting down and booing are part of the threshing process that comes before winnowing.
The university would probably let Ryan speak on a Saturday when the Badgers were playing football. You'd have to be an idiot if you think that they would shut down the university for the event.
If someone asks Ryan a question, they are liable to find themselves in an Obama TV ad without, of course the answer. Maybe that would a good Ryan ad: "here is the answer I gave that woman in the Obama ad."
You might like to think that Paul Ryan could do that but i doubt that he would do that. He is like every other political shill-master. In that way he is no better or worse than Obama.
Vicki from Pasadena
have had more of an intellectual character
Are you new around here??
Why would Ryan go to Madison. Young people really don't vote and a lot of them are from other states anyway.
He needs to talk to people over 30. Obama must be in trouble if he's going to so many college campuses. He thinks he has to get the college turnout from 2008.
Paul Ryan is not a UW-Madison grad, he is one of those Miami of Ohio Redskins (no hawks flying around when he went to school), so what appeal works for him if he attempts to become "Wisconsin's Own" on the Madison campus?
Besides the law students will once again be prohibited from attending class.
When will you understand that libs use the equal time shtick only when it is to their advantage? Fairness is one-way street.
You do a wonderful Steve Martin.
I can see you on SNL. The action of the skit stops behind you, it darkens and you step forward into the spot and deliver your fine entreaty then pause naaaaaaaaaaaah.
UW-Madison has a tradition of sifting and winnowing ideas? No, it doesn't.
But Obama has the right ideas, Althouse.
What! Liberal teaching agenda at UW-Madison? Leftist political leanings among the faculty, staff and leadership at this hallowed institution?
During the most important presidential election in our lifetime, the "lazy" incumbent wants to pay a harmless visit to the campus to promote education.
Naw, it doesn't mean anything. Of course not. Nothing to see here.
On second thought, sifting and winnowing--though rooted in ancient metaphor--does sound to the modern ear like fieldhand work (cf. threshing floor) and so it's probably best not to talk about such things at UW-Madison.
I like this idea, Ann. You mentioned yesterday that the chancellor (if I recall correctly) said, to paraphrase, "there was no doubt we'd accede to the President's request to speak at U of W."
I would love to hear the internal debate of the solons if Ryan were to make the same request. Whereas before, when the talk was all about how to make it happen and how to skirt policy, the debate for Ryan Ryan would be about all the barriers that would have to be overcome, and all the potential negative things that could happen. In short, they'd be looking for a way out of it, I bet. And they'd probably pull some policy out of their damned policy books to subvert responsibility for the rejection.
"because we have a tradition here of 'sifting and winnowing' ideas"
Sure you do. I believe "liberal shithole" is a more apt description.
"it should have had more of an intellectual character"
Intellectual character and Obama are never to be used in the same sentence. Ever.
I'd like to see that too. Ryan does have family in town, so he could visit them too. I think it would go very well.
Before anybody gets too excited about Paul Ryan "educating" the students in Madison, you should see the Breitbart video asking students filing into the Obama rally if Obama should have been allowed a Teleprompter for the debate.
It is hilarious. I've seen these stories about Harvard seniors being less well informed than freshmen. UW students seem to have started stupid and gone down from there.
A Teleprompter for a debate !!!
Do these kids know anything ?
"because we have a tradition here of "sifting and winnowing" ideas"
No, what you have a sign on a wall. With a quote. From 1894. Give me an example of your "sifting and winnowing" in the last 50 years.
Yeah, Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan is a real “man of the people", visiting WI for a megabucks fundraiser, with NO public events.The invitation to Saturday’s event says the admission price for the general public is $1,000 per person, while those aged 35 and under can get in for $250.
It costs $15,000 per couple for a private dinner and those wishing to be recognized as a “Founding Partner” need to give $100,000.
While in Wisconsin Ryan will attend no public events, either for the Romney/Ryan campaign or for his reelection campaign to the U.S. House of Representatives.
It seems he can't take you up on your campus visit proposal. He's got more omportant things to do.
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