More Ryan claims of athletic feats come under question
AP Photo
The dust has barely settled over Rep. Paul Ryan’s incredible boast that he ran a sub 3-hour marathon, and his later admission that his actual time was much longer. Now, a new athletic claim of Ryan’s is being questioned: whether he’s made “close to 40″ climbs of 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado.
That’s what Ryan told a newspaper back in 2009, before he had any idea that his self-proclaimed sports feats might one day be examined under the magnifying glass of a presidential campaign.
The story was broken by James Fallows at The Atlantic; and the Romney/Ryan campaign has more or less answered it with a response that asserts the original claim is true, and that Fallows misunderstood it.
John Aravosis does a great job explaining it over at Americablog:
Here’s the problem. If the issue is that the Fourteeners are remote, and hard to get to if you’re not a resident, and thus climbing 40 of them would have taken more time than Ryan likely has had in his relatively short life, it doesn’t lessen the amount of time needed to make the climbs simply claiming that they weren’t 40 “different” mountain peaks. So the campaign’s answer doesn’t pass muster.
But it’s even worse. Ryan has been a congressman since 1999 – the past 13 years. He’s supposedly been climbing these peaks for “more than 20 years,” so let’s say 21 years. Where did Paul Ryan find the time to take a few months off each summer to climb these peaks while serving as a member of the US House of Representatives? (The expert climbers say he’d need an entire summer to climb the mountains at the pace he claimed, but let’s say his pace was slower, so that’s why I’m saying 6 weeks to 8 weeks of vacation for climbing.)
First off, just how much vacation time did Mr. Ryan take each summer on the public dole – does he think this is France?
It’s worth reading the whole post, and the comments, a number of which are from Colorado climbers who come across as quite skeptical.
As I noted before, marathon running and mountain climbing have little to do with politics or someone’s qualification to be vice-president. But truthfulness and whether the public trusts you certainly do. Ryan already has given the American people ample to distrust things he says, on stage last week at the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
It also leaves you wondering what’s coming next.
Will Ryan finally admit he didn’t hike the Appalachian Trail? Or swim the English Channel? Will he finally deny he’s got X-ray vision?
Stay tuned.
September 6, 2012 - 12:44 AM
I’ve also heard a rumor that he
wrestlesjuggles sharks when he vacations at the beach.It won’t be long before we see him shirtless on horseback a la Putin. He’ll add a sword or some guns or something to jazz up the photo-op, of course.
There’s just something about him that creeps me out. He just seems like the kind of guy who would stab you in the back, help you put your coat on and then turn you in for carrying a concealed weapon. It’s probably just me, though.
Did you know i was an all pro wide receiver for the dallas cowboys in 1949?
Maybe Ryan wants to take over the role of “The Most Interesting Man in the World” in the Dos Equis beer commercials. The guy doing it now is getting kind of old. Stay thirsty my friends.
What no thread about more than half the Democrat delegates booing God and Jerusalem? You must have been watching MSNBC. You defended ole Teddy killing someone, now how is booing God good for your party?
“Stay tuned.”
With baited breath. I see why PBS came your way.
#4 They were mostly booing the fact that the DNC was caving in to mindless, meaningless harping on the issue by Rethugs.
What no thread about more than half the Democrat delegates booing God
That clip would make a great ad, John Brown. It shows who these people really are. Those wanted God removed from the platform. Nothing the least bit out of context there, unlike what Gdad claims.
Those people booing wanted God removed from the platform. Nothing out of context there.
Oh you mental giants you! LOL, keep it up parrots.
Lying Ryan.
Does anybody else note the incredible irony of the libbies nitpicking something Ryan may have said years ago as they cheered on the most prolific liar in the history of U.S. politics at last night’s convention?
#7 If they wanted God removed from the platform, why didn’t they also demand removal of all the references to religion, church, faith, and so on? I mean, there were dozens and dozens of these references left in. There were also two full paragraphs about supporting Israel.
I’m right and you’re FOS, as usual, suzie.
John Brown
I watched some of MSNBC coverage along with Faux and CSPAN. MSNBC showed the vote several times and commentators commented on how poorly it was handled and how it was an embarrassing moment that will likely cdome back to haunt Democrats in future GOP ads. It was not glossed over in any way.
Question: Did YOU watch any MSNBC coverage or did you just rant based on what you THOUGHT it might be.?
7. Suzie and John Brown – The Democratic party is well known for its diversity. One party takes its marching orders and goose steps with no independent thinking, the Democrats however; have never nor will they ever do such. We are the party with the brains to think for ourselves.
Instead of repeating your morning email from the Tea Party, uou should try it for once in your life, it is exhilarating.
hey Suzie, I bet there will be an add or two pop up after yesterday’s self-defining fiasco. Can’t wait!
Where does the constant stream of falsehoods and insanity stop? The Next thing we’ ll hear is that the Roanoke Times is a “real newspaper”!
Biden used to watch FDR give fireside chats on TV. That seems like a much more remarkable feat than climbing 40 mountains.
Oh gdad…..PWN3D!!!
http://gretawire.foxnewsinsider.com/2012/09/05/picture-snapped-and-emailed-to-me-by-a-colleague-from-the-clarification-process/
#5:
Not to be a nitpicker, but the correct word is ‘bated’. If you are waiting for something with ‘baited breath’, you’ve got a worm in your mouth.
@dave You’re right they weren’t avoiding the whole issue regarding Jerusalam and God.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/09/msnbc-hasnt-mentioned-jerusalem-yet-134604.html
Ryan is one freaky dude, very strange guy, something weird about him and his fitness craziness, something very weird indeed, I would not trust him in the locker room.
Lying Ryan claims that Obama ignored those of the GOP that offered solutions. LOL, he offered and the GOP platform still does, cutting taxes on the most wealthy, raising taxes on the middle class, destroying medicare, cutting Social Security, cutting student aid, cutting aid to children, increasing military spending by 2 trillion. Wow, why would anyone ignore such intelligent thinking. The GOP claims Ryan is intelligentsia, ha, I guess Mitt’s looking to Ryan for policy says it all. Dumb and Dumber.
You people are certainly proving your bona fides to be in the TP/GOP! Keep digging! I appreciate the confirmations.
Not a Ryan fan BAM, but I think his “fitness craze” is due to the heart disease that runs in his family. If he were not such a die-hard ideologue, he could be one of the people to actually lead this nation. It is truly and completely a waste and a pity he chose the wrong side of history so easily.
J brown CPA, you my friend are correct. The DP is most definitely the most diverse. That’s about the only true statement I see. If there are some of you who think for yourselves, you are the odd ball. Seems to me the majority of your party are those on the Gov. dole or those trying hard to keep the systems in place that allow one to receive housing, medical and a damn cell phone! Are you telling us that those folks worry about thinking? BS, they are not voting for either candidate, they will vote to maintain a lifestyle.
Ryan is one freaky dude, very strange guy, something weird about him and his fitness craziness, something very weird indeed
Yeah, exercise is really weird. So much better to be a sedentary fat butt.
Suze loves Ryan and his incredible claims of athletic prowess. I bet he also runs sprints at 5:30 a.m. in Cave Spring!
#18 I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about, Henry. Have you been back on Free Republic too much?
‘Yeah, exercise is really weird. So much better to be a sedentary fat butt.”
Or just, you know…lie about it.
25. William Stevens – I assume you are talking about the many businesses living off of corporate welfare and government contracts. They vote GOP for less regulation so they can defraud the government and contracts through who they know and lobby rather than by what they know. The Republicans want to slash taxes for the wealthiest even further than the Bush cuts of 2003 and remove all regulations so they can set up private businesses to rape the citizens of the USA.
I agree, as does Obama. Glad you aren’t talking about the 23 million Americans that have been laid off because of the Bush Recession and the GOP cuts in spending to the States.
@#25: No one with an ounce of sense believes that people actually vote for a candidate so they can stay poor and in need of government assistance. Show me one person who is happy being reliant on the government for the basic necessities of life. I’ll wait …
Show me one person who is happy being reliant on the government for the basic necessities of life. I’ll wait
Nobody ever said lazy people were happy. But there are a good number of people who are content to live off the government feeding trough.
Where are all the hispanic Democrat speakers? The GOP had bunches of them.
The DNC has Castro but he had to be coached because he doesn’t know Spanish.
Clinton was impeached for committing perjury in a trial where he was accused of sexually assaulting a subordinate while Attorney General of Arkansas.
Ryan misstated a marathon time.
#33 Suzie, suzie, lying suize. Please, please, please make it a little harder. I count at least 10 Hispanics on the speaker list, along with several other names that might or might not be Hispanic. What a dolt.
Yeah and those same “lazy people” are all about being politically active delegates to a national convention! It is sad that some people see minority people’s faces and immediately assume they are “on the dole”. But of course, you are not racists.
#34 Gee, Henry even fell into suzie’s lie. BTW, Henry, do you have to speak Spanish to qualify as Hispanic? I know lots of people of Italian background who don’t speak Italian. Same with Lebanese. Do they qualify has having an Italian or Lebanese background?
Anyway, I thought you right wingers were all about people from other countries assimilating and learning English. It’s the right-wingers who scream and wail about people speaking Spanish. Now you’re making fun of a guy because he’s completely Americanized?
OK, now you have proven you did not watch the convention, Castro was quite fluent (and his daughter was beyond adorable!) as were quite a few others. DUH!
33. Suzie – the GOP is on the outside looking in wishing Hispanics would vote for them but knowing there isn’t a chance in hell. Even CNN’s Alex Castellanos advised that Clinton has won the election for Obama last night.
#33 Gee, suzie, here’s one of those honest right-wing Hispanics:
“Republicans debuted a new ad Thursday in which a frustrated former Obama supporter expresses her disappointment with the president. The only problem: The woman in the video is actually an RNC staffer.
The new ad features Republican National Committee Director of Hispanic Outreach Bettina Inclan, who in the ad purports to be an average woman voter who supported Obama in 2008.
…
Inclan began her current RNC post in January 2012, and has worked in Republican politics since well before Obama’s 2008 election. “
William Stevens, if you are such a big deep thinker, why don’t you do a little research on exactly how much of our tax money goes to that “lifestyle” the poor vote to “maintain” and how much goes to corporate greed and wealth protection?
You could start with some light reading:
Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You with the Bill)
And then try this one:
It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism
I mean, if you like to stay “informed” that is.
Damn, the right wing trolling is getting ridiculous.
Ryan’s budget proposal doesn’t balance the budget until FY2040 (28 years). Even Romney’s staff can say when his budget proposal would balance the budget(Who knows??). The Obama proposal, which John Boehner agreed to but couldn’t get passed by his own House caucus, would balance the budget in about 10 years. As usual, the Republicans are talking bait and switch.
Dan:
“Will Ryan finally admit he didn’t hike the Appalachian Trail?”
I once had a client walk into town off of the Appalachian Trail on his way from Georgia to the other end. He stopped in Blacksburg to see property. I like to walk, but the idea of a hike like that amazes me. Regardless of the fact that I’m not in good enough shape anymore to do it, it’s not like I would disarm for the northern half of the trek anyway.
Still, that’s an awesome feat!
@32: You do not live in this universe, troll, how the hell would you know the difference between needy and lazy? You sit at the keyboard and the stupid just flows like like a river.
And looks like Henry had to hide in shame after criticizing a guy for becoming Americanized and suggesting that he wasn’t as “Hispanic” for it.
“And after I ran that marathon in less than 3 hours, I had so much energy left, I made mad, passionate love to my girlfr…er…wife, MORGAN FAIRCHILD! Yeah…yeah…that’s the ticket!” — Lyin’ Ryan
“After that marathon I went ten rounds with Obama ant out boxed him.”
[See: http://tinyurl.com/8rpzjuq for details.]