>>Do these Conservative guys really think people are that stupid?? Sometimes I get the impression that's what they're banking on...

Many of these attacks are two-edged swords. For example, when people attacked Obama for not having run a business, they forgot it means he hasn't closed a factory and driven hundreds or thousands out of work in pursuit of a bumper dividend that will be taxed at a lower rate. Paul Ryan shares the same attribute- which creates some difficulties for the Republicans who enjoyed attacking Obama for lack of commercial experience. The next attack will be on Ryan for his voting for enormous spending when it was Bush's policy, but decrying spending as evil when it's Obama's policy.

However, seems to me that there is nothing wrong with Ryan changing his stance on spending. In fact, that's what a thinking person is supposed to do if you consider the evidence and realize there is a better way. Not sure why it could be considered desirable for King Canute to stubbornly refuse to change his ways when the tide is lapping at his chin and showing no signs of stopping. But that's politics. I'm also completely disinterested in whether somebody has commercial experience: there are plenty of advisors and at least such a person can't be swayed by their own anecdote, only by the facts- assuming that they aren't one of the ones who refuse to change their minds and are only interested in evidence if it matches their position, or can be made to look as if it does. So it will be interesting to see whether Ryan is prepared to change his position on some matters or whether he can chant "let them eat cake" with the best(?) of them.