Paul Krugman on Paul "Marathon Man" Ryan

Rosie Ruiz Republicans:

Hugh Hewitt… interviewed Mr. Ryan… [who] declar[ed] that he had once run a marathon in less than three hours…. Ryan had indeed once run a marathon, but that his time was actually more than four hours…. [T]he difference between sub-three and over-four is the difference between extraordinary and perfectly ordinary, and it’s not something a runner could get wrong, unless he’s a fabulist who imagines his own reality. And does suggesting that Mr. Ryan is delusional rather than dishonest actually make the situation any better?

Which brings us back to the real issues of this presidential campaign…. [N]obody cares how fast Mr. Ryan can run…. What makes this incident so striking is… the way it resonates with the essential Rosie-Ruizness of Mr. Ryan’s whole political persona, which is built around big boasts about accomplishments he hasn’t accomplished…. Ryan… has positioned himself as an icon of truth-telling and fiscal responsibility, while offering policy proposals that are neither honest nor responsible…. [T]he budget office didn’t actually evaluate his plan, because there weren’t enough details…. Ryan basically told the budget office to assume that his plan would slash the deficit, then claimed the resulting report as vindication of his deficit-slashing claims. Sorry, but that’s the policy equivalent of sneaking into a marathon near the finish line, then claiming victory….

[H]ow does Romney/Ryan differ from Ryan alone? It’s worse…. [T]he Romney plan would explode the deficit, not reduce it.

Yet Mr. Romney boasts about his fiscal responsibility; in Tampa he accused President Obama of hurting the economy with big deficits (while also declaring that Mr. Obama was destroying jobs by cutting military spending — go figure), then declared that “We will cut the deficit and put America on track to a balanced budget.” Yep, he’s another Rosie Ruiz Republican.

So what is this election about?… [I]t’s… a test of how far politicians can bend the truth. This is surely the first time one of our major parties has run a campaign so completely fraudulent, making claims so at odds with the reality of its policy proposals. But if the Romney/Ryan ticket wins, it won’t be the last.