Johnson joins Ryan for President fan club; Does Tea Party know that?

Jennifer Rubin on Washington Post's Right Turn blog"

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a freshman and Tea Party favorite, on the Charlie Sykes radio show in Wisconsin today gave thumbs up to a presidential run for Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) Johnson said, “He is one of the few individuals on the national scene who is actually putting forward real proposals...I’d love to see Paul run.” Johnson made the point that his race was also improbable. Johnson had never run for office, let alone at the national level. But as Johnson put it, “We are in a whole new age in terms of communications.” He acknowledged that “politics is awash in money,” but he questioned the “how effective money is” as compared to other factors. In short, he posited that “a late entrance has a great chance of success.”

Earlier this week, Johnson was preaching gloom and doom to the Oshkosh Rotary Club, warning that the US is at a tipping point financially.

It makes you wonder if he's aware of some of the Paul Ryan votes that seem to be anathema to Johnson's fellow Tea Partiers. The Republican Liberty caucus of Wisconsin is among those sharply criticizing his record.

Ryan voted for the $700-billion TARP bailout bill, No Child Left Behind, extended unemployment benefits, the auto industry bailout, the tax on CEO bonuses, the trillion dollar wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and more. Some of those votes might make him more attractive to moderates, but that's not who's driving this GOP nomination train wreck.

Johnson's likely to get himself kicked out of the Tea Party caucus if he keeps talking up his home state guy.

Gov. Scott Walker chimed in, too.  Walker told Fox News:

"[Ryan's] one of the most courageous people I know. We need leaders of courage. People who worry more about the next generation than the next election. That's what you would get out of Paul Ryan. I hope he's serious about reconsidering it. There's a lot of people across America who would love to see him on the ticket."

And he probably wouldn't mind seeing him out of office if he loses. Wisconsin may not be big enough for two ambitious, 40-something conservatives.