The most anticipated speaker on deck at the GOP convention tonight is almost certainly Paul Ryan, as his speech will mark his official acceptance of the nomination for Mitt Romney’s running mate and afford him the opportunity to America that he can be a more competent vice president than President Obama’s current counterpart. Lookin’ pretty good so far, according to the released excerpts:

“I accept the calling of my generation to give our children the America that was given to us, with opportunity for the young and security for the old – and I know that we are ready. Our nominee is sure ready. His whole life has prepared him for this moment – to meet serious challenges in a serious way, without excuses and idle words.  After four years of getting the run-around, America needs a turnaround, and the man for the job is Governor Mitt Romney. …

“Obamacare comes to more than two thousand pages of rules, mandates, taxes, fees, and fines that have no place in a free country. The president has declared that the debate over government-controlled health care is over.  That will come as news to the millions of Americans who will elect Mitt Romney so we can repeal Obamacare. …

“We have a plan for a stronger middle class, with the goal of generating 12 million new jobs over the next four years. …

“My Dad used to say to me: ‘Son.  You have a choice: You can be part of the problem, or you can be part of the solution.’  The present administration has made its choices.  And Mitt Romney and I have made ours: Before the math and the momentum overwhelm us all, we are going to solve this nation’s economic problems. And I’m going to level with you: We don’t have that much time.  But if we are serious, and smart, and we lead, we can do this. …

“The right that makes all the difference now is the right to choose our own leaders.  You are entitled to the clearest possible choice because the time for choosing is drawing near.  So here is our pledge. We will not duck the tough issues – we will lead.  We will not spend four years blaming others – we will take responsibility. We will not try to replace our founding principles, we will reapply our founding principles. The work ahead will be hard.  These times demand the best of us – all of us, but we can do this.  Together, we can do this.”

Nice. I’ll update with a reaction and video ASAP!

Update: Paul Ryan’s speech, in two words? Nailed it. Everything that I like (and surmise that others will like as he becomes more and more familiar to them) about Paul Ryan was on perfect display during his half hour-ish on stage. He was intelligent without being intimidating; he was stern and serious but still optimistic and even funny; and he hinted at his wonkiness without getting into jargon and maintained his approachability. But the most beautiful thing about Paul Ryan as the potential vice president of the United States is his uncanny knack for breaking through populist myths and shrill leftist attacks and instead communicating the merits of free-market economics and small government, all without being shrill or polarizing. Contrary to liberal messaging, wealth creation isn’t about people being people being helpless cogs in the wheel of corporate usury and cruel fate — it’s about people being empowered and free to take up the mantle of personal responsibility and ingenuity, and Paul Ryan can relate that truth highly effectively.

He simply and effortlessly walked us through President Obama’s long list of failures and history of blaming everyone but himself, and illustrated why a Mitt Romney presidency isn’t just an preferable but rather a desirable alternative — while scattering a few fun personal tidbits into the mix, as well as addressing their religious and generation differences with a message of unity. I thought that talking about his mother’s struggles, coupled with the simple declaration that a Romney/Ryan administration would not eliminate but strengthen Medicare, was the perfect death blow to Democrats’ recent attacks on that score: “We had help from Medicare, and it was there, just like it’s there for my Mom today.  Medicare is a promise, and we will honor it.  A Romney-Ryan administration will protect and strengthen Medicare, for my Mom’s generation, for my generation, and for my kids and yours.” Bam. Doesn’t get much more straightforward than that.

I’m struggling to find something to criticize about the whole thing, but then again, I am not a progressive. I’m sure their unfailing creativity won’t disappoint us in finding reasons that the whole monologue was just an elitist pack of lies, eh?

Update: I updated the front-page picture with one or our own, direct from the occasion!

Update: