How Paul Ryan makes the U.S. a better investment

— Choosing Ryan shows Republicans are serious about something the markets do care about: budgets. Romney is a numbers guy. Ryan is a numbers guy, too (indeed, such a numbers guy that I asked him to write a blurb about the numbers president whose biography I’m writing, Calvin Coolidge). In his willingness to sacrifice political diversity on the presidential ticket, Romney is saying he cares more about markets than marketing.

— The budget is finally going get the prime air time it has long been denied. Election television gives fabulous, Olympic-level media exposure to whatever topic candidates bring up. This time the candidates are going to talk about Social Security, interest rates, dynamic analysis and all kinds of fiscal arcana. Democrats will ensure this. They’re already racing to capitalize on the fact that Ryan comes with a policy past they can pick apart, and even a detailed budget plan, called “The Path to Prosperity.”…

— Legislation that affects budgets is likely to come sooner if Romney and Ryan win. And markets like sooner — the faster the law comes, the shorter the period of uncertainty.