I'm seeing one of the weirdest fanworks (and this is in the history including knitted wombs) get a bit more frequent--fan!tea. I'm now up to three people in two fandoms who are making different teas tied to different characters. I'm more than a little boggly at the idea, and I'm the one thinking of having babies with her tea machine.

I'm, just...Cas!tea? Sam!tea? What is that? Why do I want it? I fear my taste buds are too heathenish for all this subtlety.

So, Paul Ryan is the Republican VP nominee.

I guess Romney's not going to move to the center, then. (Not that I expected it.)

Charlie Pierce calls Paul Ryan "Granny-starver". Heh.

I love Charlie Pierce.

'Suela - are you kidding? Well, people expected it from the wiki updates.

The leaks are coming fast and furious.

I just don't even.

He could have picked Scott Walker. His smart choice would have been Rob Portman. This pick was Romney's Palin moment.

They broke into the 4x400 relay on NBC to announce it. So I assume it's not a joke.

Cash,

give me some analysis, why do you think this pick was so poor. I lack complete objectivity, so my reaction right now is a shrug, but I'd love to hear a more thoughtful reaction.

I don't think it's as bad as Palin--certainly Ryan has a lot of national fame. But he's very much on the hard-right side when it comes to fiscal issues, and he's a favorite among the Tea Party right.

Ryan's a sure fire way to alienate senior voters. He's been booed by the elderly voters in his own district. His "budget" plan is sop for the Tea Party and Norquistites.

The fact that he collected social security as a teenager and used it to get through college and now wants to dismantle it is sweet, sweet irony.

Portman was a solid, conservative statesman. He is a HUGE republican fundraiser and has the respect of both parties in the house. He could have helped regain the trust of moderate republicans who voted for Obama.