Leave it to the internet to spoil Mitt Romney's special day — late last night, NBC was reporting that Romney would pick Rep. Paul Ryan as his VP, and the internet all but confirmed.

Now things are official: undeterred by the media jumping the gun, Romney has confirmed his selection of Paul Ryan as running mate.

Ryan came out swinging.

I believe my record of getting things done in Congress will be a very helpful complement to Governor Romney's executive and private sector success outside Washington. We won't duck the tough issues—we will lead.

But actions speak louder than words: Ryan has plans to dramatically curb government spending, including a significant cut of Medicare. He is the strong fiscal conservative voice Romney must have felt he was lacking.

High unemployment, declining incomes and crushing debt isn't a new normal. It's the result of misguided policies. And next January, our economy will begin a comeback with the Romney Plan for a Stronger Middle Class that will lead to more jobs and more take home pay for working Americans.

And, of course, Ryan is big with the Tea Party, many of whom have shied away from Romney's less-than-conservative policies. Of Romney's potential picks, Ryan was the clear favorite among his most conservative supporters.

Mobutu offers an excellent assessment of Ryan in his rundown of Romney's potential picks.

Ryan, on the other hand, was inspired to enter government by reading Ayn Rand and embracing objectivism. He cleaves to a Manichaean worldview of a class of noble producers, toilers, geniuses and leaders being sapped and infected by a parasitic leecher class of government-funded layabouts and race hustlers.

All that, Mobutu concludes, while paying for college with Social Security Checks.

[Image via AP]