Paul Ryan: ‘I Like My Skyline Five Ways’

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Paul Ryan speaks at his alma mater, Miami (Ohio) University, Aug. 15, 2012

DAYTON, Ohio
Paul Ryan “made news” yesterday, as they say, by declaring that he and Mitt Romney are ready to debate Medicare with Obama: “We want this debate, we need this debate, and we will win this debate.”

That line is quoted not only in my American Spectator column today, but also in reports by Associated Press, NBC News, Politico and other news organizations.

The real news, however, was Ryan’s endorsement of the “Five Way” served at Skyline Chili, an Ohio-based chain that also has franchises in Kentucky, Indiana and Florida. Here’s video of Ryan’s opening remarks at Miami (Ohio) University, where he endorsed the “Five Way”:

After yesterday’s rally, I met up with Miami University business professor Bryan Ashenbaum and his fellow members of the Liberty Township Tea Party, who took me and my son Jefferson, 13, to Skyline Chili on High Street in Oxford — the same restaurant where Paul Ryan ate as an undergraduate. Rather than try the “Five Way” I had two Cheese Coneys, while my fellow diners explained to me that the “Five Way” is spaghetti, chili, cheese, onions and beans.

We were joined at Skyline by Becca Lower, an Ohio activist who worked on Rick Santorum’s campaign. Becca displayed her Paul Ryan “math” poster the candidate autographed after the rally:

While we were at Skyline, our waitress explained that she had not been scheduled to work that day. She had come by the restaurant to check her schedule and the manager — swamped by the influx of patrons after the Ryan rally — asked her to help out.

“I’ve never seen so many Republicans in my life!” the waitress said of the afternoon crowd. I explained to her that it was probably due to Ryan’s endorsement of the “Five Way,” and told her this surge of business was “the start of the Romney-Ryan recovery.”

The huge size of the crowd at Ryan’s Miami event was a good omen, as one of Instapundit readers observed:

“Granted, as an alum, Paul Ryan could expect a nice crowd at Miami U; but what’s really amazing is that most freshmen don’t move in until tomorrow and most upperclassmen not until the weekend. Given Miami’s bucolic, rural setting (i.e. in the middle of nowhere), I imagine most of those folks drove at least 30 minutes from Dayton or Cincinnati.”

As I explain in my American Spectator column today:

Republicans now appear fired up for a fighting campaign this fall, and nowhere will the fight be fiercer than in Ohio, a state whose 18 Electoral College votes have been decisive in previous elections.
“Ohio is so important,” Ryan told the crowd who turned out for his homecoming visit to Miami University. “You know this. You’re used to it. The Buckeye State could very well determine the future of our country for a long time.… This is the kind of election that shapes generations.”
Ryan concluded by expressing confidence that the Republicans will win that election: “We can get this economy growing. We can keep the government limited. We can get the job done. We can put people back to work. Together we can get this done.”

Read the whole thing.

 





 


26 comments

  2. “…the ‘Five Way’ is spaghetti, chili, cheese, onions and beans.”

    Pass the bicarb, please.  Buuuurrrpppp!!!

  4. That sounds not too different from what you can get at Steak ‘n’ Shake, with the possible exception of better quality at Skyline (never been there — but I go to SnS for burgers, not chili).

  5. Stacy:

    Ryan is making the ground shift.

    Simply through his domicile being Wisconsin, graduating from Miami of Ohio, and vacationing in Colorado, he has brought a personal appeal to three battleground states that will pay dividends in November.

    I attended his Lakewood rally in Colorado, and felt the positivism associated with his reminiscences of his time spent in Colorado, scaling our “Fourteeners” and enjoying the great outdoors.  He brings that same authenticity to events in Wisconsin and Ohio.

    I know, “Don’t get cocky, kid.”  But there is something happening here, and it’s good for the GOP. 

  6.  Ah, but Cincinnati chili isn’t just “Spaghetti and Chili” with the optional toppings, McGehee. It’s (more than) rumored that the real stuff has a secret ingredient or two– namely, cinnamon and chocolate.

  7. Thanks for the mention, Stacy. That was kind of you. It wouldn’t have happened without the synergy of the poster itself (@iowahawkblog), a mention of its existence on-air by Breitbart’s Larry O’Connor  and a thousand other events. Appreciate you all so much!

  9.  I dunno about Snake & Shake, but the Hard Times Cafe chain here in the DC area offers Cincinnati Chili five ways as well. I’ll stick to Texas-style, myself; it’s more like Mom used to make, only not nearly as hot. Mom’s chili could melt the front armor off an M-1 Abrams.

  10. Likewise, great getting to meet you in person and introducing you to one of Cincinnati’s culinary attractions 🙂

  13. My wife informs me she’s had Skyline Chili and says it is most definitely different (in a good way) from what can be had elsewhere. She liked it very much.

    And she says she thinks it’s nutmeg.

  16. Skyline, or “Cincinnati chili” is great on the chili dogs. The chain also sells a canned version of the chili so you can make your own 5-way. You can buy the canned product as far north as Detroit. We stop at one whenever we can, whilst traveling thru Ohio.

    Ohio is crucial. I hope Romney and Ryan rub Ohio’s lost jobs in Obama’s smug, narcissistic, lying face.

  25. Blast. I wish I knew he was coming to Miami, I would have driven up there! (alumnus here)

    Not very happy about the Skyline endorsement, being a Gold Star fan myself. I may have to re-consider voting for Romney/Ryan now. :-/

    I keed, I keed!

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