One week after Newt Gingrich knee-capped his budget proposal on NBC's Meet the Press, Rep. Paul Ryan appeared on the same program to help clean up Newt's mess. Under tough questioning from host David Gregory, Ryan launched a spirited defense of his plan, pushed back politely against Gingrich's deeply unfortunate remarks, and flayed Democrats for their deliberate, politically-motivated budget abdication as a debt crisis looms. As usual, Ryan performed admirably -- employing his trademark crisp and cheerful style, augmented by a firm grasp of the issues at play. Leadership:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy