Paul Ryan- “It’s Messy.”

Paul Ryan- “It’s Messy.”

Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan, speaking at the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference, said this morning that the Republican party is on the verge of winning back the trust of the American electorate and finally “saving the American idea.” Other comments: “The 2012 election didn’t go exactly as we had planned.” “They have spent five long years in power, and all they have to show for it is this lousy website.” [on the Obama administration] “From our governors in the states, to our members in Congress, to the Tea Party groups across the country a conservative, modern reform agenda is now…

Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan, speaking at the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference, said this morning that the Republican party is on the verge of winning back the trust of the American electorate and finally “saving the American idea.”

Other comments:

“The 2012 election didn’t go exactly as we had planned.”

“They have spent five long years in power, and all they have to show for it is this lousy website.” [on the Obama administration]

“From our governors in the states, to our members in Congress, to the Tea Party groups across the country a conservative, modern reform agenda is now taking shape.”

Ryan described divisions in the Republican party between Tea Party allies and moderates as a “vibrant debate.”

“It’s messy; It’s noisy; and it’s a little uncomfortable, but the center of gravity is shifting,” he says.

Full video below. Gov. Scott Walker isn’t scheduled to speak during this year’s conference, a major event for conservative politicians. Both Ryan and Walker are possible presidential contenders in 2016.

Matt has written for Milwaukee Magazine since 2006, when he was a lowly intern. Since then, he’s held the posts of assistant news editor and, most recently, senior editor. He’s lived in South Carolina, Tennessee, Connecticut, Iowa, and Indiana but mostly in Wisconsin. He wants to do more fishing but has a hard time finding worms. For the magazine, Matt has written about city government, schools, religion, coffee roasters and Congress.