Today, in his remarks to the House of Representatives following his election as speaker, Paul Ryan reiterated his belief that “we can renew the America idea.” This recalls Ryan’s excellent speech on the fateful night of the Obamacare vote, on March 21, 2010, when he proclaimed,

“This moment may mark a temporary conclusion of the health-care debate, but its place in history has not yet been decided.  If this passes, the quest to reclaim the American idea is not over.  The fight to reapply our founding principles is not finished.  It is just a steeper hill to climb, and it is a climb that we will make!”