IT: Welcome Paul Ryan. I want to start by focusing on perhaps the biggest issue of this election: the economy. If a Romney/Ryan ticket is successful in its bid for the White House, how can you assure the American people that things will improve?
PAUL RYAN: There's no doubt the economy is at the forefront of this election. That's why Mitt Romney and I are committed to cutting government spending and not raising taxes. It's as simple as that; when you spend less money, you have more money. That is how a Romney/Ryan administration is going to improve the lives of Americans; by making sure they have more money.
IT: Now your budget proposal, while praised by many on the right, has been condemned by members of The Catholic Church - of which you are a member - for "failing to protect the poor and vulnerable." How do you respond to that? Will you make sure that the poor have more money, as you put it?
PAUL RYAN: I respond to that by pointing out that we have a separation of Church and state in this country; one has no right to comment on the budgetary proposals of the other. When I toss fifty cents into that gold plate that goes around every Sunday, I don't come out and publicly denounce how The Church spends it. Whether that money goes to buy a Bible for a kid in some poor country like Africa, or it goes to the defense fund of a child molesting priest, it's really none of my business. Nor is it The Church's business how I choose to spend America's money.
IT: Now as a rising star of the Republican Party, do you have ambitions that extend beyond just the vice presidency? That question comes from Julia Pohl on Twitter.
PAUL RYAN: Hi, Julia Pohl, I hope you'll consider voting for the Romney/Ryan ticket in November. You can't see me right now, but I'm flashing you a grin with my very white teeth that I hope you'll think of as charming and vice presidential. I also just gave you a thumbs up, but my chief campaign adviser told me I shouldn't do that because it will remind people of Bill Clinton. Follow me on Twitter, Julia!
IT: Let me take you forward five months. It's a cold, bitter day in January and it's the day of the inauguration in Washington. You and Mitt Romney are being sworn in. But there's a catch: you only get one year in office. What immediate impact can a Romney/Ryan Ticket have on this nation?
PAUL RYAN: It's not one year, it's four.
IT: Right.
PAUL RYAN: It's in The Constitution. It's four years. I've read it. It's definitely four.
IT: But let's just say, in this scenario you only get one.
PAUL RYAN: But why? Why would a constitutional amendment be passed that would limit it to one year? That's not very fair. I don't think that would ever pass.
IT: No, I'm not proposing... it's a hypothetical... you know what, never mind. Which vice president has inspired you most?
PAUL RYAN: Fine. I've always admired the work of Vice President Joe Biden. I think he really has a great handle on the job. Whether it's an insightful quote or a well-timed nap on national television during a Presidential speech, he knows how to send the message that someone other than the vice president is in charge.
IT: In five words, who is Paul Ryan?
PAUL RYAN: Paul Ryan is Paul Ryan. BOOM!
IT: Okay. Finally, and this is a question we recently posed to your running partner, Mitt Romney: will you be ready from day one?
PAUL RYAN: Ready for what?
IT: Exactly. Paul Ryan, thank you.