First, the Ryan pick wasn't to "shore up the GOP base". As much as they might not really like Romoney, they HATE Obama, and that's all that is needed to have their vote. It was to get the conversation away from what was killing Romoney, his tax-evading off-shore accounts, his not releasing the tax returns that will almost certainly show that for some years at least he paid 0% taxes, his time a Bain and its off-shoring and vulture capitalism, etc. Getting it onto Medicare, where the GOP can lie and the ignorant American voter will possibly buy their lies, is all he was trying to do. Make Ryan that visible pinata that everyone will try to take a swing at, and use your huge funding advantage and the ignorance of the American voter to dodge the negatives of Ryan's philosophy and "Budget".

Second, if you think any of Romoney's sons, or any kids of the rich class, would be forced into military service if we invaded Iran, you are on crack. Romoney himself avoided Vietnam by going on a "missionary" to France, where he ate croissants while poor kids dodged bullets in SouthEast Asia. Wealthy kids don't get drafted, they go to college to avoid it, or in case of being a Mormon, get a religions exemption.