Ryan: ‘I just don’t understand’ what ‘horses and bayonets’ means

Appearing on CBS the next morning, Ryan told host Norah O’Donnell that he couldn’t make sense out of the “horses and bayonets” line.

“To compare modern American battleships with bayonets, I just don’t understand that comparison,” the Wisconsin Republican said. “Look, we have to have a strong Navy to keep peace and prosperity.”

“If all these defense cuts go through, our Navy will be small than it was before World War I,” Ryan continued. “That’s not acceptable. And, yes, the ocean hasn’t shrunk.”

A quick note to Ryan: The US doesn’t have any battleships, modern or other wise, in service and haven’t had any at sea for about the last 20 years.