Last updated on September 25th, 2023 at 02:31 pm
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) is “eager” to be Speaker of the House, according to an email he wrote to colleagues that was published minutes ago by Politico. He also parroted President Obama, writing that working families continue to fall behind and lose faith in the America idea, “if you work hard and play by the rules, you can get ahead.
Working families continue to fall behind, and they are losing faith in the American Idea: the belief that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can get ahead,” he wrote in the letter. “At the same time, a weaker America has led to a more dangerous world. Our friends and rivals alike wonder whether we will pull ourselves out of this stupor.”
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He added, “Instead of rising to the occasion, Washington is falling short—including the House of Representatives. We are not solving the country’s problems; we are only adding to them.”
President Obama always says “If you work hard and you take responsibility, you can get ahead.” He said it in January of 2012, for example.
Ryan also used this line in his first speech as Mitt Romney’s failed VP nominee in 2012. This only feeds the conservative narrative that Paul Ryan is “Obama’s partner”.
Ryan closed the announcement with more political posturing, “I never thought I’d be speaker. But I pledged to you that if I could be a unifying figure, then I would serve—I would go all in. After talking with so many of you, and hearing your words of encouragement, I believe we are ready to move forward as a one, united team. And I am ready and eager to be our speaker.”
Translation, Ryan did not get what he demanded and while he does have support from the Freedom Caucus for now, he had to pretend he wasn’t going to change the rule that would allow them to oust him when he (not if) disappoints them by going with reality.
In his desperation to be Speaker of the House, Ryan has already caved to the right wing crazies by agreeing to “delay a discussion about reforming the procedural motion used to remove a House speaker, a major concession to the House Freedom Caucus.”
Rep. Paul Ryan has agreed to delay a discussion about reforming the procedural motion used to remove a House speaker, a major concession to the House Freedom Caucus.
The Wisconsin Republican, now the presumptive next speaker of the House, delivered the message to Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussion. Possible changes to the so-called “motion to vacate” will now come as part of a larger discussion of reworking internal party and House rules. Should he become House speaker, Ryan will set a deadline by which the House Republican Conference will change chamber and party rules.
Remember when Ryan was playing coy, reluctant and Diva with his demands? He would only be King if the rubes gave him everything and never pulled any of the crap they pulled on Boehner, plus he demanded time off to be a father. From the man who doesn’t believe in family leave for you and has opposed every piece of legislation that would give less family leave than he is demanding to America’s workers.
All of this because Ryan moaned he “is here four days a week” as it is. I know, your heart is bleeding.
How Ryan thinks he will be a “uniter” of the House the Tea Party ate when he won’t be doing the massive fundraising that Speaker Boehner did is beyond me. It seems like Ryan might not really understand the job, but that would make him perfect for it. A competent person would go insane trying to lead the Tea Party.
You can see how this has disaster all over it. But at least it’s feeding Paul Ryan’s massive ego right now, and since he has not yet managed to balance one of his infamous budgets, he needed this. Sadly, the writing it on the wall for this be the end of the line for Ryan’s political career. If John Boehner couldn’t make it work, Paul Ryan won’t be able to make it work. But at least Ryan will not be raising money for House Republicans, which means he is already serving a greater good.
Republicans are scheduled to vote on Wednesday and the House votes on Thursday.
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