You've got it wrong Mr. Edsall; Paul Ryan's nomination would mean only 'More Anger', less reason. This time, the only difference would be that the wolf is wrapped in sheep's clothing. By his actions, Ryan has proven that he is the same fraud as all the other clowns in the Republican Clown Car. This guy is so 'reasonable' that on the day of Obama's first inauguration, he met with other 'reasonable' Republican leaders to commit to doing everything he could making sure that Obama would be a one term president. Ryan committed to not even giving the choice of the USA voters a chance to govern.
20
Paul Ryan, an Ayn Rander, would have made me more angry than the other government haters of the GOP.
7
I am a Hillary supporter. But with all this talk about someone else, why not Kasich, who is the most moderate and someone who, according to the polls, would give Hillary a run for her money, and who would make the best possible GOP president, an honest, decent man, who seems to truly care about people other than himself. And he has been tested in the primaries, should place second in New York, and maybe Pennsylvania as well. In other words, he's the most qualified, and for that reason alone, why not him.
Whether it's gerrymandering to dilute the strength of certain groups of voters, or suppressing the votes of disfavored groups or just running to the Supreme Court to shut down state efforts to police its own election process, it seems like the Republican Party's answer to every electoral dilemma is to deny the will of the voters. But I never thought it would turn that solution on the party's own voters, by categorically rejecting everyone still standing as a candidate at the end of a long and expensive primary process. Even if a nominee like Ryan is, in theory, "stronger," how would anyone convince the people who voted for Trump or Cruz that is the case? I am sure this is a true dilemma for many Republicans but I simply can't imagine that Paul Ryan in fact, not theory, will be a stronger candidate.
7
No Paul Ryan may mean still more anger, but the marvelous thing about
it is that it also means....no Paul Ryan.
it is that it also means....no Paul Ryan.
14
Lyin Ryan is hardly the Republicant white knight. Well, he IS white.
But he's a bundle of unexamined hypocrisies.
He espouses radical privatization of social security although he benefited from survivors benefits after his father died. So did I, but I would never advocate cutting it, as Ryan has.
His ardor for Ayn Rand, which is required reading for his staff, is thoroughly incompatible for his religious fervor. Rand advocated FOR abortion. Ryan is virulently opposed.
For those "serious people" who favored Simpson-Bowles, Ryan, on the commission, denied it a required up or down Congre$$ional vote by refusing to sign on to the majority report, and convincing other house members to do the same, leaving it short of a majority. That shows his budget proposals are of the magical thinking variety.
His weaknesses have not even begun to be plumbed.
But he's a bundle of unexamined hypocrisies.
He espouses radical privatization of social security although he benefited from survivors benefits after his father died. So did I, but I would never advocate cutting it, as Ryan has.
His ardor for Ayn Rand, which is required reading for his staff, is thoroughly incompatible for his religious fervor. Rand advocated FOR abortion. Ryan is virulently opposed.
For those "serious people" who favored Simpson-Bowles, Ryan, on the commission, denied it a required up or down Congre$$ional vote by refusing to sign on to the majority report, and convincing other house members to do the same, leaving it short of a majority. That shows his budget proposals are of the magical thinking variety.
His weaknesses have not even begun to be plumbed.
10
TE seems to be suggesting Ryan is accepted and liked by most Americans.
His Ayn Rand economics and Tea Party politics are not acceptable. Paul Ryan is NOT a moderate.
Here is the perfect example of how the MSM has helped move the country not just right, but hard right.
In no just, sane world in Ryan a likable moderate.
His Ayn Rand economics and Tea Party politics are not acceptable. Paul Ryan is NOT a moderate.
Here is the perfect example of how the MSM has helped move the country not just right, but hard right.
In no just, sane world in Ryan a likable moderate.
24
Two points:
First, more often than not voters get the President they dislike least. Inspirational candidates are the exception not the rule. This is not news.
Second, though you are likely not responsible for the title of your piece, Paul Ryan disappearing from the race does absolutely nothing to increase the "anger," in the race. The angry people are already accounted for in the current list of candidates. Sure, party insiders will be disappointed but they have money and power; they don't need to get angry, they get even. But for the rank and file, now disaffected Republican voter, his presence as the candidate would cause far more anger than his absence.
First, more often than not voters get the President they dislike least. Inspirational candidates are the exception not the rule. This is not news.
Second, though you are likely not responsible for the title of your piece, Paul Ryan disappearing from the race does absolutely nothing to increase the "anger," in the race. The angry people are already accounted for in the current list of candidates. Sure, party insiders will be disappointed but they have money and power; they don't need to get angry, they get even. But for the rank and file, now disaffected Republican voter, his presence as the candidate would cause far more anger than his absence.
7
To compare Speaker Ryan's recent announcements to those of General Sherman and President Johnson is ridiculous. Those two were sincere. If you want to compare apples to apples, Ryan today matches Ryan repeatedly announcing that he did not seek and would not accept the Speakership, then as now while furiously laying campaign groundwork.
Ryan is the guy who repeatedly blamed President (beginning in 2009) Obama for the auto factory in Janesville closing in 2008. He's the master of the magic multi-trillion dollar asterisks in his budget plans. He is a con man among con men. The vast majority of Republican voters have decided they so thoroughly reject his particular con games that they follow Trump, Cruz, and a few lesser lights, who con them in different ways.
Ryan is the guy who repeatedly blamed President (beginning in 2009) Obama for the auto factory in Janesville closing in 2008. He's the master of the magic multi-trillion dollar asterisks in his budget plans. He is a con man among con men. The vast majority of Republican voters have decided they so thoroughly reject his particular con games that they follow Trump, Cruz, and a few lesser lights, who con them in different ways.
10
I've just read a poll and data driven article, and all I heard was summary of the data. Not a single mention of a policy idea, just percentages. My regard for you, Mr Edsall, has shrunk by 63.6%, which now puts you well below Mr Brooks. Couldn't you have given a whiff of a summary on why anybody might support what Mr Ryan stands for?
8
How did the Republican Party lose its way as a cohesive credible political force? We have witnessed the frustration of failure that has built up after their pledge to destroy the presidency of Barack Obama. Add to that the massive amount of dark money supporting the Tea Party extreme right, the growth of Taliban-style religious fundamentalism and he fiscally minded Republican Party as we once knew it is mere echo from the past.
Today the GOP base is an unholy alliance, a nihilistic Tea Party fusion mixed with NRA-driven gun fanaticism and Christian Evangelism . Republicans are now focused on racial hate mongering, Islamophobia, and disrespect for a woman's rights to seek healthcare on her own terms. The GOP message energizes the frenzied minority of right wing extremists who have captured the GOP.
Moderates have gone underground and even a Koch brother-approved Tea Partier like Paul Ryan refuses to become a sacrificial lamb. The Republicans have apparently ignored grooming a real candidate for the Presidency and have focused instead on capturing state governors and legislators.. Even that strategy will fail in 2016 if the Democrats can stay united and win with a large enough majority to take Congress with them.
With a Democratic White House, Congress and Supreme Court, there is hope that rampant gerrymandering can be stopped, the flow of dark money can be stemmed and voters rights can be restored....if the Democrats can stay united there is a road back.
Today the GOP base is an unholy alliance, a nihilistic Tea Party fusion mixed with NRA-driven gun fanaticism and Christian Evangelism . Republicans are now focused on racial hate mongering, Islamophobia, and disrespect for a woman's rights to seek healthcare on her own terms. The GOP message energizes the frenzied minority of right wing extremists who have captured the GOP.
Moderates have gone underground and even a Koch brother-approved Tea Partier like Paul Ryan refuses to become a sacrificial lamb. The Republicans have apparently ignored grooming a real candidate for the Presidency and have focused instead on capturing state governors and legislators.. Even that strategy will fail in 2016 if the Democrats can stay united and win with a large enough majority to take Congress with them.
With a Democratic White House, Congress and Supreme Court, there is hope that rampant gerrymandering can be stopped, the flow of dark money can be stemmed and voters rights can be restored....if the Democrats can stay united there is a road back.
9
All the focus on the candidates is a waste of time. Why? Because when it comes to the election, republicans will vote for one candidate. Of course the party may split and then there will be a new dynamic and two parties, but that pouts to what's important - the people who support these idiots. About half our country will vote for one or another of these guys. The question is why, when it's clear that they are so phony.
The 30% who approve of DONALD trump-- even if they gat their man into the White House--they are going to be totally ripped off, as they always are. They have a right to be angry. Their daddy is always abusing them. And then come right back to the next authority figure, not seeing that their anger is being milked to fuel someone else's campaign, and in the process corroding this beautiful country and what it used to stand for.
The 30% who approve of DONALD trump-- even if they gat their man into the White House--they are going to be totally ripped off, as they always are. They have a right to be angry. Their daddy is always abusing them. And then come right back to the next authority figure, not seeing that their anger is being milked to fuel someone else's campaign, and in the process corroding this beautiful country and what it used to stand for.
6
Let me correct: next NOMINEE. Th next president will either be Sanders or more likely Clinton. Sanders at least a is loved.
6
So, all the while, establishment Republcans have been running a shadow campaign for Paul Ryan and don't care what their own primary voters want? Well, actually, that figures!
7
Ryan can even run the House (see budget deadline). He is a complete fraud whose whole philosophy comes down to one thing: punishing poor people. Good riddance.
7
What is wrong with "true Republicans" that Paul Ryan can fix?
1. No belief in science? Nope-yet another global warming denier.
Nope-Yet another life begins at inception.
2. Believes women are incapable of managing their lives and bodies: Yup,
Paul Ryan is right there with his shaming wand.
3. Austerity through prosperity? Yup, Paul Ryan is a full believer in this nonsense.
4. "Magic asterisk" fiscal management: (ie deficits only matter if a Democrat is in the white house): Yup, full support and encouragement of this nonsense from Ryan.
4. One person one vote? Nope, Paul Ryan has demonstrated personal contempt for democracy: denying bringing bipartisan laws to the House floor, and supporting Walker's aggressive voter suppression campaigns.
....
Hmm... Looks like there is nothing wrong with the Republican party that Ryan will fix. Why would anyone with children or grandchildren ever vote for him?
1. No belief in science? Nope-yet another global warming denier.
Nope-Yet another life begins at inception.
2. Believes women are incapable of managing their lives and bodies: Yup,
Paul Ryan is right there with his shaming wand.
3. Austerity through prosperity? Yup, Paul Ryan is a full believer in this nonsense.
4. "Magic asterisk" fiscal management: (ie deficits only matter if a Democrat is in the white house): Yup, full support and encouragement of this nonsense from Ryan.
4. One person one vote? Nope, Paul Ryan has demonstrated personal contempt for democracy: denying bringing bipartisan laws to the House floor, and supporting Walker's aggressive voter suppression campaigns.
....
Hmm... Looks like there is nothing wrong with the Republican party that Ryan will fix. Why would anyone with children or grandchildren ever vote for him?
8
The second I opened the article and saw that disgusting picture of st. ronnie raygun I wanted to heave. ronnie ayn and lyin' ryan
6
This article is pure nonsense! The Presidency is not about who is most liked by the political establishment. There are an awful lot of people voting for Ted Cruz in numbers far exceeding previous primary elections. Do you really think all these people voting for him do not like him? Please stop insulting the voters' intelligence. Your constant OpEds about likeability only serve to energize those of us who opine differently and want to see change in Washington. Ted Cruz will win the Republican nomination, then will defeat Hillary Clinton in the general election and become the next POTUS of the USA. He is not a 100 dollar bill to be liked by everyone.
2
Yes, Mr. Ryan, please spare us potentially eight years of watery blue eyes staring deep in the distance in an expression of phony sincerity. Maureen Dowd didn't call you the "Irish undertaker" for nothing.
8
"Anybody who comes along now projecting a more moderate image will be viewed as a savior.”
A savior for whom? The RNC, Glenn Beck, Karl Rove? Republican voters have found their savior and his name is Donald Trump.
A savior for whom? The RNC, Glenn Beck, Karl Rove? Republican voters have found their savior and his name is Donald Trump.
8
Isn't this exactly how Ryan played the Speakership--protesting for weeks that he wasn't interested in it, so that when he ultimately accepted it he would do so only "reluctantly" and on his own terms?
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice....
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice....
18
If you are bemused by all this, I strongly recommend you read Jane Mayer's Dark Money, or her work, available free, by searching Jane Mayer New Yorker Koch. Lee Fang, Theda Skocpol, and many others have tunneled into the decades long campaign to legitimize theft by robber barons of our community property.
This is not an accident. It is carefully orchestrated and gaining momentum. Do not assume innocence in the degradation of proper conservatism into the hate-filled phony Christian (Gospels, please, short, simple, and repetitive) doctrine of those who don't care about poisoning our public property and our earth as long as they make a profit.
This is not an accident. It is carefully orchestrated and gaining momentum. Do not assume innocence in the degradation of proper conservatism into the hate-filled phony Christian (Gospels, please, short, simple, and repetitive) doctrine of those who don't care about poisoning our public property and our earth as long as they make a profit.
20
“So let’s have a battle of ideas,” said Speaker Paul Ryan.
Not really. All ideas and their pro’s and con’s reflect real political struggle among classes. Elegance or gawkiness of ideas seem on a first look effectual in deciding outcome of the battle; on a second look the politics that wins or loses class interests mean much more than arguments. To snatch defeat from the jaws of victory or to grab the victory from the big mouth in failure is what political struggle is all about.
Paul Ryan’s battle of ideas can be nothing more than smoke and mirrors for the working class to snatch defeat before they come up with any idea of how to use their superior power these days to gain the upper hand. His idea that capital must control labor power and never its reversal says a lot of capital’s battle cry. His aim is obviously to sap the wall of defense and to wrest the strategic strengths.
Paul Ryan, Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz are birds of a feather doing capital’s bidding. The working class should clinch the political steering wheel of struggle against capital’s sole control of production, employment, dismissal, financing and other unlawful powers; they should strengthen the nation-state power to resist capital’s hegemony.
Not really. All ideas and their pro’s and con’s reflect real political struggle among classes. Elegance or gawkiness of ideas seem on a first look effectual in deciding outcome of the battle; on a second look the politics that wins or loses class interests mean much more than arguments. To snatch defeat from the jaws of victory or to grab the victory from the big mouth in failure is what political struggle is all about.
Paul Ryan’s battle of ideas can be nothing more than smoke and mirrors for the working class to snatch defeat before they come up with any idea of how to use their superior power these days to gain the upper hand. His idea that capital must control labor power and never its reversal says a lot of capital’s battle cry. His aim is obviously to sap the wall of defense and to wrest the strategic strengths.
Paul Ryan, Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz are birds of a feather doing capital’s bidding. The working class should clinch the political steering wheel of struggle against capital’s sole control of production, employment, dismissal, financing and other unlawful powers; they should strengthen the nation-state power to resist capital’s hegemony.
2
You lost me at Hillary being the same. Republican talking point, again.
Please wake up and look for yourself.
Please wake up and look for yourself.
14
Hillary Clinton may win the nomination and may even take the office but she has already lost her trustworthiness and honesty among not only the Republicans but among most of the Democrats. She would have been the lame-duck president before taking over the presidency as far as the public opinion was concerned.
Revolution will be the main theme of the political arena, and neither conservativeness and establishment nor business-as-usual and politics-as-usual will ever regain power as held complete sway over the masses as in the bygone years.
Revolution will be the main theme of the political arena, and neither conservativeness and establishment nor business-as-usual and politics-as-usual will ever regain power as held complete sway over the masses as in the bygone years.
1
Shame on you for smearing Hillary Clinton, target of the Right for decades, as their compatriot!
That is both odious and completely irrational.
That is both odious and completely irrational.
6
Any Republican with political ambitions should stay as far from this election disaster as possible. Nothing good comes of being involved this year.
7
so that means every republican should be involved.
Ryan turned down the nomination because he would not be elected President, and at the same time would lose his Congressional seat and lose being Speaker of the House. It would be a lose-lose situation for Paul Ryan.
The only candidate the GOP can elect President in 2016, is Mike Bloomberg, who hopefully won't be nominated or run.
And the USA would be best off electing Bernie Sanders as President.
The only candidate the GOP can elect President in 2016, is Mike Bloomberg, who hopefully won't be nominated or run.
And the USA would be best off electing Bernie Sanders as President.
11
I think I can safely say that Mr. Bloomberg would encounter a fair amount of resistance from a lot of New Yorkers, if he opted to run ---which is precisely why he has opted out.
4
Ryan was made the fool in his debates with Biden. He looked, sounded and was young, inexperienced and witless.
Hillary would chew him up and laugh just as Biden did.
I can see old man Sanders barking at him and the young pup scurrying away with his tail between his legs.
By the by, no mention of Sen. Sanders in this piece?
He beats them all.
Hillary would chew him up and laugh just as Biden did.
I can see old man Sanders barking at him and the young pup scurrying away with his tail between his legs.
By the by, no mention of Sen. Sanders in this piece?
He beats them all.
9
Sigh! Given the nature of the Perfidious Popinjays of America (GOP), I wouldn't trust any of them in the White House. Their icon, Reagan, wouldn't even make it into one primary because of how narrow minded, bigoted, racist, and idiotic they become with their opinions, ideas, and so on. This is not the party of Lincoln. This is a party of two year olds in dire need of a long, refreshing nap during which time the adults will run things. This is a party that cannot run a civilized campaign, accept the fact that an African American of Kenyan descent was twice elected president. This is a party that has attracted kooks like Trump, Cruz, Carson, Palin, and more. This is a party that is living in a reality so far from the reality most of us inhabit that I think we need to call it an alternate universe.
Ryan belongs with them. He's as unrealistic as they are. I will not vote for anyone who belongs to a party that refuses to do its job, believes that it's fine to intrude into the reproductive lives of women, says whatever it can to divide the country in order to get more votes, and then is fearful when it gets what it deserves in the form of Trump and Cruz, neither of whom are suited to sit in the White House. I wish them joy of each other and I wish they'd leave the country.
Ryan belongs with them. He's as unrealistic as they are. I will not vote for anyone who belongs to a party that refuses to do its job, believes that it's fine to intrude into the reproductive lives of women, says whatever it can to divide the country in order to get more votes, and then is fearful when it gets what it deserves in the form of Trump and Cruz, neither of whom are suited to sit in the White House. I wish them joy of each other and I wish they'd leave the country.
20
It's doubtful the Ryan could win the presidential election with many of Trump and/or Cruz's supporters sitting out the election in protest of how he got the nomination. Also, the Democrats have hardly begun to attack Trump, Cruz, Kasich or Ryan. When they do target the GOP nominee, his approval rating may dip below 20%.
9
Were the Republican Party look further into their membership and history, there is no doubt that they could easily come up with the winning nominee:
There is a distinguished Republican who's been elected and re-elected to public office, who has been found to be acceptable to virtually all branches of the party, whose expressed views are not only pro-life and pro-strong national defense, but also anti-immigration and, most definitively and publicly, anti-LGBT.
I refer, of course, to the distinguished former Speaker of the House hailing from the great state of Illinois, Representative Dennis Hastert.
There is a distinguished Republican who's been elected and re-elected to public office, who has been found to be acceptable to virtually all branches of the party, whose expressed views are not only pro-life and pro-strong national defense, but also anti-immigration and, most definitively and publicly, anti-LGBT.
I refer, of course, to the distinguished former Speaker of the House hailing from the great state of Illinois, Representative Dennis Hastert.
14
I'm still trying to figure out if this was satire or not. :)
5
After reading this piece, it looks even more certain that Mr. Ryan will be the Republican nominee if Mr. Trump doesn't win on the first ballot, Mr. Cruz doesn't win on the second, and the delegates don't revolt at the prospect of nominating Mr. Ryan. This piece is nothing more than a rather good argument for Mr. Ryan's nomination, and how could the Republican establishment resist if Mr. Ryan appears to be able to handily beat the Democratic nominee? Would Mr. Sanders do better against Mr. Ryan than Mrs. Clinton?
Hillary may well win the presidency -- but she is certainly not the least disliked. I have never read of many people who actually like her. She has put in her time and the establishment is rewarding her. That's about all you can say.
Just ask her secret service agents if they like her. I have read many times that agents detest her because she treats people so badly.
Just ask her secret service agents if they like her. I have read many times that agents detest her because she treats people so badly.
2
I like Hillary. The Republicans have done an bang up job in seeking trash on a worthy person. This is the party of Slander and innuendo.
12
I like her too. How's about you give her a chance, actually listen to her, read about her, and find out what she does by something that wasn't designed by Republican opposition work and adopted wholesale.
I like Bernie because I've followed him for years. I like Hillary because I've followed her for years.
Berniebots (as opposed to genuine thinkers) are distinguished by their wholesale adoption of Republican talking points.
I like Bernie because I've followed him for years. I like Hillary because I've followed her for years.
Berniebots (as opposed to genuine thinkers) are distinguished by their wholesale adoption of Republican talking points.
8
Apparently millions of voters like Hillary since they have voted for her in the Democratic primary already. Instead of parroting Republican attack ads and talking points, do some quick research, and I'm sure you will find lots of positive articles about Mrs. Clinton. It's wishful thinking to assume that Paul Ryan to would beat Hillary once he actually declared his candidacy. Republican voters are so far indicating their rejection of his very run-of-the-mill Establishment bona fides in the primaries.
6
I acknowledge that Ryan has significantly more charisma than Clinton, Trump, and Cruz and thus his nomination could bolster GOP hopes for the White House. What gives me pause is not his admiration of Ayn Rand, rather his lie he told about finishing a marathon in under three hours. http://www.runnersworld.com/newswire/paul-ryan-has-not-run-sub-300-marathon
Anyone who has just run one can tell you exactly how long it took them. It took me 6:09 and I am "Feeling the Bern" (pun most definitely intended)
Anyone who has just run one can tell you exactly how long it took them. It took me 6:09 and I am "Feeling the Bern" (pun most definitely intended)
1
Ryan really helped Mitt Romney didn't he?
Ryan's favorability is underwater, no less so than Trump or Clinton, except that a lot of voters don't know or care enough about him to have an opinion. HuffPost pollster has his unfavorability at 39% and favorability at 32%. The only reason it's not worse is that he has not been running for president. Plus, you seem to have forgotten that demographic and cultural forces in the country have made it nearly impossible for a Republican to win the White House. The only reason they have majorities in Congress (despite losing the Congressional popular vote) is because of their undemocratic redistricting in state legislatures.
Ryan's favorability is underwater, no less so than Trump or Clinton, except that a lot of voters don't know or care enough about him to have an opinion. HuffPost pollster has his unfavorability at 39% and favorability at 32%. The only reason it's not worse is that he has not been running for president. Plus, you seem to have forgotten that demographic and cultural forces in the country have made it nearly impossible for a Republican to win the White House. The only reason they have majorities in Congress (despite losing the Congressional popular vote) is because of their undemocratic redistricting in state legislatures.
16
Lemme' see if I have this right: the only rightist with a shot at winning the rightist's nomination for President is the dude that ain't running.
And the right wonders why it's a global laughing stock.
And the right wonders why it's a global laughing stock.
10
"dude that ain't running. " -- Or so he says today, at any rate....
6
Thanks to a great "con job" [see any of Krugman's many columns on the subject for details], Ryan may not be "hated" by most of the press. But believe me, he is "hated" by most progressives.
8
He is already second in the line of succession should anything happen to President Obama. That is already scary enough for me!
10
Not be presidential candidate, just like he wasn't going to be the House Speaker? Please. Its a ploy.
6
Of course it's a ploy. He wants to be recruited as the savior of the Republican party. It's part of his god complex. But why does Mr. Edsall say he would be loved? His policies are as hateful as Trump's or Cruz's, if not more so.
5
Yeah, "but he's a nice guy." [snort]
4
So - we voters are so dumb we react merely to personality and have no opinion about issues? Hillary is so awful we'd ignore Ryan's Randian philosophy and vote for his pretty face?
No wonder people are mad. You really don't think much of us do you Mr. Edsall?
No wonder people are mad. You really don't think much of us do you Mr. Edsall?
8
Ryan is another Mitt Romney -- smooth and well spoken, cagey. He is still a great believer in "free market capitalism" which is nothing but the law of the jungle. He is a favorite of the Koch brothers and he is being paraded to see what people think of him.
If the financial backers of the Republican Party think he can win, untold amounts of dark money will flow to his campaign coffers. It is true that Trump and Cruz would be disastrous, since neither of them has any experience in government Ryan would be disastrous, too, though, because he is a puppet of the very rich.
If the financial backers of the Republican Party think he can win, untold amounts of dark money will flow to his campaign coffers. It is true that Trump and Cruz would be disastrous, since neither of them has any experience in government Ryan would be disastrous, too, though, because he is a puppet of the very rich.
14
Will he, won't he? Will he , won't he? Paul Ryan has been there, done that before he took on the Speakership. He keeps refusing until there is a stalemate. Then he accepts under duress and apparently indispensable. I get the feeling he will do that again as he will apparently be the only sane candidate, acceptable to the RNC and the Republican Establishment, not to mention, the Pacs and SuperPacs which in turn will be acceptable to big donors and Corporations i.e the 1%. Then all the supporters who felt betrayed will again be betrayed. Trump's volcano will erupt pouring molten lava and Cruz will smoulder in a burning cauldron resulting in burning embers. I hate Trump and I hate Cruz for who they are, what they stand for. But it would be like Ryan jumping the line and getting to the finish. I don't think that's fair either.
8
Any assumption about a White Horse in the Rep Convention should look at the dark horses already on course: Ted Cruz might accept - on certain conditions - a Trump nomination if Trump gets the majority of delegates. If Trump misses the majority Cruz will never accept anybody else than himself. Ryan or anybody else trying to push away both of the "forerunners" as a White Horse will be able to live with some trumpist riots but will never survive the revenge of Cruz.
3
Ryan out of the running? Because he SAID so?
Oh, Mr. Edsall, born yesterday were you?
Oh, Mr. Edsall, born yesterday were you?
9
"If Paul Ryan really meant what he said, the Republican Party has lost its best chance to take the White House and maintain control of the Senate."
Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
10
I thought all the pre-campaign noise was saying that this was the strongest Republican field in decades, that the candidates - all 17 (!) of them - represented the cream of the Republican crop. And yet here we are, dismissing all of them - both those long gone and those currently winning - to try and recruit someone who could never be bothered with the whole process. Unbelievable. Were I a Republican voter - even one whose candidate is no longer in the race - I'd be seriously angry with anyone suggesting this joke of an idea. Jeb Bush has more right to the nomination than Ryan.
7
Paul Ryan may be able to unify the Republican Party, but the idea that he can unify the country is preposterous. This is the same guy, after all, who blames the poor for embracing a "culture of dependency" and caricatures welfare programs as "hammocks" that enable them to avoid work. Mitt Romney with his infamous dismissal of the "47 percent" has nothing on Ryan when it comes to disdain for the less fortunate. Sure, he's more presentable than Trump or Cruz, but hopefully we're not ready to settle for presentable.
20
The poor only embraced the culture of dependency that was brought to them from the Liberals in the 1960s, who taught them that they were owed (somehow) an income. It's Marxism writ Large, except it doesn't work, but Liberals hate that fact and continually try to forcibly take more wealth from those who earn it and give it to those who don't (this includes the 1% and the poor, and neither deserve the money I earn).
3
Just for the record, the "Liberals" weren't the ones who forced large-scale poverty on a significant segment of the population which made social assistance necessary.
Another thing. What you are decrying here sounds more like the textbook definition of Socialism than Marxism -- there's a difference.
Another thing. What you are decrying here sounds more like the textbook definition of Socialism than Marxism -- there's a difference.
4
Paul Ryan is pretty hated in many camps as well. Just because he is a tad less coarse than others doesn't make him anything other than the same enemy of health care, women's rights, financial reform, bipartisan compromise, as all of the other tea-party believers. He should stay away from the presidency, and the sooner he retires the better.
10
Mr. Ayndi Rand is a poor candidate for president, even by GOP standards. He only looks reasonable when compared to Trump and Cruz. He was rejected once on a national ticket and in a fight with either Sanders or Clinton he would be eaten alive. Zero non-political experience, zero compassion, zero policy credibility and brings exactly zero to the plate. His only positive GOP attribute is, like many of his GOP brethren, being solidly in the Koch back pocket. All he needs now is a ringing endorsement from Bill Kristol to seal his fate.
10
If he is truly the family man as Mr. Ryan asserts, I would have little respect for someone who would choose the Republican Party over his family because of some blithering, last-minute plea. He does not have to rescue them from all their hand-wringing. I hope that Mr. Ickes' cynical observation is dead wrong.
3
I continually read the predictions of how the GOP race will end and all seem to have the same incredible journalistic blind spot---they seem to start from a rational and pragmatic perspective in which the GOP wishes to actually win the election and they typically conclude that some conservative candidate cloaked in moderate clothes will win over independents and moderates (see Kasich, Ryan, Romney, Huntsman, etc). The real story here is not the horse race details but why such a significant portion of our country truly believes in and supports candidates that many of us find repugnant based on their views on war, immigration, gun control, health care, taxes, climate change, education and the role that government plays in the life of a nation as well as their sneering, arrogant and disingenuous persona. The idea that this significant minority actually desires a candidate who can win a general election means they accept a candidate with moderate, establishment views--the complete antithesis of what they actually believe and what they have so ardently agitated against. The press should stop obsessing about the outcome the way CNBC squawk box does about the markets and start reporting on where the anger comes from and what will happen when it finds no outlet in desired election outcomes. Let the GOP finally nominate and run a "true conservative".
4
The two populist candidates cannot garner the support of their respective political parties in the World's largest democracy. Our probable choice will the one we dislike the least, not the one we like the best. What a sad state of affairs.
1
Ryan understands the goals of a controlled burn. Decades of intellectual dead wood, rot and weeds need to be eradicated from the GOP, and now's the time. If there's anything worth saving, he can be around to salvage it layer.
However, he's been part of the problem, so his credibility at being part of the solution is questionable. He has a long record of enthrallment to Ayn Rand nonsense and of faithful compliance with a GOP agenda that served only to block, obstruct and resist when it was asked to take part. Ryan was there the night Gingrich, Luntz and the rest of the disloyal opposition committed themselves to vindictive resistance instead of doing their jobs. If he's trying now to lead in a new direction starting with that feeble mea culpa he gave the interns, he has a lot more to make up for than just standing aside can do.
He needs to go down with the rest of them. Let him flee to the private sector with Cantor, and let better people and better minds rescue the GOP.
However, he's been part of the problem, so his credibility at being part of the solution is questionable. He has a long record of enthrallment to Ayn Rand nonsense and of faithful compliance with a GOP agenda that served only to block, obstruct and resist when it was asked to take part. Ryan was there the night Gingrich, Luntz and the rest of the disloyal opposition committed themselves to vindictive resistance instead of doing their jobs. If he's trying now to lead in a new direction starting with that feeble mea culpa he gave the interns, he has a lot more to make up for than just standing aside can do.
He needs to go down with the rest of them. Let him flee to the private sector with Cantor, and let better people and better minds rescue the GOP.
47
Empirical Conservatism -What a brilliant analogy, "controlled burn"! And I agree, he is part of the buildup of excess fuel that needs to go with it.
Thanks.
Thanks.
1
That 55 percent of those polled who deem Clinton negatively demonstrates how dumb too many voters are. She's the only qualified candidate, one who would actually be a moderate, and a woman no less, but they would rather have...Trump, Cruz, Ryan (not a moderate at all) or Sanders? The last certainly doesn't have the qualities to be president yet has the gall to say Clinton isn't qualified to be leader of the country.
Ryan is a clueless, selfish know-nothing who actually believes in the utterly failed voodoo economics of Reagan (David Stockman openly admits how badly it hurt the country) and is an acolyte of the most overrated writer of the 20th century, Ayn Rand. If he thinks a human cell has personhood, he shouldn't allowed to determine the health care rights of women at. A sub-zero intellect.
Eclectic Pragmatist — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
Ryan is a clueless, selfish know-nothing who actually believes in the utterly failed voodoo economics of Reagan (David Stockman openly admits how badly it hurt the country) and is an acolyte of the most overrated writer of the 20th century, Ayn Rand. If he thinks a human cell has personhood, he shouldn't allowed to determine the health care rights of women at. A sub-zero intellect.
Eclectic Pragmatist — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
10
Paul Ryan brings all sides together, but he can't even get a budget passed in the most Republican House in a century. LOL.
14
This piece is like the sequence in the film Life of Brian where the hordes corner him and he denies he's the messiah. They say "You've got to be the messiah because the true messiah always denies that he is the messiah!"
Plan B: the Palin dynasty.
Plan C: "C" has to be for Christie.
Plan B: the Palin dynasty.
Plan C: "C" has to be for Christie.
4
This is one of the most biased "Opinions" I've seen from the NY Times in at least 24 hours! I respectfully disagree with your assumption that Paul Ryan "Means Still More Anger". Unlike others from his Party, he has done a much better job reaching out to the Commander in Chief.. who has done little to improve the Washington quagmire except for paper-tiger speeches. I'm also amazed that your still bringing up Karl Rove and Bush. What are you trying to prove? We all know that Bush was in over his head....as most level headed persons would would also admit that Obama has been in over his head too, especially on foreign affairs. Your references and statistical noise regarding Trump and Cruz is also laughable. For many of us Independent Republican minded folks, we know that Trump is a demagogue full of himself and Cruz is some right-wing crazed religious fanatic.
I'm very sad to say that out of the top contenders, Hillary is probably the most experienced and worthy of being President. I consider Sanders the "Candy Man".....everything is free and costs nothing.
One last comment. I believe in my heart-of-heart that Kasich is most qualified and presidential in his demeanor. Sad thing about politics in America these days, people seem more attracted to the "Mr. Personality" than the substance of what he/she can contribute to our great land.
Hillary would be a good President and so would Kasich. Ryan is a very good person too and not sure why he spoke up!
I'm very sad to say that out of the top contenders, Hillary is probably the most experienced and worthy of being President. I consider Sanders the "Candy Man".....everything is free and costs nothing.
One last comment. I believe in my heart-of-heart that Kasich is most qualified and presidential in his demeanor. Sad thing about politics in America these days, people seem more attracted to the "Mr. Personality" than the substance of what he/she can contribute to our great land.
Hillary would be a good President and so would Kasich. Ryan is a very good person too and not sure why he spoke up!
4
An 'opinion' piece that's biased? Dictionary anyone?
3
I'm busy at work and don't have countless hours to ensure all grammar meets your standards. Excuse me!
1
Opinion = biased.
3
not that any NYT readers need a reminder;
still,
one of the most difficult daily thoughts is the realization that Mr. P. Ryan
is second in line to become president in an emergency,
just after Vice President Biden.
the sooner the House turns over the better...
for sleep and general health as well as for the survival of the world.
7
The 'Republican Anger' is already so off the scale, that it's hard to imagine there could possibly be any more room for it.
But by pacing the crown, or trying to, on top of Paul Ryan's head -- the G.O.P is only digging itself deeper into the pit that it claims it's trying to get out of.
Mr. Ryan is a dangerous tool of disastrous proportion.
But by pacing the crown, or trying to, on top of Paul Ryan's head -- the G.O.P is only digging itself deeper into the pit that it claims it's trying to get out of.
Mr. Ryan is a dangerous tool of disastrous proportion.
5
After Ryan's declarations about not wanting to be House Speaker, how can anyone take seriously his declaration that he's not interested in the GOP nomination for President? He's got a savior complex, which seems rather obvious; he's waiting to be called upon by his flock.
And, let's not pretend that if Ryan becomes the nominee (or, should I say "WHEN Ryan becomes the nominee") that he's going to raise up the GOP palatableness for anyone who's not already a fan of Trump or Cruz. Ryan is a soulless person without an internal compass and whose only goal is power.
And, let's not pretend that if Ryan becomes the nominee (or, should I say "WHEN Ryan becomes the nominee") that he's going to raise up the GOP palatableness for anyone who's not already a fan of Trump or Cruz. Ryan is a soulless person without an internal compass and whose only goal is power.
3
Ryan is the best choice of all the current candidates.
1
If one wants the country to be augered in quickest of all, at any rate.
1
The Reagan revolution, a field day for the 1%, is over. Whether it is settled at the ballot box or otherwise, the vast majority of the American public are fed up with serving as prey for big money, and it is going to end.
Paul Ryan stands squarely in the trickle-down economic camp and therefore has as little chance of being elected president as Donald Trump or Ted Cruz. Turnout by Democrats and Independents to rid government of as many Republicans as possible will be huge in November no matter who the Republican party runs.
The American plutocracy is casting about for some scheme that will keep them in power, but it is over. Paul Ryan is a straw they grasping at. I can't think of one good reason why a politician would give up the position he is in to suffer certain defeat.
The best thing Paul Ryan could do for his party and the country is to read "Austerity: The History of a Dangerous Idea" by Mark Blyth, join the rest of the human race in the 21st century, and use his position to help reverse the devastating policies his party has foisted on the American people.
Paul Ryan stands squarely in the trickle-down economic camp and therefore has as little chance of being elected president as Donald Trump or Ted Cruz. Turnout by Democrats and Independents to rid government of as many Republicans as possible will be huge in November no matter who the Republican party runs.
The American plutocracy is casting about for some scheme that will keep them in power, but it is over. Paul Ryan is a straw they grasping at. I can't think of one good reason why a politician would give up the position he is in to suffer certain defeat.
The best thing Paul Ryan could do for his party and the country is to read "Austerity: The History of a Dangerous Idea" by Mark Blyth, join the rest of the human race in the 21st century, and use his position to help reverse the devastating policies his party has foisted on the American people.
16
Among the sad commentaries that can be made about the two Parties reaction to citizen anger is that neither is promising radical change to address our outrage.
The sole exception being Bernie Sanders. Yet Sanders is vilified by many in his Party, an act that reinforces the impression of many of us in the middle class that little will change even if Hillary does win the White House since criticism of Sanders' promises of radical change are arguments, even promises, for continuation of the status quo.
Republicans are politically, morally, and ethically bankrupt, having over 4 decades compiled far more liabilities to their character than assets. Their apparent hope, Paul Ryan, is not only NOT a promise to respond to the anger of those who support Trump, but an assurance that those who control that Party will stay in control and would do all in their power to make the lives of Americans far worse than they are. Ryan has not a single plan to improve our lives. Even inside his party his policy suggestions are belittled, criticized, even condemned, and his policies side railed all the while they look to him as an alternative. How can they suggest Ryan is preferable to Clinton when he can't even command the House Freedom Caucus?
The only progressive, constructive promise in this campaign is Bernie Sanders who is effectively marginalized by a system that is engineered against wresting control away from Corporate America and restoring or former New Deal, Great Society nation.
The sole exception being Bernie Sanders. Yet Sanders is vilified by many in his Party, an act that reinforces the impression of many of us in the middle class that little will change even if Hillary does win the White House since criticism of Sanders' promises of radical change are arguments, even promises, for continuation of the status quo.
Republicans are politically, morally, and ethically bankrupt, having over 4 decades compiled far more liabilities to their character than assets. Their apparent hope, Paul Ryan, is not only NOT a promise to respond to the anger of those who support Trump, but an assurance that those who control that Party will stay in control and would do all in their power to make the lives of Americans far worse than they are. Ryan has not a single plan to improve our lives. Even inside his party his policy suggestions are belittled, criticized, even condemned, and his policies side railed all the while they look to him as an alternative. How can they suggest Ryan is preferable to Clinton when he can't even command the House Freedom Caucus?
The only progressive, constructive promise in this campaign is Bernie Sanders who is effectively marginalized by a system that is engineered against wresting control away from Corporate America and restoring or former New Deal, Great Society nation.
11
Agree. Paul Ryan is not going to be the next 'Great Hope' of the Republican Party, if they ever want to change the trajectory from their present course of self-annihilation.
But I don't agree with your platitudes about Mr. Sanders, because I basically see most of his plans as unfeasible, and unattainable (Don't blame me, blameour Republican-held Congress!), and consistently blaming "Corporate America", and witch-hunting Hillary Clinton to the stake isn't going to change it.
But I don't agree with your platitudes about Mr. Sanders, because I basically see most of his plans as unfeasible, and unattainable (Don't blame me, blameour Republican-held Congress!), and consistently blaming "Corporate America", and witch-hunting Hillary Clinton to the stake isn't going to change it.
6
N. Smith ° New York City
Sanders' plans are neither unfeasible nor unattainable; Senator Merkley made an eloquent statement asserting those twin facts.
Further, if you take the time to read through the Congressional Progressive Caucus website pages you'll find ample support for Sanders' positions and how to achieve them. Sanders is alone among Senators to sit in the caucus, but that hardly makes him a simple dreamer and instead attests to his ability to plan, act and achieve.
https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/caucus-members/
https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/the-peoples-budget-prosperity-not-austeri...
Exactly how do any of the other candidates propose to achieve these ends?
The case may be that to fend off a far worse choice I'll vote for Hillary. But Hillary Clinton comes from the very small group of Americans who legislated us into this fix. Few of them show the vision to accomplish change, and prominent members who do support Sanders.
That leads me to wonder why you dismiss Sanders without providing specific and qualitative premises undermining his candidacy. What, Hillary's campaign is NOT also guilty of unsubstantiated attacks on Sanders? I don't think you're that politically naive. Put it this way, if miraculously you end up with Sanders as the Democrat candidate, and Ryan the Republican, are you going to vote for Ryan since Sanders is unfeasible and unattainable?
Sanders' plans are neither unfeasible nor unattainable; Senator Merkley made an eloquent statement asserting those twin facts.
Further, if you take the time to read through the Congressional Progressive Caucus website pages you'll find ample support for Sanders' positions and how to achieve them. Sanders is alone among Senators to sit in the caucus, but that hardly makes him a simple dreamer and instead attests to his ability to plan, act and achieve.
https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/caucus-members/
https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/the-peoples-budget-prosperity-not-austeri...
Exactly how do any of the other candidates propose to achieve these ends?
The case may be that to fend off a far worse choice I'll vote for Hillary. But Hillary Clinton comes from the very small group of Americans who legislated us into this fix. Few of them show the vision to accomplish change, and prominent members who do support Sanders.
That leads me to wonder why you dismiss Sanders without providing specific and qualitative premises undermining his candidacy. What, Hillary's campaign is NOT also guilty of unsubstantiated attacks on Sanders? I don't think you're that politically naive. Put it this way, if miraculously you end up with Sanders as the Democrat candidate, and Ryan the Republican, are you going to vote for Ryan since Sanders is unfeasible and unattainable?
2
@McBride
FYI. I don't "dismiss" Senator Sanders. I just don't agree with everything that he says. I
Another thing. I am not interested in some puerile game of "who attacked who first". That's a waste of time, and only leads to further division.
And lastly, whom I vote for is of my own concern. But it most definitely will NOT be for any Republican candidate --and that's what really matters.
FYI. I don't "dismiss" Senator Sanders. I just don't agree with everything that he says. I
Another thing. I am not interested in some puerile game of "who attacked who first". That's a waste of time, and only leads to further division.
And lastly, whom I vote for is of my own concern. But it most definitely will NOT be for any Republican candidate --and that's what really matters.
1
I do not oppose "conservatism" out of hand. What I do oppose is the bizarre rigid, irrational version of conservatism that the Republican party has created. Trickle down economics, denial of science in general and global warming in particular, blanket hatred of government, eagerness to use the military, and the desire to control and limit other peoples private lives have become their litmus test beliefs.
In this regard, Ryan is only a more palatable lipstick color on the pig. We need a party of rational conservatives that serve to hold back some of the more extreme left's desire to use the government too much, while understanding that it has vital functions and powers that make our society possible. Let the Republican party molt its current restrictive shell and transform itself into an actual partner in governing our country, rather than just wielding a wrecking ball at anything that challenges the privileges of the wealthy.
In this regard, Ryan is only a more palatable lipstick color on the pig. We need a party of rational conservatives that serve to hold back some of the more extreme left's desire to use the government too much, while understanding that it has vital functions and powers that make our society possible. Let the Republican party molt its current restrictive shell and transform itself into an actual partner in governing our country, rather than just wielding a wrecking ball at anything that challenges the privileges of the wealthy.
11
Ryan and Cruz are, in most respects, far more conservative than Trump. The reason why Republicans can't stand Trump is because he is not a globalist and seems concerned about the economic condition of regular Americans - regardless of ethnicity. Those positions are totally unacceptable to the Republican business elite. Democrats will never accept Trump because he dared to speak about illegal immigration taking American jobs and discuss the threat of Islamic terrorism. Totally unacceptable to the Liberal elite!
5
Paul Ryan a savior? A man of reason? Look at the wonders he did for the Romney campaign. This hypocrite who would destroy the Social Security System that helped support him and his family after the death of his father. This advocate of trickle down economics who in middle age has yet to outgrow his sophomoric admiration for the selfishness fetishisms of Ayn Rand. He could destroy Hillary Clinton? As his hero Ronald Reagan would say: Bring it on!!!
16
Hypocrite is exactly right. And his family did not need Social Security to support themselves - they were very wealthy back then and continue to be very wealthy, due in large part to the government contracts their family business gets. Takers indeed.
7
I'm no fan of Clinton, but I have to ask - if voters really want a different candidate, as Peter Hart says, why is it that so many have voted for her? Do they dislike Bernie even more? Or is it that they consider his candidacy so impractical that they prefer Clinton even if they dislike her? Neither explanation sounds right.
I don't know that Ryan would win against Clinton, especially if Clinton makes a point of reminding folks that Ryan has proposed turning Medicare into a voucher program that would spend a limited amount of money on coverage for each senior each year and no more. As Budget chairman, Ryan has proposed cuts to federal programs that vast numbers of people would not be able to live with. In a presidential campaign he would spend much of his time explaining that.
I don't know that Ryan would win against Clinton, especially if Clinton makes a point of reminding folks that Ryan has proposed turning Medicare into a voucher program that would spend a limited amount of money on coverage for each senior each year and no more. As Budget chairman, Ryan has proposed cuts to federal programs that vast numbers of people would not be able to live with. In a presidential campaign he would spend much of his time explaining that.
15
How many candidates did the GOP field at the beginning of this primary? 15? 16? I've lost count, but it seemed like every major Republican in the country. Given that, they've wound up with either Trump or Cruz.
I don't see Paul Ryan coming in on a white horse to save the GOP from itself. Remember, the Republicans were supposed to do an "autopsy" after the 2012 election. Instead, they decided to double down on more obstruction and extremism. Well, you reap what you sow.
I don't see Paul Ryan coming in on a white horse to save the GOP from itself. Remember, the Republicans were supposed to do an "autopsy" after the 2012 election. Instead, they decided to double down on more obstruction and extremism. Well, you reap what you sow.
7
What better way to maintain the symbolic illusion of sanity and a "spirit" of compromise, than to simple refuse to play? The supposed mystery is far more interesting than the reality.
1
Oh sure, he says “I do not want nor will I accept the nomination for our party,” ..... isn't that what he said about being Speaker? And where did that end up?
3
G-D forbid in the white house !
1
Egad, first Ryan is the token tea party Republican to balance the more moderate Romney in the last presidential election. Now he is the savior of the practically defunct Republican Party. The money men and political apparatchiks of the right have a plan for young Ryan, and it involves land sales in New Jersey.
6
Just a note about Glenn Beck, the Ted Cruz supporter.
Mr. Beck converted to the Mormon religion and Mitt Romney has made it virtually an obligation for Mormons to support Cruz.
This is why Utah went so strongly for Cruz in their caucus. Check the county-by-county vote in Idaho. Eastern Idaho is both a Mormon stronghold and solidly Cruz country for the same reason.
And they say there is separation between church and state in the US.
Mr. Beck converted to the Mormon religion and Mitt Romney has made it virtually an obligation for Mormons to support Cruz.
This is why Utah went so strongly for Cruz in their caucus. Check the county-by-county vote in Idaho. Eastern Idaho is both a Mormon stronghold and solidly Cruz country for the same reason.
And they say there is separation between church and state in the US.
3
Wait, not so fast - "Ryan would kill her." Why? Because he is a man and has a nice face? This is the same Tea Party Ryan that Biden destroyed in their debate 4 years ago? Clinton is not only a brilliant debater, but she is not an extremist. The "insiders" here are wrong.
6
"nice face"?? If you like "Curious George" books...
1
To think that a consummate phony like Paul Ryan would unite the country just goes to show what pie in the sky fantasies the GOP has about their identity. The reason both Sanders and Trump are so successful is because the average Joe has been getting shafted for decades. Both appeal to a core constituency that believes the system is corrupt. That both of them are being out maneuvered by their respective parties is only throwing gas on the flames. This government had got to address income inequality or it will fail.
8
Funny.......I could've sworn that there is a candidate by the name of Sanders--you know--the guy who has raised more cash in $30 contributions than Clinton has with her support of Wall St. Big Pharma, Big Energy, and super PACS.
I wonder--how does he stand in terms of favorable/unfavorable? Apparently not worth Mr. Edsall's time. He's supporting the man who wants to do away with thee tattered shreds of a "safety net" so he can save his millionaire buddies from paying taxes.
I wonder--how does he stand in terms of favorable/unfavorable? Apparently not worth Mr. Edsall's time. He's supporting the man who wants to do away with thee tattered shreds of a "safety net" so he can save his millionaire buddies from paying taxes.
2
What do Republicans and their party offer our USA beside and beyond anger? For starters, any governing ideas? When is the last time we heard a single one?
9
Anyway, anger is not an idea. It's an emotion, most often a destructive one.
5
What do Democrats and their party offer our USA besides and beyond greater destruction of the wealth of the middle class? For starters, anything about not spending more than is taken in? When is the last time we heard a Democrat say "Throwing more cash at crony capitalists and the poor does no good for the majority of Americans"?
2
@karlostj
Easy to fault the Democrats, but does the name "Mitt Romney" and "47%" ring a bell???
Easy to fault the Democrats, but does the name "Mitt Romney" and "47%" ring a bell???
2
Just not buying Edsall's implication that Ryan would be a particularly attractive candidate. For some reason inside the beltway types have always seemed to like Ryan more than voters.
He's not a centrist and Democrats will happily inform the voters of that. As soon as people find out that Ryan wants to severely cut Social Security benefits, turn Medicare into vouchers and completely abolish Obamacare while cutting taxes on the top 1%, his negatives would rise quite rapidly.
Meanwhile Ryan is not at all popular with the the GOP hard core base. Trump and Cruz people see him as a corporate sellout.
He's not a centrist and Democrats will happily inform the voters of that. As soon as people find out that Ryan wants to severely cut Social Security benefits, turn Medicare into vouchers and completely abolish Obamacare while cutting taxes on the top 1%, his negatives would rise quite rapidly.
Meanwhile Ryan is not at all popular with the the GOP hard core base. Trump and Cruz people see him as a corporate sellout.
15
Can pundits stop comparing non-candidates with candidates? Once Paul Ryan runs, his numbers will tank when Americans find out just how toxic his Ayn Rand conservatism is for the country. I find it amusing that Mr Edsall resorts to an anonymous source to get his quote in "Ryan would kill her." Is this an objective opinion coming from a source who is "intimately familiar" with the Clinton campaign? I don't think so.
21
The point is, or should be, that Americans to see just how "toxic" Mr. Ryan really is BEFORE he runs.
Forewarned is forearmed.
Forewarned is forearmed.
6
Trust the NYT and Thomas Edsall to leave out the most important piece of information:
Bernie Sanders has an approval rating of 48.5%, and a disapproval rating of 41.9%.
http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/bernie-sanders-favorable-ra...
Sanders is the only candidate with a higher approval rating than disapproval rating.
But trust the NYT not to tell you that.
Bernie Sanders has an approval rating of 48.5%, and a disapproval rating of 41.9%.
http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/bernie-sanders-favorable-ra...
Sanders is the only candidate with a higher approval rating than disapproval rating.
But trust the NYT not to tell you that.
6
However this is about Ryan, not Bernie. :) We know that's irrelevant to many people in many places, but here & in this topic it's relevant. The title of the piece is sort of a dead giveaway. -grin-
3
Don't believe polls. They change on an hourly basis. Besides, an approval rating means nothing if it doesn't translate into delegates or votes.
Nice try, anyway.
Nice try, anyway.
2
the article talks about Hillary Clinton, so why not talk about Bernie?
Some of us really loathe Paul Ryan -- for his extreme conservatism and policies concerning women, among other things. So no big loss...
12
Just in case you weren't convinced of the utter hypocrisy of Paul Ryan and his mentor (Ayn Rand), just remember that Ms. Rand collected social security - the very instrument she railed against.
17
Cal ifornia has rejected party politics and is better for it. For the past ten years we have had one big primary, for all candidates and all parties and all voters.
The two top dogs become the general election competitors. They can be from the same party or different parties or no party. This reduces the power of the lunatic fringe and their billionaire supporters.
Another point about the two party system. It is both undemocratic and unconstitutional. The party primary system amounts to subsidizing the minority party, which in 44 states is the Republicans. They get a candidate into the general election even without a substantial citizen vote.
And the combination of gerrymandering and packing Democratic voters into big cities where their votes are wasted effectively negates the one person, one vote constitutional requirement. The Founders wanted competitive House districts where everyones vote would count.
California also does redistricting by a committee of nonpartisan judges. It is better than letting the party in power gerrymander themselves in for life.
Go to YouTube and watch Comedy Party Platform (2 min 9 sec). Then level the playing field, send a buck to Bernie. Have some fun, invite me to speak. Thanks. [email protected]
The two top dogs become the general election competitors. They can be from the same party or different parties or no party. This reduces the power of the lunatic fringe and their billionaire supporters.
Another point about the two party system. It is both undemocratic and unconstitutional. The party primary system amounts to subsidizing the minority party, which in 44 states is the Republicans. They get a candidate into the general election even without a substantial citizen vote.
And the combination of gerrymandering and packing Democratic voters into big cities where their votes are wasted effectively negates the one person, one vote constitutional requirement. The Founders wanted competitive House districts where everyones vote would count.
California also does redistricting by a committee of nonpartisan judges. It is better than letting the party in power gerrymander themselves in for life.
Go to YouTube and watch Comedy Party Platform (2 min 9 sec). Then level the playing field, send a buck to Bernie. Have some fun, invite me to speak. Thanks. [email protected]
4
"In that case, the next president is likely to win not because he or she is the most loved, but because he or she is the least hated."
Is this analogous to voting against a candidate because the option is too dreadful to consider? If so, I suggest that far to many elections are won/lost this way...
Is this analogous to voting against a candidate because the option is too dreadful to consider? If so, I suggest that far to many elections are won/lost this way...
3
Even if Ryan runs and gets the nomination through political machinations, Trump supporters will be so disgusted they'll sit out the election. If Trump gets the nomination, his supporters will vote for him but many Republicans will either vote for the Democrat candidate or simply not vote. Democrats will be galvanized to support their candidate in the face of a possible Trump presidency. Likewise for Cruz.
No matter how you slice it the Republicans have lost this.
No matter how you slice it the Republicans have lost this.
6
Clinton has high negatives in part because of the constant hate spewed by the Republican party for years (She murdered Vince Foster! She abandoned Benghazi! She endangered national security with her email account!). Republicans are well aware of Goebbel's "Big lie": “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."
19
Regardless of what Paul Ryan says today, a lot can happen between now and the GOP convention. Even if it is "apples and oranges" (which I don't agree with), the fact that Mr. Ryan is Speaker now is still a precedent.
It ain't over till it's over.
It ain't over till it's over.
As a Moderate democrat, I'm not a straight ticket. I can vote for a Republican. Except this year. I don't see any reasonable Republican in their offerings and I'm being generous when I limit it to "reasonable". The truth is Ryan is only a sliver away from the extremism of a Cruz or Trump.
The idea he is a compassionate conservative, how I wish it were true. It's simple, and successful, branding and he has the personality and charm to convince people it's true.
So, while he may not officially run, I wouldn't count him out. A write-in campaign can send this insane year into a vortex that will make 2000 Gore-Bush look like kindergarten.
The idea he is a compassionate conservative, how I wish it were true. It's simple, and successful, branding and he has the personality and charm to convince people it's true.
So, while he may not officially run, I wouldn't count him out. A write-in campaign can send this insane year into a vortex that will make 2000 Gore-Bush look like kindergarten.
13
What about Sarah Palin? She'll do anything to get attention and she's a true patriot, conservative, maverick, soccer mom and of course a good Christian.
6
Paul Ryan is just as big a liar as every other Republican.
17
Let’s have a contest of whose ideas are better and why our ideas are better.
This presumes both parties have ideas.
This presumes both parties have ideas.
5
In any case I don't think Mr Ryan will be the savior of the party. This article is based on the assumption that Mr. Trump would not continue to run as an independent candidate if he doesn't get the nomination. Now what are the chances of that?
3
This is not an election that is about choosing someone who’s “likable.”
5
Ryan is no fool. He doesn't want this nomination because he can't win. Do you really think Trump and Cruz supporters -- who already feel as though government works for a few insiders at the expense of the rest of us -- will rush to the polls to vote for some hand-selected, establishment candidate who didn't even run? Of course not! If he did run, he'd lose, and this on the heels of already losing as VP in the last national election.
8
Agreed. Ryan just watched what happened to the Establishment's anointed ones (Rubio and Bush) and that defeat in 2012 must still smart.
He's waiting for the party to go down in flames, that's when he can ride in to the RNC on his white horse and start his 2020 campaign.
He's waiting for the party to go down in flames, that's when he can ride in to the RNC on his white horse and start his 2020 campaign.
1
I used to write on subjects like poverty, taxation, incomes, and income security. Dr. Edsall eloquently illuminated the importance of these trends when he wrote: "The distribution of income and wealth in a democratic country goes to the heart of its political ethic, defining the basic contours of a nation's sense of justice and equity." (The New Politics of Inequality, 1988)
I used his quote often along with insights from R.H. Tawney, Tom Paine, J.K. Galbraith, the Bible, Bobby Kennedy, Keynes, Beveridge and others in presentations and newspaper articles.
The trends outlined by Thomas Edsall have only worsened and now it is the soul of the U.S. that is at stake since the basic contours of the nation's sense of justice and equity have reached the abyss. In retrospect, 1988 looks good.
Will anyone talk about extreme child poverty in the U.S., the millions of children in households with less than $2/day/person income? Will anyone propose a basic child benefit common to all other wealthy democracies?
I used his quote often along with insights from R.H. Tawney, Tom Paine, J.K. Galbraith, the Bible, Bobby Kennedy, Keynes, Beveridge and others in presentations and newspaper articles.
The trends outlined by Thomas Edsall have only worsened and now it is the soul of the U.S. that is at stake since the basic contours of the nation's sense of justice and equity have reached the abyss. In retrospect, 1988 looks good.
Will anyone talk about extreme child poverty in the U.S., the millions of children in households with less than $2/day/person income? Will anyone propose a basic child benefit common to all other wealthy democracies?
9
Mr. Ryan's denial is pure stage craft. He'll be the eventual nominee if the Republicans can't stop their infighting.
1
"Senator Cruz is the unpleasant medicine the Republican Party is willing to swallow when it is sick, but not when it is feeling healthier." -- Alex Castellanos
Wow. For a while I wasn't enjoying the Republican implosion because it is harming the country, and OK racism isn't remotely funny, but this is otherwise truly entertaining. You couldn't make up satire this hilarious.
Wow. For a while I wasn't enjoying the Republican implosion because it is harming the country, and OK racism isn't remotely funny, but this is otherwise truly entertaining. You couldn't make up satire this hilarious.
9
It's implied here that if Ryan were nominated, he would kill Clinton in the fall. But it that with or without the Trump/Cruz voters?
Is it a given they they would vote for him or even vote at all? And if they don't can Ryan beat Clinton without them?
Is it a given they they would vote for him or even vote at all? And if they don't can Ryan beat Clinton without them?
2
"As recently as April 7, Ryan had fueled discussion that he was interested in a presidential bid by posting a video that for all intents and purposes looks like a presidential campaign commercial. The video shows Ryan speaking to House interns, with musical crescendos and shots taken from at least six different camera angles.”
With six different camera angles, only a fool would reject the notion of a possible presidential bid.
With six different camera angles, only a fool would reject the notion of a possible presidential bid.
5
Mr Edsall has presented a thesis that the Republicans with an "attractive" candidate with a "new face" can win a general election campaign centered on a strategy of capitalizing on "high negatives." Most likely this year, the general election campaign will go to the candidate who can present the most attractive economic future for the broad middle of the electorate.
First, the Hillary Clinton negatives have accumulated over 25 years of constant negative media coverage, much of it greatly exaggerated. This factor will recede under favorable media coverage focused on issues during a general election campaign. Her economic program is detailed, sound, and aimed at the great American middle.
In contrast, Mr Ryan's program is constructed around a huge curtailment of entitlement programs, downsizing federal health care support, and further tax cuts for the wealthy under the guise of incentives. It is exceptionally Reaganesque.
Most likely this would be a repeat of the 2012 presidential election with the Democratic candidate winning 330-plus electoral votes and sending the Mitt Romney lookalike to the showers.
First, the Hillary Clinton negatives have accumulated over 25 years of constant negative media coverage, much of it greatly exaggerated. This factor will recede under favorable media coverage focused on issues during a general election campaign. Her economic program is detailed, sound, and aimed at the great American middle.
In contrast, Mr Ryan's program is constructed around a huge curtailment of entitlement programs, downsizing federal health care support, and further tax cuts for the wealthy under the guise of incentives. It is exceptionally Reaganesque.
Most likely this would be a repeat of the 2012 presidential election with the Democratic candidate winning 330-plus electoral votes and sending the Mitt Romney lookalike to the showers.
8
Ryan's rejection of a presidential bid is the clearest indication yet of what the GOP is thinking. That is: I suspect that the GOP has all but abandoned the White House for 2016, and is focusing on holding the Senate, and increasing its hold on state governments.
The collapse of the traditional conservative party into a welter of extremism and reactionary radicalism has been a process of decades. For the wealthy and powerful to regain control, they may be willing to live through 4 (or even 8) years in the wilderness - at this point it may be their only option. They will rely on GOP obstructionists in the Senate to reduce or delay the impact of a Democratic White House, as has so often been effective.
For the GOP to reorganize itself will require non-ideological leaders of vision and charisma, people who have the authority and articulateness to banish the extremists back into their dank, lightless holes. I see not a single person of that quality anywhere in the GOP roster at present ... but then, few people really noticed Obama in 2004, did they? In any case, until such leaders step forward, there isn't much the GOP can do to correct it present distructive path, except wait, sulk, and do as little as possible.
The collapse of the traditional conservative party into a welter of extremism and reactionary radicalism has been a process of decades. For the wealthy and powerful to regain control, they may be willing to live through 4 (or even 8) years in the wilderness - at this point it may be their only option. They will rely on GOP obstructionists in the Senate to reduce or delay the impact of a Democratic White House, as has so often been effective.
For the GOP to reorganize itself will require non-ideological leaders of vision and charisma, people who have the authority and articulateness to banish the extremists back into their dank, lightless holes. I see not a single person of that quality anywhere in the GOP roster at present ... but then, few people really noticed Obama in 2004, did they? In any case, until such leaders step forward, there isn't much the GOP can do to correct it present distructive path, except wait, sulk, and do as little as possible.
8
Tucked away in this opinion piece is the issue. WHY is Glenn Beck on Meet the Press. My Husky would have made a much more interesting guest than Beck. They should have candidates / politicians be confronted by focus groups of the educated public. We will never learn anything from Beck and the 10 other people the rotate into the studio ofMeet the Press. Moreover the softball question seem to demand answers that hat nothing to do with anything.
5
It's called Bait 'n Switch.
Apart from Bernie Sanders, Paul Ryan is the most insufferable person on earth and is as dangerously disingenuous as Grandpa Bernie.
This is the first step in the Republican Party's move to derail Trump at the convention. Ryan says he will not run for President which then creates an impression that anyone asked him to. This then paves the way for Republicans to manipulate the contested convention to thrust Paul Ryan in as their "new" candidate. Oldest trick in the book and it's called Bait 'n Switch.
As a Democrat I'm thoroughly enjoying watching the Republican Party burn to the ground--it should have done this decades ago.
Apart from Bernie Sanders, Paul Ryan is the most insufferable person on earth and is as dangerously disingenuous as Grandpa Bernie.
This is the first step in the Republican Party's move to derail Trump at the convention. Ryan says he will not run for President which then creates an impression that anyone asked him to. This then paves the way for Republicans to manipulate the contested convention to thrust Paul Ryan in as their "new" candidate. Oldest trick in the book and it's called Bait 'n Switch.
As a Democrat I'm thoroughly enjoying watching the Republican Party burn to the ground--it should have done this decades ago.
8
But at least it's finally happening during my lifetime. And the satisfaction that I look forward to witnessing knows no bounds.
5
Good looking cat!
1
A candidate like Trump has exposed all the reasons why one could and does hate the Republican Party. The Colorado "primary" exposed the lengths to which the Republican elite will go to keep power and control in their hands, denying a single Coloradan Republican the opportunity to vote, like the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The average Republican who has, all these years, ate up the dogma while losing their jobs and lives over big monied interests are finally, finally waking up. Trump represents the cold water on the sleeping soul of the majority of Republican party members. And big money is pulling out all the stops to stop Trump, leaning on everyone and everything that they can lean on, including the media. Ryan is just another tool that the elite, those who met a month ago in D.C. to devise ways to stop Trump. If the Elites tell Ryan to roll over and bark, he will.
7
'unsullied by the primary battle."
Does he mean unsullied by the process Republicans agreed upon to select a nominee?
What is the logical extension of that?
Do Mr. Castellanos and his cohort of Republicans get to choose a president who is unsullied by an election battle?
Does he mean unsullied by the process Republicans agreed upon to select a nominee?
What is the logical extension of that?
Do Mr. Castellanos and his cohort of Republicans get to choose a president who is unsullied by an election battle?
4
Mr. Rehnquist and his cohort got to pick that way.
2
Not just a river in Egypt. The Republican establishment inserts their pick and assumes he will be loved.
Good luck with that.
Good luck with that.
9
Last summer, Reince Priebus crowed about all the talent and wisdom the then-17 candidates brought to the GOP presidential field. Now, all seventeen have been proved so much more than lacking that the party is considering an eighteenth candidate. The GOP is having a harder time finding the right guy or gal than Disney's board. Paul Ryan is a narrow-minded, number-crunching zealot who wants to dismantle our nation's fragile safety net. How does Reince feel about Ryan?
14
Whatever happens, Trump is going to be on the ballot come November. If he is not the GOP nominee, he will run as independent. I think he has very clearly laid out the ground work for it, and is doing so even now with his attack on the party powers that be. With his ego and thin skin, and the overwhelming likelihood of having the most delegates even if they are not over 50%, does anyone see him as just going gently into that good night if he is not the GOP nominee?
12
What about Bernie? Sure, the GOP has posted a field of seriously flawed presidental candidates. And each of the GOP candidates comes with a hate club. Ryan is just flawed and hated. Perhaps the same is true for Clinton. Again I ask - what about Bernie? No one hates him.
4
Great idea. Since Bernie is an independent, the Republicans can actually nominate him!!!!
3
i don't hate Hillary or Bernie... The irrational hatred of Hillary is silly and sponsored by the GOP. Ask someone who says that why they feel that way. I just do is usually the answer... no reason or rhyme. So there are two candidates who have a lot of likes... just not a GOP candidate.
4
Interesting thought. But even if he got that (extremely unlikely) Republican nomination, do you actually think they would vote for him??? --- Sorry. You are in Dreamland.
2
Paul Ryan will be the nominee. His refusal to run is irrelevant. He also refused to accept the speakership of the House of Representatives, for a while. Confronted with a choice between a vulgar lout, a vicious demagogue, or Ryan, the convention delegates won't have to think very hard or very long.
6
There isn't enough lipstick in the world to disguise any establishment Republican presidential candidate so that general election voters will overlook the catalog of predatory greed and social repression that defines the current Republican Party.
10
Jeez, couldn't Mr. Edsall find even one Republican to say that Mr. Ryan radiates the "sunny optimism of a Ronald Reagan"?
The Republicans have truly lost their way. This is worse than the New Coke fiasco.
The Republicans have truly lost their way. This is worse than the New Coke fiasco.
5
Maybe it is not too late to pass a constitutional amendment overriding the 22nd amendment.
I see Paul Ryan as Marco Rubio's older brother. Republican rottenness, attractively packaged. It almost worked for Romney, but this time is different and it didn't work at all for Marco. At this point, I doubt Paul Ryan could fool enough people to get elected, even if deified by talk radio.
6
It is so easy to mindlessly repeat Hillary's polling negatives, but it tends to promote the work of the small but incredibly well-funded smear industry which she has had focused on her for over twenty years. Simply repeating the mantra that "lots of people" have "issues" with her just keeps perpetuating the vague negative aura which is really all the Hillary haters have been able to come up with. Nothing sticks because nothing is real. Her so-called negatives are like something pumped in through the ventilation system, but could just as easily get pumped out and dissipate.
On the other hand, Donald Trump's negatives are 100% solid, and he has earned them all himself. It is pretty well established that attacks on him don't have much effect, but the converse is that there is a brick wall of resistance which clearly includes the majority of Republican primary voters, regardless of whether he can game himself into a majority of delegates. He has had a long primary season to overcome that, but he isn't and he won't. And his negatives among independents and Democrats are in a completely different category.
As far as Cruz goes, he has made a career of alienating possible supporters. Again, his negatives are his own, and hard earned.
It is extremely premature to say that Democratic and Republican negatives will be at all comparable by the time November rolls around.
On the other hand, Donald Trump's negatives are 100% solid, and he has earned them all himself. It is pretty well established that attacks on him don't have much effect, but the converse is that there is a brick wall of resistance which clearly includes the majority of Republican primary voters, regardless of whether he can game himself into a majority of delegates. He has had a long primary season to overcome that, but he isn't and he won't. And his negatives among independents and Democrats are in a completely different category.
As far as Cruz goes, he has made a career of alienating possible supporters. Again, his negatives are his own, and hard earned.
It is extremely premature to say that Democratic and Republican negatives will be at all comparable by the time November rolls around.
10
But we can fully expect to hear LOTS and LOTS about how she's responsible for Benghazi and how she's about to be indicted for her email server and her ex's wandering eye and on and on and on. The Party faithful will, of course, pay rapt attention to ensure they're hating the right candidate before they head to the polls and vote back into office the same bozos responsible for the whole Republican mess. And when Clinton wins the White House, Mitch "Single Term" McConnell will start the whole cycle over again.
5
The model for this election? crist vs. that other hated guy in Florida.
Ugh... history lesson: Ryan ran and lost. He is anything but mainstream and does not have winning views!
2
Useless speculation. If Cruz and TRump are cast aside, you can be sure the prty will be split so greatly that any Democrat could win. Paul Ryan is not going to accept any nomination, and trying to put together a presidential campaign in July is absurdly silly. And Ryan might be a savior for Republicans in speculation, but he is hardly someone who is popular among the populace. Hillary will defeat any Republican once they start the real campaigns. It will be Trump or Cruz and a disaster, but anyone depriving them of the nomination is going to lose big and would not have a future in the party.
4
Your article includes this paragraph: "Take Peter Hart, the dean of Democratic pollsters, who has been running a series of voter focus groups for the Annenberg Public Policy Center. If the 2016 presidential election “were a Clinton-Ryan race,” he said, before Ryan’s latest announcement, “you would have to say Ryan would be the favorite.” As Hart put it later, “this field is not satisfactory to the voters. Voters are looking for a choice other than Hillary Clinton.”
Hart's assertion is plausible only if voters are looking for the next president the way people who want to be fashionable look for clothes. But surely the history of the 2016 campaign is that voters want someone who will act in their interest.
Hart's assertion is plausible only if voters are looking for the next president the way people who want to be fashionable look for clothes. But surely the history of the 2016 campaign is that voters want someone who will act in their interest.
2
If Paul Ryan were the nominee, and he had been selected "legitimately" by a majority of the primary and caucus voters, it's quite possible that he would beat Hillary Clinton. Possible but not necessarily a sure thing. There are many other variables, such as the fact that she would still be the first female president and he's just another white guy.
But if he's "parachuted" into the nomination because party leaders (the Washington crowd) are dissatisfied with the current stable of candidates, then all bets are off. A very angry Trump and Cruz coalition could do a lot of harm to an establishment candidate (assuming they would want to) and clear the coast for Hillary Clinton. Trump seems to be forewarning of his determination not to accept a "rigged system" already, perhaps because he suspects that that is what is in the offing. Don't forget, the opera ain't over till the fat tenor sings.
But if he's "parachuted" into the nomination because party leaders (the Washington crowd) are dissatisfied with the current stable of candidates, then all bets are off. A very angry Trump and Cruz coalition could do a lot of harm to an establishment candidate (assuming they would want to) and clear the coast for Hillary Clinton. Trump seems to be forewarning of his determination not to accept a "rigged system" already, perhaps because he suspects that that is what is in the offing. Don't forget, the opera ain't over till the fat tenor sings.
1
The last 8 years has shown what "true conservative" principles really are, and a good many of us want nothing to do with it.
8
The Republicans have slyly used racism and bigotry to win elections for several decades now, and they’re way overdue for a well-deserved comeuppance in November. I'm grateful to be alive to actually witness history like this being made.
2
The Republicans have most certainly used racism and bigotry to win elections, but there was absolutely nothing sly about it -- Isn't watching History unfold a lovely thing???
2
Ryan is just playing it smart. He knows the Republicans have already lost the election, why run to lose? I like the "Cruz to Lose" theory - if Cruz takes the hit instead of Ryan, Ryan and the republican establishment are only strengthened... Ryan's turn will come...
2
>>>>>
Ya but I'll still have my social security without him. I can survive with anger but not without my SS.
This guy has read too much Ayn Rand, and he now wants to push his neurosis onto the rest of us.
Ya but I'll still have my social security without him. I can survive with anger but not without my SS.
This guy has read too much Ayn Rand, and he now wants to push his neurosis onto the rest of us.
10
I fully expect Ryan will be the nominee, and hope both Clinton and Sanders are preparing to campaign against him. I send Bernie money, I would vote for Trump before Clinton, but like Cruz, Eddie Munster is also a dangerous zealot.
Cruz is either the antichrist or the Zodiac killer, or both. But either Ryan or Cruz will start a civil war, and although their side is better armed they will not win.
Cruz is either the antichrist or the Zodiac killer, or both. But either Ryan or Cruz will start a civil war, and although their side is better armed they will not win.
You are not a Democrat if you think that. Clinton is a Democrat, and Trump is an egotistical con man. He'll take what you have and leave you with nothing.
If you espouse caring for your community, I suggest you stop buying into a quarter century of Republican opposition research.
If you espouse caring for your community, I suggest you stop buying into a quarter century of Republican opposition research.
2
The Repulbicans had seventeen candidates -- seventeen! -- and they still pine for a white knight. Sounds to me like the party's bankrupt.
5
To handle the curse of the GOP on my nation, each morning when I wake, I cross my two first fingers about a foot from my eyes and repeat my mantra until I have the strength to get through the day. I repeat again and again, "The GOP is as bad as I think and they are out to get me".
6
Mr. Edsall - you mention Bernie Sanders and whether he will "catch up" to Hillary Clinton. It looks possible, despite him being ignored and disparaged by this paper and most media.
You might want to check out his ratings - he polls highest for positives, particularly in honesty. He has been re-elected consistently by the people of Vermont, who know he is a man of his word.
You might want to check out his ratings - he polls highest for positives, particularly in honesty. He has been re-elected consistently by the people of Vermont, who know he is a man of his word.
3
Thank you for yet another MSM puff piece about Paul Ryan, whom the media elite continue to glorify, abandoning critical analysis.
It's worth noting that in 2008, Mitt Romney was the main conservative primary challenger to John McCain. Four years later, he was portrayed as the moderate choice among the 2012 GOP pack, and he chose Mr. Ryan to placate the party's right wing. Now it's 2016 and amazingly, Ryan is now the face of "moderation" in the Republican Party. This does not reflect newfound sensibility by Mr. Ryan; it reflects how far the deep end the GOP has gone.
Mr. Ryan would slash over $100 billion from food stamps. He'd make Medicaid into block grants to the states, so people like his buddy Scott Walker can double down on their efforts to make poor people's lives even more miserable. He wants to privatize Social Security and Medicare. And he's the number one spokesman for supply side economics, offering a smorgasbord of rich man's tax cuts, asserting that those repeatedly failed policies are the magic elixir for the shrinking middle class.
What led to the rise of Donald Trump? Mr. Ryan epitomizes the policy menu that led the GOP base to finally recognize that the party's establishment don't care about them.
And let's not forget his history of dog whistle politics: "In our inner cities in particular, generations of men not even thinking about work".
Oh, and his propensity for lying.
Thank goodness for Krugman and Egan--an example for the rest of the MSM!
It's worth noting that in 2008, Mitt Romney was the main conservative primary challenger to John McCain. Four years later, he was portrayed as the moderate choice among the 2012 GOP pack, and he chose Mr. Ryan to placate the party's right wing. Now it's 2016 and amazingly, Ryan is now the face of "moderation" in the Republican Party. This does not reflect newfound sensibility by Mr. Ryan; it reflects how far the deep end the GOP has gone.
Mr. Ryan would slash over $100 billion from food stamps. He'd make Medicaid into block grants to the states, so people like his buddy Scott Walker can double down on their efforts to make poor people's lives even more miserable. He wants to privatize Social Security and Medicare. And he's the number one spokesman for supply side economics, offering a smorgasbord of rich man's tax cuts, asserting that those repeatedly failed policies are the magic elixir for the shrinking middle class.
What led to the rise of Donald Trump? Mr. Ryan epitomizes the policy menu that led the GOP base to finally recognize that the party's establishment don't care about them.
And let's not forget his history of dog whistle politics: "In our inner cities in particular, generations of men not even thinking about work".
Oh, and his propensity for lying.
Thank goodness for Krugman and Egan--an example for the rest of the MSM!
6
Ryan is every bit as dangerous as T. and C. With T. and C. we know what we are getting -- deranged, blow-hard narcissists who would weaken government and embarrass us all by their attempts to impose crass, bigoted, and untenable policy. Ryan hides behind an all-knowing smirk; his more socially acceptable demeanor makes it possible that he would be able to implement his intellectually and morally bankrupt policies.
2
Republicans, behavior has consequences. You made your bed now you have to lie in it. Therefore go with the flow--for a nice change of pace; stop your back-room conniving to change the trajectory of this unsettling divisive situation you long ago created; learn from your mistakes regarding how to create union, not self-consumed party purity ALEC based deception/obstruction/division; then pick yourself up brush yourself off and move on deciding to do better next time.
2
Paul Ryan is the last person who should occupy the Whitehouse (except maybe for Scott Walker who is every bit as duplicitous but dumber). People need to do a little research on this guy so they can pull their heads out of the sand and see him for the con-man he truly is.
3
I am sure this is what he's waiting for, "Paul, we are going to go down in flames, we are going to lose the Senate and lose ground in the House. Only you can help redeem the party.”
What better way to get the nomination than to avoid the brutal and juvenile infighting that happened (and is happening) during the Republican primary. No need for all that travel, expense and relentless "media scrutiny" that would have exposed what he truly is, an empty suit, an updated but more destructive Dan Quayle. If he does get the nomination I hope the 4th Estate or what's left of it sharpens its investigative skills and turn this man's political life upside down and reports it. Not that its going to take a lot of time.
The Establishment running the Republican Party, i.e. the moneyed and powerful and their minions running the Government will not put forth a reasonable candidate in the fear that he or she might actually think for themselves instead of doing their bidding. We need Trump to chip away at the core of the Party till the foundation cracks and the people coming in turn it into a Party of Yes.
What better way to get the nomination than to avoid the brutal and juvenile infighting that happened (and is happening) during the Republican primary. No need for all that travel, expense and relentless "media scrutiny" that would have exposed what he truly is, an empty suit, an updated but more destructive Dan Quayle. If he does get the nomination I hope the 4th Estate or what's left of it sharpens its investigative skills and turn this man's political life upside down and reports it. Not that its going to take a lot of time.
The Establishment running the Republican Party, i.e. the moneyed and powerful and their minions running the Government will not put forth a reasonable candidate in the fear that he or she might actually think for themselves instead of doing their bidding. We need Trump to chip away at the core of the Party till the foundation cracks and the people coming in turn it into a Party of Yes.
How many times in recent history have Republicans been sorry for their greatest Hopes?
Ryan is not battle tested. He may poll nicely now but when the public gets to know him he'll turn into the rest of the GOP's great White Hopes: a naive and wimpy candidate for general election.
Any of the campaigners - and I don't say this lightly - would perform better. GOP, Why not rally around Kaisich? (Is he too just ugly or boring?)
Ryan is not battle tested. He may poll nicely now but when the public gets to know him he'll turn into the rest of the GOP's great White Hopes: a naive and wimpy candidate for general election.
Any of the campaigners - and I don't say this lightly - would perform better. GOP, Why not rally around Kaisich? (Is he too just ugly or boring?)
Research the damage that Kaisich has done to the citizens and environment of his state. He is ugly - politically and morally. He just quietly pretends otherwise.
2
Paul Ryan is not going to unite the both parties, he is an obstructionist as is the Republican Party in general. Of course he will be considered and will run if asked. The Republicans only care about themselves and Trump is a good metaphor for that. The American people are tired of the corruption in our government and our country and will vote for whoever indicates the most change. However the whole system/process is rigged and the Parties will decide themselves who the candidates will be in the election.
1
Ryan made the smart move. Trump and his supporters are too much of a wild card to predict what will happen if he winds up with 1,000 delegates or more and is denied the nomination. I am still hoping things play out that way. Best chance for the deems to take the WH and the Senate.
2
And where will the Trump voters go when he arrives at the Convention with the majority of elected delegates and then gets ousted by arcane rules and back room manipulation? It is hard to understand how so many smart people on both sides who have certainly seen the Trump supporters at rallies think that these voters, who will have had their votes negated by the establishment they have roundly rejected, will simply fall in line and vote for Paul Ryan or any other candidate hand-picked by the party. Trump doesn't rely on donors to fund his travel and rallies and he certainly doesn't have to worry about getting media attention, even if he gets sidelined at the convention. While none of the pundits cited in this piece mention it, if the Republicans bypass all the GOP primary candidates and anoint an insider (and maybe even if they pick Cruz when Trump has the majority), they will become the sole focus of Mr. Trump's vitriol. Does Donald Trump strike any of them as the kind of guy who will just shrug and quietly fade away? I don't have much respect for Mr. Ryan, but at least he's smart enough not to step in The Donald's crosshairs.
4
Guns and violence is what I think will happen. Armories at the ready, a la the Bundy family.
Ryan is smart to bow out of this election. He could probably beat Clinton, but by leading a fractured party. He's still young and can bide his time; plus, unlike Obama, Rubio, and Cruz, he probably realizes he needs a little more seasoning before auditioning for the Presidency.
The only reason Cruz can win the nomination is that he can run on the "I'm not as nuts as Trump" slogan. But once voters really look at him, they'll abandon him in droves as well, throwing the election to Clinton, someone almost no one really wants. How sad it is that our country will soon be led by someone who can claim the title of "the least objectionable candidate who subjected themselves to this circus of a political process." No wonder Ryan doesn't want the nomination.
The only reason Cruz can win the nomination is that he can run on the "I'm not as nuts as Trump" slogan. But once voters really look at him, they'll abandon him in droves as well, throwing the election to Clinton, someone almost no one really wants. How sad it is that our country will soon be led by someone who can claim the title of "the least objectionable candidate who subjected themselves to this circus of a political process." No wonder Ryan doesn't want the nomination.
1
Seriously. Trump has a power over the GOP that will trump a GOP move at the convention. Third party candidate. He's a dealer, he'll use it like a sledge hammer through plywood.
3
Does every one have collective amnesia? Paul Ryan a fresh face? Has every one forgotten he was the vice presidential nominee just 4 years ago and was so inept he contributed to a landslide loss for his party?
While it is true people vote for president and not vice president, (although McCain's pick of Palin in 2008 might be evidence to the contrary) Ryan was picked in 2012 because it was thought Romney was not conservative enough.
And the idea that a Ryan-Hillary match up would drive DEMOCRATS towards Ryan, a Tea Party extremist who wants to privatize social security, voucher Medicare, repeal the ACA,outlaw abortion and cut taxes for the rich, is not worthy of refutation.
Also, the idea that Ryan can be persuaded to change his mind as he did in accepting the roll of Speaker is apples and oranges. He is ALREADY a member of Congress; the only issue in taking over as Speaker involved spending time with his kids. He did not have to run for the office.
While it is true people vote for president and not vice president, (although McCain's pick of Palin in 2008 might be evidence to the contrary) Ryan was picked in 2012 because it was thought Romney was not conservative enough.
And the idea that a Ryan-Hillary match up would drive DEMOCRATS towards Ryan, a Tea Party extremist who wants to privatize social security, voucher Medicare, repeal the ACA,outlaw abortion and cut taxes for the rich, is not worthy of refutation.
Also, the idea that Ryan can be persuaded to change his mind as he did in accepting the roll of Speaker is apples and oranges. He is ALREADY a member of Congress; the only issue in taking over as Speaker involved spending time with his kids. He did not have to run for the office.
3
Agree. "Collective Amnesia" has settled in -- Looks like it's time to put down the Iced Tea, America.
1
Ryan is the perfect con man for the Republican Party, he has the fake earnestness which the press likes, hides his extremism well, and has a photogenic family. The fact that he is pushing the standard Republican elixir of tax cuts for the rich, destruction of Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid behind an attractive facade is what they want. He is also smart enough to know when to avoid a losing situation and 2016 is a losing situation for the Republican Party.
Anyone not named Trump nominated by the Party will have to fight the enmity of Trump (and Cruz) supporters in November. They will rightly feel that the nomination was stolen, and will boycott the polls in November. Ryan will be back in 2020 with his standard snake oil. Also, I'm sure that leading up to the 2020 election he will again promise us, as he has the past 5 years, to come up with a Republican answer to Obamacare which provides all of the benefits with none of the costs.
Anyone not named Trump nominated by the Party will have to fight the enmity of Trump (and Cruz) supporters in November. They will rightly feel that the nomination was stolen, and will boycott the polls in November. Ryan will be back in 2020 with his standard snake oil. Also, I'm sure that leading up to the 2020 election he will again promise us, as he has the past 5 years, to come up with a Republican answer to Obamacare which provides all of the benefits with none of the costs.
2
Astonishing that Clinton's unfavorability rating is higher than Cruz's.
1
I don't know why you should find it so "Astonishing", given the hatchet job that's been done on Clinton at the hands of Republicans, and now, Bernie Sanders' supporters. Sorry -- not so astonishing.
2
Rep Ryan, thus far, has looked like he is in far, far over his head as Speaker of the House and has ties -- obligations? -- to the Koch brothers that are extremely dubious. The idea that he'd be anything but a mouthpiece for the brothers' oil & gas interests -- with another version of Dick Cheney as his gray eminence -- as president is sheer buffoonery.
3
Ryan would be the Koch Brothers pick, if they could get him, but at this point there's not much even they can do. Either Ryan or Cruz would effectively be Koch puppets, so as a liberal I have to root for Trump - he at least is willing to acknowledge the importance of a non-ideological non-Koch-based stance on Social Security, Medicare, trade, and other things that are important to the working-class 'base' on whom the Republican donor class has always practiced bait-and-switch.
1
This year will be a total loss for Republicans. Advice to party leaders: if you want to continue as a party, focus on business conservatism, not social issues. Your stance on everything from poor kids to immigration to LGBT hate to uterus involvement is slowly killing you. Actually, now rapidly killing you.
5
What honest Republicans who care about the well-being of ordinary people should do now is support either Sanders or Clinton. Only discrediting the Republican party's complete capitulation to the wealthy and the corporations and the "Obama is a Muslim Kenyan" and the "global warming is never going to happen" crowds can restore the idea of a responsible party with somewhat different ideas about national issues. A loss would encourage rebuilding, and the kind of Republican I once supported -- Edward Brooke, Jacob Javits, Earl Warren -- could rise again.
5
I agree. The party needs to take a hard look at itself. A democratic win would give the GOP 4 years to get themselves together. A Republican win would delay this process.
1
Amazing that the callow, disingenuous fringe republican is now seen as a "responsible" party leader. Things are really hitting bottom in the GOP.
Whereas the next president will probably appoint two or more judges to the Supreme Court, I suppose we should be thankful that the republicans picked 2016 to wander completely off the field of play.
Whereas the next president will probably appoint two or more judges to the Supreme Court, I suppose we should be thankful that the republicans picked 2016 to wander completely off the field of play.
35
BIG democracy-destroying money masters will not give up power lightly so it will be interesting to see what rabbit they pull out of the hat during the convention. I do not trust Paul Ryan. He also adamantly said he would NOT take the Speaker of the House spot but there he is. John Boehner's dream was to be Speaker of the House and I'm sure he was ordered to step down, and Kevin McCarthy passed, to put Mr. Ryan in place. However, if Mr. Ryan is telling the truth and actually grooming himself as a Presidential candidate in 2020 then who will be the democracy-destroying rabbit this year? Mitch McConnell? Mitt Romney? One thing is for sure - they have a plan and we aren't hearing about it. Beware America. The money masters who took over the republican party have destroyed America enough and we must vote only for socially conscious candidates who want to restore true democracy in America For All! That means no republican votes or any for republicans posing as democrats and independents.
36
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party doesn't blow its nose unless their master funder George Soros says it's okay. He appears to do everything EXCEPT restore any sort of democracy.
2
@njglea
Well said and spot on.
Well said and spot on.
2
I don't think you want to get into a battle of "Demonic Political Underwriters", because George Soros would lose out to Karl Rove & the Koch Bros. in less than a nano-second.
1
The notion that Ryan is somehow a "different" GOP candidate is naive and laughable. He may speak in a less belligerent tone, but as this Ayn Rand disciple has clearly shown, he supports the same hateful and dishonest GOP policies across the array of issues.
25
Paul Ryan sets the example of remarkably crass politics. His mealymouthed plea for civility in politics rings hollow when he himself was an active member of a group of senior GOP leaders who in 2009 met during Obama's inauguration to plot to sabotage his presidency. These senior GOP members strategized to bring congress to a standstill regardless how much it would hurt the economy by pledging to obstruct and block Obama on all legislation. This skullduggery emerged into a GOP party of "NO" where the extreme acrimony of the current absurd political theatre took root. Ryan is a shameful and shameless hypocrite.
32
How bizarre Speaker Ryan's behavior was during the press conference. Hold a press conference to deny a self promoted rumor regarding his Presidential ambitions so the next day he could hold a fund raising effort with major Presidential donors. This is after just a short period of time with his denial that he would become or accept the position of Speaker of the House. A position he now holds. It is becoming more apparent that the Tea Party's candidates are not only destroying the Republican Party but hold the American voters in contempt. Would such a rumor be put to bed if Speaker Ryan's actions matched his words?
17
So in a year where voters are clearly angry with establishment politics, that very same republican establishment wants to negate the will of their voters and nominate someone who not a single primary voter chose to appease the establishment.
Not sure if that is a sure fire direction towards party suicide or simply Washington politics as usual or final proof we (at least the republican we's) live in a Plutocracy.
Not sure if that is a sure fire direction towards party suicide or simply Washington politics as usual or final proof we (at least the republican we's) live in a Plutocracy.
8
The dominant view inside the right-wing bubble is that a large and ever-growing proportion of americans (Ryan asserts 60%) won’t take responsibility for their own lives and are mooching off the hard-working wealthy where:
- rising unemployment claims demonstrate laziness, not lack of jobs;
- rising disability claims represent malingering, not the real health problems of an aging work force.
Accordingly, Ryan sees it as entirely appropriate to cut taxes on the rich, slash support programs for the needy and unfortunate while making everyone else pay more. All his budget proposals convey this thinking a la Ayn Rand.
- rising unemployment claims demonstrate laziness, not lack of jobs;
- rising disability claims represent malingering, not the real health problems of an aging work force.
Accordingly, Ryan sees it as entirely appropriate to cut taxes on the rich, slash support programs for the needy and unfortunate while making everyone else pay more. All his budget proposals convey this thinking a la Ayn Rand.
28
Paul Ryan is incapable of doing the job that he currently has - fortunately, for the greater good, he has taken himself out of consideration for a job that he could not possibly show competence.
25
For now he has. Don't forget -- he also claimed he did not want to to be Speaker. And he is currently what? I rest my case.
Ryan has only taken himself out of the Presidential race--because he's training for the Marathon.
1
Comparing apples and oranges is not a problem. The problem is "adding apples and oranges," unless of course one is counting fruit.
4
It's been so many years since I cast a vote FOR a candidate, rather than against his opponent. Loathing of Ryan was half of my motivations in voting, half-heartedly, for Obama/Biden in 2012 (Romney was the other half). In 2008, the idea of Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the presidency - combined with John McCain's age and questionable health - would have been sufficient to impel me to vote for the Democrat. The party would have had to scrape pretty low in the barrel to come up with someone less qualified than Sarah Palin.
Which is why this year I'm writing in Martin O'Malley. The media narrowed the choice to an either/or long before my state gets a primary. Dammit, I don't want either Don Quixote OR Lucretia Borgia. (On the Republican side, I can't come up with aliases for the two front-runners that are any more descriptive, or more disdainful, than to invoke their real names. There's a sort of accomplishment in that, I suppose - to become the one to whom others are compared, to evoke an immediate association as the embodiment of particular characteristics, however awful.)
Which is why this year I'm writing in Martin O'Malley. The media narrowed the choice to an either/or long before my state gets a primary. Dammit, I don't want either Don Quixote OR Lucretia Borgia. (On the Republican side, I can't come up with aliases for the two front-runners that are any more descriptive, or more disdainful, than to invoke their real names. There's a sort of accomplishment in that, I suppose - to become the one to whom others are compared, to evoke an immediate association as the embodiment of particular characteristics, however awful.)
3
Ted "Cruz Missile"?
Remember he is going to have the sand in the Mideast "glow in the dark".
Remember he is going to have the sand in the Mideast "glow in the dark".
1
How in the world did this Ayn Rand obsessed, numbers crunching, misogynist with bankrupt ideas and no vision or intellect, become the GOP savior?
Leaves me speechless. Has the GOP become so utterly devoid of any intellect, vision or talent that this congressman from Wisconsin, elevated to Speaker thanks to GOP imploding again when Boehner quit, is suddenly perceived as a unifier with a future?
The answer is obviously yes: the GOP is devoid of just about anything and everything having to do with intellect, vision or talent. Look at the front runner. Then look at his pitiful competition in the GOP.
Republicans may be right wing crazy, but it's very disturbing when this paper, or any news outlet of reputation, just regurgitates this new GOP myth about Ryan the reasonable. He's as far right as the rest of them.
As for the last words about Secretary Clinton -- she is admired and respected by millions of us. To even put her in a class with Trump and Cruz is an insult to her intelligence, vision, intellect, and policies.
It's Beltway bosh.
Hillary 2016
Leaves me speechless. Has the GOP become so utterly devoid of any intellect, vision or talent that this congressman from Wisconsin, elevated to Speaker thanks to GOP imploding again when Boehner quit, is suddenly perceived as a unifier with a future?
The answer is obviously yes: the GOP is devoid of just about anything and everything having to do with intellect, vision or talent. Look at the front runner. Then look at his pitiful competition in the GOP.
Republicans may be right wing crazy, but it's very disturbing when this paper, or any news outlet of reputation, just regurgitates this new GOP myth about Ryan the reasonable. He's as far right as the rest of them.
As for the last words about Secretary Clinton -- she is admired and respected by millions of us. To even put her in a class with Trump and Cruz is an insult to her intelligence, vision, intellect, and policies.
It's Beltway bosh.
Hillary 2016
119
But he's PRETTY. In a reality-show media circus, where someone like Trump can get as far as he has, that's all that really counts.
1
@historylesson
Wonderful comment. And, yes, Hillary 2016! Feel the Math.
Wonderful comment. And, yes, Hillary 2016! Feel the Math.
1
Beg to differ. Ryan is not "PRETTY" -- he's pretty dangerous.
"Common humanity and common ideals"? What a joke. What are Republican ideals on health care? Repeal Obamacare 500 times? Then what?
Republicans care only about:
1. Staying in office: laws to restrict voting, unlimited "dark money" for campaigns
2. Rolling back social changes: LGBT equality, abortion, gender pay equality
3. Cutting taxes: only for million- and billionaires - see flat ("fair"!) tax
4. Cutting regulations: "Which 3 federal agencies do you want to eliminate this week Republican Candidate X?"
Republicans care only about:
1. Staying in office: laws to restrict voting, unlimited "dark money" for campaigns
2. Rolling back social changes: LGBT equality, abortion, gender pay equality
3. Cutting taxes: only for million- and billionaires - see flat ("fair"!) tax
4. Cutting regulations: "Which 3 federal agencies do you want to eliminate this week Republican Candidate X?"
88
I don't think the "elite" care about abortion, etc. It's just something they talk about to keep their low information voters in line.
1
The key statistic is not simply the unfavorable rating, but the NET of unfavorable/favorable. By that measure, Hillary is at -14, while Cruz is at -21 and Trump is at -35.
9
Hillary's rating is only because the republicans have pilloried her with false and nasty propaganda for years. Given that she is probably on of the most favorable liked candidates ever.
4
If only the founders had thought this through, we'd have a "none of the above" on a Presidential ballot
5
I had to laugh at Orrin Hatch's comment that Ryan brings people together. This from a party that has one agenda: destroy the government, destroy elected democrats; compromise=treason.
But no one should take Ryan's faux refusal seriously, nor the republican guard's faux support for his candidacy seriously. I think they both secretly wish to see Trump/Cruz to fail spectacularly, so that they never have to confront such a specter in their remaining political lives. Goldwater's rout forever prevented an openly strident republican - firm and explicit in his beliefs about social and fiscal conservatism. His failure spawned an era of cynical, race baiting republicans (law and order Nixon, welfare queen Reagan, Willy Horton Bush I) who paid lip service to the retrogressive religious right (vote for me, and then go back and do as you are told in your Southern counties and parishes).
Trump/Cruz's failure will - for the next several decades anyway - clear the way for this cynical, covert form of republicanism to flourish. Or so many think.
Kalidan
But no one should take Ryan's faux refusal seriously, nor the republican guard's faux support for his candidacy seriously. I think they both secretly wish to see Trump/Cruz to fail spectacularly, so that they never have to confront such a specter in their remaining political lives. Goldwater's rout forever prevented an openly strident republican - firm and explicit in his beliefs about social and fiscal conservatism. His failure spawned an era of cynical, race baiting republicans (law and order Nixon, welfare queen Reagan, Willy Horton Bush I) who paid lip service to the retrogressive religious right (vote for me, and then go back and do as you are told in your Southern counties and parishes).
Trump/Cruz's failure will - for the next several decades anyway - clear the way for this cynical, covert form of republicanism to flourish. Or so many think.
Kalidan
6
If this holds, we are witnessing an American political party die of self inflicted wounds.
Like my daddy said: "You can educate ignorance, but there is no cure for stupid."
Like my daddy said: "You can educate ignorance, but there is no cure for stupid."
16
All the anger in today's story seems to be in the heart of Mr. Edsall. As a partisan liberal, he is called upon to maintain a tense anger toward all things American and especially anything about Republicans.
How much simpler and boring the life of an independent journalist must seem nowadays compared to his involvement with politics and awesome coolness in support of the supremacy of the central state.
How much simpler and boring the life of an independent journalist must seem nowadays compared to his involvement with politics and awesome coolness in support of the supremacy of the central state.
3
Ryan is currently third in line for the presidency. No matter who is the next president, he will be at the table for every important domestic decision; he will have enormous influence for the next four years, and be well set for to run for president in four or eight years. He's young. He would be a fool to risk losing this leverage. And Ryan is no fool. He will not run -- yet.
5
It's just WAY too soon. He's only been Speaker for a few months. He lost when he ran as VP in 2012. Ryan is still young. He needs to build his brand, which he will as SPEAKER.
He has oodles of time to run and WIN in 2020 or 2024 and will STILL be a young man. Why run and lose, and brand yourself a loser? He won't run, not now.
He has oodles of time to run and WIN in 2020 or 2024 and will STILL be a young man. Why run and lose, and brand yourself a loser? He won't run, not now.
1
"All things American"? And just who gets to decide what is and is not "American" -- you?
Ryan has already built his "brand" - it is one of no ideas, wonkery only in his own mind, destroy any possible safety net, deny women control of their own health care, budgets that are fairy tales and even though he's been Speaker for only a few months, complete inability to accomplish anything.
He's already a loser. But thanks for trying.
He's already a loser. But thanks for trying.
How has the Republican Party "lost its best chance to take the White House and maintain control of the Senate"?
The GOP itself may love the Ryans, Rubios, Walkers, etc. but their base certainly has not shown anywhere near the same enthusiasm. Ryan did Romney ZERO good in 2012. Bush and Rubio didn't generate enough enthusiasm among voters to even garner a yawn and Scott Walker was out way before the voting even began.
The GOP keeps touting these men as "the future of the party" yet when they run for anything outside their tiny congressional district they fare pathetically.
The GOP of low taxes, small government, free trade and lax regulation currently enjoys the support of about 10% of America. That's 41% below the threshold for winning the presidency.
The GOP itself may love the Ryans, Rubios, Walkers, etc. but their base certainly has not shown anywhere near the same enthusiasm. Ryan did Romney ZERO good in 2012. Bush and Rubio didn't generate enough enthusiasm among voters to even garner a yawn and Scott Walker was out way before the voting even began.
The GOP keeps touting these men as "the future of the party" yet when they run for anything outside their tiny congressional district they fare pathetically.
The GOP of low taxes, small government, free trade and lax regulation currently enjoys the support of about 10% of America. That's 41% below the threshold for winning the presidency.
27
Actually, it is the lefty media such as this publication that wants Ryan (or Kasich). They want someone who is guaranteed to lose, and has no populist following. Someone who will politely concede to Hillary.
The only candidate that makes them pee in their panties is Trump. Ergo, they fear Trump because they think he could actually win. The other candidates have no real chance of winning against Hillary's billions.
The only candidate that makes them pee in their panties is Trump. Ergo, they fear Trump because they think he could actually win. The other candidates have no real chance of winning against Hillary's billions.
1
The GOP has been doing a negative sales job on Hillary for a couple of years now. Why? Isn't it apparent that they fear her opposing them in November most?
All of the grief they have been trying to build around Benghazi is just ridiculous. 240 servicemen were lost in that Marine barracks, in Beirut, under Reagan's watch in 1983. And 63 were killed that same year at the Beirut Embassy.
Health Care is something that Republicans have been clamoring for--and with the individual mandate--since Reagan advocated it in a Letter to every Member of Congress, in 1972. But, once Obama embraced it, at Romney's suggestion, the GOP harassed him--and has been castigating Hillary about it, as just another way to put her picture on their toxic jar of snake oil.
When you consider her credentials, she is the only one--in either Party--who has any qualifications to be President.
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
All of the grief they have been trying to build around Benghazi is just ridiculous. 240 servicemen were lost in that Marine barracks, in Beirut, under Reagan's watch in 1983. And 63 were killed that same year at the Beirut Embassy.
Health Care is something that Republicans have been clamoring for--and with the individual mandate--since Reagan advocated it in a Letter to every Member of Congress, in 1972. But, once Obama embraced it, at Romney's suggestion, the GOP harassed him--and has been castigating Hillary about it, as just another way to put her picture on their toxic jar of snake oil.
When you consider her credentials, she is the only one--in either Party--who has any qualifications to be President.
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
4
For a couple of years? How about, oh, twenty-plus years?
2
Today's column quotes people who make a lot of assumptions about the electability of Ryan. Ryan looks good to some because he hasn't been involved in the mud wrestling, and he hasn't gotten dirty. He's not going to clean Hillary's clock when people are reminded how he will strip social programs and offer voodoo budgets as he has done in the past. Unlike Trump, Ryan has well-defined fiscal plans that can be and have been evaluated. They are more smoke and mirrors--cuttings waste and fraud, expecting unrealistic economic growth, spurring the economy by cutting taxes for the job creators. We've heard all the basics before.
Let Ryan run so that he has time to put his fiscal plans out there. He'll have lots of time because he won't spend much talking about his foreign policy experience. Let see his favorability ratings after he comes out of the shadows.
Let Ryan run so that he has time to put his fiscal plans out there. He'll have lots of time because he won't spend much talking about his foreign policy experience. Let see his favorability ratings after he comes out of the shadows.
2
While Ryan is certainly much better than Cruz or Trump, he is not that perfect to the poor. Even though he grew up in a family that depended on government help, he wants to cut (privatize) all the government aid that goes to people, meaning at least 25% of that money would go to a corporation doling out our tax dollars.
2
Except his family did not "depend on government help". They took every penny they could get their hands on, but they didn't need it. They were, and continue to be, a very wealthy family.
Talk about "takers"!
Talk about "takers"!
1
"Unsullied by the primary battle?" Seriously, Mr. Castellanos? That's what you think of millions of voters having made the commitment of participating in a Party-sanctioned nominating process?
"Wiping the slate clean" guarantees that the base will send the GOP on a hike to nowhere come November and perhaps worse than that. The GOP has brought this mess upon its own head by creating a petri dish of rage and then cleverly deflecting the blame to anywhere but where it belongs, in the loathesome lap of the Republican Party.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
"Wiping the slate clean" guarantees that the base will send the GOP on a hike to nowhere come November and perhaps worse than that. The GOP has brought this mess upon its own head by creating a petri dish of rage and then cleverly deflecting the blame to anywhere but where it belongs, in the loathesome lap of the Republican Party.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
6
So the savior of the Republican party will either be a "white knight" or a "dark horse" according to the reporting of Mr. Edsall. I can't wait. I presume that it means that the former will be riding the latter, and will enter the arena to the ovation of the 2700-plus delegates, with a bible in one hand and the American flag in the other, screaming out of his lungs: Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, he made me see the light, and I will accept your nomination - despite my former statements to the contrary!
And everything will be good in the holy land of the Republicans; and Mr. Ryan will crush the infidel Hillary in a sweeping 49-state landslide; and God will extend his blessings on these United States by turning Mr. Trump into a deaf and mute frog.
Good luck!
And everything will be good in the holy land of the Republicans; and Mr. Ryan will crush the infidel Hillary in a sweeping 49-state landslide; and God will extend his blessings on these United States by turning Mr. Trump into a deaf and mute frog.
Good luck!
8
From Shakespeare: "CASCA
I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of it. It was mere foolery. I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown (yet ’twas not a crown neither, ’twas one of these coronets) and, as I told you, he put it by once—but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again, then he put it by again—but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time. He put it the third time by. And still, as he refused it, the rabblement hooted and clapped their chapped hands and threw up their sweaty night-caps and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown that it had almost choked Caesar—for he swooned and fell down at it. And for mine own part, I durst not laugh for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air."
I can as well be hanged as tell the manner of it. It was mere foolery. I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown (yet ’twas not a crown neither, ’twas one of these coronets) and, as I told you, he put it by once—but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again, then he put it by again—but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time. He put it the third time by. And still, as he refused it, the rabblement hooted and clapped their chapped hands and threw up their sweaty night-caps and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because Caesar refused the crown that it had almost choked Caesar—for he swooned and fell down at it. And for mine own part, I durst not laugh for fear of opening my lips and receiving the bad air."
4
Good riddance, I hope.
However, one should take notice especially that his stated reason for not considering positively this movement for him to enter the campaign for the Republican Party presidential nomination is that Republican Party's nominee should have been running for the position all along.
Conveniently, this statement of proper procedure forecloses the Republican Party from adding any other late-candidate, such as Romney, from entering the race at this time. This means that if there is a brokered Republican convention, he would be alone to accept his Party's call to accept the Party's nomination at a deeply divided convention. That's how he became Speaker of the House of Reprensentatives. Same dog, same trick.
However, one should take notice especially that his stated reason for not considering positively this movement for him to enter the campaign for the Republican Party presidential nomination is that Republican Party's nominee should have been running for the position all along.
Conveniently, this statement of proper procedure forecloses the Republican Party from adding any other late-candidate, such as Romney, from entering the race at this time. This means that if there is a brokered Republican convention, he would be alone to accept his Party's call to accept the Party's nomination at a deeply divided convention. That's how he became Speaker of the House of Reprensentatives. Same dog, same trick.
4
Swallow your medicine, Republicans. Trump will go down your throats painfully. But once inside you, he'll do the famous Mitt Pivot -- and become just like you always wanted your presidential candidate to be: Presidential. The Donald has already promised you many times that he knows how to do it.
He won't build The Wall. It'll more like a white picket fence, with temporary work visas issued at the gate to those willing to weed strawberry plants or tote concrete construction blocks for a couple bucks an hour.
He won't ban Muslims as long as they have clean records and are citizens of a European country.
He won't prohibit outsourcing by companies whose executives contribute generously to his general election campaign.
Remember: Trump loves evangelicals. He loves Israel and Jews (his daughter and her newborn are Jews). He loves women (so much that he's married a few of them). He knows how to build buildings. And leap over them when and as required.
He won't build The Wall. It'll more like a white picket fence, with temporary work visas issued at the gate to those willing to weed strawberry plants or tote concrete construction blocks for a couple bucks an hour.
He won't ban Muslims as long as they have clean records and are citizens of a European country.
He won't prohibit outsourcing by companies whose executives contribute generously to his general election campaign.
Remember: Trump loves evangelicals. He loves Israel and Jews (his daughter and her newborn are Jews). He loves women (so much that he's married a few of them). He knows how to build buildings. And leap over them when and as required.
6
The winner will be the "least hated". I agree, yet how on Earth did we get here?
I'm a Dem, but would vote for Kasich and maybe even Ryan over HRC. At least those guys seem to have ideas.
And yet after reading Jane Mayer's excellent "Dark Money", I can't help but think ANY GOP candidate would be a puppet for the Kochs and their ilk.
I may just write in Bernie and go home with a clear conscience. And then atheist or not, I'll pray that in 4 years this temporary populist insanity will be over. Sens and Republicans need to do their jobs, work together, and reach honestly negotiated agreements. I wish I could even dream that this is a possible scenario.
I'm a Dem, but would vote for Kasich and maybe even Ryan over HRC. At least those guys seem to have ideas.
And yet after reading Jane Mayer's excellent "Dark Money", I can't help but think ANY GOP candidate would be a puppet for the Kochs and their ilk.
I may just write in Bernie and go home with a clear conscience. And then atheist or not, I'll pray that in 4 years this temporary populist insanity will be over. Sens and Republicans need to do their jobs, work together, and reach honestly negotiated agreements. I wish I could even dream that this is a possible scenario.
1
@Joe H
Who or what would you pray to?
Who or what would you pray to?
Your conscience should not be clear if that is what you think is an honest choice.
You have bought Republican talking points, and not thought for yourself, or looked for yourself.
You have bought Republican talking points, and not thought for yourself, or looked for yourself.
1
So Mr Ryan made the following statement...I do not want nor will I accept the nomination for our party... The Legislative Branch has decided that if the next elected President of the US is not to their liking, they will refuse to work with him/her. This is exactly what is wrong with this country and I believe that all the members of the Legislative Branch that believe this premise should be impeached immediately.
7
Underlying Ryan's Tesday statement was a fair amount of self-serving egotism from someone whose sales pitch is that he is smarter and wiser than most in the Republican Party, heat he has real ideas and real solutions.
He projects a far more positive image than the two disgusting GOP front runners. But despite his latter attempts to disguise his intent, his rhetoric continues to be pure Ayn Randian, the crackpot philosopher.
His positive approach is denied by his immediate declaration that he would not work with President Obama on immigration because he is untrustworthy. And is Paul Ryan trustworthy? A cheap shot to inaugurate his reign as speaker.
So sticks and stones when all he had to do was to put such a bill together that could pass the House and Senate and present it to "untrustworthy" Obama. He won't because he can't.
He's as vacuous as Trump or Cruz - but he has better manners. He's still a wolf in a sheep's skin and as vacuous as a sheep.
He projects a far more positive image than the two disgusting GOP front runners. But despite his latter attempts to disguise his intent, his rhetoric continues to be pure Ayn Randian, the crackpot philosopher.
His positive approach is denied by his immediate declaration that he would not work with President Obama on immigration because he is untrustworthy. And is Paul Ryan trustworthy? A cheap shot to inaugurate his reign as speaker.
So sticks and stones when all he had to do was to put such a bill together that could pass the House and Senate and present it to "untrustworthy" Obama. He won't because he can't.
He's as vacuous as Trump or Cruz - but he has better manners. He's still a wolf in a sheep's skin and as vacuous as a sheep.
17
Ryan's posturing is no indication of his meaning - if he calculates he can win in a Clinton-Ryan contest, he's in. To persuade him, the party will have to come up with a strategy and support that looks worth the gamble. If Ryan runs, it'll be a while before we know what the bargain was, and whether he has to win to prosper, or just run.
2
If Paul Ryan were to become the Republican Party nominee I suspect that discussions of the Magic Asterisk in his budget plans would no longer be confined to Paul Krugman's and a few other blogs. His negatives might rise as voters would pay attention to the mendacity (or - to be charitable - perhaps the incompetence) of his proposals.
That said, this election does have the feel of a choice between the lesser of two bad options. I just have confidence that voters could see past Paul Ryan's facade and realize that he too is a bad option that has thus far had the advantage of a credulous press corps. I believe that advantage would evaporate if he were to become the Republican nominee and people would get the chance to see his proposals for what they are.
That said, this election does have the feel of a choice between the lesser of two bad options. I just have confidence that voters could see past Paul Ryan's facade and realize that he too is a bad option that has thus far had the advantage of a credulous press corps. I believe that advantage would evaporate if he were to become the Republican nominee and people would get the chance to see his proposals for what they are.
2
Ryan is clearly "playing the maid's part," and unfortunately there are many people who assume that there is something respectable about him---after all, he's tall, and clean cut, and doesn't shout. I think he may have even been an eagle scout in his youth. But if you look beneath the surface, the policies he has supported are pretty much as inhumane as the former and current "official candidates." He's as much of an empty suit as Rubio. What are we to expect from an individual who says he received his political inspiration from reading "Atlas Shrugged?"
That such a person as Ryan could be perceived as a potential "knight in shining armor" just illustrates how complete is the intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy of the republican party.
That such a person as Ryan could be perceived as a potential "knight in shining armor" just illustrates how complete is the intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy of the republican party.
6
"I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown;--yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one of these coronets;--and, as I told you, he put it by once: but, for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again: but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his
fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time . . . . "
"Julius Caesar," Act One, Scene Two
fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time . . . . "
"Julius Caesar," Act One, Scene Two
5
There is already a moderate Republican running, and likely to win. The new President will use vast "experience and competence" to find a way to work with Congress to "get things done". The new President will be okay with with sending troops to the Middle East to defend Saudi Arabia's interests, and will staunchly oppose legislation to control Wall Street, which has provided lavish support. Hillary Clinton IS the moderate Republican candidate, and Paul Ryan knows it.
1
"... next president is likely to win not because he or she is the most loved, but because he or she is the least hated." Gee, what's new? As far as I can remember, and that goes back to Carter, I always voted against somebody, rather than for the like of the other.
1
When I hear Trump carrying on about the unfairness of the Republican nominating process, I can tell that his supporters don't believe in rules any more than he does. Do we really think they're going to turn into sheep heading toward Ryan or Cruz or whatever Republican gets mustered into battle? Please.
4
It's become increasingly unclear that we need the GOP and the Republican Party, at all.
They certainly don't represent the interests of the citizens of the United States, they've made that eminently clear over the past thirty years.
With the recent actions of McRory and others across the South, they also certainly don't represent the interests of business, either.
So, whom and what do they represent????
Themselves, mainly, in an increasingly insane, unpredictable and incoherent way. We've seen that ever since the start of the primary season.
So, why make any effort or give any further thought to saving the Republican Party and the GOP?
They're clearly toast. And of no good to anyone.
They certainly don't represent the interests of the citizens of the United States, they've made that eminently clear over the past thirty years.
With the recent actions of McRory and others across the South, they also certainly don't represent the interests of business, either.
So, whom and what do they represent????
Themselves, mainly, in an increasingly insane, unpredictable and incoherent way. We've seen that ever since the start of the primary season.
So, why make any effort or give any further thought to saving the Republican Party and the GOP?
They're clearly toast. And of no good to anyone.
3
Shame there's no talk of Bernie and Hillary stepping aside and inviting Elizabeth Warren to lead the ticket. Far, far stronger candidate than either of them. Tim Kaine or Sherrod Brown also.
Never mind that she finally succeeded in saying no. Here's what she has to say on all this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7rWXURt6PI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7rWXURt6PI
1
Paul Ryan is infinitely preferable to Trump or Cruz. But that is pretty much the dictionary definition of damning with faint praise.
That a Ryan nomination would immediately put Hillary in the position of being the underdog should be extremely troubling to Hillary, not to mention the voters. Hillary will ignore it, of course. The Democratic convention should not.
Ryan has made it plain his family is his priority. I take him at his word. Why would anyone expose those he loves most, especially those the ages of his children, to the rancid, toxic atmosphere of Washington warfare. Democrats will be no more welcoming of him than the members of Ryan's party have been to Obama. I would like to believe Democrats would, however, give a pass to the family of a Republican president that Republicans have not extended to the wife and daughters of Obama.
Cruz, very early on, injected his young daughters into the political arena with an ill-considered video and immediately came to regret his actions, another reason to question Cruz's judgment. Ryan has certainly been more presidential in his not running than Cruz has since his sprint started 9 months ago.
Never say never, though. Sanders stacks up better against whichever Republican he would have to face than does Hillary. In that respect, both parties will be facing the same convention conundrum this summer.
That a Ryan nomination would immediately put Hillary in the position of being the underdog should be extremely troubling to Hillary, not to mention the voters. Hillary will ignore it, of course. The Democratic convention should not.
Ryan has made it plain his family is his priority. I take him at his word. Why would anyone expose those he loves most, especially those the ages of his children, to the rancid, toxic atmosphere of Washington warfare. Democrats will be no more welcoming of him than the members of Ryan's party have been to Obama. I would like to believe Democrats would, however, give a pass to the family of a Republican president that Republicans have not extended to the wife and daughters of Obama.
Cruz, very early on, injected his young daughters into the political arena with an ill-considered video and immediately came to regret his actions, another reason to question Cruz's judgment. Ryan has certainly been more presidential in his not running than Cruz has since his sprint started 9 months ago.
Never say never, though. Sanders stacks up better against whichever Republican he would have to face than does Hillary. In that respect, both parties will be facing the same convention conundrum this summer.
The article that depicts Paul Ryan as the Republican hero and Clinton slayer omits a crucial item. Ryan is a phony and a fraud. Nothing he proposes is anything but more tax cuts for very rich people and paying for some of it on the backs of the middle class and retirees.
9
Considering the unruliness of the House Ryan may well wish he'd stuck to repeatedly rejecting running for House Speaker.Now knowing that the Convention will likely be the most chaotic since the Democrats' in 1968 Ryan might be worried that he'll no longer have a political future by the end of the GOP Convention.But he probably also reasons that given the unpopularity of who ever is elected President,if he leaves Cleveland with his political future intact waiting until 2020 to run for President makes the best sense.
1
Edsall doesn't seem to have noticed that Ryan's favorability ratings are also negative:
http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster#favorability-ratings
Maybe he should also read the columns of Paul Krugman, who patiently points out the absurdity of Ryan's actual proposals. Would Ryan somehow get through a national campaign without someone pointing out what his proposals would actually imply for the majority of people?
http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster#favorability-ratings
Maybe he should also read the columns of Paul Krugman, who patiently points out the absurdity of Ryan's actual proposals. Would Ryan somehow get through a national campaign without someone pointing out what his proposals would actually imply for the majority of people?
7
Quite so. You can bet that if Ryan saddles up, it won't be long before the cardboard "knight in shining armor" is revealed as a blight in a bright & shining lie....
Hey, I've got a brilliant idea: How about we all vote for the one candidate still standing that's more liked than hated in the primary, so that we can make a choice that the majority of the country is comfortable supporting? I know, crazy idea, right?
That candidate would be Bernie Sanders. Who, contrary to some peoples' belief, is still running for president, and still could win.
That candidate would be Bernie Sanders. Who, contrary to some peoples' belief, is still running for president, and still could win.
12
Lots of talk about strategies, nothing about policies or ideas.
A party whose only apparent "value" for the past seven years has been hatred of a President now either has to find someone else to hate (immigrants, muslims?) or come up with some actual ideas for the future.
But thinking is hard.
A party whose only apparent "value" for the past seven years has been hatred of a President now either has to find someone else to hate (immigrants, muslims?) or come up with some actual ideas for the future.
But thinking is hard.
71
It's hard to say what the D.C. elites of either party actually want the most, but conservatives would point you to the fair and efficient role of government that we started the country with. We were much more free before the federal government developed the cancer of lust for power and control in the first half of the 20th century.
4
"conservatives would point you to the fair and efficient role " -- If they did, my guess based on their actions is it would be only whilst saying "We don't want anything at all like that!"
Except, L'O, conservatives don't want "fair and efficient" - they want all the cards stacked in their favor with nothing for all those they view as inferior and undeserving. And THEY are the only ones who get to decide who is undeserving.
1
Although I do not like Clinton, Ryan is a tea party crusader. He would be a disaster to women, the poor, and anyone whom he doesn't like at the moment. His appointments to the Supreme Court would set the country back for decades.
86
Ex really needs to skip all the indoctrination blogs like Kos and MediaMatters and stick to real news sources, even the Times or WaPo. You understand less about Ryan than the average tabby.
Were Ryan the ogre you've been trained to hate so much, he wouldn't have given Obama and the Democrats everything they asked for in the last budget deal. Even Harry Reid expressed surprise.
Were Ryan the ogre you've been trained to hate so much, he wouldn't have given Obama and the Democrats everything they asked for in the last budget deal. Even Harry Reid expressed surprise.
3
The supremes are flirting with disaster. The nonsense of channeling the founders, precedent and the black robes is theater. Laws follow public opinion. Ban abortion in states where women wear shoes and meet civil disobedience front and center. Citizens United will be fixed soon. Think the founders had a change of mind on gay rights? The court knows what they can't get away with. If you are confused just watch North Carolina twist in the wind.
After reading Dark Money, I now believe in Sec. Clinton's comment about a far right conspiracy, who for years, have spend millions, maybe billions, painting Pres. Clinton and his wife, as some sought of criminal empire. Yes, both Clinton's have made questionable judgements in their lives, but, when it comes to running this country and kind of smarts you need to address the complexities of running this country there is no question about Sec. Clinton's qualifications. As to Paul Ryan, he is nowhere near ready for prime time. I would add, I would not be too sure that Ryan has the upper hand in a Ryan-Clinton campaign---I think Hillary would clean his clock.
273
So guess Hillary really was a genius in her gamble on pork belly futures! Who knew? All that while she was dodging sniper fire!
5
I concur. But the pendulum swings and any Dem candidate for POTUS has an uphill task this year. For Sanders to play the game for the GOP is unconscionable.
2
And getting Bernie Sanders to participate in the coup has been their best move.
2
He(Ryan) would have to be crazy to climb aboard the sinking ship that is the result of the Republican parties oversight (for want of a better word) of the 2016 nominating process. It has been disastrous and has resulted in unelectable candidates coming to the fore and better choices being ignored. Im sure "vox populi" would be invoked by the party elders to mitigate their role in this fiasco, but if this is their best effort at managing a presidential nominating process, they might as well close up shop.
12
Agreed, jw, except that the clown car didn't really contain any "better" choices. Maybe some "less awful" choices but hardly even that.
"No Paul Ryan means still more anger". Well let's play devil's advocate. With Paul Ryan means still more anger. There appears to be a major slippage of reality thinking if the elite GOPers ands Mr. Edsall, he didn't offer an explanation, of why the disenfranchised GOP voters will be placated with another "do for the rich, the heck with all others" Paul Ryan.
Even if you all believe that the angry GOP members and democrats will pay no heed to Ryan's deep belief in way off center GOP right ideations, his only strength to the elite is he is not as far right as Cruz.
Ryan would be placing himself in a hot precarious seat, "Deja Vu all over again," tax cuts to the rich, no meaningful changes to improve lives of the poor, working and middle class, bam to health care, and what ever part of the safety net he can ring money away from.
With a continuation of laisse-fair governing stressing free market actions over the good of the afore mentioned down and out castaways of the current economic system, Ryan will be placing the GOP up for an even greater rebellion in the 2018 elections. And then, we may see that what occurs at that time will make what is happening in the GOP today as child's play.
I do not believe enough of the angry voters will support Ryan for him to win and that's only if Trump does not run a 3rd party. If Trump runs a 3rd party, forget Ryan, he is wiped out in the first two hours of voting in November.
Mr. Edsall, your not as comprehensive this time.
Even if you all believe that the angry GOP members and democrats will pay no heed to Ryan's deep belief in way off center GOP right ideations, his only strength to the elite is he is not as far right as Cruz.
Ryan would be placing himself in a hot precarious seat, "Deja Vu all over again," tax cuts to the rich, no meaningful changes to improve lives of the poor, working and middle class, bam to health care, and what ever part of the safety net he can ring money away from.
With a continuation of laisse-fair governing stressing free market actions over the good of the afore mentioned down and out castaways of the current economic system, Ryan will be placing the GOP up for an even greater rebellion in the 2018 elections. And then, we may see that what occurs at that time will make what is happening in the GOP today as child's play.
I do not believe enough of the angry voters will support Ryan for him to win and that's only if Trump does not run a 3rd party. If Trump runs a 3rd party, forget Ryan, he is wiped out in the first two hours of voting in November.
Mr. Edsall, your not as comprehensive this time.
12
This is a thin analysis of the election campaign. It cites a large swing of popular opinion about Hillary Clinton within the space of several years. One wonders what the cause was: some huge blunder? No, it was due to the constant drumbeat in the media about her e-mails, her shrillness, her vote on the Iraq War resolution, etc. It also assumes that the forthcoming election campaign would have no effect on public opinion. If Paul Ryan were to become the candidate, the Press would criticize the undemocratic way he was chosen, his strong stance on gun rights, his championing of low taxes and free trade, his opposition to a woman's right to choose, and his promise to nominate a Supreme Court justice to the right of Justice Scalia.
That might tend to shift public opinion about him.
That might tend to shift public opinion about him.
6
Ryan? Are they for real? Don't they understand that Trump's legions of angry, under-educated whites have turned to him because they feel they've been betrayed by Ryan and Co.?
The "trickle-down prosperity trick" doesn't work any longer. Blue-collar whites figured out that the pretty lady wasn't really sawed in half. They want a refund to the show.
They'd vote for Bernie before they vote for Ryan.
The "trickle-down prosperity trick" doesn't work any longer. Blue-collar whites figured out that the pretty lady wasn't really sawed in half. They want a refund to the show.
They'd vote for Bernie before they vote for Ryan.
20
I would really hope that eventually the term "under educated" supporters of Trump would be dropped. Its offensive and unnecessary and it is untrue.
They're intelligent people. I do believe they support Trump. But first they came to the realization that they were being given the cork wine opener right up the middle of their lives.
The problem of the GOP is that no respectable near center right would run to gain their support. One that gave recognition of the failure of the GOP to support their well being.
Trump stepped in where no so called rational problem solving republican would tread.
And that's the pity and the chaos of GOP political philosophy that the elites are all and "no, do nothing but oppress and suppress" is the proper way to govern.
They're intelligent people. I do believe they support Trump. But first they came to the realization that they were being given the cork wine opener right up the middle of their lives.
The problem of the GOP is that no respectable near center right would run to gain their support. One that gave recognition of the failure of the GOP to support their well being.
Trump stepped in where no so called rational problem solving republican would tread.
And that's the pity and the chaos of GOP political philosophy that the elites are all and "no, do nothing but oppress and suppress" is the proper way to govern.
James: It is Trump himself who swore that he "loved" the "under-educated".
The remark is a classic. Right up there with Romney's "47% takers".
Or your: "rational problem solving republican".
Ha! What knee-slappers!
The remark is a classic. Right up there with Romney's "47% takers".
Or your: "rational problem solving republican".
Ha! What knee-slappers!
1
Ryan would be just as bad as Cruz or Trump. He is equally goofy when it comes to his fundamental ideas, values, and attitudes.
21
Ryan is conducting himself in a manner that suggests he is running for the nomination in 2020, after the GOP destroys itself under either a Trump or Cruz candidacy and he, as the highest Republican official in the land, would be the principal player in restructuring the party. He seems to be doing what Richard Nixon did in 1966: help GOP candidates at all levels survive the looming disaster, and then cash in his chits in the next election. If Hillary is as bad as the Republicans say she will be, then she'll be vulnerable in 2020, just as LBJ was in 1968.
5
Hard to believe the continuing ignorance of the most experienced candidate
in the field of 17. From the outset and to this day. A man with prodigious
experience in the legislative, banking and governmental executive experience--and a proven record of success.
The, you know who, the man who is "unsullied by the fractious primary campaign". Indeed, but a name we won't mention the Governors name.
in the field of 17. From the outset and to this day. A man with prodigious
experience in the legislative, banking and governmental executive experience--and a proven record of success.
The, you know who, the man who is "unsullied by the fractious primary campaign". Indeed, but a name we won't mention the Governors name.
It's scary that you see endorsements from some of the most despicable people in America as an indication of Ryan's worth.
Beck, Rove, Hatch? If these people endorsed me I would feel shame.
Beck, Rove, Hatch? If these people endorsed me I would feel shame.
34
Yes, as Groucho Marx said, " I wouldn't want to be member of any club that would have me". No republican candidate already known or one not yet known will be good for America. Groucho was right, be very careful of mere acquaintances that state they love and want you in their club. In the end Ryan as president in 2017 will destroy his political career and hasten a greater rebellion of angry GOP'ers in 2018. He should realize it is political suicide.
Dear Mr. Edsall,
Mr. Ryan is the best the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE is the best they had to offer?
To be honest, it's bad enough picking the "lesser of two evils"; choosing between "dumb, dumber or dumbest" is just TOO far a stretch!
Mr. Ryan is the best the GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE is the best they had to offer?
To be honest, it's bad enough picking the "lesser of two evils"; choosing between "dumb, dumber or dumbest" is just TOO far a stretch!
9
While Ms. Clinton's ratings are lousy, this is more of a tribute to the Republicans' marketing ability than it is to anything she's done. Over the long term, they've spent tens of millions of dollars vilifying her. Think Vince Foster, Whitewater, Hillary: The Movie, etc. In the short term they've turned the House of Representatives into a propaganda machine holding hearing after hearing not to improve the processes and procedures of the State Department but to keep a cloud of controversy swirling around her smearing her reputation at every opportunity. So yes, the Republicans have managed to severely damage Ms. Clinton who is undoubtedly the person best qualified to become President.
25
There are so many Democrats who have drunk the GOP Kool-Aid. I'm more afraid of the BernieOrBust crowd than the right at this point.
4
Should Hillary win the nomination, I have little doubt that the Republicans in Congress will manufacture their own October Surprise and call her in for new hearings at the height of the Presidential race.
Thank you! Time to realize this is part of the Kochtopus, ground in a quarter century of opposition work.
2
Nobody hates Bernie except Wall Street, the Koch brothers and Donald Trump.
6
I thought the savior was supposed to be Kasich, who, for some reason, out polls Clinton?
1
Kasich is a treasure for the far right of the GOP. Look at his Ohio record. He is not America's savior. He is the devil in the red tux dancing to a fiddle of major repute.
2
I find this article supremely depressing. It is about the victory of the manufactured hate machine. American politics has descended to Orwell's 5-minute-hate ... improved and made more efficient by the rise of the 15-second spot, and Twitter ... the communication of twits.
Politics is now the art of birtherism, Swift-boating, Willy Horten, and making up vague alt-reality conspiracy theories against opponents and peddling them.
The GOP is a lot better at this than the Democrats are. And Ryan would "kill" Clinton because nobody has bothered to smear Ryan, and the Republicans have been after the Clintons for more than 20 years.
Modern American politics -- run a candidate for president picked from the phone book a week before the election: no chance for the smear to take hold until they are in office ... or not.
Politics is now the art of birtherism, Swift-boating, Willy Horten, and making up vague alt-reality conspiracy theories against opponents and peddling them.
The GOP is a lot better at this than the Democrats are. And Ryan would "kill" Clinton because nobody has bothered to smear Ryan, and the Republicans have been after the Clintons for more than 20 years.
Modern American politics -- run a candidate for president picked from the phone book a week before the election: no chance for the smear to take hold until they are in office ... or not.
13
And, the,nomination ballots for Cruz or Trump must be very clear. 50%
1 won't be enough.
1 won't be enough.
Mr. Ryan has plenty of haters. Just ask my old college chums who still live in Wisconsin. He's an affront to the truly progressive values that so many Badgers still hold dear. Peel away all the made-for-TV-commercials smiles and pseudo sincerity and at the core, Ryan is just another self-aggrandizing puppet of the monied class. He's another yammering jaw with soild plans for my uterus but offers nothing more than discredited jabberwocky to sprew about economics, jobs and the slow erosion of working- and middle-class futures. Just another empty Republican suit. Yawn.
356
Jabberwocky, of course, how perfect a word for the 's intent to have the middle class on down falling deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole of no nothing economics for their betterment.
1
"In a background conversation, a source who is intimately familiar with the inner workings of the Clinton campaign — and who insisted on anonymity in order to be able to discuss the prospect of a Clinton-Ryan election candidly — was blunt: “Ryan would kill her.”"
Once again the political insiders are showing how clueless they are. I don't care what Hillary's "negatives" are, you don't steal the primary election from the top two GOP candidates, hand the nomination to someone beloved only by the establishment and who wasn't even in the race and then expect that the angry Republican "base" is going to dutifully line up and vote for him. Do you think if Ryan thought that he would easily beat Clinton that he wouldn't put himself in the running?
Once again the political insiders are showing how clueless they are. I don't care what Hillary's "negatives" are, you don't steal the primary election from the top two GOP candidates, hand the nomination to someone beloved only by the establishment and who wasn't even in the race and then expect that the angry Republican "base" is going to dutifully line up and vote for him. Do you think if Ryan thought that he would easily beat Clinton that he wouldn't put himself in the running?
21
Matt : wish that were true . But you know the old political adage : "Democrats fall in love, but Republicans fall in line " .
1
We, Paul did put himself in the running and left through the cellar door. Now he must be asked and then accept. An as stated earlier, if Trump does not get the nomination and runs a 3rd party, it will tear the GOP to shreds.
He wants it. He said the same thing about the speaker position. He's just playing games.
5
If Trump doesn't get the nomination, just think of all of the angst and hand-wringing and outrage - all of that worry - that ultimately was unnecessary.
1
Keep hand ringing for anyone they come up with.
That Republicans still consult the likes of Ben Beck who fancies himself as a messianic character and who audaciously tried to appropriate the spirit of MLK on his holiday with a million man march to uphold his version of Christianity means they will remain a religious cult, devoid of practical ideas that will roll back the growing misery which they have caused in this country.
5
Even if Trump and Cruz are stopped and Ryan gets the nomination (pretty likely I think) he will be so savior. The Republic Party is controlled by the descendants of the tax packs who started as anti school budget people, John Birchers, the TEA Party, and other anti-government extremists. It would be better for the Party and the Country if the Republicans took a beating and had to reorganize in a way which respected minorities and responsible governing with sensible regulations and a fair tax system. The Party is nowhere near such a state yet and it will take a significant defeat to fix it.
3
The contest for "most hated" was created by the Establishments of both Parties. It was their opening gambit, when we were assured this would be Bush III vs Clinton II. Who do we hate more -- the brother of W or the wife of the guy we impeached?
That was the designed contest. They did not see a problem with doing that to the voting public.
The Republicans lost control of who is hated for being them. Instead of Jeb? it will be somebody else, but with exactly the same position of hate-Hillary-more.
Meanwhile the Democratic Establishment never wavered, it has been Clinton II all the way. It is being crammed down by the Establishment despite large parts of the Party objecting loudly.
Nader warned us of this. We get "hate Nader" in response, from people who sure would not support Lieberman today, and who forget that Gore was a wooden candidate who lost his own home state before he got fat and bearded and adopted environmentalism.
Yet they do exactly what Nader warned they do. That is why we have a contest of who-do-you-hate-more. It isn't because Trump or Cruz is running. They are symptoms, not cause.
That was the designed contest. They did not see a problem with doing that to the voting public.
The Republicans lost control of who is hated for being them. Instead of Jeb? it will be somebody else, but with exactly the same position of hate-Hillary-more.
Meanwhile the Democratic Establishment never wavered, it has been Clinton II all the way. It is being crammed down by the Establishment despite large parts of the Party objecting loudly.
Nader warned us of this. We get "hate Nader" in response, from people who sure would not support Lieberman today, and who forget that Gore was a wooden candidate who lost his own home state before he got fat and bearded and adopted environmentalism.
Yet they do exactly what Nader warned they do. That is why we have a contest of who-do-you-hate-more. It isn't because Trump or Cruz is running. They are symptoms, not cause.
11
One of your best, Mark. Thank you.
1
Right. "Nader," as in "Bush v Gore."
I am so done with blind, absolutist, egotistical ideologues.
I am so done with blind, absolutist, egotistical ideologues.
1
Ryan may not know much about economics except what he read in an Ayn Rand novel, but he knows how to posture politically. He said the same thing about not wanting to be considered for Speaker of the House, and look where he is now: Speaker of the House.
Ryan probably won't be elevated to be the GOP presidential nominee, but this time that isn't the job he's looking for. He knows the Republicans are going to fall apart by nominating Trump, or by not nominating Trump, or by electing Trump. Any of these outcomes are going to lead to buyer's remorse on the part of traditional Republican voters, and he's positioning himself to be the man with the plan, the True Reagan Republican, in the wake of whatever comes. He's counting on things falling further apart in order to rise from the ashes. If he's right, the GOP will flock to him and respect him despite his many, many shortcomings.
Ryan probably won't be elevated to be the GOP presidential nominee, but this time that isn't the job he's looking for. He knows the Republicans are going to fall apart by nominating Trump, or by not nominating Trump, or by electing Trump. Any of these outcomes are going to lead to buyer's remorse on the part of traditional Republican voters, and he's positioning himself to be the man with the plan, the True Reagan Republican, in the wake of whatever comes. He's counting on things falling further apart in order to rise from the ashes. If he's right, the GOP will flock to him and respect him despite his many, many shortcomings.
16
Many many many shortcomings. But I'm hoping this years election game, with 17 pretty unelectable candidates and ending up with the least desirable of the bunch at the top, have taught Republicans to change their tune. They have reaped what they have sown.
2
They don't appear to be able to learn from their mistakes. Just look at Republican Senate deciding within hours of Justice Scalia's death that their best course of action was to refuse to even consider a nomination from President Obama. To make it worse, it was crystal clear even by then that Trump or Cruz would most likely end up on top of their ticket. They are completely unmoored from reality.
2
" reaped what they have sown. " -- The problem is, so have we all. :(
No matter whom the GOP'ers put forward, they will still be heading ' the party of No ', which can't govern even with majorities in both Houses of the legislature; they won't say ' Yes ' to confirming judges, or even call for a vote on the use of military force in Syria to combat Daesh/Isil, for a time period now approaching 3 years.
GOP'ers look at the government as primarily a fund-raising mechanism, and have been loathe to do anything that would cross their base, who are ginned up 24/7 by Rushbo and the Faux Noise Machina fog horn of miasma.
No matter whom is at the top of the ticket, GOP'ers can't be led; they don't want to govern, they are anti-government.
GOP'ers look at the government as primarily a fund-raising mechanism, and have been loathe to do anything that would cross their base, who are ginned up 24/7 by Rushbo and the Faux Noise Machina fog horn of miasma.
No matter whom is at the top of the ticket, GOP'ers can't be led; they don't want to govern, they are anti-government.
65
If only "Little Green Checkmark Abuse - Hyperbole" were an option in the Flag menu..
1
So, according to this article, not only the nomination, but the White House is Ryan's if he just chooses to by crowned savior (not only of the GOP, apparently, but of the nation).
One calculation for Ryan (who doubtlessly wants to be POTUS at some point) is the possibility of an independent Trump run if he is foiled at the convention. Ryan does not need another round of being on a losing GOP ticket. Likely he has eyes on 2020 and/or 2024. Then, too, maybe the guy just likes being coaxed and seen as the reluctant savior who just couldn't say 'no' to the ground swell pleading for his divide presence to save them.
The wild card in all of this are the Trump supporters and their perception that the system is rigged against them.
One calculation for Ryan (who doubtlessly wants to be POTUS at some point) is the possibility of an independent Trump run if he is foiled at the convention. Ryan does not need another round of being on a losing GOP ticket. Likely he has eyes on 2020 and/or 2024. Then, too, maybe the guy just likes being coaxed and seen as the reluctant savior who just couldn't say 'no' to the ground swell pleading for his divide presence to save them.
The wild card in all of this are the Trump supporters and their perception that the system is rigged against them.
10
Paul Ryan is the perfect candidate for the GOP. He has proved he is for taking from the poor and middle class to help the rich while he plays the same tired ideas over and over. He is a perfect just say no man with no workable plan. He is just as bad as the other two however he comes across as a nice guy so the GOP thinks he can be elected.
77
He is worse than Trump and as bad as Cruz.
1
Paul Ryan has an agenda. It's not an agenda for America. It's not an agenda for the Republican party.
It is an agenda for Paul Ryan.
Ryan is drop-dead serious when he says he will not accept the nomination.
The guy is too smart, and much too selfish, to become the face of a party more ripped apart than the right side of the Titanic after Freddie Fleet's late call of "Iceberg!"
Ryan WANTS his party to founder in 2016. In fact, I'd wager he's praying for it.
After all, you can't be a savior to something that doesn't need saving.
It's important not to be fooled by Ryan's, "Let's all work together and love one another because we can disagree and not be disagreeable," schtick.
Because it is a schtick.
This is a guy who worships at the alter of Ayn Rand and the philosophy of "objectivism," a wholly selfish, fully secular idea, which teaches that ones' self is the only thing that matters. There is no liberal, nor conservative. Other people are to be used only to achieve one's high purpose of making yourself happy.
Paul Ryan has been quoted as saying he gives Rand's manifesto, "Atlas Shrugged," as Christmas presents. He requires his staff to read it.
Ryan describes society as a clash between "makers," and "takers."
Ryan wants huge, regressive tax cuts. He told Bush Administration officials to welcome, not avoid, "class warfare."
Warning: Paul Ryan is NOT the warm, fuzzy, "Why Can't We All Just Get Along?" character he pretends to be.
He is calculating.
He is dangerous.
It is an agenda for Paul Ryan.
Ryan is drop-dead serious when he says he will not accept the nomination.
The guy is too smart, and much too selfish, to become the face of a party more ripped apart than the right side of the Titanic after Freddie Fleet's late call of "Iceberg!"
Ryan WANTS his party to founder in 2016. In fact, I'd wager he's praying for it.
After all, you can't be a savior to something that doesn't need saving.
It's important not to be fooled by Ryan's, "Let's all work together and love one another because we can disagree and not be disagreeable," schtick.
Because it is a schtick.
This is a guy who worships at the alter of Ayn Rand and the philosophy of "objectivism," a wholly selfish, fully secular idea, which teaches that ones' self is the only thing that matters. There is no liberal, nor conservative. Other people are to be used only to achieve one's high purpose of making yourself happy.
Paul Ryan has been quoted as saying he gives Rand's manifesto, "Atlas Shrugged," as Christmas presents. He requires his staff to read it.
Ryan describes society as a clash between "makers," and "takers."
Ryan wants huge, regressive tax cuts. He told Bush Administration officials to welcome, not avoid, "class warfare."
Warning: Paul Ryan is NOT the warm, fuzzy, "Why Can't We All Just Get Along?" character he pretends to be.
He is calculating.
He is dangerous.
467
Agreed!
2
The Koch brothers own him!
3
I said Paul Ryan is our Richard the Third and I meant it. Beneath the good boy mask he is as you say only out for himself. But perhaps this is what the Republican Party is, pretending to be for the people while being only a taker.
This is the essence of advertising and capitalism. Selling the appearance then raking in the profits. Service to others in Republican speak means only get what you want at any cost and if that means wrecking your Party that's OK.
Republicans are revealing their true colors. The only question remains, are the American people truly color blind or as gullible as they seem? At least Trump is honest in his squirllyness. Ryan and Cruz and Cruz will sell you down the river with a smile.
This is the essence of advertising and capitalism. Selling the appearance then raking in the profits. Service to others in Republican speak means only get what you want at any cost and if that means wrecking your Party that's OK.
Republicans are revealing their true colors. The only question remains, are the American people truly color blind or as gullible as they seem? At least Trump is honest in his squirllyness. Ryan and Cruz and Cruz will sell you down the river with a smile.
2
I want to see a Democrat in the White House, but I am not celebrating Ryan's decision not to run. As president Ryan would dismantle many of the important gains of the Obama years, but it would be just another turn of the wheel, with the potential for repair at some later date.
Trump or Cruz, on the other hand, could plunge the country into a downward spiral from which we might never recover. I grew up worrying about global nuclear war, something we barely think about now. Under President Trump, that fear would be back. And while I am neither Mexican nor Muslim, I can't live in a country whose policies are based on ethnic hatred.
I want to see a Clinton/Ryan contest, because I think we're at our best when each party puts up its best. Those who see Trump as an inevitable loser in the general election are the same pundits who told us he would never be a factor in the primaries.
Trump or Cruz, on the other hand, could plunge the country into a downward spiral from which we might never recover. I grew up worrying about global nuclear war, something we barely think about now. Under President Trump, that fear would be back. And while I am neither Mexican nor Muslim, I can't live in a country whose policies are based on ethnic hatred.
I want to see a Clinton/Ryan contest, because I think we're at our best when each party puts up its best. Those who see Trump as an inevitable loser in the general election are the same pundits who told us he would never be a factor in the primaries.
29
If the Republican party were to put up its best, it would draft Bloomberg.
1
The Republican Party is still plenty angry, and plenty hateful with, or without the likes of Mr. Ryan. Old ideologies die hard.
9
Does anyone accept the premise as true, that Paul Ryan wouldn't accept the nomination in a contested convention? Didn't he say the same thing about becoming speaker of the house? He struts and preens, makes his videos, and I just can't wait until he 'reluctantly' comes forward at some critical point to say 'well, if it's the will of the people!'. I am not a Republican, so I have no dog in the Republican primary hunt, but I find the alternatives to Trump just as scary or more so, including Ryan. In fact particularly Ryan. On many issues Trump is more liberal that any of the other possible or fantastical nominees, hence the real source of Republican machine angst. While he sometimes says some truly goofy and xenophobic/racist/misogynistic baloney, and is like smoke in the wind on many issues, at the core he's willing to compromise and deal, which none of the others are. Trump as president would surely embarrass us, but it would be unlikely to completely undo us (plus he would surely never be elected?). That its come to this point wounds me to the core, but we really should have known that this state of affairs was the logical end point (let's hope it's an end point) of the political fractures of the last two decades.
10
If Ryan became Prez, he could finally have a real bedroom. As it is, he sleeps in his office, shared with the mice.
3
What makes you think he would not sleep in the Oval Office.
What may be a disaster for the Republican party would be a boon for the average citizens of United States.
Let the waters swirl and close over the heads of the GOP. I just wish they'd be gone forever, along with their propaganda machines. Think of the country we could be without their destructive and divisive obstructionism and influence.
Let the waters swirl and close over the heads of the GOP. I just wish they'd be gone forever, along with their propaganda machines. Think of the country we could be without their destructive and divisive obstructionism and influence.
52
The one advantage Ryan has over the other Republican candidates is that he is a better liar. Twice I had an opportunity to question him on C-Span. The first time about the effect medical malpractice suites have on health care cost, he simply lied outright. He said that when the CBO computed that the maximum savings from an ideal version of tort reform would be 0.5%, they didn't consider the savings from defensive medicine. Not only did they consider it, but 60% of the maximum savings, 0.3%, would be due to reductions in defensive medicine.
The second time concerned a tax which he said would hit small businessmen hard. When I pointed out that the CBO had computed that the tax would only affect at most 7% of small businesses & most of those were not really small, he went on a long discussion of S-corporations vs C-corporations which was irrelevant.
He is supposed to be an expert on economics, but he supports a balanced
Let's see what has happened the 6 times we had such for more than 3 years:
The federal government has balanced the budget, eliminated deficits for more than three years in just six periods since 1776, bringing in enough revenue to cover all of its spending during 1817-21, 1823-36, 1852-57, 1867-73, 1880-93, and 1920-30. The debt was paid down 29%. 100%, 59%, 27%, 57%, and 36% respectively. A depression began in 1819, 1837, 1857, 1873, 1893 and 1929.
A vote for Paul Ryan is a vote for a 7th depression.
The second time concerned a tax which he said would hit small businessmen hard. When I pointed out that the CBO had computed that the tax would only affect at most 7% of small businesses & most of those were not really small, he went on a long discussion of S-corporations vs C-corporations which was irrelevant.
He is supposed to be an expert on economics, but he supports a balanced
Let's see what has happened the 6 times we had such for more than 3 years:
The federal government has balanced the budget, eliminated deficits for more than three years in just six periods since 1776, bringing in enough revenue to cover all of its spending during 1817-21, 1823-36, 1852-57, 1867-73, 1880-93, and 1920-30. The debt was paid down 29%. 100%, 59%, 27%, 57%, and 36% respectively. A depression began in 1819, 1837, 1857, 1873, 1893 and 1929.
A vote for Paul Ryan is a vote for a 7th depression.
76
Notwithstanding his own personal experience with Social Security death benefits after his father died, Ryan seems utterly clueless about the human life cycle of cash flow.
10
The republicans always call for a balance budget and use it like a cudgel against the democrats. But when they are in office they always run the deficit and debt sky high, usuallly on the military while cutting social programs.
4
Usually Edsall's column are pretty good but this one was just a flight of fancy.
This is not the mid-1800's when some dark horse candidate is put up by various factions of Democrats, Whigs or Know Nothings is chosen after 20+ ballots. The Republican Party will not pick a candidate outside the group that ran in the primaries.
That being said, if Trump doesn't outright win on the first, second or third ballot and it seems as if Cruz will "steal" the nomination, their will be rebellion among the rank and file. So, the only way Trump will stay in the tent (though he won't run as a 3rd Party candidate) will be if he can be kingmaker.
And the team that Trump will back and then run as the Republican nominees will be...
KASICH-RUBIO. And they will trounce Hillary and the who ever she chooses as her running mate.
This is not the mid-1800's when some dark horse candidate is put up by various factions of Democrats, Whigs or Know Nothings is chosen after 20+ ballots. The Republican Party will not pick a candidate outside the group that ran in the primaries.
That being said, if Trump doesn't outright win on the first, second or third ballot and it seems as if Cruz will "steal" the nomination, their will be rebellion among the rank and file. So, the only way Trump will stay in the tent (though he won't run as a 3rd Party candidate) will be if he can be kingmaker.
And the team that Trump will back and then run as the Republican nominees will be...
KASICH-RUBIO. And they will trounce Hillary and the who ever she chooses as her running mate.
The historical Thomas Paine would disdain this ticket as a pair of snakebitten Biblethumpers.
4
Kasich - Rubio? wishful thinking
2
I don't care if the president is 'likable'. Does he or she believe what I believe and will that person be competent enough to get things done? I've heard that Steve Jobs was a creep but that didn't stop him from creating one the most successful company in the world. We had a likable president who brought chaos to everything he touched.
7
Steve Jobs set the tone for the modern techie culture. I'm happy to be retired out of it.
2
Trump and Cruz have been through a strenuous vetting process and found to be lacking. Ryan hasn't been through that process so it's a little early to assume he would be some sort of savior for the Republicans. As I recall, he didn't do too well as a VP candidate.
4
Oh come on. If you are going to push for Paul Ryan, at least point to some policy or legislative success that had real world impact that helped Americans instead of a replay of the horse race. As many have noted, his budget proposals are all smoke and mirrors and fuzzy math, full of huge tax cuts with no clear way to pay for them. Paul Ryan is most likely another Scott Walker and Marco Rubio, loved by the press yet withers under the glare of the spotlight.
25
The only way Ryan wins is if Trump says he will switch his delegates to him.
The system for both the Democrats and Republicans has created a system that seems to not care one iota for the voters. Thy have decided who they want to run for president. Sanders is winning one state after another and all the pundits have to say about it to is talk about supper delegates. In an article today in the NYT, the writers are taking about how Cruz is using the delegate rules. He loses a state and gets more delegates than the person who won it. Say that out loud and it just sound wrong. The authors write as though they admire the sleazy way to try to steal the nomination from the person who clearly won the states. Colorado is the most blatant.
So the two parties find they have anointed two of the most unlikable candidates they could put forth. For Ryan to accept, he would find himself trying to lead a party that is split and is furious because the GOP hierarchy would be seen as having stolen the nomination. He knows that he would lose. He also recognizes he is a lot more important place than a losing ex-presidential candidate.
The system for both the Democrats and Republicans has created a system that seems to not care one iota for the voters. Thy have decided who they want to run for president. Sanders is winning one state after another and all the pundits have to say about it to is talk about supper delegates. In an article today in the NYT, the writers are taking about how Cruz is using the delegate rules. He loses a state and gets more delegates than the person who won it. Say that out loud and it just sound wrong. The authors write as though they admire the sleazy way to try to steal the nomination from the person who clearly won the states. Colorado is the most blatant.
So the two parties find they have anointed two of the most unlikable candidates they could put forth. For Ryan to accept, he would find himself trying to lead a party that is split and is furious because the GOP hierarchy would be seen as having stolen the nomination. He knows that he would lose. He also recognizes he is a lot more important place than a losing ex-presidential candidate.
1
Paul Ryan of Wisconsin got a free college education at Ohio's premier state university thanks to my paying taxes in Ohio. He doesn't believe that I deserve either the Social Security or Medicare benefits that I paid into for 50 years.
Is the Times just going to sit by like it did in 2000 to let the "chips fall where they may" when you had a serious candidate confabulating and became president? It's fun to beat upon Trump, but he is far less scary than Ryan or Cruz or Kasich who know how to use political levers against the will of the majority.
Is the Times just going to sit by like it did in 2000 to let the "chips fall where they may" when you had a serious candidate confabulating and became president? It's fun to beat upon Trump, but he is far less scary than Ryan or Cruz or Kasich who know how to use political levers against the will of the majority.
68
So true. Why is the NYT preferring Ryan and Cruz to Trump?
1
Too bad Ryan's education didn't "take".
1
Despite the mess that is the Republican primary, Democrats admit that any ostensibly rational candidate emerging from he convention could beat Hillary Clinton in the general election. Where, then, is Clinton's electability advantage over Bernie Sanders?
If Clinton loses in November, the rigged Democratic primary will be the bigger tragedy than the horrifying, anti-democratic spectacle that produced candidate Ryan or his equivalent.
If Clinton loses in November, the rigged Democratic primary will be the bigger tragedy than the horrifying, anti-democratic spectacle that produced candidate Ryan or his equivalent.
2
Alex Castellanos offers us this frightening solution: “Why not wipe the slate clean and go for what delegates really want,” someone who comes in unsullied by the primary battle. That sound like "all is for naught." Wonderful. A year of gobbledygook.
2
Ryan, of course, will do far more damage to the country than either Trump or Cruz. He's made no secret of his desire to privatize and slash Social Security.Medicare and Medicaid with "block grants" to the States.
Imagine Mississippi.Alabama, South Carolina....having their hands on the money to keep senior citizens, blacks, immigrants, gays from starving or dying with no medical care. It's a formula made in heaven for the GOP: If we can't keep them from voting, we'll just kill them off.
Trump would bumble and bluster and bounce from wall to wall with a new plan every day, while Congress dithered (just like the past 8 years), as long as the nuclear button is kept locked up where he can't find it.
Cruz will be so focused on turning the country into a Christian-Sharia law Iran, that he'll do nothing else, and there won't be enough Jesus freaks in the Congress to get his laws through, although the States' Rights crowd will continue to swing the New Confederacy toward Puritan Punishment for all the non-believers: death for abortions, out of wedlock sex (women only), gays, uppity blacks, illegal immigrants, and various other sinners.
Wow: a dismal picture. We'd better elect Hillary and overlook her shortcomings before the GOP promise to drown government in a bathtub and flush us all down the drain comes true.
Imagine Mississippi.Alabama, South Carolina....having their hands on the money to keep senior citizens, blacks, immigrants, gays from starving or dying with no medical care. It's a formula made in heaven for the GOP: If we can't keep them from voting, we'll just kill them off.
Trump would bumble and bluster and bounce from wall to wall with a new plan every day, while Congress dithered (just like the past 8 years), as long as the nuclear button is kept locked up where he can't find it.
Cruz will be so focused on turning the country into a Christian-Sharia law Iran, that he'll do nothing else, and there won't be enough Jesus freaks in the Congress to get his laws through, although the States' Rights crowd will continue to swing the New Confederacy toward Puritan Punishment for all the non-believers: death for abortions, out of wedlock sex (women only), gays, uppity blacks, illegal immigrants, and various other sinners.
Wow: a dismal picture. We'd better elect Hillary and overlook her shortcomings before the GOP promise to drown government in a bathtub and flush us all down the drain comes true.
205
Does anyone really expect Trump to back out of the convention hall quietly? I don't see how Ryan beats Hilary without Trump's support and ol' Donnie is already signaling that he will create an incredible stink if he isn't crowned in Cleveland. "Trump" Republicans are not going to support Ryan, any more than they're going to support Cruz or Kasich. They're not even real Republicans and when, as their leader has suggested, they riot at the convention or simply don't show up, Ryan, or whoever, is the one who's going to be crushed. The folks who imagine these kinds of scenarios are not facing the reality of what they've wrought. This Frankenstein monster was made in the GOP laboratory and it has to be killed, not outmaneuvered.
112
Ryan is, as was once stated about a British MP, a sheep in sheep's clothing.
7
There is still a ticket that may come out of the chaos in Cleveland that could give hope to Republicans. That would be Kasich/Rubio. But that still begs the question where do all the angry disaffected white male voters go if they feel their hero Trump has been cheated.
2
In every article I read about the Republican race in this, and other, papers, Kasich's name is never mentioned. This is a guy who is truly qualified to be president and it's like he's invisible. Part of what he suffers from is the lack of coverage he's received and the notion that "he can't win". Talk about a self fulfilling prophecy. The shame is he would have a ton of support from Democrats, like me, if I could ever get the opportunity to vote for him.
1
About the best I can say in John Kasich's favor is that he's functionally sane, and I can't say that about Trump. Basically, what to expect from a Kasich presidency would be the same kind of social conservatism that Ted Cruz is offering (maybe dressed up to be "compassionate" a la George W Bush), with all of the rest of public policy for sale to the highest bidder.
3
If you're really a Democrat you should take a longer, harder look at Kasich. He's generally despised by Democrats here in Ohio. He's extremely conservative on fiscal and social issues and only appears reasonable next to the likes of Trump and Cruz. If you liked George W. Bush then I guess you'd like Kasich, but that would beg the question: why are you a Democrat?
6
“Ryan would kill her.”
Not if the public learns that his budget would shut down most of the government and provide more tax cuts for the wealthy; and that the term "granny starver" agains receives currency.
Not if the public learns that his budget would shut down most of the government and provide more tax cuts for the wealthy; and that the term "granny starver" agains receives currency.
60
I think Ryan really does want to be President, but is smart enough to know that the GOP will be trounced in November.
Look for him in 2020.
Look for him in 2020.
10
All this reminds me of the old childhood fake joke book. "Race to the outhouse." By Willy Makeit of Betty Don't.
These grown ups seeing the nomination seem as about as childish.
These grown ups seeing the nomination seem as about as childish.
1
Ryan is an immature but power hungry politician, make no mistake about it. He will play it from all angles and see how he can get further into this smelly swamp without drowning. Time will tell.
5
Why people think Ryan's more moderate than Trump or Cruz baffles me: he's the one extolling the 'virtues' of Ayn Rand. His economic message is terrifying!
4
Mr. Edsall, I don't hate any of them. I think some are crazy (Cruz), conniving (Kasich), sometimes too focused on winning to notice details (Clinton), or shaky on knowing how to handle the world's issues (Trump, Sanders). Paul Ryan? I got nothing - and nor does he except what Ayn Rand told him.
You say Sen. Cruz, Mr. Trump and Sec. Clinton would be the most hated candidates, but you don't mention Sen. Sanders. It would be an error to think many people considering voting for Sen. Sanders are doing so with any enthusiasm (an easy error to make if one reads online comments). Many voters haven't looked into Sen. Sanders - they hear him rail that he's going to upset the applecart of the rich and send all to college tuition-free. Which, according to his website, will cost $75 Billion a year; rich Wall Streeters will apparently pay this in a tax, somehow approved by Congress and somehow implemented by states with Republican governors. (Yeah...no. Not gonna happen.)
I think the idea that Mr. Ryan could beat Sec. Clinton head-to-head isn't accurate. From Aug.-Nov., Mr. Ryan will fade away as more people learn about him. He's a slightly more frightening Mitt Romney and we know how that turned out. Maybe this is me with a warped perspective from growing up reading the NYT, but the only Republican IMO who could defeat Sec. Clinton or Sen. Sanders is Michael Bloomberg - if he ran as a Republican. (Please give up the Gov. Kasich ghost, NYT; I'm not insane.) But he's not running, is he?
You say Sen. Cruz, Mr. Trump and Sec. Clinton would be the most hated candidates, but you don't mention Sen. Sanders. It would be an error to think many people considering voting for Sen. Sanders are doing so with any enthusiasm (an easy error to make if one reads online comments). Many voters haven't looked into Sen. Sanders - they hear him rail that he's going to upset the applecart of the rich and send all to college tuition-free. Which, according to his website, will cost $75 Billion a year; rich Wall Streeters will apparently pay this in a tax, somehow approved by Congress and somehow implemented by states with Republican governors. (Yeah...no. Not gonna happen.)
I think the idea that Mr. Ryan could beat Sec. Clinton head-to-head isn't accurate. From Aug.-Nov., Mr. Ryan will fade away as more people learn about him. He's a slightly more frightening Mitt Romney and we know how that turned out. Maybe this is me with a warped perspective from growing up reading the NYT, but the only Republican IMO who could defeat Sec. Clinton or Sen. Sanders is Michael Bloomberg - if he ran as a Republican. (Please give up the Gov. Kasich ghost, NYT; I'm not insane.) But he's not running, is he?
12
The Republicans have no good choices. Ryan knows that faced with a train wreck, the best course of action is to get out of the way.
4
I have a wake-up call for liberals. I have been reading right wing blogs and there is less anger there between Cruz/Trump supporters (there is always a high level of crassness and nastiness, but that is background noise) then I see between Clinton/Sanders supporters on more progressive blogs. There could be a big hole in Clinton's support in the fall. She could lose.
The conservative voters have more party loyalty. They seemed resigned to supporting Cruz, and there is starting to be a level of excitement. The conservative voters want the presidency bad.
There ought to be a sustained attack on Cruz, starting now, or he will be our president.
If Cruz wins, he will change the tenor of our country. He is very smart and backed by the most powerful people in the country/world.
The press could damage him, but they are giving him a pass.
The conservative voters have more party loyalty. They seemed resigned to supporting Cruz, and there is starting to be a level of excitement. The conservative voters want the presidency bad.
There ought to be a sustained attack on Cruz, starting now, or he will be our president.
If Cruz wins, he will change the tenor of our country. He is very smart and backed by the most powerful people in the country/world.
The press could damage him, but they are giving him a pass.
7
Ryan might talk about uniting the country, but his vision is that the country unites behind the toxic agenda that neither the Trump voters nor the Democrats want. That's like thinking compromise happens when your opponents change their views, rather than when you change yours.
7
Paul Ryan, while one of the few adults in the GOP, needs time to separate himself from the last election before another run at the White House. He also needs time for the GOP to let some of the scoundrels who have been bringing down the party during the Obama presidency, and thus making the party indigestible in a general election, to lose influence.
1
Unfortunately, that scoundrels scenario includes Ryan.
1
Hillary has considerable potential to shift her favorable/unfavorable rating back into positive territory. Trump has little potential to do the same.
6
The last eight years of GOP obstructionism has left the Republican Party with zero accomplishments. Cruz's problem in the general, like Rubio, like Ryan is that they have not done anything for the American people...they haven't done their job, the haven't improved the ACA that they claim to hate and they haven't made any attempt to improve anything....they are the problem.
The democrats should be hammering this home everywhere.....why reelect the bums that aren't working for you today?
I am a Bernie girl...but what I respect about Trump is that he won't let the GOP get away with obstructionism.. Trump will name names and lay blame and that will be great fun to witness. That is what the crowd is voting for.
The democrats should be hammering this home everywhere.....why reelect the bums that aren't working for you today?
I am a Bernie girl...but what I respect about Trump is that he won't let the GOP get away with obstructionism.. Trump will name names and lay blame and that will be great fun to witness. That is what the crowd is voting for.
8
Paul Ryan will fold like a cheap suit as soon as the third vote in Cleveland. He would shave his widow's peak, divorce his wife and abandon his children to be President. The stink he had to overcome by becoming Speaker is testiment to his grasp and grabbing of power (smoke stained, saturated stint in his new office). This gentlemen is more power hungry and camera aware than General Douglas McAuthor was at the end of WWII. His calculated style is, "please, please don't throw me into the briar patch..."
6
“Why not wipe the slate clean and go for what delegates really want..."
This quote from "media consultant" Alex Castellanos sums up today's GOP in one wonderfully succinct phrase. One has to assume that delegates pledged to a particular candidate want their guy to be the nominee. After all, they were selected by living, breathing voters, and they themselves have put their lives on hold to attend a convention in the middle of the summer in...Cleveland. And yet Mr. Castellanos is entirely confident that given a "fresh" alternative, i.e., someone like Paul Ryan who has not had to do the dirty work of slogging through Iowa and New Hampshire in the fall and winter, they will instantaneously forget their obligations and loyalties, rise to their feet on cue, and proclaim the new Republican Messiah. If this is the prevailing "wisdom" within the GOP, then it is all of a piece with their breathtaking contempt for voters in particular, and ordinary people in general. Statements like the one made by Mr. Castellanos are the reason the Republican establishment is so despised, perhaps even more by rank and file Republicans than by Democrats and Independents.
This quote from "media consultant" Alex Castellanos sums up today's GOP in one wonderfully succinct phrase. One has to assume that delegates pledged to a particular candidate want their guy to be the nominee. After all, they were selected by living, breathing voters, and they themselves have put their lives on hold to attend a convention in the middle of the summer in...Cleveland. And yet Mr. Castellanos is entirely confident that given a "fresh" alternative, i.e., someone like Paul Ryan who has not had to do the dirty work of slogging through Iowa and New Hampshire in the fall and winter, they will instantaneously forget their obligations and loyalties, rise to their feet on cue, and proclaim the new Republican Messiah. If this is the prevailing "wisdom" within the GOP, then it is all of a piece with their breathtaking contempt for voters in particular, and ordinary people in general. Statements like the one made by Mr. Castellanos are the reason the Republican establishment is so despised, perhaps even more by rank and file Republicans than by Democrats and Independents.
6
The key is in the first sentence: “If Ryan really meant what he said” and, it is not like when he talked about his marathon time. It seems that Ryan is thinking about Ryan. The same way that Romney is thinking about Romney.
Some GOP leaders might be dreaming of a Cleveland scenario where Trump is not nominated and the party will need a candidate to deliver them from Cruz.
The perception is that or Trump comes up with the votes he needs to be the Republican candidate, no questions asked, or the candidate will be a non-Cruz person.
Except for that, immediately, Trump will be holding a press conference outside the Arena announcing his Presidential candidacy at the head of the Trump Party. He may already have a team of lawyers working on it. He may not like political consultants but he loves lawyers. He has always needed them.
Either way, the GOP lost the White House.
As Collins pointed out …” there could be a lot of stories about how party leaders “have all turned their thoughts to Quicken Loans …”?
Some GOP leaders might be dreaming of a Cleveland scenario where Trump is not nominated and the party will need a candidate to deliver them from Cruz.
The perception is that or Trump comes up with the votes he needs to be the Republican candidate, no questions asked, or the candidate will be a non-Cruz person.
Except for that, immediately, Trump will be holding a press conference outside the Arena announcing his Presidential candidacy at the head of the Trump Party. He may already have a team of lawyers working on it. He may not like political consultants but he loves lawyers. He has always needed them.
Either way, the GOP lost the White House.
As Collins pointed out …” there could be a lot of stories about how party leaders “have all turned their thoughts to Quicken Loans …”?
2
I was hoping this column would make note that Mr. Ryan is substantively not much different than either Mr. Trump OR Mr. Cruz. The more the media portray Mr. Ryan as a "moderate alternative" the more the public buys into the notion that "moderate" is anything to the left of the Tea Party. Mr. Ryan looks like a nice young man who is earnest and caring in comparison to those who are leading the race thus far. Don't be fooled. He is seeking exactly the same results: http://www.vox.com/2016/4/12/11407982/paul-ryan-donald-trump-moderate
12
You seem to think it is OK, after a year plus of actually running, to throw out all the candidates and give the nomination to someone we have not even heard up to this point. Nor has he been vetted by the press. Is Mr. Edsall pushing for a system where the parties pick their representative in the summer and then they have all of three months to actually run for office. Anyone would look good at that point. Even Hillary's like-ability numbers would still be good without having the kitchen sink thrown at her. Certainly no one would have bothered looking into the e:Mails of a nice Private citizen who Republicans didn't see as a foe. If Paul Ryan wanted to run, he should have been doing so all along otherwise he should stay out of the running.
4
Ryan also said that the GOP nominee must have run for the nomination - everyone seems to see that as a condition he can't meet. But, Ryan has run (just not this year). There is no way this power and influence hungry guy wouldn't pick up the gauntlet if it were offered to him at the Convention.
3
This. Exactly. If you understand the size of Ryan's ego, this conclusion is foregone.
1
If Republican primary voters are thwarted in their angry choice, will they finally get it that the GOP powers don't care one whit about their opinions? Every election cycle they clamor for someone who will value their religion over the Constitution, someone who talks tough about [fill in the blank among Russia, China, ISIS, Mexico, or that Socialist Europe], and they get someone who votes to lower pollution standards and cut billionaires' taxes. This year they have howled clearly, but the GOP high command clearly believes that they can be ignored because, let's face it, they will vote for Rain Man, as long as there is an (R) after his name.
When Trump decries our trade policy, he's casting the wrong bogeyman, but his words hit home because although trade can be beneficial, its benefits haven't been shared with those who have lost jobs and dignity. Rather, as the revelation about the international warrens of shell companies makes clear, many who possess far more than they will ever need have systematically skimmed their companies and governments, leaving too inadequate a sum to remedy the concomitant loss suffered by those who have been left behind in the modern marketplace. Many love Trump because they don't understand how puny he and his brand are compared to Exxon-Mobil.
The press, which found Trump amusing last summer and now pines to return to its reliable Both Sides Do It trope, tries to foist on GOP voters looking for a hero the guy Joe Biden laughed at. What a world.
When Trump decries our trade policy, he's casting the wrong bogeyman, but his words hit home because although trade can be beneficial, its benefits haven't been shared with those who have lost jobs and dignity. Rather, as the revelation about the international warrens of shell companies makes clear, many who possess far more than they will ever need have systematically skimmed their companies and governments, leaving too inadequate a sum to remedy the concomitant loss suffered by those who have been left behind in the modern marketplace. Many love Trump because they don't understand how puny he and his brand are compared to Exxon-Mobil.
The press, which found Trump amusing last summer and now pines to return to its reliable Both Sides Do It trope, tries to foist on GOP voters looking for a hero the guy Joe Biden laughed at. What a world.
4
Mr. Ryan says all the right things. Actually, they are platitudes. Whether he believes them or not. It is the same old Reagan smile and the empty suit. Beware the naked man that offers you his shirt. No matter, any Republican President will hand the 1% more of what they desire. Tax cuts and choked off government. Misery ensues and the elitist control destroys the middle class and tortures those it drives into poverty. This is a joke.
7
So Trump is stopped at the convention the prize slips from his short-fingered hands, and a "white knight" in slightly soiled armor is nominated. So does Trump go gently into the night, not with a bang but a whimper? Anybody want to make a bet? Chances are a not-Trump candidacy twill cause conflicts within the republican camp that makes Sherman's pledge not to run or serve as president less relevant than his earlier march through Georgia.
5
If one Googles "Perot '92 election", the top 10 results state that, 'All the experts are wrong. Perot took votes from Clinton, not Bush. Had it not been for Perot, Clinton would have won a large majority of the popular vote instead of just a plurality.'
But almost all those who voted for Perot were white men. Who mostly vote Republican. Plus, when Perot's vote share fell in '96 to less than half what it was in '92, Clinton still did not gain a majority of the popular vote, just a plurality (which was more than enough to win).
So it looks like the experts were right, and Perot's candidacy gave Clinton the '92 election.
If Trump is the nominee, Secretary Clinton will be President Clinton. If Trump is not the nominee, he'll run as a Perot candidate, and Secretary Clinton will be President Clinton.
But almost all those who voted for Perot were white men. Who mostly vote Republican. Plus, when Perot's vote share fell in '96 to less than half what it was in '92, Clinton still did not gain a majority of the popular vote, just a plurality (which was more than enough to win).
So it looks like the experts were right, and Perot's candidacy gave Clinton the '92 election.
If Trump is the nominee, Secretary Clinton will be President Clinton. If Trump is not the nominee, he'll run as a Perot candidate, and Secretary Clinton will be President Clinton.
2
Trump and Cruz at least competed for the GOP nomination. How and why is another matter. For anyone else to claim the nomination, defying the process, would enrage voters who thought rules matter.
4
Sorry, but I don't think Paul Ryan, the empty suit, would "kill" Hilary Clinton. He would not be able to draw on the legions of ignorant angry Trump/Cruz supporters; his supposed strength is his policy wonkiness, and quite frankly, he ain't got nuthin there. The first time they went toe to toe, she'd laugh at him, bring up his asterisks, and that would be that.
191
Lisa -- I agree with you in logic and observation, but you are missing something: the American electorate is desperate and wants a fantasy plan. "Magic asterisks" will win a lot of votes.
Ryan is a younger, handsomer Republican Sanders, peddling vaporware ideas. Sadly, that would run very strongly, I'm afraid that it would win.
Ryan is a younger, handsomer Republican Sanders, peddling vaporware ideas. Sadly, that would run very strongly, I'm afraid that it would win.
1
You are talking about the same electorate that elected George Bush. Twice. More or less.
2
Read Steven Rattner today and you'll see why Ryan won't run. He's a tool of corporations and the elite rich and he knows it. He knows he's guilty of failing the American people. He would be slaughtered by Hillary or Bernie.
3
Brilliant analysis as usual Mr. Edsall.
For one, I think Kasich will take the nomination to the relief of all real sane Republicans. But Ryan has jumped up with his tour and insinuated his conflicted self into the debate, as he intended. He may have jumped up too soon, But who knows, when the Republican convention finally happens will anyone be surprised to learn that Ryan won?
For one, I think Kasich will take the nomination to the relief of all real sane Republicans. But Ryan has jumped up with his tour and insinuated his conflicted self into the debate, as he intended. He may have jumped up too soon, But who knows, when the Republican convention finally happens will anyone be surprised to learn that Ryan won?
1
“ 'If (it) were a Clinton-Ryan race,' ...'you would have to say Ryan would be the favorite...Voters are looking for a choice other than Hillary Clinton.' "
"...a source who is intimately familiar with the inner workings of the Clinton campaign...was blunt: 'Ryan would kill her.' "
And the sad thing is, the two Democratic ops quoted above are likely right.
Of course it's the Trump effect in action, the great gift he (with media connivance) has bestowed upon all Republicans not named Trump of making them seem reputable in comparison.
But back to Clinton. For those of us who inhabit the real world, Hilary hatred is a very real, very familiar phenomenon. I'm not talking about the left's perception that she's bought-and-paid-for or too ready to go to war, but rather a non-ideological, visceral dislike grounded, I assume, in misogyny. Had she a less wooden, hectoring manner (in her public speaking style she reminds me of no one as much as she does Al Gore), she likely could have overcome this. But whatever the reasons, she couldn't and didn't.
So to all the Paul Krugmans and Charles Blows and super-delegates and others who council pragmatism and chide Sanders supporters for their supposed starry-eyed idealism, this particular Sanders supporter's advocacy is grounded first and foremost in the most hard-headed, pragmatic calculus: he can win and I'm scared to death that Clinton would lose.
"...a source who is intimately familiar with the inner workings of the Clinton campaign...was blunt: 'Ryan would kill her.' "
And the sad thing is, the two Democratic ops quoted above are likely right.
Of course it's the Trump effect in action, the great gift he (with media connivance) has bestowed upon all Republicans not named Trump of making them seem reputable in comparison.
But back to Clinton. For those of us who inhabit the real world, Hilary hatred is a very real, very familiar phenomenon. I'm not talking about the left's perception that she's bought-and-paid-for or too ready to go to war, but rather a non-ideological, visceral dislike grounded, I assume, in misogyny. Had she a less wooden, hectoring manner (in her public speaking style she reminds me of no one as much as she does Al Gore), she likely could have overcome this. But whatever the reasons, she couldn't and didn't.
So to all the Paul Krugmans and Charles Blows and super-delegates and others who council pragmatism and chide Sanders supporters for their supposed starry-eyed idealism, this particular Sanders supporter's advocacy is grounded first and foremost in the most hard-headed, pragmatic calculus: he can win and I'm scared to death that Clinton would lose.
46
Bernie Sanders is completely untested by the Republican slime machine. I think they will paint him a grumpy old frog.
6
Democrats will get behind Hillary because they are not bitter, petty and they don't live in a non-existent 1950's world (and no one could stomach a Trump or Cruz presidency). I'm from Wisconsin where my family whole-heartedly hates Hillary- they would also never vote for a Democrat except in primaries when they voted Obama/Sanders to block Hillary. Republicans aren't going to vote Hillary but Democrats will- no matter how much they consider Sanders the messiah of the revolution.
2
I think you are wrong and I get that polling largely supports your argument right now. Sanders is not battle tested for the rigors of a general election. The monied interests of this country hardly need motivation to conspire against a candidate. He would be eviscerated on the national stage and potentially set the Party back several election cycles.
1
After Bush was officially out of it, they knew they needed someone else and Ryan was one of the top choices. Rubio wasn't getting enough support and Romney was a been there, done that.
He will most likely be the nominee, by force, and they will take the hit in order to regain control of their party. Most of them will support Ryan anyway because they hate Hillary. Trump will have strengthened his brand and Cruz will fade away. Rubio will be around in the future.
He will most likely be the nominee, by force, and they will take the hit in order to regain control of their party. Most of them will support Ryan anyway because they hate Hillary. Trump will have strengthened his brand and Cruz will fade away. Rubio will be around in the future.
1
The Republican party has divided itself between an entitled country-club insider group, led now by Paul Ryan, and the angry mob of under-educated and under-employed, mostly white folks, who have come out in droves for Donald Trump. Choosing between these two is clearly a desperate exercise for party insiders, but highly consequential for everyone else. The fact that Mr. Edsall's analysis is based soley on popularity metrics is actually the most frightening aspect of this column. Presidential politics should in fact be about ideas, not about who is better at this sport.
For those of us who want America to represent opportunity and justice for all, either Hillary or Bernie will be far preferable to any potential Republican candidate.
For those of us who want America to represent opportunity and justice for all, either Hillary or Bernie will be far preferable to any potential Republican candidate.
6
I take a couple of points from this piece. Mr. Edsall, and several from the Republican political & media elite, think that Ryan is lying about his intentions. And they think, with no substantiation, that this particular liar is the ONLY chance they have to win the presidency. In spite of the fact that this particular liar wasn't even part of the "deep field'' from which these same people bragged they had the luxury of choosing just a few months ago. Equally remarkable, Mr. Edsall thinks that recent approval ratings for Ms. Clinton are locked in place for the next 7 months, in spite of the fact that this would be unprecedented. It seems to me that this piece was an exercise in cherry-picking polls to advance a dubious political position (that Mr. Ryan is a plausible president) rather than a critical look at the political situation.
7
I agree with Harold Ickes; Ryan's statement is meaningless. If the convention is deadlocked Ryan might oh so reluctantly allow himself to be dragged to the nomination "for the good of the party and the nation." Of course at that point, Trump supporters might be rioting outside the convention, while Cruz supporters have armed prayer vigils, but it might happen.
I am so looking forward to the summer convention season!
I am so looking forward to the summer convention season!
4
The Democratic version of "more anger" involving Hillary Clinton's disingenuous attempt to link gun laws in Vermont,to gun violence in New York, and by implication Bernie Sanders, was absolutely despicable. Hillary's outrageous fees for speeches to colleges, Wall Street institutions, and the failure to release those speech transcripts, has underscored her sense of entitlement and lack of judgement. The latest fiasco using parsed phrases like "per capita"to somehow link Bernie Sanders to the aforementioned violence, is a sign of growing desperation, ethical decline, and unfitness for the presidency.
2
Vermont is where people from Massachusetts go to trade drugs for guns.
3
In the 2012 election, the Mitt Romney who showed up in the first debate had been transformed into an almost a completely different person from the Romney who ran in the primaries.
In 2016, the candidate WILL be completely different person!
In 2016, the candidate WILL be completely different person!
Why would Paul Ryan accept the presidential nomination? Even Ryan must be tired of being the Republican fill-in, and to be a fill-in for Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, John Kasich? Not the highest political prize, even if it is presidential. He knows that is always how his career would be labeled, having already done it for John Boehner, whose friendship seems to have gone to the wind. Ryan's even fund raising for one of Boehner's highest critics.
It seems insulting the Republican Party would even call on Ryan to do this, use me once, but continue to be used as just a "fill-in"? Not the most happy way to run for president. And not the most happy way to think of yor future legacy.
By the way, speaking of insults, to compare Paul Ryan to Lyndon Johnson saying he would not run, is highly insulting. Lyndon Johnson did something for the people of the United States of America. He allowed seniors to get a means of healthcare through Medicare. Paul Ryan has been an adamant opponent to Medicare and the Affordable Care Act as well. Lyndon Johnson did something about voter's rights in this country. Paul Ryan belongs to a party who despises voters rights for all, and installs voting restrictions to obstruct those rights. Lyndon Johnson was an advocate for social justices and Ryan the opposite, Family Leave and other programs he calls "entitlements".
Please do not ever compare Paul Ryan to a man who truly has stood for his fellow man, woman, child, LBJ.
It seems insulting the Republican Party would even call on Ryan to do this, use me once, but continue to be used as just a "fill-in"? Not the most happy way to run for president. And not the most happy way to think of yor future legacy.
By the way, speaking of insults, to compare Paul Ryan to Lyndon Johnson saying he would not run, is highly insulting. Lyndon Johnson did something for the people of the United States of America. He allowed seniors to get a means of healthcare through Medicare. Paul Ryan has been an adamant opponent to Medicare and the Affordable Care Act as well. Lyndon Johnson did something about voter's rights in this country. Paul Ryan belongs to a party who despises voters rights for all, and installs voting restrictions to obstruct those rights. Lyndon Johnson was an advocate for social justices and Ryan the opposite, Family Leave and other programs he calls "entitlements".
Please do not ever compare Paul Ryan to a man who truly has stood for his fellow man, woman, child, LBJ.
180
Hear, hear!
If it were not for the War LBJ would be a towering figure in Americas story. And just for the record once he realized the depth of his mistakes about the war as proven by McCarthy's showing in New Hampshire that year (1968) he graciously left the stage. Class act.
And I hated him at the time. We all grow up.
If it were not for the War LBJ would be a towering figure in Americas story. And just for the record once he realized the depth of his mistakes about the war as proven by McCarthy's showing in New Hampshire that year (1968) he graciously left the stage. Class act.
And I hated him at the time. We all grow up.
15
LBJ was a virtuoso of the art of adversarial persuasion. Holding himself accountable was part of his charm.
3
I think it is more desperation than insult that the Republicans are looking to Ryan to "save them". In either case, Ryan's ego knows no bounds and he probably loves the fact that he was "begged" to be Speaker and that he was able to invoke so many conditions before he'd take the job. He is giddy at the thought that he is again in the spotlight, playing coy and pretending he won't take the cake. Of course he will, if it comes to that. He really does think he is some sort of high intellectual who will "save" the whole country from itself. As for "apples to oranges" - what a crock. This is textbook "apples to apples".
3
Is it any wonder Hillary's negatives are high? From the beginning, she was assaulted not only by the Fox bloviators, but in your pages by Frank Bruni, Charles Blow, and especially Maureen Dowd. Even in today's paper, you have an editorial and an op-ed attacking her for a bipartisan crime bill from her husband's administration, with the throwaway line that Senator Sanders voted for it but his supporters don't know that.
How about more column inches about Senator Sanders's complete ignorance of foteign policy? Or the pie-in-the-sky nature of his proposals? His fantasy that his student rebellion can swing Senate seats? His ads that imply that he can bring a recalcitrant Congress to heel?
Worst of all, the anti-Hllary rhetoric may well cause the Left, as Susan Sarandon has suggested, to sit out the election, as it did in 1968 and 2000. Can we afford another Nixon or W? With the Supreme Court at stake and the world imploding?
Politics, it is said, is the art of compromise, but I fear we're now more like Weimar Germany or 1930s France than anytime in postwar history.
How about more column inches about Senator Sanders's complete ignorance of foteign policy? Or the pie-in-the-sky nature of his proposals? His fantasy that his student rebellion can swing Senate seats? His ads that imply that he can bring a recalcitrant Congress to heel?
Worst of all, the anti-Hllary rhetoric may well cause the Left, as Susan Sarandon has suggested, to sit out the election, as it did in 1968 and 2000. Can we afford another Nixon or W? With the Supreme Court at stake and the world imploding?
Politics, it is said, is the art of compromise, but I fear we're now more like Weimar Germany or 1930s France than anytime in postwar history.
274
And this has what to do with the column about Paul Ryan? Hillary has received considerably more (free publicity) inches in this paper and throughout the media than her opponent, and yet, despite genuine news stories about both her shortcomings and strengths, you feel it necessary to inject her into every conversation. Don't panic ... the DNC elites have already crowned her. Unless their hands are forced by the will of the people in those sizable states yet to vote. Or are you just annoyed that there were no attack columns about Sanders today? Pathetic.
4
For me it's her right wing warmongering, taking truckloads of money from WallStreet, being on Wall Mart's board. That's what I don't like. The articles against her, meh. Sanders or Trump. It's time to roll the dice. Nothing else, Obama included, has worked.
2
Joel, I agree 100%. Sanders proposals really do not have a realistic chance of being passed through a Republican controlled Congress. Not to play the "victim card" but Hillary Clinton has been the target of one of biggest, longest sustained negative attack campaigns by Republicans, Conservative media, and even not so Conservative, media outlets for almost 25 years. I think that any objective person could see that, regardless of whether you like HRC or not. My god, even Jesus Christ would have high negatives in this situation.
6
How pathetic that Republican party leaders are still hoping for Paul Ryan to prevent electoral disaster.
Paul Ryan, who can't invoke basic math to validate his budget proposals.
Paul Ryan, who speaks repeatedly of the pending Republican proposal to replace The ACA, but can never deliver it.
Paul Ryan, who apparently thinks fairy tale novelist Ayn Rand talks to him.
The GOP richly deserves this quandary.
Paul Ryan, who can't invoke basic math to validate his budget proposals.
Paul Ryan, who speaks repeatedly of the pending Republican proposal to replace The ACA, but can never deliver it.
Paul Ryan, who apparently thinks fairy tale novelist Ayn Rand talks to him.
The GOP richly deserves this quandary.
253
Yes, this is what happens when you apply the shark-eat-shark Wall Street mentality to politics and life. Utter chaos and destruction.
The idea that Paul Ryan, flim flam artist and scam artist is some
sort of savior is ROFL hilarious. See Krugman for details.
Ryan's budgets never added up and were nonsense. Biden undressed
him during the 2012 debates.There is less to Ryan than meets
the eye.
Word
sort of savior is ROFL hilarious. See Krugman for details.
Ryan's budgets never added up and were nonsense. Biden undressed
him during the 2012 debates.There is less to Ryan than meets
the eye.
Word
62
"Biden undressed him during the 2012 debates."
I'm no Paul Ryan fan, but Martha Raddatz had a little something to do with that..
I'm no Paul Ryan fan, but Martha Raddatz had a little something to do with that..
The Ides of March have come and gone and Donald though still breathing seems very wounded.
The play to be culminated in Cleveland is desperate need of a hero and Jon Huntsman need not apply.
There is no Bernie Sanders on the right willing to tear 36 years of pages from the calendar and say it is 2016 and iit is time to quit playing games and get to work.
The vacuous smile on the Gipper tells it all. It is morning in America and after partying all night and drinking far more than we were supposed to the house is a mess and nobody knows how to clean up.
There are no adults left in the Party of Lincoln. They were asked to leave and they left. Nobody knows how to do laundry and nobody is willing to pick up a broom and nobody is willing to come in to do the work after 36 years of abuse.
This truly was an Ayn Rand bacchanal everyone is hungover and in a fog and true to her word every got -------.
The play to be culminated in Cleveland is desperate need of a hero and Jon Huntsman need not apply.
There is no Bernie Sanders on the right willing to tear 36 years of pages from the calendar and say it is 2016 and iit is time to quit playing games and get to work.
The vacuous smile on the Gipper tells it all. It is morning in America and after partying all night and drinking far more than we were supposed to the house is a mess and nobody knows how to clean up.
There are no adults left in the Party of Lincoln. They were asked to leave and they left. Nobody knows how to do laundry and nobody is willing to pick up a broom and nobody is willing to come in to do the work after 36 years of abuse.
This truly was an Ayn Rand bacchanal everyone is hungover and in a fog and true to her word every got -------.
10
Paul Ryan doesn't seem to know it, but he's playing the Wesley Mouch character in the real life exodus of humanity from US management.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Atlas_Shrugged_characters#Wesley_M...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Atlas_Shrugged_characters#Wesley_M...
2
Thanks Steve,
I hope my comment helped inspire your rather profound insight.
I hope my comment helped inspire your rather profound insight.
1
Let's see Paul Ryan even think about winning if 50% - or more - of Trump and Cruz voters don't show up at the polls in November.
3
An important & overlooked comment, opinionsareus0.
To assume disappointed & likely angry Trump & Cruz voters would simply hop aboard the Ryan Train is, at best, naive.
To assume disappointed & likely angry Trump & Cruz voters would simply hop aboard the Ryan Train is, at best, naive.
2
"So let’s have a battle of ideas. Let’s have a contest of whose ideas are better and why our ideas are better."
Neither Ryan nor his party have any ideas. He and his House and Senate confederates have spent the past seven-plus years saying "no." They have refused to meet with the president;s envoys to discuss a budget; they have rejected his Supreme Court nominee; they have called into question the legitimacy of the Obama presidency. None of these standard GOP talking points are ideas. They are treason and sedition.
Hillary Clinton is a reach for many Democrats, including me. But she's the door and Donald Trump or Ted Cruz is the wolf; it's that simple. It's also difficult subscribe to fears of "Ryan would kill her" in a Clinton-Ryan final.
Admittedly, Hillary is unlovely, a scar on a former beauty queen's cheek. Ryan is, however, far worse. He has not hidden his disdain for social safety net entitlements. Elsewhere in these pages today, Steven Rattner writes truthfully, with supporting data, about how the GOP has done more harm to its rural, white base by: saying "no" to President Obama's jobs initiatives; saying "no" to Medicaid expansion in Red states; saying "no" to emergency legislation aimed at cushioning the shock of career displacement.
If Speaker Ryan changed his mind, ran and won, those putting him into the Oval Office would be carrying on the GOP's tradition of "no" for another four years. They ought to consider Paul Ryan as the disaster he most assuredly is.
Neither Ryan nor his party have any ideas. He and his House and Senate confederates have spent the past seven-plus years saying "no." They have refused to meet with the president;s envoys to discuss a budget; they have rejected his Supreme Court nominee; they have called into question the legitimacy of the Obama presidency. None of these standard GOP talking points are ideas. They are treason and sedition.
Hillary Clinton is a reach for many Democrats, including me. But she's the door and Donald Trump or Ted Cruz is the wolf; it's that simple. It's also difficult subscribe to fears of "Ryan would kill her" in a Clinton-Ryan final.
Admittedly, Hillary is unlovely, a scar on a former beauty queen's cheek. Ryan is, however, far worse. He has not hidden his disdain for social safety net entitlements. Elsewhere in these pages today, Steven Rattner writes truthfully, with supporting data, about how the GOP has done more harm to its rural, white base by: saying "no" to President Obama's jobs initiatives; saying "no" to Medicaid expansion in Red states; saying "no" to emergency legislation aimed at cushioning the shock of career displacement.
If Speaker Ryan changed his mind, ran and won, those putting him into the Oval Office would be carrying on the GOP's tradition of "no" for another four years. They ought to consider Paul Ryan as the disaster he most assuredly is.
228
"So let’s have a battle of ideas. Let’s have a contest of whose ideas are better and why our ideas are better."
35 years of Reagan ideas and the Party of No.
I think the secret is out, Mr Ryan.
The trickle down of old, been-there-done-that ideas wrapped in a new package and sold as "better" just makes you a used idea salesman. Not a very convincing one at that.
Lets sum it up -
Tax cuts for the wealthy will unleash an unprecedented economic boom to help lift all boats with the rising tide.
Cut government spending and let freedom ring.
Make government smaller and it will result in liberty for all.
Got it.
35 years of Reagan ideas and the Party of No.
I think the secret is out, Mr Ryan.
The trickle down of old, been-there-done-that ideas wrapped in a new package and sold as "better" just makes you a used idea salesman. Not a very convincing one at that.
Lets sum it up -
Tax cuts for the wealthy will unleash an unprecedented economic boom to help lift all boats with the rising tide.
Cut government spending and let freedom ring.
Make government smaller and it will result in liberty for all.
Got it.
3
I had a plan for preventing Trump from winning the Republican Party nomination that I thought I might share with the plutocrats of the party.
They should pass a rule that says: before you vote for Trump you must first show a government-issued photo ID of a type that is only issued on the fifth Thursday of months ending in "r."
But then I thought : Why bother? The Republican leaders would probably just reject that idea because it is too undemocratic.
They should pass a rule that says: before you vote for Trump you must first show a government-issued photo ID of a type that is only issued on the fifth Thursday of months ending in "r."
But then I thought : Why bother? The Republican leaders would probably just reject that idea because it is too undemocratic.
1
Odd. The name Bernie Sanders doesn't appear anywhere in this piece.
2
"If no dark horse Republican candidate emerges and if Bernie Sanders does not catch up to Hillary Clinton, the election will feature either Clinton vs. Trump or Clinton vs. Cruz." Last paragraph... did you read that far?
Sanders Victimization Trope #73: The liberal mainstream media never mentions Bernie Sanders.
Sanders Victimization Trope #73: The liberal mainstream media never mentions Bernie Sanders.
6
Republicans have produced highly unelectable candidates in the recent past... Nelson A. Rockefeller would have been far more attractive when compared with Barry Goldwater in '64. And many in the party were sure that Reagan was a loser compared to having George H. Bush at the top of the ticket in 1980. Whoever wins the nomination will do surprisingly well against HRC--she's been so constantly attacked for simply being in the enviable position as Democratic front runner since the summer of '08. Next year at this time, it will all be settled and seem oh so very inevitable, such is the woof and warp of our modern two party system.
3
Such nonsense. If The Donald comes into the convention only slightly short of the delegate total he needs but far ahead of Cruz's total, he will- if denied the nomination- huff and puff and take all of his supporters right out the door. Most likely, he'll establish an independent candidacy out of pique if nothing else. Either way Cleveland will represent an Aleppo for the GOP and Hillary or Bernie will be elected in a landslide.
7
Stu, I agree with you completely. My concern is that, should Secretary Clinton or Senator Sanders be elected, landslide or no, we will see all those who feel "disenfranchised" create a worse scenario than what we have seen these last 7 years of Mr Obama's presidency. TeaParty posturing about Second Amendment solutions, governmental gridlock (does ANYONE think a President H. Clinton will get anything accomplished with a Republican controlled Senate or House), and more Dr Seuss recitations on the floor of the Senate by Carpet Bomb Cruz.
God Help the Republic.
God Help the Republic.
1
The idea that Paul Ryan is the sane or moderate guy in the Republican Cuckoo Nest is patently false.
Paul Ryan doesn't believe in abortion exceptions in cases of rape or incest; he co-sponsored the Sanctity of Human Life bill that grants single-cells and zygotes “all the legal and constitutional attributes and privileges of personhood”, proposing more rights for the zygote and the rapist than it does the rape/incest victim.
In 2012, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a letter criticizing the Ryan House Republican budget for cutting food stamps and other assistance programs for the poor after Ryan claimed he was following his religious beliefs to craft the budget.
The bishops said the budget failed to meet “moral criteria” by disproportionately cutting programs that “serve poor and vulnerable people.”
That Ronald Reagan portrait hanging in Paul Ryan's office would be of Ayn Rand if Ryan had not been publicly eviscerated for his love of Ayn Rand in the 2012 Presidential campaign.
But Ronald Reagan is just as good a role model as Ayn Rand is for terrorizing the poor and middle class with sustained economic violence and 'small government' so the Robber Baron class can thrive.
And all this from a man whose family used Social Security benefits to survive after his father died when young.
If you like vicious hypocrisy, 0.1% welfare, fake religiosity and nasty punishment for the poor and the middle class, Paul Ryan makes an outstanding Greed Over People torchbearer.
Paul Ryan doesn't believe in abortion exceptions in cases of rape or incest; he co-sponsored the Sanctity of Human Life bill that grants single-cells and zygotes “all the legal and constitutional attributes and privileges of personhood”, proposing more rights for the zygote and the rapist than it does the rape/incest victim.
In 2012, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a letter criticizing the Ryan House Republican budget for cutting food stamps and other assistance programs for the poor after Ryan claimed he was following his religious beliefs to craft the budget.
The bishops said the budget failed to meet “moral criteria” by disproportionately cutting programs that “serve poor and vulnerable people.”
That Ronald Reagan portrait hanging in Paul Ryan's office would be of Ayn Rand if Ryan had not been publicly eviscerated for his love of Ayn Rand in the 2012 Presidential campaign.
But Ronald Reagan is just as good a role model as Ayn Rand is for terrorizing the poor and middle class with sustained economic violence and 'small government' so the Robber Baron class can thrive.
And all this from a man whose family used Social Security benefits to survive after his father died when young.
If you like vicious hypocrisy, 0.1% welfare, fake religiosity and nasty punishment for the poor and the middle class, Paul Ryan makes an outstanding Greed Over People torchbearer.
462
Has anyone polled Republican diabetics, cardiology patients and others with pre existing medical conditions to find out whether they want to abolish Obamacare.
Has anyone polled Republican Medicare recipients: should it become a voucher program?
How do they feel about Medicare for all? Expanding Social Security?
Has anyone polled Republican Medicare recipients: should it become a voucher program?
How do they feel about Medicare for all? Expanding Social Security?
34
Ronald Reagan was hand picked by General Electric to eviscerate the US labor movement. His tutor in labor economics was GE's chief labor negotiator, Lemuel Boulware.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemuel_Boulware
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemuel_Boulware
23
Great reference, Steve.
"Boulware's business tutelage and political cultivation of Ronald Reagan from 1954 to 1962 while Reagan was a spokesman for the company is argued to have led to Reagan's conversion from New Deal-style liberalism to Barry Goldwater-style conservatism."
Republicans can't stand it when workers make a living wage.
"Boulware's business tutelage and political cultivation of Ronald Reagan from 1954 to 1962 while Reagan was a spokesman for the company is argued to have led to Reagan's conversion from New Deal-style liberalism to Barry Goldwater-style conservatism."
Republicans can't stand it when workers make a living wage.
17
Ryan's statement falls RATHER short of Sherman's. He said similar things when considering the office of House Speaker, and eventually caved to pressure. The problem for Republicans is that as honorable and likeable a guy as he is to those of similar convictions, he's way too legitimately conservative to be electable president in today's climate -- particularly when a relative moderate who is so clearly qualified on the other side such as Hillary is available.
I don't see more anger by his absence. What I see, eventually and only if Donald Trump gets his act together and adopts a far more appropriate gravitas, is stronger support for him as someone who could attract moderate Democrats and Independents FAR better than Ted Cruz. Far from destroying the Republican Party, Trump could give it the time to get its act together in this transition between Tea Party extremism and a more workable, mild and salable conservatism. Paul Ryan exposed in a national election would stand naked in his hard-right conservatism just as he did in 2012 as the right's Veep pick -- people point to a lot of things that (barely) sank Mitt Romney, but choice of Ryan as his sidekick, to me, may have had more to do with his loss than any other single thing. America isn't as conservative as Paul Ryan by about three galaxies.
Ted Cruz, of course, could set the Republican Party back at the national level for at least two presidential election cycles. His nomination WOULD mean "still more anger".
I don't see more anger by his absence. What I see, eventually and only if Donald Trump gets his act together and adopts a far more appropriate gravitas, is stronger support for him as someone who could attract moderate Democrats and Independents FAR better than Ted Cruz. Far from destroying the Republican Party, Trump could give it the time to get its act together in this transition between Tea Party extremism and a more workable, mild and salable conservatism. Paul Ryan exposed in a national election would stand naked in his hard-right conservatism just as he did in 2012 as the right's Veep pick -- people point to a lot of things that (barely) sank Mitt Romney, but choice of Ryan as his sidekick, to me, may have had more to do with his loss than any other single thing. America isn't as conservative as Paul Ryan by about three galaxies.
Ted Cruz, of course, could set the Republican Party back at the national level for at least two presidential election cycles. His nomination WOULD mean "still more anger".
63
Richard claims to see a difference between Trump and Cruz, for it creates the illusion that the right wing isn't radical. Blindly attacking all Muslims, and suggesting that the spread of nuclear weapons is fine with Richard.
As usual, Richard uses words as a smoke screen to hide behind. He's a third rate William F. Buckley with a simplistic vocabulary, much like Joe McCarthy.
As usual, Richard uses words as a smoke screen to hide behind. He's a third rate William F. Buckley with a simplistic vocabulary, much like Joe McCarthy.
5
I agree. He said the same thing about being speaker of the house. He wants to stay out of the fray while all the mud slinging is going on - as long as possible.
2
Richard, you know I don't like to talk about personalities. I like data, but it is difficult to use data against Trump since it is hard to know what he is in favor of. Do you really think Trump is serious enough to really think not only about what he says at any given time, but what he wants his policies to be? Can you tell me what he proposes on health care, on balancing the budget, on taxes, on the Middle East, etc., etc., etc.
I am afraid he would treat the Presidency as an unreality TV show.
I am afraid he would treat the Presidency as an unreality TV show.
6
The “battle of ideas” is an apt metaphor for what’s happening in our politics. A battle has winners and losers, and that’s just what this presidential election promises to citizens on both sides of the ideological divide.
Republicans have spent eight years vilifying Obama and refusing to compromise. Social conservatives run on a platform of disgust with gays, women, immigrants and the poor. They trample political correctness into the dirt. Trump is their champion, and if he falls Cruz is there to pick up the banner.
We should remember that Paul Ryan, who is imagined to ride in reluctantly on a white horse to save us from Trump and Cruz, was laughed out of a town hall meeting of seniors when he was running for vice president. His credentials as a budget policy wonk are as laughable as Trump’s credentials to be a presidential nominee.
The Republican Party is mired in a crisis of competence. They’re not looking for the best candidate. That white horse left the barn ages ago, which is clear when one recalls the rogue’s gallery of aspirants who sullied the stage at the outset of the campaign. It’s only in this dismal context that Ayn Rand acolyte Paul Ryan glitters like a zircon in a dung heap.
When Ryan is your only hope, you can be assured that all hope is lost.
Republicans created the fertile ground in which a Trump and Cruz could flourish. Let them reap what they’ve sown. Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud-slinging hatch out.
Republicans have spent eight years vilifying Obama and refusing to compromise. Social conservatives run on a platform of disgust with gays, women, immigrants and the poor. They trample political correctness into the dirt. Trump is their champion, and if he falls Cruz is there to pick up the banner.
We should remember that Paul Ryan, who is imagined to ride in reluctantly on a white horse to save us from Trump and Cruz, was laughed out of a town hall meeting of seniors when he was running for vice president. His credentials as a budget policy wonk are as laughable as Trump’s credentials to be a presidential nominee.
The Republican Party is mired in a crisis of competence. They’re not looking for the best candidate. That white horse left the barn ages ago, which is clear when one recalls the rogue’s gallery of aspirants who sullied the stage at the outset of the campaign. It’s only in this dismal context that Ayn Rand acolyte Paul Ryan glitters like a zircon in a dung heap.
When Ryan is your only hope, you can be assured that all hope is lost.
Republicans created the fertile ground in which a Trump and Cruz could flourish. Let them reap what they’ve sown. Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud-slinging hatch out.
427
its a battle for power
ideas have nothing to do w it
i havent heard an idea yet
ideas have nothing to do w it
i havent heard an idea yet
7
Who needs another Caligula?
5
One of the best Gemli comments yet. The final three paragraphs are poetry.
3
Paul Ryan, as Paul Krugman likes to call him, is a lightweight and a fraud. He is no more ready to run today, than he was in 2012 as Mitt Romney's running mate. Maybe Ryan knows that in his heart of hearts and he also understands, astute politician that he is, that were he to accept his party's nomination at the mess of a brokered convention that we are about to be treated to, he would ruin any future chance at winning the top job. What comes next for the GOP is one huge mess, if the party leadership decides to pull the rug from under Donald J. Trump.
The last eight years of GOP maneuvering and intrigue has led up to this moment. There could be nothing more establishment than the nomination being handed to someone who neither ran and won it, or is ready for it. The pain the GOP leadership should be feeling is a great deal of regret for trashing their party as they have these last few years. Better they focus on rebuilding than trashing what little is left.
---
www.rimaregas.com
The last eight years of GOP maneuvering and intrigue has led up to this moment. There could be nothing more establishment than the nomination being handed to someone who neither ran and won it, or is ready for it. The pain the GOP leadership should be feeling is a great deal of regret for trashing their party as they have these last few years. Better they focus on rebuilding than trashing what little is left.
---
www.rimaregas.com
218
... and you didn't even mention his infatuation with the medievel ideas of Ayn Rand. As long as he worships at her altar, he's dangerous, both as Speaker and as POTUS. Perhaps he could find a paying job at the Cato Institute, where he could do less harm.
Michael S. Cullen, Berlin, Germany
Michael S. Cullen, Berlin, Germany
24
Michael,
Or worse, become an economics professor and fill young students' minds full of Randian garbage...
Or worse, become an economics professor and fill young students' minds full of Randian garbage...
5
I hope no universities are hiring econ faculty with only a bachelor's degree.
3