Paul Ryan Tries To Herd Cats
It’s really, really obvious that Paul Ryan is being dragged, kicking and screaming, into running for the House Speaker. He really, really doesn’t want the job.
Ryan spoke to the House GOP behind closed doors Tuesday and said if all factions can share his vision and he can get the endorsement of the major caucuses, then he will serve as speaker.
The news was confirmed by his spokesman Brendan Buck, who said according to reports, “If he is not a unifying figure for the conference, then he will not run.”
So, he wants the vote before the vote. And he has conditions:
He said Republicans needed to move from being “an opposition party to an proposition party.” He also said he would seek updates to the House rules — a common demand by the conservative hardliners that roiled Speaker John Boehner’s tenure — “so everyone can be a more effective representative.”
He also said he would not sacrifice his time with his family and young children, a concern that had been raised by his allies as the speaker often spends weekends fundraising for members. He said he was still worried about the toll the role would take on his family, but added, “My greatest worry is the consequences of not stepping up.”
Pretty interesting, no? Ryan doesn’t want the job. Can you blame him? Because we all know, no matter what’s agreed to now, the word of the conservative hardliners is worthless in this regard. Does anyone doubt that? This is a group that campaigns (and wins) on obstruction and opposition. It’s all they know how to do.
What’s also interesting is his condition concerning House rules. Basically he’s saying: Change the rules around the motion to vacate the chair so they are not used as easily – Remove the threat so often used against Boehner.
Ryan is saying he’ll accept the Speakership if all the major factions agree to his terms. So he’s trying to make it something he accepts rather than runs for, as it were. Everyone has to agree to his terms rather than getting each faction’s buy-in by agreeing to their terms and then trying to make all those hopelessly conflicting demands function together.
House Republicans seem so desperate for Ryan at this point that I think there’s a good chance he can do it on the front end. It seems decidedly more dubious that he can make it work over time. The real division is between those who want traditional legislative practice and those who embrace government by shutdown. It’s not clear to me that division has been settled or submerged. But we’ll see.
Yep. It says a lot about the GOP that they can’t give away one of the most powerful and coveted positions in the nation. That’s what a leaderless party looks like.
And, did I mention that Ryan put a deadline on this? Friday. I guess that makes sense since we’re rapidly approaching the need to raise the the Federal Borrowing Limit and to pass spending regulations. Has the choice come down to Ryan as Speaker vs. default and government shut down? Sure sounds like it, and if that’s the case does anyone see the Republicans giving up their favorite toys? I’m having trouble wrapping my head around this. It sounds like the deal is: Elect Ryan as Speaker and pass whatever’s necessary to avoid default and a government shut down. So, the hardliners would not only not get the Speaker they want (Daniel Webster) but they’d have to give up the only thing they “accomplish” in Congress? Anyone else having trouble seeing this happen?
Here’s my prediction: If Ryan becomes Speaker (and that’s still a big if) his conditions will be discarded by the conservative factions that agreed to them. In a heartbeat.
Tags: Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House
Agreed, anything Ryan extracts from the hardliners will be immediately ignored at red faced and full throated volume. But I still think he’ll do it. The people who own the party want their monies worth and no doubt mean to get it, and that’s not going to come from government by shut down.
A bigger concern, in my opinion, would be that if Ryan accomplishes bending the wills of the entire GOP caucus, he will have succeeded in having a great deal of power “bestowed” upon him. It is a great strategy, albeit a frightening one. By coming out immediately after Boehner’s announcement and saying “I don’t want the position,” he put himself in the running. It seems to me that this was all a very carefully crafted way of not only getting the Speaker’s job, but also solidifying its power and influence.
The part about not wanting this to affect his family time is a red herring. How would he have done the job of VP if this were his main concern? Also, with his publicly known ambition to run for president someday, this seems like a smoke screen to have the masses beg him to take it. I have to give him credit for being clever, however, he could also be harnessing a multi-headed beast to use for his own purposes. Also, if he does accomplish this, he may be able to control the fringe by changing the rules immediately because the “gave” him a mandate by elevating him. While this seems a little conspiracy theoristic, his history shows an ambition and need for attention and power that makes this a very plausible theory.
I bet it is way easier to be Veep with small children than Speaker. At least with Veep, you get to move to DC, rather than maintain a home 1500 miles away that you visit on weekends. And the way things have been going, the Speaker will be in DC for Thanksgiving and Christmas forever.
If Marshall and BWHDem are right Ryan is a far cagier pol than I’ve ever imagined. Further, if Ryan gets the Free Dumb Caucus to unilaterally disarm, he will be very powerful indeed. Like DD, I have a hard time seeing it all come together.
Here is this morning’s Red State Banner:
Paul Ryan Wants House Conservatives To Sign Their Own Death Warrant
Yeah, I’m having trouble with the Paul Ryan planned all this. I truly believe he doesn’t want to be Speaker (which probably has more to do with a future Presidential run). He’s set up a situation where his take-it-or-leave-it conditions work to his advantage. If they aren’t accepted, he’s okay with that because he never really wanted the position to begin with.
It’s a win-win for him. Either he’s out of the running, and gets to say he tried, or he gets his conditions met and gains power – altho, I doubt he can count on the Freedom Caucus (and other hardliners) keeping their word. Not a lot of honor among this group. And why would they ever agree to Ryan’s conditions and neuter themselves? I just don’t see an upside for this group to do what Ryan wants.
My guess is that Ryan wants to lose this fight while polishing up his faux moderate/reasonable Republican cred for the future.
Wonder if he knows how to govern
He turned the tables on them. They made demands, so he made demands back at them. Negotiating 201.
He probably learned it by reading Trump.
Potential leader of the party of hostage takers makes hostage demands that they don’t take him hostage.
Film at eleven.
“I doubt he can count on the Freedom Caucus (and other hardliners) keeping their word.”
He won’t need to. He’s got the Hastert Rule in his pocket.
If they reneg, he yanks the rule.
“Potential leader of the party of hostage takers makes hostage demands that they don’t take him hostage.”
Brilliant!
Didn’t this happen in Blazing Saddles