Paul Ryan Does an About-Face, Says He’d Serve as House Speaker
Christopher Halloran / Shutterstock
The saga in the House continues: On Tuesday, Rep. Paul Ryan, who for weeks had been maintaining that he didn’t want to replace outgoing Speaker of the House John Boehner, told Republican colleagues that he would run for the position on one important condition (via Politico):
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan told House Republicans Tuesday evening he is willing to serve as speaker of the House if he is the unity candidate, with all the major caucuses endorsing him.
He is giving the House Republican Conference until Friday to decide whether it is behind him.
Earlier that day, The New York Times ran a story taking stock of the time-sensitive situation on Capitol Hill as Ryan prepared to meet with members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus:
Less than two weeks after Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the majority leader, withdrew his name from consideration, House Republicans returned from a weeklong recess to the reality that they had not found a willing candidate capable of uniting their ranks.
Compounding the pressure to settle on a new speaker is the fact that the country’s borrowing authority is set to expire in about two weeks, and a short-term budget measure to avert a government shutdown will run out in less than two months.
While Mr. Boehner, who plans to resign at the end of the month, said he would stay until his successor was named, some members have indicated that they may move to force him out. Without a speaker, House operations would be at a virtual standstill, raising the possibility of an economically and politically perilous default on the nation’s debt.
Meanwhile, MSNBC has sussed out some of the potential conflicts awaiting Ryan in the event that he fills Boehner’s post:
The caucus has plenty of critics who argue it isn’t interested in finding solutions but instead throwing verbal bombs and building procedural obstacles — which could have the unintended consequence of giving power to House Democrats by further dividing the GOP caucus. Boehner himself has referred to the HFC members as “knuckleheads.” Others have called them a “brat pack” and a secretive “Fight Club.”
“It’s a group of members who are engaged more in a game, a political game, and have more contempt for government than anything else,” said Thomas Mann, a congressional scholar and senior fellow of governance studies at Brookings Institution. “They are effective in destroying things but not effective in achieving anything.”
[...] But perhaps the biggest influence the HFC has had is that several lawmakers, as a result of the group, are now skeptical about wanting the speaker’s job at all – because spending the next year feuding with the caucus’ hard-line conservatives must sound like a nightmare.
“I think Ryan would be nuts to take the job because he’ll probably find himself in a position where he has to take actions to compromise, which will lead them to withdraw their support … It’s a dilemma that’s going to continue as long as the Freedom Caucus exists,” said Mann. The solution? “Drive them out of the party if you want to succeed in being a governing party. Otherwise the farce and chaos will continue indefinitely.”
Good luck with that, Rep. Ryan.
—Posted by Kasia Anderson
Related Entries
- October 20, 2015 The People vs. Citizens United: 7 Steps to Reversing Runaway Political Spending
- October 20, 2015 American Hypocrisy: GOP Against Sharia Law at Home but Sees Its Backers as ‘Moderates’ in Syria
Source: http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/paul_ryan_does_an_about-face_says_hed_serve_as_house_speaker_20151020/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
