No surprises in Ryan’s departure
A policy wonk, he’s not a skilful political operative and found his position untenable in the current polity in Washington DC
Paul Ryan didn’t want to be Speaker of House. He grew to hate the job when serving with the current administration. The 48-year-old Republican’s announcement that he wouldn’t seek re-election to the United States House of Representatives in November didn’t come as a huge surprise. He became speaker in 2015 only because he was an acceptable compromise between warring Republican factions. A policy wonk, he’s not a skilful political operative.
But the move has negative consequences for House Republicans. Ryan was the party’s most prodigious fundraiser; as a lame duck, his ability to attract donations will be significantly diminished. And the battle for succession has already started, aggravating party division in a year when it faces the probability of big losses in the midterm elections.
There were compelling political reasons for Ryan to bow out. He faced his most serious challenge since he was first elected in his Republican-leaning Wisconsin district in 1998. One Democratic opponent, ironworker Randy Bryce, already has raised $5 million (Dh18.39 million) and Wisconsin Republicans are worried that a national Democratic wave could sweep him to victory.
That’s also true elsewhere, and Republicans fear losing their House majority. House Republicans tend to replace their leaders after disappointing elections, though in this case much of the blame should fall to Trump.
Despite periodic efforts to gloss over big differences, Trump and Ryan never were a match. Ryan was a protege of the late Jack Kemp, the quarterback-turned-legislator who was the prime advocate starting in the 1970s and 80s of an opportunitybased, inclusive and tolerant Republican conservatism.
Race-baiting and misogyny
On immigration, trade and fiscal policy, Ryan was at odds with Trump. He especially was bothered by the president’s race-baiting and misogyny, but lacked the political will to make more than token objections.
The Trump factor often made running the House impossible. Unlike strong speakers from Sam Rayburn to Thomas P. O’Neill to John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi, Ryan was never feared by his colleagues and they had few reservations about taking him on.
The front-runner to lead House Republicans is House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, though his rise is far from certain. The Californian began as the favourite for the speaker’s job when John Boehner quit in frustration in 2015, but was thwarted by personal problems and criticism from his party’s Right wing. McCarthy has worked hard to make peace with rightwing factions and has become fairly close to Trump. Other contenders would be the current whip, Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, and North Carolina Representative Patrick Henry. Others may emerge.
It is indicative of Trump’s impact on the Republican Party that Ryan, the vice presidential nominee in 2012, now faces an uncertain political future only two years after being considered a rising star. Friends say he will bide his time and see whether the political climate and party change. Associates doubt he would challenge Trump in 2020.
However, in 10 years’ time, for the presidential election of 2028, he would be 12 years younger than Trump was when elected.
■ Albert R. Hunt is a Bloomberg View columnist.
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