Republican Paul Ryan wants to stick around until the end of his term in the House.
He admitted this week that’s he’s not planning on seeking re-election next November. He’s not ready to give up power yet, however. He made it clear that he’s not going to step down as Speaker until next January.
Unless, of course, Republican elites force him out sooner. Congress has been sick of Ryan for awhile and a lot of people are angling for his spot. He’ll be lucky if he manages to hold on for the next few months, let alone until January.
“Scuttlebutt is that Paul will have to step down from speakership soon. Members won’t follow a lame duck, he’ll have no leverage to cut deals, and the last thing they need in this environment is 6 months of palace intrigue and everyone stabbing everyone else in the back,” a source told Axios.
Ryan isn’t exactly leaving in a blaze of glory. Republicans are trying to force him into early retirement. The New Yorker ran an article Thursday titled “Paul Ryan Was a Failure, Even on His Own Terms.” No one seems to have been impressed with his leadership.
Analysts believe that Ryan’s leaving his post because he’s afraid of being downgraded to minority speaker if Democrats sweep the House. His potential successors are afraid of the same thing, which is why they want his role now. They’d rather step into a ready-made speakership and try to turn the tides before November.
Voters are happy with President Trump but not with the Republicans. Meanwhile, Democrats are frantic and organized. There’s a real chance that they could win enough House seats to take the majority.
Ryan doesn’t help the party. The GOP has a stronger chance of holding onto its advantage in Congress if he leaves and new leadership takes over.
“He will be gone by the end of July,” a senior Republican told Axios.
Republicans are now trying to push @SpeakerRyan down from his role as Speaker as soon as next week. Good riddance, coward.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) April 13, 2018
(Source: New Yorker, Axios)