# Paul Ryan not running for re-election **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 11, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210 "2018-04-11T12:35:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2nd\_Law](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f475e1/32.png) [@2nd\_Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2nd_Law)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/1 "2018-04-11T12:35:58Z")
[Axios story.](https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/11/axios-issues-alert-house-speaker-paul-ryan-not-seek-reelection-november/506165002/) I suspect he doesn’t want to be minority leader next term. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/2 "2018-04-11T12:54:10Z")
Good riddance to one of the most politically cowardly men in US high office in a long, long time. And there’s very, very stiff competition. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/3 "2018-04-11T12:54:13Z")
Possibly he’s planning to challenge Pence for the 2020 presidential nomination. But I think you got it the first time, except for the part about ducking an impeachment vote. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/4 "2018-04-11T13:07:04Z")
I’m sure he’ll be getting his 30 pieces of silver reward from the Kochs for a long time as well. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/5 "2018-04-11T13:09:55Z")
This is very good news. Not in itself (he’s really just one more meaningless Republican), but for what it indicates: If even the Speaker of the House thinks the political winds are blowing that strongly against him, they probably are. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/6 "2018-04-11T13:14:00Z")
He was and is an ineffective Speaker, but I’m not sure any Republican could be. The fringe element is simply ungovernable. So he’ll run for president and/or get a gig with Fox. Too bad he won’t be around to hand the gavel back to Nancy Pelosi. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/7 "2018-04-11T14:07:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > This is very good news. Not in itself (he’s really just one more meaningless Republican), but for what it indicates: If even the Speaker of the House thinks the political winds are blowing that strongly against him, they probably are. This was my thought as well. Maybe he wants to ‘spend more time with his family’ or maybe accept a lucrative Fox gig. But no matter what the reason he cites, it can be seen as part of a larger pattern where we’re seeing a number of establishment GOP rats jumping ship in advance of this mid-term election. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/8 "2018-04-11T14:19:13Z")
Fuck that guy. What a piece of shit. I hope his whole family gets ass cancer and dies horrific deaths. Anybody who worships Ayn Rand is a fucking idiot, and anyone who follows _them_ is both a fucking idiot and a terrible, selfish person. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/9 "2018-04-11T14:23:59Z")
I think Mr. Ryan is sincere in his reasons for not seeking re-election, and while I disagree with most of his policy positions, he seems to me somewhat sane (compared to some in his party) and has an understanding of how to govern. I am concerned that his departure will leave an opening for someone from the crazy train. Of course, not long ago, I thought HE was on the crazy train. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/10 "2018-04-11T14:33:28Z")
Seeing’s how no one else wanted the Speakership when Boehner left (and Ryan didn’t seem to want it either), who is going to be standing in line in 2019 if the GOP maintains their Majority? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/11 "2018-04-11T14:43:03Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > But no matter what the reason he cites, it can be seen as part of a larger pattern where we’re seeing a number of establishment GOP rats jumping ship in advance of this mid-term election. However, as **BobLibDem** suggests, this could also signal yet a further strengthening of the Insane Caucus within the GOP if the putative mainstreamers get cleaned out. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/12 "2018-04-11T14:49:56Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > However, as **BobLibDem** suggests, this could also signal yet a further strengthening of the Insane Caucus within the GOP if the putative mainstreamers get cleaned out. Maybe. Maybe not. Here’s a CNN link with the list of those who’ve announced they’re not seeking reelection. There’s also a graph showing how often the departing’s districts voted with Trump. Seems to be a fairly high correlation, but again, maybe not a causal relation. > **[There is a wave of Republicans leaving Congress | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/10/politics/house-retirement-tracker/index.html)** > > House Republicans are leaving office faster than any other recent Congresses, suggesting Democrats could pick up seats in the midterm elections. On Tuesday it was Pennsylvania Republican Bill Shuster. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/13 "2018-04-11T14:52:19Z")
IMO, Paul Ryan is one of the finest people in all of politics. Unfortunately, dealing with an impossible situation. > [@DCnDC](#): > > Fuck that guy. What a piece of shit. I hope his whole family gets ass cancer and dies horrific deaths. Oh. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/14 "2018-04-11T14:52:31Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > Seeing’s how no one else wanted the Speakership when Boehner left (and Ryan didn’t seem to want it either), who is going to be standing in line in 2019 if the GOP maintains their Majority? There’s an unnamed Republican Congressman quoted over in the Clusterfuck thread as saying > [@](#): > > Kevin [McCarthy] is already circling like a green fly circling sh\*t trying to take Paul’s [Ryan] job because nobody thinks he’s sticking around for Nancy [Pelosi]… Presumably that was said before Ryan’s announcement (and the scuttlebutt soubsequently proved correct), so the answer may be McCarthy. Sadly it’s not the late actor. ETA: I have a hard time thinking of Paul Ryan as a “fine person” by any metric, but I wish ass cancer on no one. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/15 "2018-04-11T14:53:33Z")
He’s leaving a sinking ship. Also, he and Trump don’t see eye to eye and I think the presidents increasingly erratic behavior have finally managed to push Ryan to get out of dodge. There have been rumors about him eyeing the exit for months now. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/16 "2018-04-11T14:55:29Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > IMO, Paul Ryan is one of the finest people in all of politics. Unfortunately, dealing with an impossible situation. > > Oh. Before the last election cycle (and time since), I wouldn’t have called him a massive political coward. But his pathetic subservience to Trump after correctly calling him out for racism and misogyny is cowardice, IMO. Or worse, if it was an attempt to use Trump to get his preferred policies in place. Wishing death on his family is far beyond the pale, of course. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/17 "2018-04-11T14:55:38Z")
McCarthy and Scalise are the putative pretenders per conventional wisdom. And yeah, the “mainstreamers” decided to opportunistically get Trump all over themselves for the sake of their beloved tax and budget cuts. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/18 "2018-04-11T15:03:09Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Before the last election cycle (and time since), I wouldn’t have called him a massive political coward. But his pathetic subservience to Trump after correctly calling him out for racism and misogyny is cowardice, IMO. Or worse, if it was an attempt to use Trump to get his preferred policies in place. > > Wishing death on his family is far beyond the pale, of course. He only called Trump out after he was forced to. No courage in his opposition. Ryan is scum and the US will be a better place once he’s gone. Remember when one of his colleagues said he thinks Trump is a traitor and Ryan swore everyone to secrecy? Yeah, his family is innocent, but if a tragedy befalls Ryan I won’t shed a tear. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/19 "2018-04-11T15:15:46Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Before the last election cycle (and time since), I wouldn’t have called him a massive political coward. But his pathetic subservience to Trump after correctly calling him out for racism and misogyny is cowardice, IMO. Ryan is not a dictator. The voters elected Trump as president, and a large portion of the voters and their elected representatives continue to support him. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/20 "2018-04-11T15:21:44Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Ryan is not a dictator. The voters elected Trump as president, and a large portion of the voters and their elected representatives continue to support him. This is just plain silly. So post-election there must be no questioning of elected officials because “the people have spoken” no matter what those officials do? And where was this devotion to the will of the public during the previous administration (you know, the one actually elected by a plurality of voters)? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210.md?page=2)