# 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:** 4
**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, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/61 "2018-04-11T20:34:18Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Maybe he didn’t fulfill all his promises because he’s cognizant of the fact that his split decision election means he doesn’t have a mandate. Naw, it’s always all the Democrats’ fault, even DACA. He doesn’t even know what a buck _is_. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/62 "2018-04-11T20:44:33Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Naw, it’s always all the Democrats’ fault, even DACA. He doesn’t even know what a buck _is_. That’s not really a legit criticism of Trump since his blame game is unusually bipartisan. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/63 "2018-04-11T20:50:20Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > 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. This is over the line. If you want to curse another person (and that person’s family) with a painful death, take it to **The BBQ Pit**. This is a Warning to keep this sort of thing out of **Great Debates** and **Elections**. [/Moderating] ---
**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, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/64 "2018-04-11T20:59:00Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > That’s not really a legit criticism of Trump since his blame game is unusually bipartisan. I think in his mind there are two parties, The Trump Party, and The Other Party. Anything that went wrong is the fault of The Other Party. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/65 "2018-04-11T21:13:19Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > IMO, Paul Ryan is one of the finest people in all of politics. Unfortunately, dealing with an impossible situation. What is “fine” about Ryan? He was one of the heaviest lifters to get the recent tax scam pushed through Congress and has spent all his time since then telling everyone that we have to give up Social Security and Medicare to offset the deficit that the scam is creating. I have never seen him propose a single act in support of the citizens of the U.S. (or, at least, those citizens making less that a couple million a year). He is one more ideologue that holds the weird belief that everything should be privatized and that the government can do nothing right. That might make him an acceptable Far Right politician, but it hardly makes him the “finest” anything–as demonstrated by his failure to stand up to Trump on issues regarding Muslims, (e.g., making mealy-mouthed “it is not a Muslim ban” when Trump pulled his successive Executive orders to ban Muslims) and his various attacks on poor people. It is true that he had to be arm-twisted to take the Speaker position rather than eagerly grasping for it, but so what? ---
**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, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/66 "2018-04-11T21:16:58Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > What is “fine” about Ryan? Very bright guy with a good understanding of the issues, and someone who genuinely tried to do the right thing while facing competing pressures in a very difficult political situation. IOW, he understood the issues and meant well. Your post consists of a very strong disagreement with him about the issues. OK. ---
**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, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/67 "2018-04-11T21:19:44Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Very bright guy with a good understanding of the issues, and someone who genuinely tried to do the right thing while facing competing pressures in a very difficult political situation. IOW, he understood the issues and meant well. This was the marketing on Ryan, but ISTM to be mostly bullshit. It worked on you, apparently. Of course, we both aren’t exactly unbiased. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/68 "2018-04-11T21:21:37Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > …IOW, he understood the issues and meant well… Well, bless his heart! Reminds me of Wernher von Braun’s autobiography\* I Aim For The Stars…But Sometimes I Hit London.\* ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/69 "2018-04-11T21:25:14Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This was the marketing on Ryan, but ISTM to be mostly bullshit. It worked on you, apparently. Of course, we both aren’t exactly unbiased. Yeah, it’s almost like when he was calling Ryan a fine man it was merely his opinion rather than a scientifically proven fact. I thought we were fighting ignorance here!?! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/70 "2018-04-11T21:26:29Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > **Very bright guy** with a good understanding of the issues, and someone who genuinely tried to do the right thing while facing competing pressures in a very difficult political situation. IOW, he understood the issues and meant well. > > Your post consists of a very strong disagreement with him about the issues. OK. Who uses it for evil. ---
**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, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/71 "2018-04-11T21:27:59Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Yeah, it’s almost like when he was calling Ryan a fine man it was merely his opinion rather than a scientifically proven fact. I thought we were fighting ignorance here!?! I disagree with your opinion about my opinion about his opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/72 "2018-04-11T21:31:24Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > In other words, you have no idea if half the posters Fear Itself was addressing actually believe that Trump won the biggest landslide ever. I was only addressing one poster > [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > The voters elected Trump as president, and a large portion of the voters and their elected representatives continue to support him. Next you should think twice about jumping in the middle of other’s conversations. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/73 "2018-04-11T21:35:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I was only addressing one poster > Next you should think twice about jumping in the middle of other’s conversations. I wasn’t addressing you or F-P, so wtf are you talking about? You just jumped in the middle of me and Ravenman’s conversation. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/74 "2018-04-11T21:49:16Z")
Are there any dyed-in-the-wool-over-their-eyes Trumpniks on the Board? Well, yeah, sure. Why do you think we have to name them? Are you suggesting they don’t really exist, or testing our memory? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/75 "2018-04-11T21:57:48Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I wasn’t addressing you or F-P, so wtf are you talking about? You just jumped in the middle of me and Ravenman’s conversation. Pssst! Post #47. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/76 "2018-04-11T22:06:47Z")
> [@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. > [@E-DUB](#): > > The problem with thinking that way is that, taken to its logical conclusion, it allows the opposition a “heckler’s veto” over your leadership. The Congress is a co-equal branch of government. A member of Congress has no obligation to treat the president as a leader if he or she disagrees with the president’s policies. More important, if the member of Congress perceived that the president is harming the country by messing with democratic norms and institutions, he or she has a duty to oppose the president. There’s nothing in the Constitution that says a member of Congress is obligated to serve the president regardless of any other consideration. They’re equals. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/77 "2018-04-11T22:13:43Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Pssst! Post #47. No, not “pssst”. Spell it out. What does post 47 have to do with my comment to Ravenman that you decided to answer? And also, why not explain to Ravenman that he’s wrong about “half the posters youre addressing think Trump won a landslide”? I mean you were only addressing one poster, so that’s impossible, right? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/78 "2018-04-11T22:44:54Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > No, not “pssst”. Spell it out. Look, you quoted me twice, then referred to me by name. So you don’t get to claim you never addressed me. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/79 "2018-04-11T22:50:47Z")
Seriously? I didn’t claim I never addressed you. I wasn’t addressing you in the post you replied to. I was addressing a specific comment made by Ravenman. Get it now? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/80 "2018-04-11T22:54:58Z")
I don’t care enough to think about it that long. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210.md?page=5)