# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/141 "2018-04-13T15:14:15Z")
_mine fields_, the mine fiends are back in congress. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/142 "2018-04-13T15:51:46Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I thought the question was whether Ryan should be publicly saying “Hey Trump, please don’t start a nuclear war”. No, he should be publicly warning his fellow Congresscritters (and the rest of us, too) that, likely or not, the prospect of Trump starting a nuclear war is significant enough that they need to remove him from office, _tout suite_. ---
**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 13, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/143 "2018-04-13T16:58:12Z")
I don’t think a guy having a higher likelihood of starting nuclear war is enough to remove people from office. I mean, granted, it’s a much bigger deal than - for example - lying about an affair with an intern. But it’s not a high crime or misdemeanor, and if you start making up rules as you go along on matters of this sort, then everyone else does too on matters which concern them, and next thing you know you’re in a civil war. If I were in Congress, I would be looking very closely at the 25th Amendment. But absent that, the only other option is to wait to see what Mueller comes up with. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/144 "2018-04-13T17:02:31Z")
There is nothing under the 25th that Congress can initiate. They have to depend on Pence and Trump’s Cabinet to take action. So saying Congress is looking closely at the 25th is meaningless. ---
**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 13, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/145 "2018-04-13T17:10:44Z")
That’s a good point - I wasn’t thinking of that. Though it’s not like congressional leaders have zero influence with the executive branch either. I imagine if the Republican leadership in congress went over to Pence and a few key and discreet cabinet members and said “hey, we seriously think Trump is unfit for this office and we would strongly urge you to invoke the Amendment”, I think they would be taken seriously. Especially by Pence 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/146 "2018-04-13T17:42:17Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > There’s an unnamed Republican Congressman quoted over in the Clusterfuck thread as saying 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. That same unnamed Republican said something about Nancy Pelosi fucking up the cafeteria. Does anyone know what that refers to? 😕😕😕 ---
**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 13, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/147 "2018-04-13T17:58:34Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > That same unnamed Republican said something about Nancy Pelosi fucking up the cafeteria. > > Does anyone know what that refers to? 😕😕😕 She refused to order Freedom Fries when she wanted french fries and would constantly back up the line. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/148 "2018-04-13T18:16:12Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > She refused to order Freedom Fries when she wanted french fries and would constantly back up the line. Really? ---
**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 13, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/149 "2018-04-13T18:27:47Z")
Possibly, but I was just joking. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/150 "2018-04-13T18:41:41Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I don’t think a guy having a higher likelihood of starting nuclear war is enough to remove people from office. \*What the fucking fuck?! \* Seriously, if the prospect of WWII-level carnage in an afternoon isn’t “enough” to remove someone from office, what makes the cut? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/151 "2018-04-13T18:48:06Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I mean, granted, it’s a much bigger deal than - for example - lying about an affair with an intern. Yeah. Even a bigger deal than obstructing justice, which is what got Nixon canned. > [@](#): > > But it’s not a high crime or misdemeanor It’s not? Who says? My understanding is that the Founders intentionally left the language vague so that it could apply to Big Shit that didn’t fit a narrow description. And nuclear war is Big Shit. > [@](#): > > and if you start making up rules as you go along on matters of this sort, then everyone else does too on matters which concern them, and next thing you know you’re in a civil war. So better a nuclear war than a civil war? OK then. ---
**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 13, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/152 "2018-04-13T19:03:30Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > It’s not? Who says? My understanding is that the Founders intentionally left the language vague so that it could apply to Big Shit that didn’t fit a narrow description. Regardless of its importance, a higher likelihood of nuclear war is clearly a matter of policy and not a high crime and misdemeanor. > [@](#): > > So better a nuclear war than a civil war? OK then. Depends (among many other things) on how likely each the two respective possibilities are. But I would think removing an elected president from office over policy disagreements would likely trigger some pretty violent reactions from his supporters, who would effectively have no other recourse. The good thing about democracy is that if everyone thinks their voice can be heard they’re more likely to settle their differences peacefully. Not so much, if otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/153 "2018-04-13T19:17:42Z")
I am inclined to agree that you can’t impeach someone for being a hawk. OTOH, the choice between following these kinds of rules to preserve our system or not getting nuked is a lose-lose proposition. Personally, I would feel confident facing St. Peter for bearing a little false witness if I really thought it would prevent nuclear war. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/154 "2018-04-13T19:20:20Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Regardless of its importance, a higher likelihood of nuclear war is clearly a matter of policy and not a high crime and misdemeanor. > > Depends (among many other things) on how likely each the two respective possibilities are. But I would think removing an elected president from office over policy disagreements would likely trigger some pretty violent reactions from his supporters, who would effectively have no other recourse. We wouldn’t want to have that, would we? Better just to take the increased likelihood of a hundred million people suddenly dead. > [@](#): > > The good thing about democracy is that if everyone thinks their voice can be heard they’re more likely to settle their differences peacefully. Not so much, if otherwise. You’re right. If we think the President is about to start a nuclear war, best to just wait until the next election, then vote him out. Seriously, _ **what the fucking fuck?!** _ ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/155 "2018-04-13T19:21:36Z")
Some chickens can’t be un-fucked, you know? The only time you can fix a nuclear war is beforehand, by keeping it from happening. ---
**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 13, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/156 "2018-04-13T20:35:59Z")
OK, so you’re sufficiently worried about the possibility of nuclear war that you impeach him for tax evasion, sexual assault, obstruction of justice, and bank fraud. It’s not like you have to look very far to find grounds. ---
**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 13, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/157 "2018-04-13T21:13:02Z")
Well he’s not getting removed anytime soon so you should probably go ahead and put the finishing touches on your basement fallout shelters. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/158 "2018-04-13T21:13:33Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > With Ryan out, the chances of an open white supremacist (Paul Nehlen) being nominated to replace him go up considerably: > > [Paul Ryan’s Retirement Gives a Big Boost to the Most Prominent White Nationalist in U.S. Politics](https://www.thedailybeast.com/paul-ryans-retirement-gives-a-big-boost-to-the-most-prominent-white-nationalist-in-us-politics) The Daily Beast article glossed over Nehlan’s 2016 supporters - Trump, Palin, Hannity, and Ingraham, long before Breitbart gave him the heave-ho I suppose for his lack of subtlety. > **[Paul Nehlen, the alt-right candidate running for Paul Ryan’s seat, explained](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/4/12/17224086/paul-nehlen-alt-right-paul-ryan-race)** > > With Nehlen, a “pro-White” candidate in the race, Republicans scramble for a suitable Ryan replacement. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/159 "2018-04-13T21:26:32Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > We wouldn’t want to have that, would we? > > Better just to take the increased likelihood of a hundred million people suddenly dead. You’re right. If we think the President is about to start a nuclear war, best to just wait until the next election, then vote him out. > > Seriously, _ **what the fucking fuck?!** _ The last nuclear weapon that was used in a war was more than 72 years ago. I don’t think you have much to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2018, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210/160 "2018-04-13T21:29:05Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I don’t think a guy having a higher likelihood of starting nuclear war is enough to remove people from office. What you’re talking about there, whether you realize it or not, is > [@](#): > > Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office _—Article II, Section 1._ Trump has a manifest Inability due to his being clearly unfit for the Presidency. That he is plainly unfit is evident by virtue of his obvious mental illness, combined with his status as a treasonous criminal. Once he’s removed, suitable proofs of the mental illness, the treason, and the felonious criminal conduct will be lawfully produced through the appropriate exercise of the justice system (including diagnosis by properly credentialed medical personnel). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paul-ryan-not-running-for-re-election/812210.md?page=9)