# The Agony of Paul Ryan: It's going to be a looooong five month, Paul **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 15, 2016, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390 "2016-06-15T02:21:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/81 "2016-08-10T14:03:45Z")
> [@Algernon](#): > > +1 > And I am particularly embarrassed about him because I am a Wisconsinite. Me too, but imagine how New Yorkers feel. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/82 "2016-08-10T22:19:41Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Looks like Ryan won with 90% of the vote. > > 1. Trump has no legs > 2. Paul is now free to do what he wants w/o worry in regards to primary election > > Does he dump Trump or double down? Next day or three will be telling… He has no legs in Wisconsin, where he seems to be particularly hated by the conservative community, much the same as in Utah. I’m not so sure that’s true in a lot of other solidly red states, though. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/83 "2016-08-10T22:59:10Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Paul Ryan claims that he hasn’t seen the footage or really know what the latest controversy is about. > > Who believes him? > > Perhaps the testiest ending to a victory presser in history. MSNBC covered his victory speech live, perhaps expecting to grow a spine. Some hope. Yeah, he didn’t have time to even read the comments because the election was such a nail-biter. Maybe he thinks he’ll have a hard time controlling his party in Congress if he dumps Trump. Maybe he’s a pussy. Who knows? ---
**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:** [October 8, 2016, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/84 "2016-10-08T14:18:05Z")
Paul Ryan continues his spineless course of being a Trump supporter, no matter what foul thing Trump says: > **[Paul Ryan Responds To Donald Trump's Misogyny](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/paul-ryan-donald-trump-misogyny-silence_n_57f81f60e4b068ecb5de8a5c)** > > That Trump endorsement thing is working out great! Ryan is spineless and unprincipled. He condemns everything The Groper says, but still stands by his endorsement. because hey, Trump may have admitted to committing sexual assaults, but he’s a “R”, so party solidarity! ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/85 "2016-10-08T14:54:11Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Paul Ryan continues his spineless course of being a Trump supporter, no matter what foul thing Trump says: > > [Paul Ryan Responds To Donald Trump's Misogyny | HuffPost Latest News](http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_57f81f60e4b068ecb5de8a5c) > > Ryan is spineless and unprincipled. He condemns everything The Groper says, but still stands by his endorsement. > > because hey, Trump may have admitted to committing sexual assaults, but he’s a “R”, so party solidarity! Paul is in a hard spot right now. He has to point out that Trump is a filthy pig after seeing that video, yet, he has to do what he can to promote unity in the Republican party. It’s a hard order to fill. How do you champion the Republican party in view of a public disclosure that your candidate is without any compassion for women? Ryan never should have endorsed Trump, and the smart thing to do is pull your endorsement asap. But doing that will make him look like a fair weather Republican. He can’t spin this as nothing (as many Republicans are doing) because he’ll piss off part of his support base. He’s in a hard spot, he’s screwed no matter which way he turns. It’s a LOL moment for the Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/86 "2016-10-08T16:59:27Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > It’s a LOL moment for the Democrats. And for John Boehner. He’s probably laughing so hard he had to pull the RV over. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/87 "2016-10-08T17:09:24Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > And for John Boehner. He’s probably laughing so hard he had to pull the RV over. He should send Ryan a gift basket. Containing a blindfold and cigarette. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/88 "2016-10-08T17:42:17Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > He’s in a hard spot, he’s screwed no matter which way he turns. It’s a LOL moment for the Democrats. It’s one of those moments that comes along in life where you get to truly show (and perhaps define) what kind of person you really are. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/89 "2016-10-08T18:06:48Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > And for John Boehner. He’s probably laughing so hard he had to pull the RV over. And many times in the past I told Mitch McConnell to say his prayers when he decided to support Trump. But did the Turtle listen to me? No. ---
**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:** [October 8, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/90 "2016-10-08T18:27:29Z")
[Republican Party Could Recover as Early as 2096, Experts Say](http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/republican-party-could-recover-as-early-as-2096-experts-say) > [@](#): > > In what is being described as a best-case scenario, some political experts are predicting that the Republicans could once again be a viable political party as early as the year 2096. > > Davis Logsdon, the head of the University of Minnesota’s political-science department, said on Saturday that the eighty-year time frame for the Republican Party to recover was “admittedly optimistic, but still doable.” > > “It’s not going to be easy, and they have very little margin for error,” Logsdon said. “But if they do everything right and a lot of things cut their way, they could be up and running as a somewhat serviceable political party as early as 2096.” It’s the Borowitz Report-satire. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/91 "2016-10-10T16:46:52Z")
Speaker Ryan convened a conference call this morning for the Republican House Conference. Upshot appears to be: • he will no longer defend Trump; • issues a “sauve qui peut” to Republican House members: “you all need to do what’s best for you and your district”; • his only goal in this election is to preserve their majority in the House. > **[Paul Ryan said he won't defend Donald Trump | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/10/politics/paul-ryan-said-he-wont-defend-donald-trump/)** > > House Speaker Paul Ryan dealt his own party's presidential nominee a withering blow Monday, telling fellow Republicans he will no longer defend Donald Trump and will instead use the next 29 days to focus on preserving his party's hold on Congress. ---
**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:** [October 10, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/92 "2016-10-10T16:58:20Z")
I was thinking after yesterday, and this past weekend, Paul Ryan and the real GOP would grow a pair and kick that dirtbag nominee of theirs to the curb. At least he’s admitting the GOP has lost the presidency this time around and is trying to staunch the bleeding by preserving as much as possible in Congress: _“He will spend his entire energy making sure that Hillary Clinton does not get a blank check with a Democrat-controlled Congress,” said the person on the call — an implied acknowledgment that Donald Trump no longer appears able to capture the White House._ ---
**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:** [October 10, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/93 "2016-10-10T18:01:28Z")
The BBC’s take on it: > [@](#): > > Paul Ryan, the highest-ranking Republican officeholder, has officially given the signal. The SS Trump is sinking, and it’s time for members of his party to calmly, quietly head for the lifeboats. > > … > > It’s worth keeping in mind that while Mr Ryan is sounding the abandon ship alarm, Donald Trump may not play the stoic captain watching from the bridge. Still no unendorsement, though. Ryan is still formally supporting Trump. > **[US election: Top Republican Ryan 'won't defend Trump'](https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-37610348)** > > Paul Ryan, the most senior elected US Republican, says he will no longer defend Donald Trump after outrage over his remarks about groping women. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/94 "2016-10-10T18:09:48Z")
“Supporting”, but not “endorsing”. Ever see the video of a snail creeping on the edge of a straight razor, just slow enough to not disembowel itself? Ah, the pangs of ambition! Taste the sweetness of _karma_, Mr. Ryan! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/95 "2016-10-10T18:41:08Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > “Supporting”, but not “endorsing”. Ever see the video of a snail creeping on the edge of a straight razor, just slow enough to not disembowel itself? Ah, the pangs of ambition! Taste the sweetness of _karma_, Mr. Ryan! I believe he’s already endorsed Trump. He has yet to unendorsed him – officially, that is. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/96 "2016-10-10T18:44:55Z")
Oh, shit, I had it _backwards_! He is “endorsing” Trump, but not “supporting” him! Yes, of course, silly me. I won’t ask you to explain the difference, even if you could, I wouldn’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/97 "2016-10-10T19:17:38Z")
“Paul Ryan should spend more time on balancing the budget, jobs and illegal immigration and not waste his time on fighting Republican nominee” - Trump Tweet ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/98 "2016-10-10T20:39:06Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > “Supporting”, but not “endorsing”. Ever see the video of a snail creeping on the edge of a straight razor, just slow enough to not disembowel itself? Ah, the pangs of ambition! Taste the sweetness of _karma_, Mr. Ryan! Great image (if painful). May have to steal that in the near future. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/99 "2016-10-10T23:48:48Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > • issues a “sauve qui peut” to Republican House members: Ever so sophisticated! Over this side of the puddle we call that the Dingo Principle (for north american dopers read coyote) i.e. When the chips are down it’s every bastard for himself. ---
**Author:** ![ganthet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@ganthet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ganthet)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390/100 "2016-10-11T00:25:46Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Oh, shit, I had it _backwards_! He is “endorsing” Trump, but not “supporting” him! Yes, of course, silly me. I won’t ask you to explain the difference, even if you could, I wouldn’t understand. It’s like giving an author a quote about their book they can use on the back cover in praise of it and asking the author to use a pseudonym for your name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-agony-of-paul-ryan-its-going-to-be-a-looooong-five-month-paul/757390.md?page=6)