FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER, SPEAKS OUT!

…Former GOP House Speaker, Paul Ryan, now an author

GOP Congresspersons only talk to the press on the basis of anonymity to discuss their private thinking.

The former House Speaker, Paul Ryan, finally tells the truth about how he felt about, and how he now feels about the current president.

Ryan has now written a kind of “tell all” book about when he was speaker, and what he has had against the president. 

Of course, after hearing what Ryan had to say about Trump, Trump of course, went after Ryan from the White House South Lawn: Trump shot back, lashing out at the former speaker as a “baby” and a “terrible speaker.”  Trump unleashed this criticism at one of Wisconsin’s favorite sons, just before leaving Washington to visit that same state.  Wisconsin was one of the states that made him the US president, and he wants and needs to win it again in 2020.  I don't think he will do that by calling a state's “favorite son” names.  Trump called the retired congressman’s record “atrocious” despite Ryan’s hard work in securing Trump’s horrible domestic policy achievement, the disgusting GOP tax bill.  Trump just had to add: “Paul Ryan let us down. Paul Ryan was a terrible speaker. He didn’t know what the hell he was doing.” 

Well, this president knows a lot about not knowing what you are doing.

Actually, that’s pretty much what Ryan said about the president.  He stated in his book: “I’m telling you, he [Trump] didn’t know anything about government.  I wanted to scold him all the time. What I learned as I went on, to scratch that itch, I had to do it in private. So, I did it in private all the time. And he actually ended up kind of appreciating it.”

Today’s dilemma that is facing all elected Republicans in the age of Trump is, if they disagree with the president, they face serious consequences.  If they stay close, they often must contort their political positions to fit Trump’s unpredictable actions.  If they decide to leave, as Ryan did, they lose part of their platform to influence and shape the White House.  It’s a real lose-lose situation.

You will notice individuals like Senator Lindsay Graham, Senator Ted  Cruz and others, that have gone from being serious “anti-Trumpers” to his major supporters, just to keep from have Twitter attacks from the president.

One Republican congressman said Friday that on Capitol Hill and beyond, “everyone is in on the joke.” They all take the good with the bad, with this president, and they find their own way in Trump’s party, said the congressman, who as usual, was granted anonymity to discuss his private thinking.

But the style and substance of Trump’s up & down presidency has so changed political norms and standards that some of the party’s once ascending members are, like Ryan, taking a leave.

“He’s not alone,” said former Senator Jeff Flake, who retired early rather than run for reelection alongside Trump.  “I could not stand on a campaign stage with the president when people were shouting, ‘Lock her up!’  And I’m not alone in that,” the Arizonan said by phone. “The problem isn’t just Trump. It’s Trumpism. Unfortunately, it’s a virus that’s infected not just the Republican party, but the Democratic Party, as well.”  I'm not sure what he meant by that...?

As expected, Trump’s allies scoff at those who struggle to find their way in today’s GOP.  They basically lie and say the White House has an open door that welcomes wide-ranging views.  That’s a bunch of B.S..

“There’s room for a difference of opinion, and to be passionate about it,” said Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., who is one of those that has stopped being a conservative Republican and is a become a "Trump Worshiper" .  

If only that "room for a difference," was true.

Copyright G. Ater 2019