It's a Hard Life for Republicans

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan

People think I'm being disingenuous when I say I feel sorry for Paul Ryan. Not true. How would you like to be Speaker of the House these days?

Being Speaker is the pinnacle of a legislative career. You have incredible authority. You can hand out committee assignments and chairmanships. You decide whether bills get a hearing and vote, and a lot of what they contain. You assign office space or take it away and move someone to the basement.

It's just that all you really do is herd cats.

Ryan can't get a major bill passed, that will make it through the Senate.

The Tea Party Caucus is the Doctor No from the old James Bond film. Doctor No was a Chinese/German criminal scientist with metal hands. Somehow, that fits perfectly with the Tea Party Caucus who with their iron grip on legislation pretty much dictates what they want. Of course what they want has no chance of ever getting put into effect.

Just look at the Affordable Healthcare Act. The first attempt exploded like a gas filled septic tank. They couldn't get enough support for a vote. Brown goo covered all those expensive suites the lobbyist contributions pay for. No joy for the Trumpster after all his promises. No joy for Ryan who twisted himself in a double-fold Wisconsin cheese pretzel.

Sad faces all around except for one:

Winning make you younger, right Nancy?

Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats just had to sit around nursing their beers. Not much to do when the opposition sets up a circular firing squad.

But, like all stories of tribulation there must be a comeback. The Trumpster said so, eyeing that fact that as his 100 days were running out and had nothing to show for it. "Ryan" he bellowed, "I'm a winner and I want a win."

Old Paul was helpless. So out came the giveaways to get the votes. The TP kids get all the savage cutting their hearts could ever want. The moderates got wishy-washy language that allowed them to work both sides of the street: "We're not cutting Medicaid and Seniors. The states might, but not little old us!!???"

"And lo and behold it came to pass on a dark and stormy Thursday night that Lord Paul brought forth the American Healthcare Act."

The Senate promptly said, "No way Pauly, we'll write our own." The American people recoiled in horror at what was passed. The Trumpster declared a massive win and signed a piece of paper making a non-existent law into exactly...nothing.

Ryan is essentially dead, relegated to the part of playing Trump's butler. I can't believe any Republican would want his job. I sure wouldn't. And he has almost two years of insult and injury to put up with before the next election. He may even long for defeat by then.

I do feel sorry for Paul Ryan. This is not the way government is supposed to work.

You Republicans did this to yourself. You elected the monster that defiles the Oval Office. You're going to have to come to grip with this sooner rather than later. Or you may end up with wars both abroad and at home.