It just occurred to me why Paul Ryan might be quitting.

[DemoTex]

To take a job as President Mike Pence's VP, perhaps? Ryan has been vetted for that job before.

Maybe Ryan announced his departure to give the House leadership time to re-organize. Maybe Ryan knows Trump is a goner. Maybe the Pence transition team is ready to step in, with Ryan as VP, when Trump bites the dust.

Maybe. Time will tell.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. Possible

Scary thought. But *if* Ryan is being honest about his reasons for quitting (time with family), then being VP would still not really support that.

[DemoTex]

4. Ryan honest?

You jest!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. I said *IF*!

I trust him and his crew as far as I could throw them.

[Cartoonist]

2. Pence will pick his veep

And he will be another holy roller.

[DemoTex]

5. Or a "devout" Catholic ..

Like Ryan.

[Cartoonist]

6. Catholics aren't real Christians

According to people like Pence.

[KentuckyWoman]

18. Pence's ilk thinks the pope is the antichrist

seriously. back in 70's and 80's it was common to see evangelical pamphlet left in all sorts of place, laundrymats, Dr. offices, random grocery carts... you name it. They detailed "biblical proof" that the pope is the antichrist.

[dixiegrrrrl]

26. He is gonna have to pay attention to what the GOP sez about that.

And Mueller has some thoughts on that topic, for sure! I am seriously confident that Mueller is not gonna leave Pence and Ryan without indictments.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. Nothing seems outside the realm of possibility anymore

Once freed from the daily minutae accompanying the speaker role, Ryan could focus a good deal more on granny-starving, neglecting all other VP duties.

[unblock]

8. Completely unnecessary.

Pence could pick ryan while ryan is speaker. No need for him to quit. Many things would change anyway when Donnie gets the boot.

Aside from that, most people in washington would consider that a demotion.

[Faux pas]

9. In mho

he's leaving because the Russia investigation just might come too close to him.

[dixiegrrrrl]

28. That always puzzles me, leaving your job when the heat is on.

People do that a lot. Do they think the long arm of the law won't get them because they are not on the job?

" Hmm, note on the door says he left the job. Guess we gotta give up and go back to the station"

[Faux pas]

43. I do believe that

they believe in their 'alternate reality' that's how it'll go. Sic 'em Mueller!!!!!

[mercuryblues]

10. I like to think

Mueller offered him a deal he couldn't refuse.

This is what we know. Tell us everything you know. Quit and we won't prosecute you.

Your scenario makes sense, mine may be a pipe dream.

[librechik]

11. VP isn't important enough for this hero.

He didn't sell out his soul for second seat!

[Voltaire2]

12. He wouldnt have to resign until that became

a reality. So nope not the reason.

[RandomAccess]

13. Ryan has his own Russia problems, so I doubt that's it

There are money issues (contributions), and also this --


15:02 2/21/2018
DAILYKOS: Paul Ryan Says "We All Knew...Russia" https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210266800
Well, now that the world knows you knew.......
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/2/21/1743380/-Paul-Ryan-We-all-knew-this-before-the-election-and-we-didn-t-care
"The GOP Leadership has some serious explaining to do …
They knew about the Russian delivery of DNC emails to Wikileaks (from their personal CIA briefings in September 2016) — and they did NOTHING to speak out and prevent its exploitation, to help get Donald Jackass Trump elected.
"The Republican Party and its use of Russian disinformation.
In recent weeks the public has learned a great deal more about how extensive the Russian disinformation campaign was last year. And just yesterday, the new CIA Director, Mike Pompeo, once again confirmed that Wikileaks acted on behalf of Russia last year and warned that people promoting its materials could be doing the bidding of a hostile foreign power.
[...] There was little doubt that this material was coming from the Russian government. As Paul Ryan recently said, "We all knew this before the election. We all knew Russia was trying to meddle with our election." The CIA briefed Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell about the Russian campaign in September.
[...] So to be clear — the Republican Party of the United States knowingly used materials provided by a hostile foreign power in an American election. It continued to use these materials for months after it was known they were coming from Russia, and for months after they were asked to stop using them by the Democratic Party and even other Republican leaders.
[...] Paul Ryan: "We all knew this before the election. We all knew Russia was trying to meddle with our election."

[DemoTex]

14. Yep. But Pence has Russia/Manafort problems too.

They are all as crooked as a dog's hind leg.

[RandomAccess]

17. Yes, he does and I'm praying Mueller get to him in turn

But that's got nothing to do with Ryan's reasons for quitting, which to me are (not in any particular order):

* His own seat is in jeopardy
* GOP is going to lose the House
* No fun being minority leader
* His own potential liabilities re Russia contacts

[Hekate]

35. It drives me crazy that we are not hearing anything at all about that from the media...

I mean really: getting Pence to be VP was so important to Manafort that he jiggered an "airplane malfunction" to force Trump to stay overnight so Pence could be brought to meet him in the morning. Manafort was in on this, for gods' sake.

[malaise]

15. +1,000 n/t

[KG]

16. he's slinking away before it's shown his 'path to prosperity' is really an

economic cul-de-sac filled with illegal dumped garbage.

[saidsimplesimon]

41. KG, your comment

reminded me of a line from "Polyester"

I look into my future, and all I see is a long, dark highway , filled with endless toll booths and ... no exits . Devine

[dalton99a]

19. Arsonists like to run away before the place blows up

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. Nah. He's trying to avoid being tainted by this administration

He's staying just long enough that his pension will be based on his salary as Speaker. He's a young man. My guess is that he'll bank some big bucks writing a book and working for a lobbying firm, then run for Senate or President.

[MurrayDelph]

22. The Trump taint* is only part of why he's leaving

He still wants to be President, and losing his home district would mark him as a loser

He wants to put some distance between himself and the damage caused by his tax cuts

When the inevitable Democratic administration comes in and starts undoing his damage, he can run decrying "tax and spend" liberals.



* By the way, "Trump taint" sounds like something Stormy threatens to describe.

[Yavin4]

21. He's quitting because he's an incompetent failure and he knows it.

Beyond tax cuts for the rich, he has nothing else and knows that the Republicans cannot do anything else about the important issues that matter. He's just presiding over a House of Failure.

[Red Mountain]

23. I think the plan was always for Ryan to be President if it came to that

Pence may have his own problems. That leaves the Speaker of the House. Until recently, that was assumed to be Ryan. Polls are looking pretty bad for Reps in the fall so.....

Trump is removed, Pence steps in and nominates Ryan to be his Vice.

They must think Ryan is clean enough to survive.

[dixiegrrrrl]

40. Mueller is not gonna let Pence get off scott free.

Remember that Manafort made Trump give him the VP slot. There was reason, even if it is not clear at the moment.

[Jim Lane]

24. My prediction for Pence's VP: Nikki Haley

The GOP knows it has a problem with women. Why was the Governor of South Carolina picked as the UN Ambassador? She had no foreign-policy credentials that would recommend her. The purpose was to give her foreign-policy credentials, or at least the appearance thereof, to make her a more credible addition to a national ticket.

Pence could make her a figurehead VP and largely ignore her, while putting his real trust in other white male dominionists.

[trof]

25. Well, THERE'S a marriage made in hell.

Hi Tex.

[Bradshaw3]

27. As John Nance Garner said, VP isn't "worth a warm bucket of spit"

Ryan can now go make millions. He won't give that up to be a wing man for Pence.

[DonCoquixote]

36. er, two words

Dick Cheney, enough said.

[Bradshaw3]

38. Not really

Not the same I say.

[WhiteTara]

29. Well, it has been pointed out to me that

Congress must approve a VP pick in this situation and he could have been moved over. I think he knows the end is nigh and hopes if he's out of town, Mueller won't notice his collusion with the Russians.

[IluvPitties]

30. Very possible.

[oberliner]

31. To spend more time with his family

To be fair, his kids are pretty adorable.

[Hekate]

32. Possibly for a cleansing tour in the wilderness before running for POTUS...

That man really needs a cleansing high colonic.

[brooklynite]

33. Or maybe Ryan knows the Republicans are going to lose, and doesn't want to be in the minority...

Occam's Razor.

[Meowmee]

34. 2 people close

To me say hes gonna run for prez, I hope not. 😳🤢

[enid602]

37. Balanced budget

I heard that Ryan will be pushing in the House next week a Balanced Budget Amendment to cut expenses given the huge decreases in revenues made possible by the new tax law. Expect massive decreases in social safety net, SS and Medicare/Medicaid expenditures. Good time to leave Dodge if he is successful.

[jmowreader]

39. That works if Pence is also gone

Ryan wouldn’t agree to a deal that doesn’t end with him as president.

[raven mad]

42. To give him enough time

to pack his ill-gotten gains, however many mistresses he's dangling now, and choose a place with no extradition.