The House of Speaker Paul Ryan (*General Discussion*)

[Blue3]

The election for Speaker is over, after a month of turmoil following Boehner's surprise resignation announcement the day after Pope Francis addressed Congress at his invitation and after Kevin McCarthy's fall. The Speaker is supposed to be the second-most-powerful position in U.S. government, but I don't think most would describe Boehner's speakership that way.

Paul Ryan, only 45 years old, a Congressman since 1999 from a swing district in Wisconsin, the 2012 Republican nominee for Vice President alongside Mitt Romney in an election lost to President Obama and Vice President Biden, and after less than a year in his dream job as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, reluctantly takes the Speaker's gavel.

Now begins the age of Paul Ryan, the 62nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

[Penelope]

I never thought I would say this, but poor Paul Ryan.

[muon2]

Interestingly he is being called the 54th Speaker by some sources. I presume that comes from only counting an individual once even if they served as Speaker on two separate occasions.

[Orser67]

Anyone want to predict how long he'll last?

[ElectionsGuy]

Anyone want to predict how long he'll last?

Less than 10 years.

[Blue3]

Anyone want to predict how long he'll last?

I was *just* thinking that, lol.

He's a young guy. Barring scandal or revolt (which seem unlikely, at least in the near-term), he'll be Speaker until the Democrats regain control. When that happens, who knows. Could be January 2017. Could be January 2029.

[bballrox4717]

Anyone want to predict how long he'll last?

I think he needs a Republican president or a significant budget reduction deal if he has any hope lasting past Jan 2019.

[Brewer]

Trump running for President, Paul Ryan becoming Speaker -- this year has been filled to the brim with previously-denounced (admittedly including by myself) Atlas predictions coming true. Only a matter of time till Serious Moderate Country First Hero Jon Huntsman wins a majority of the electoral vote as an independent!

[riceowl]

So Paul Ryan and Orrin Hatch are 2nd and 3rd in line to the presidency...

Fascinating.

[Mehmentum]

Anyone want to predict how long he'll last?

Its conceivable that he loses re-election in 2016, the speakership is an incredibly unpopular job.  If a Democrat is elected in 2016, I expect Ryan to run into all of the same problems that Boehner has.

[Joe Republic]

He's now going to personify a branch of government with a ~10% approval rating, in a district that voted for Barack Obama by a 5 point margin in 2008.  Good luck with that, Pauly D.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Until the Dems regain Gavel in 2020 or 2022. He will triangulate and make deals with Prez Clinton.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

My guess is, if he gets some sh*t done, he'll be on track for 2020. Speakers don't really like their job but Ryan's optimistic. He said not too long ago that he'll definitely be out of congress in 12 years. If he's speaker now, a senate bid isn't happening, neither a gubernatorial one. Strange,  a speaker possibly running for president, although he'd be a great compromise candidate I don't think he'd wanna do it.

[Joe Republic]

He's now going to personify a branch of government with a ~10% approval rating, in a district that voted for Barack Obama by a 5 point margin in 2008.  Good luck with that, Pauly D.

If you're insinuating that he'll lose his seat, he won't.

Two Republican incumbents in more conservative districts than Ryan's were defeated by the Dems last year.  And don't tell me that no Speaker has lost re-election in his own district before.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

He wants go back to Ryan plan which was rejected in 2012. TAX REFORM, which is tax repeal. Repeal estates tax and bring corporate taxes down to nothing, 20 percent, without closing tax loopholes, wont pass under Obama or Clinton.

[Blue3]

Does anyone think someone else could do a better job than Ryan as Speaker right now?


I know it's not totally his fault... but the last 6 months have been an absolute waste. I feel like he should have changed the order of what gets pushed when, and have clearer plans from the beginning.

By some miracle, they barely got TrumpCare through the House... but if some version ever passes the Senate, I don't know if anything that results from conference committee could pass the House.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Does anyone think someone else could do a better job than Ryan as Speaker right now?


I know it's not totally his fault... but the last 6 months have been an absolute waste. I feel like he should have changed the order of what gets pushed when, and have clearer plans from the beginning.

By some miracle, they barely got TrumpCare through the House... but if some version ever passes the Senate, I don't know if anything that results from conference committee could pass the House.

It is his fault because he should've demanded some sort of concessions to limit the power of the Freedom Caucus types as a condition for taking the job.  That said, Paul Ryan's always been an incompetent empty suit (in that way, he's a bit like the Marco Rubio of the House), so it's no surprise he's an incompetent Speaker.  Say what you will about Pelosi, but she was great at keeping the House Democratic Caucus in line when she was Speaker.

[Blue3]

Well that was short.