Paul Ryan Is Running for President

[WestVirginiaRebel]

NY Mag:

In 1884, Republicans desperate to hold on to the White House turned to William Tecumseh Sherman, the heroic Civil War general. Sherman’s reply — “I will not accept if nominated and will not serve if elected” — has attained a fame nearly equal to that of his military feats, in part because historical memory has reworded it in more poetic form (“If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve”). If Paul Ryan does not want the Republican nomination, he will make what we call a “Shermanesque statement.” Despite numerous opportunities, he has failed to do so. The most plausible explanation for this is that Ryan does, in fact, covet the nomination.

 

One of the things that has made Sherman’s disavowal of the presidency so famous is its redundant comprehensiveness, insisting he would not take his party’s nomination even if it were handed to him. In modern presidential politics, the scenario Sherman ruled out — gaining the nomination without lifting a finger — has become an anachronism. Winning the nomination requires a massive campaign operation. But this year’s Republican contest may break from the historic norm. A contested convention is possible, and this could result in the nomination of somebody who has not campaigned. The most likely scenario is that Donald Trump locks down a majority of delegates and wins the nomination before the Republican convention. Failing that, it is fairly likely that Ted Cruz — who, virtually alone, is feverishly organizing the state conventions where delegates are selected — wins on a succeeding ballot. (Once delegates are released from their pledge to support the nominee chosen by their state’s voters, they can vote their conscience, and Cruz is making sure as many of them as possible conscientiously desire his nomination.) If Trump fails to win a majority of the formal commitments of bound delegates, and Cruz also fails to organize a majority on succeeding ballots, then the convention faces a deadlock at which any number of possibilities would open up.

________

 

Ryan's march to Cleveland?

[Valin]

How Many Times Can Paul Ryan Be Drafted into Jobs He Says He Doesn’t Want?
Jim Geraghty
April 5, 2016

Are we sure the Republican party would unite behind Paul Ryan as its presidential nominee?

An interesting rumor, albeit only a rumor, and one quickly denied:

Charles Koch is confident House Speaker Paul Ryan could emerge from the Republican National Convention as the party’s nominee if Donald Trump comes up at least 100 delegates shy, he has told friends privately.

Koch believes Ryan would be a “shoo-in” at a contested convention, should the campaign get to that point.

…Mark Holden, general counsel for Koch Industries, told HuffPost the claim was “completely false.”

“Let me be clear, we never have advocated for a specific candidate in a presidential primary, and we have no plans to do so now,” Holden said.

(Snip)

Or to have RNC Chairman Reince Priebus insisting…

I think our candidate is someone who’s running, okay? That’s pretty obvious. But, number two, even if something like that were even remotely possible, that candidate would actually have to have a floor operation and an actual campaign going on with the delegates to make something like that possible. And Paul’s not going to do that. So, my answer is no. But, clearly, there’s a lot of information out there that people are spreading around to cause a lot of confusion. But I think that our candidate is someone who’s running.

 

If you have the two biggest leaders of the party saying, “X is not going to happen, there’s no way X can happen, we’re not trying to make X happen” – and X is something as important as who the party’s presidential nominee is – and then X happens, you have a formula for the controlled demolition of all trust in those leaders.

[SrWoodchuck]

@Valin!

 

 

If you have the two biggest leaders of the party saying, “X is not going to happen, there’s no way X can happen, we’re not trying to make X happen” – and X is something as important as who the party’s presidential nominee is – and then X happens, you have a formula for the controlled demolition of all trust in those leaders.

 

The reason the RNC is in flux right now is trust in those leaders is non-existent. Unless you're one of the anointed elite...or their cash backers. DNC/RNC is about holding power.

 

The "change" that is destroying our country is the unpleasant by-product of pandering political party "sausage-making." They make it...& insist we ignore the making. We're supposed to eat it, whether we like it or not.

 

I'm on a political-sausage free diet.

[Valin]

@SrWoodchuck

 

Meaning?

[SrWoodchuck]

@SrWoodchuck

 

Meaning?

 

Really, @Valin?

 

What part was unclear? Trump & Cruz are both outside of the establishment elite. Trump is way out, while Cruz is disliked by the party for not "going along" (honoring his commitment to the voters that elected him-even going against the preferred party leaders in Congress). Even though they are leaders for the Republican nomination, the party is planning a coup at the convention. All of the RNC's favorite boys have been defeated...although it's not without the possibility of Bush or Lil Marco being put forward after they've dealt with the front-runners (or Paul Ryan...who denied wanting the be Speaker, until he was...and is now denying he wants to be Prez). The GOPe only care about one thing; holding onto power. Looking at the DNC...why is Bernie Sanders...who is not a Democrat, but an avowed socialist (I know there's not much difference) doing so well against "she-whose-time-has-come"? If Killary had not locked up delegates before the beginning of the campaign; how much closer would the Commie be, to winning? The DNC accepts Bernie because he'll still follow party lines & commands.

 

The established elite embrace crony capitalism & trade with each other to accomplish their goals...you know...the "sausage making" that no one is supposed to see? Like the complete capitulation of Paul Ryan to Obama/Progressives upon his election to Speaker. Look at the faux attempts to show resistance to Obama and the Progs plans for the country. They could have confronted him at any time in the last few years, but why now? The RNC asked for the House...the people gave them the House. They asked for the Senate...they got the Senate. The people that accomplished this, were elected on promises to oppose Oblunder & dismantle, confront & deny him the changes that Progressives want. How'd that work out? Those elected Congressmen either went along with the establishment GOPe...or they were shunned & neutered.

 

I'm not having any of it. Should we live in our personal world as they've laid it out for us...or should we live in reality?

[Valin]

@SrWoodchuck

 

In other words I'm Mad As Hell.

 

So what happens if the white knight is elected and nothing much changes?

 

Point being I think too many people are (how can I put this?) putting to much faith in their candidate.

 

 

Like the complete capitulation of Paul Ryan to Obama/Progressives upon his election to Speaker.

 

Given the fact the deal was already done, what would you have had him do?

[SrWoodchuck]

@SrWoodchuck

 

In other words I'm Mad As Hell.

 

So what happens if the white knight is elected and nothing much changes?

 

Point being I think too many people are (how can I put this?) putting to much faith in their candidate.

 

 

Like the complete capitulation of Paul Ryan to Obama/Progressives upon his election to Speaker.

 

Given the fact the deal was already done, what would you have had him do?

 

I'd have him lead by example & be inclusive of the people that were needed to gain both houses of Congress. I'd establish firm goals of defeating Oblunder's progress & put forward legislation that counters Oblunders many XO's & unconstitutional regulatory tweaks. To that end, I'd use the power of the purse (what a freaking concept) to accomplish these things. I'd make my face the face of "Change it the hell back!" I'd be a freaking thorn in the side of both Progressives & lame GOPe Repubs that are in DC only to get re-elected.

 

Taking a stand for the citizens of the Republic should be "Job #1" for the Speaker of the "People's House." This involves action over compromise...not compromise over action.

 

BTW: It's OK to be Mad-As-Hell. If you look at Progressive change, it's taken place over many years...and it's not just at the ballot box...it began & continues in the education of our children. First, you have to get off your compromising ass & move toward a goal. Next, you have to have patience & courage that you can undo the damage that Progressivism has done. If you make no move & lay in the weeds...it ain't ever going to happen.

 

I believe that Progressive's can live in a conservative world...but that's because the conservative world is inclusive by nature & law. The Progressive world rule brooks no dissent.