My case for Paul Ryan as the GOP nominee in 2016

[Hawkeye10]

Sure, his positions seem a bit extreme for some, but he has been known to work with the other side to get things done. When you are negotiating, the best tactic is to ask for way more than what you want, then bargain down to what you are actually aiming for. Ronald Reagan was good at doing that, and I believe that Paul Ryan is also adept at that game. Fact is, with an electorate divided down the middle, you are going to have to make compromises. "My way or the highway" won't work, because there is no real mandate at this time, one way or the other.

And face it. Neither Cruz nor Trump have a snowball's chance of winning the election this year. The GOP's best chance is a contested convention, where Ryan ends up the nominee.

Discussion?

You have made the case for Trump. The case for Ryan is that he is not Trump.

 

[Exquisitor]

Not exactly. They control majorities in Congress, but don't have the votes to override a veto. In addition, they will lose the Senate this year, due to too many Republican seats up for grabs in blue districts. They should take the Senate back in 2018, but that will be 2 years away. And with a choice of Trump or Cruz as the nominee, GOP chances for the presidency are nil. Seems like you have that slash and burn mentality that other extremists have. I hate to disappoint you, but unless you are willing to deal with the other side, you have no chance whatsoever of passing any part of your agenda. It's all about pragmatism. Ideology alone is a losing proposition, especially when that ideology is out of the mainstream.

Veto? What you need against these Republicans is Supermajorities in both Houses.

 

[Hawkeye10]

I don't think he wants to run for POTUS, but I agree with every point you were trying to make. I like Paul Ryan.

It was long ago too late for Ryan to run for POTUS, and he keeps saying that he will not run as if we dont know that already, but till he says that he will not accept the nomination I am going on the assumption that he would take it given his past behavior.

 

[Exquisitor]

Ignoring the base, when the majority of the base voted against each of the candidates/ If no candidate gets a majority, then none of them have even 50 % support. So you could argue just as well that nominating one of the current candidates would equally be ignoring the base.

We don't know how many voted against the Candidate, for many it may have been a mere preference; they want their Candidate to win rather than the frontrunner to loose.

 

[danarhea]

Veto? What you need against these Republicans is Supermajorities in both Houses.

We are talking about what Republicans want to do. They will be the ones who will need a supermajority, since there is not going to be a Republican president.... Not unless Ryan gets the nomination, and his chances would still be less than 50%... but that's better than zero percent.

 

[Exquisitor]

We are talking about what Republicans want to do. They will be the ones who will need a supermajority, since there is not going to be a Republican president.... Not unless Ryan gets the nomination, and his chances would still be less than 50%... but that's better than zero percent.

No, Democrats need Supermajority so Republicans don't filibuster.

 

[reinoe]

It was long ago too late for Ryan to run for POTUS, and he keeps saying that he will not run as if we dont know that already, but till he says that he will not accept the nomination I am going on the assumption that he would take it given his past behavior.

Somebody who says "i don't want to be speaker" magically ends up speaker. Someone who says "I won't run for president" magically ends up...

 

[Hawkeye10]

Somebody who says "i don't want to be speaker" magically ends up speaker. Someone who says "I won't run for president" magically ends up...

And he has this vision for a rebranding of the party, and Hillary will be easy to beat which the R's pretty much to a person agreed on two years ago, so he is not going to grab the POTUS chair if he can get it??!!

Come on, I am insulted now.

 

[cpwill]

Ryan shut this down fairly effectively. I do not want, nor will I accept, the nomination of my party

 

[Hawkeye10]

Ryan shut this down fairly effectively. I do not want, nor will I accept, the nomination of my party

Ya, I just saw that. Interesting. This means that he thinks he can work with Trump and Cruz.

This also means that the establishment has busted yet another plan.

 

[cpwill]

Ya, I just saw that. Interesting. This means that he thinks he can work with Trump and Cruz.

This also means that the establishment has busted yet another plan.

He's Speaker of the House. I think his plan is a bit more bold than to merely work with whomever the candidate is.

 

[Hawkeye10]

He's Speaker of the House. I think his plan is a bit more bold than to merely work with whomever the candidate is.

I predicted great things for him when he took the job, and I sure hated Boehner, but so far he has disappointed. He needs to figure out a way to get a budget done, and he needs to keep a ruling coalition together.

 

[chuckiechan]

He's still part of the problem selling out middle class America for campaign contributions from companies who "Just can't compete".

Like Carrier and Ford.

Why don't they set up a private "stand alone" company in Mexico? I suspect there are tax advantages they would lose, and Ryan isn't the one to change the system.

 

[danarhea]

No, Democrats need Supermajority so Republicans don't filibuster.

They can always go with the nuclear option. In fact, they are talking about eliminating the filibuster entirely. So are Republicans, if they can somehow get the presidency.

 

[cpwill]

I predicted great things for him when he took the job, and I sure hated Boehner, but so far he has disappointed. He needs to figure out a way to get a budget done, and he needs to keep a ruling coalition together.

?

The dude has been in for less than a year, and returned the power to the Members with a return to regular order. I would bet he is more interested in being the next Jack Kemp than POTUS. Let's see how he does.

 

[Unitedwestand13]

?

The dude has been in for less than a year, and returned the power to the Members with a return to regular order. I would bet he is more interested in being the next Jack Kemp than POTUS. Let's see how he does.

Yeah, but mr. Ryan has not passed a budget yet has he?

 

[cpwill]

Yeah, but mr. Ryan has not passed a budget yet has he?

Well, he's been in the position less than a year.... So... no. Duh.

 

[Hawkeye10]

?

The dude has been in for less than a year, and returned the power to the Members with a return to regular order. I would bet he is more interested in being the next Jack Kemp than POTUS. Let's see how he does.

He is practically a hometown boy (I am from Rockford IL), I want him to do good, as in get work done, Congress has done damn little work work in recent years.

Good work would be better.

Me, the hopeless optimist.

 

[reinoe]

Ryan shut this down fairly effectively. I do not want, nor will I accept, the nomination of my party

I just think he's lying. After all, if he announces his plan too soon, then people won't have time to mount an opposition.

 

[bubbabgone]

Sure, his positions seem a bit extreme for some, but he has been known to work with the other side to get things done. When you are negotiating, the best tactic is to ask for way more than what you want, then bargain down to what you are actually aiming for. Ronald Reagan was good at doing that, and I believe that Paul Ryan is also adept at that game. Fact is, with an electorate divided down the middle, you are going to have to make compromises. "My way or the highway" won't work, because there is no real mandate at this time, one way or the other.

And face it. Neither Cruz nor Trump have a snowball's chance of winning the election this year. The GOP's best chance is a contested convention, where Ryan ends up the nominee.

Discussion?

When asked about Trump as the GOP nominee in November instead of Cruz, registered voters are split between Clinton and Trump, though the race is tighter: Thirty-eight percent would vote for Clinton and 36 percent would vote for Trump. Another 16 percent would vote for a third party candidate and 8 percent would abstain from voting.

Poll: Voters Split Between Clinton and Trump in Hypothetical November Matchup - NBC News


Take it for what it's worth ... I'm just sayin'.

 

[Redress]

Poll: Voters Split Between Clinton and Trump in Hypothetical November Matchup - NBC News


Take it for what it's worth ... I'm just sayin'.

RCP average has Clinton +10.4 versus Trump, and expanding that lead.

 

[countryboy]

Sure, his positions seem a bit extreme for some, but he has been known to work with the other side to get things done. When you are negotiating, the best tactic is to ask for way more than what you want, then bargain down to what you are actually aiming for. Ronald Reagan was good at doing that, and I believe that Paul Ryan is also adept at that game. Fact is, with an electorate divided down the middle, you are going to have to make compromises. "My way or the highway" won't work, because there is no real mandate at this time, one way or the other.

And face it. Neither Cruz nor Trump have a snowball's chance of winning the election this year. The GOP's best chance is a contested convention, where Ryan ends up the nominee.

Discussion?

There is no case for Paul Ryan as the GOP nominee. :roll:

 

[chuckiechan]

RCP average has Clinton +10.4 versus Trump, and expanding that lead.

The problem is that you don't know Trump's true strength because the party is fractured 2 1/2 ways, with Kasich in only as a spoiler. I wish the RNC would just promise to lobby the VP slot for Kasich and please go away now.

Then you have to assume a certain number of Bernie supporters will go to Trump. That bloc of voters is as disillusioned with the "establishment", and the shafting of Mom and Dad's as Trump's voters are. Where are they going to go? They certainly all aren't staying home.

I'd hold fire until April 26th when the Rust Belt votes. That's a lot of delegates and on the heels of that is Indiana May 3rd.

My theory is that the Rust Belt votes favor Trump because Cruz's overwhelming win in Utah places him a ways away from the values of the once industrial states where life is about paying the bills.

 

[jonny5]

Sure, his positions seem a bit extreme for some, but he has been known to work with the other side to get things done. When you are negotiating, the best tactic is to ask for way more than what you want, then bargain down to what you are actually aiming for. Ronald Reagan was good at doing that, and I believe that Paul Ryan is also adept at that game. Fact is, with an electorate divided down the middle, you are going to have to make compromises. "My way or the highway" won't work, because there is no real mandate at this time, one way or the other.

And face it. Neither Cruz nor Trump have a snowball's chance of winning the election this year. The GOP's best chance is a contested convention, where Ryan ends up the nominee.

Discussion?

I would almost vote if he were running. Hes smart and charismatic and generally conservative. If its not this year, he will be President some day.

 

[jonny5]

Why do people think this is a great time for the republican party to ignore their base? Do people realize that is a major reason they have been experiencing so much backlash from their base in the first place?

On that note though, when is it ever a good time to ignore your base and nominate someone that no one voted for?

Because Trump. 70% of the party hates him.