So what does Paul Ryan's retirement mean?

[gimmethesimplelife]

This is not an easy to question to answer. On the surface I could go on and on about the party line in my America and why this is such a sign of optimism (weakness in the GOP and people bailing before brutal midterm elections trounce (neat word, no?) GOP Power......

But I also know there is more than one America and more than just the 85006 way of looking at this. What's your take on Paul Ryan's retirement? Do you think it foreshadows anything of GOP chances of holding power after 2018 midterms? Or maybe the man ran across some humanity in himself and could not keep the charade going on much longer? I guess we'll never know but what do you think? Rob

[iris lilies]

It is sad, and when Rand Paul gets out of politics, I am probably done with
America. i will flee. I should probably orepare a special outdit dor this sad day, an outdit of mourning, lots ts of black crepe.

Haha, not really. But I dont like this new development YET I think it is cool that he is stepping out of politics at a relatively young age, and after having been a d.c. insider for decades. He is demonstrsting what people should do.

[jp1]

It means he'll probably get a lot richer when he takes a cushy job at one of the companies to which he helped give away the federal treasury. And that voters in his district get to choose between a nazi and a couple of democrats.

[bae]

It seems to me that a fair number of influential Republicans who have seats in secure districts and plenty of years left in their potential political careers are choosing to wash their hands of this wreck of an administration and political party, and move on.

Alas, this leaves the remnants of the party in the hands of troubling people.

[Teacher Terry]

I for one am doing a happy dance:)) Ryan is an embarrassment to my home state.

[Teacher Terry]

Catherine, I did not edit my post. I posted about
Ryan on 2 different threads.

[catherine]

Catherine, I did not edit my post. I posted about
Ryan on 2 different threads.

Shoot. Deleting and moving my post to the right spot.

I'm still navigating the changes to the "New Post" format.

[LDAHL]

It seems to me that a fair number of influential Republicans who have seats in secure districts and plenty of years left in their potential political careers are choosing to wash their hands of this wreck of an administration and political party, and move on.

Alas, this leaves the remnants of the party in the hands of troubling people.

Sadly, I think you're right.

Those of us who inhabit that weird alternate America who can't seem to understand that everything belongs to the state and everything you're allowed to keep amounts to a subsidy from government see Ryan's departure as a bad thing. Those of us who cling to the superstition that you need free markets to have free people will simply need to be re-educated. The GOP faction currently in the ascendant seems to have learned and applied the opposition's emancipatory arithmetic and identity politics all too well. It's a small wonder that the old mossbacks who prefer a wide no man's land between the individual and the state are discouraged.

Perhaps we need a new party for old classical liberal, small-government free-market dinosaurs. Me, I plan on keeping up the fight with what little influence I can muster. "Hey Marx, get off my lawn!"

[Teacher Terry]

No one wants to redistribute other's wealth. We want corporations and others that are wealthy to pay their fair share like they did a long time ago instead of taking what little $ the poor have.

[gimmethesimplelife]

It seems to me that a fair number of influential Republicans who have seats in secure districts and plenty of years left in their potential political careers are choosing to wash their hands of this wreck of an administration and political party, and move on.

Alas, this leaves the remnants of the party in the hands of troubling people.I'd have to agree with you here, Bae. It does seem as if some Republicans are washing their hands of this mess and are moving on to whatever is next in their life journeys. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

No one wants to redistribute other's wealth. We want corporations and others that are wealthy to pay their fair share like they did a long time ago instead of taking what little $ the poor have.Plus 1,000,000,000,000 and then some! Rob

[LDAHL]

I love that term, "fair share". So wonderfully vague. So useful for the "no one" who wants to redistribute wealth.

[Teacher Terry]

To be more exact the tax cuts should have never happened and as soon as they did the Repubs started talking about cutting SS, etc. As Marie Antoinette said "Let them eat cake."

[LDAHL]

To be more exact the tax cuts should have never happened and as soon as they did the Repubs started talking about cutting SS, etc. As Marie Antoinette said "Let them eat cake."

To paraphrase Henny Penny, "who will help me bake the cake?"

[gimmethesimplelife]

To be more exact the tax cuts should have never happened and as soon as they did the Repubs started talking about cutting SS, etc. As Marie Antoinette said "Let them eat cake."The tax cuts certainly were not the GOP's finest hour........and a direct slap in the face for all those Americans facing housing/food/access to health care insecurity. How this will play out remains to be seen but I'd put money on disastrous mid term election results for the GOP brand. And if the Dems can regain power,a better chance of Donald Trump being impeached to the joy of millions and the respect of the civilized world. Rob

[jp1]

It seems pretty straightforward to me. The tax cuts shouldn't have happened without corresponding spending cuts. But of course the republican politicians realize that most of their voters don't want that. One only has to look at how the teacher's strike in OK played out to see that. Teachers were offered a modest raise and they responded with "that's a good start but we demand more." And the general population stood with them.

The federal tax cut was standard republican playbook. A tax cut to the wealthiest and then next year wail and gnash their teeth about how they just have no choice to cut programs that benefit actual modest and lower income people. Typical mean spirited greediness.

[Teacher Terry]

Another thing that is happening is that in many cities rents are becoming unaffordable and I am not talking abut just big cities. This is happening locally where a 1 bedroom now rents for between 1200-1400/month. How would 2 people making minimum wage afford this? We also do not have enough low income, moderate income and senior low income housing to go around.

[Alan]

Typical mean spirited greediness.If it's considered mean spirited greediness to want to keep as much of your own money as possible, what is it called when you lust for that money that is already owned?

[Teacher Terry]

Alan, you are purposefully misinterpreting the point of what was said.

[jp1]

Without a progressive tax structure and environmental regulations work rules, etc we'll have a small rich class and a huge poor class. If you think that is a great thing then we're not likely to find common ground.

[Alan]

Alan, you are purposefully misinterpreting the point of what was said.Really? How so?

[Teacher Terry]

We have money and assets and don't mind paying our fair share of taxes. I have never once complained about it. It is the cost of living in our society. It becomes a problem when we let others with more $ and power avoid their fiscal responsibilities to our society as a whole.

[Alan]

We have money and assets and don't mind paying our fair share of taxes. I have never once complained about it. It is the cost of living in our society. It becomes a problem when we let others with more $ and power avoid their fiscal responsibilities to our society as a whole.So in order to ensure everyone pays their fair share, we create laws and use government as the enforcer to collect from the willing and punish the unwilling. If everyone is following the law, who are you to decide that someone else's fair share is not enough, and how can you deny lusting for other people's money?

[Teacher Terry]

The Repub's passed a law that allows some to rob society as a whole. Hopefully, the Dems will get control and right that injustice.

[Alan]

The Repub's passed a law that allows some to rob society as a whole. Hopefully, the Dems will get control and right that injustice.
So not giving enough to meet your wishes is robbery, and or injustice? How much of other peoples money would satisfy the Dems?

[Teacher Terry]

We re all born with the capacity for empathy but how and if it develops and to what extent is another story. If it is fostered and noticed in childhood then most likely you will become a empathetic adult.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Alan, you are purposefully misinterpreting the point of what was said.Thank You. Rob

[Alan]

We re all born with the capacity for empathy but how and if it develops and to what extent is another story. If it is fostered and noticed in childhood then most likely you will become a empathetic adult.I think you're using that word wrong. Empathy is to care about and wish well of others, just as charity is to willingly give to another. Both are noble traits. What you're protesting is different.

[Alan]

Thank You. RobSince the poster you quoted has declined to answer me, I'll ask you.
How so?

[Teacher Terry]

Either you are choosing to not understand or don't actually. Not that it matters either way. Some want to live in a dog eat dog world.

[Alan]

Either you are choosing to not understand or don't actually.
That's ok, maybe Rob will answer.

[flowerseverywhere]

Back to the original question. This retirement does not surprise me. The republican yelled about the deficit and spending all through the obama years. They came through with their promise to cut taxes, although I believe the tax cuts have a small effect on the middle and lower classes, and make the rich richer. Especially executives in large corporations who may do some sharing with their employees, but the stockholding, big bonus execs stand to become much wealthier. Also the personal tax cuts stand to expire.

In in the meantime, the budget is set to massively balloon the deficit. They were cowards who did not want a shutdown blamed on them so they caved. Why wouldn’t Ryan get out? If anyone of them speak against anything Trump says or does they will be tweeted about the next morning with the label “lying, disgraceful, cheater” . I would not put up with that abuse if I had a choice. He and his fellow republicans will be having a lot to answer for in the upcoming elections. My republican congressman hides from the public when at home. He does not talk on the phone or in person to his constituents and form emails and letters are sent out. I went to one of his “listening” sessions and in the front of the hall a bunch of men with red MAGA hats stood facing the crowd with their arms crossed. Like someone in the crowd (almost all senior citizens) was going to rush him or something. It was ridiculous and I lost all respect for him. He does send out emails touting how great he is.

I don’t believe Ryan will be holding his head high in regards to doing what was right for his constituents. Maybe he’ll be like Boehner but instead of lobbying for Marijuana lobby for Planned Parenthood. That would be just about up to his integrity.

[Teacher Terry]

Heller in NV is also hiding because people are mad at the same type of behavior. Hopefully, he will get beat this election.

[pinkytoe]

we'll have a small rich class and a huge poor class.
Seems to me that this is already close to how things are becoming. I certainly don't remember scads of homeless people camped out under bridges and along the riverbanks when I was growing up.
There was a Frontline on the other night about the crumbing of the Republican Party under Trump. They are jumping ship left and right. Or brown-nosing to keep their jobs.

[Teacher Terry]

When the gap between rich and poor gets to big that is when you have civil unrest.