It seems, like everyone else in the country, Paul Ryan is done with politics… and Trump. It has been reported that House Speaker Paul Ryan is taking a step back from politics and will not be seeking re-election come November. At the ripe age of 48, Ryan will be retiring after assuming the position of Speaker in 2015.
Ryan says he will be focusing on the life of fatherhood, as opposed to the hectic world of politics and Donald Trump. According to the New York Times, Paul Ryan tells reporters that “the truth is, it is easy for it to take over everything in your life and you can’t just let that happen because there are other things in life that can be fleeting as well: Namely your time as a husband and a father.” Unlike previous reassignments or firings of political figures, this reason is mundane, and it almost raises my suspicion as to what is the real reason. There has to be more of a reason. Is it the clash between President Trump and himself? We may never know the real reason for his abrupt departure from Washington.
It merely sounds like a fleeting excuse to escape what is now a messy political climate.
What does this mean for Republicans, though? Well, there is always the worry of Republicans not being the majority in the House. Ryan, ultimately, has done a pretty good job in his role. He hasn’t been involved in any scandalous situations worthy of tabloids, and for the most part, has maintained a professionalism within the state of politics. As far as we know, Trump hasn’t conducted any investigations into Ryan either.
Politico reports that there are two Republicans looking to fill Ryan’s place after he takes his leave. The two contenders being Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.). However, McCarthy failed to win the election in 2015 for the position, so would this be the best option for House?
Ryan even admits that this position was not something he went looking for. “You all know that I did not seek this job. I took it reluctantly,” Ryan tells Politico. “But I have given it all that I have and have no regrets having accepted this responsibility. This has been one of the two greatest honors of my life.”
D.C. keeps on heating up with political turmoil — firings and resigning included — so it’ll be interesting to see what will become of this shakeup. It certainly took me by surprise after Ryan’s short-lived term as House Speaker and considering his young age, retirement was not something I would have guessed for him. But alas, fatherhood calls.
