Paul Ryan managed what he wanted to achieve in Washington: a neo-liberal tax reform. It was his greatest political goal and he has proved that he can deliver.
But now speaker of House of Representatives announces that he will not want to compete in important parliamentary elections in November. He wanted to spend more time with his family, Ryan said to his employees. The Republican Party thus loses one of its most experienced politicians. Why does a power-conscious, successful politician like Paul Ryan go this step?
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Although it was already assumed in Washington that Ryan would be eliminated at end of year. He had never really gotten on with Trump; In presidential campaign, after becoming aware of Trump’s anti-women statements, he dissociated himself from candidate. Ryan Trumps later criticized use of extreme right-wing violence in Charlottesville and warned of consequences of a trade war due to punitive tariffs on steel and aluminium. The fact that Ryan is announcing his resignation in spring surprises even party colleagues. Because he weakens his own party with it.
Ryan was most successful fundraiser
Ryan’s early resignation is primarily seen as a sign that Republicans no longer expect to hold majority in House of Representatives. In November, entire House of Representatives and a third of Senate are elected. If Republicans in House lose at least 23 seats, Democrats take control of chamber. The Democrats are already hoping to benefit from growing unpopularity of trumps and planned welfare cuts.
Without Ryan, it might be hard for Republicans to persuade financiers to support ir deputies in election campaign. Ryan was most successful fundraiser of party. 11 million he collected in first quarter, overall it is already 54 million for 2018 election. His early resignation announcement could also be taken as a signal from party donors to hold back in forthcoming election campaign.
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Moreover, Ryan’s decision could lead to many more resignations – in addition to 36 Republicans who have already announced ir withdrawal. Many of m want to avoid an aggressive campaign against right-hand national challenger from Trump-Bannon camp through this step. Ryan also saw such an election campaign in his electoral district in Wisconsin. Just one hour after Ryan’s resignation announcement, deputy Dennis Ross from Florida is also said to have announced his intention to resign.
Speculation about presidential candidacy
As a successor to Ryan, Kevin McCarthy is currently traded, a member from California. He has good relations with Trump, president calls him “my Kevin”. However, McCarthy is too liberal to extreme right wing in Congress. You’d rar see Steve Scalise as Ryan’s successor, a Louisiana representative. Scalise has gained a certain hero status after being shot by a gunman in a baseball game of Congress team last year and barely survived.
When Ryan shared decision on Wednesday morning with his employees, he became emotional again and again. If he leaves Congress in January 2019, he will have worked for Congress for 20 years. Ryan is 48 years old, for Washington this is downright young. In 2012 he was vice proudly, and it has long been speculated that Ryan could try as a presidential candidate.
It is said that Ryan had taken decision to resign during last holiday week in Austria, home country of Ryan’s favorite economists: Friedrich von Hayek. Whose book The Constitution of Freedom is considered a key piece of neoliberalism. It makes it clear that economic freedom is only guaranteed if it is protected by a constitutional state. If Ryan were actually preparing for a presidential candidacy, he would have enough time to scroll in coming years. A presidential candidate who, after Trump, recalls importance of a democratic constitutional state, might need Republicans well.
