Reid Offers Surprise Support For Ryan As Speaker

[Purveyor]

Source: Politico

By BURGESS EVERETT 10/20/15 03:09 PM EDT

Harry Reid just gave Paul Ryan an unwelcome endorsement for speaker.

The Democratic leader offered his surprise backing for Ryan (R-Wis.) to assume the House speakership, saying he hopes Ryan runs and wins the job because he's a "Paul Ryan fan."

"He appears to me to be one of the people over there that would be reasonable. I mean look at some of the other people," Reid said. "I don't agree with him on much of what he does. I think what he's done with Medicare and Medicaid, what he's wanted to do I disagree with. But generally speaking we've been able to work with him."

Indeed, Ryan's work with Reid lieutenant Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) on a two-year budget deal in 2013 remains a bipartisan highlight for a Congress otherwise beset by gridlock. But did Reid hurt Ryan by praising him?



Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/the-gavel/2015/10/harry-reid-endorse-paul-ryan-house-speaker-214970

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[Xipe Totec]

1. Well, that seals his fate

as NOT Speaker of the House.

[Demeter]

26. That is probably Hairy Reed's intention

He's a nasty twister---well up to dealing with the Ryans of this world. But I wouldn't be happy if HR became Speaker again, either.

[PJMcK]

28. Please clarify something

Your second sentence is unclear to me. Who is "HR?" Thanks.

[turbinetree]

2. I hope that all the democrats----------------not the DINO's..................

hope that Ryan becomes "speaker"

That endorsement has got to hurt, way to go Reid



Honk---------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[SamKnause]

3. n/t

[Android3.14]

4. You laugh, but this is how it will happen

It may not happen with Ryan, but whoever becomes Speaker will have to have a bloc of D votes. Bipartisanship is how the tea baggers are going to fail.

[NCjack]

5. Slick.

[DCBob]

6. I think there is something deeper going on here.

Last edited Wed Oct 21, 2015, 08:44 AM - Edit history (1)

If the teabaggers decide Ryan isnt good enough, Harry is signaling there may be some votes to help him out.

On edit.. of course Reid is not in the House and cant vote but I think this is subtle suggestion that Pelosi might have some votes for Ryan if he is willing to come to her and make a deal.

[TexasBushwhacker]

7. For certain conditions I hope

Without the 36 "Freedom Caucus/Batshit Crazy" members, there are only 211 GOP. They will need 7 Dems or some of the Creepers need to grow the fuck up.

[DCBob]

8. Yep.. that's the arithmetic problem for a "normal" establishment candidate.

I think the Dems might actually help Ryan out. If they dont, it could send congress into chaos. Without a Speaker everything stops.

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. The thing is, I really think that Ryan doesn't want it

There has not been, in my 59 year old memory, a President elected straight from the house. Ryan needs to be elected to a statewide office, either Governor or Senator. I also don't think he wants to get his blood pressure up. His father and grandfather died young.

[DCBob]

10. I dont blame him.. it will be a thankless pressure-filled ugly job.

But the pressure to take it is very very high and he is being treated like a "saviour" of sorts. I think he is having a hard time resisting that. I think he takes it.

[Cosmocat]

24. That is what hes thinking, but hes boxed in

They so desperately want him.as speaker now, if he turns down now, they will remember and it will hurt his support when he goes to run for potus.

[NonMetro]

11. Democrats Wouldn't Actually Have To Vote.

A certain number would simply have to abstain - 14 or 15 - lowering the majority of those voting. Either that, or all the Democrats could abstain. That would allow the majority of Republicans to choose a speaker. That might be best, IMO. The 40 tea bag idiots could hardly complain then!

[joshcryer]

19. Traditionally the minority party doesn't pick the speaker.

The minority party always votes for their own speaker candidate and usually if you cross the isle and vote for the majority party's speaker you get shunned. This would be potentially Reid offering for his members to actually go ahead and break tradition and vote for the speaker.

[NonMetro]

20. True, but if establishment Republicans want to keep control - and they do -

They might have to cut a deal with the Democrats. Getting some Democrats - or all - to abstain from voting might be the only way they can elect a speaker, with only Republican votes, without caving to the demands of this tea party caucus. If they cave to their demands now, the tea party rules the house and can shut down the government - at will.

[totodeinhere]

12. That's beside the point. Ryan has said he will not run for speaker without support

from the Freedom Caucus. So "if the teabaggers decide Ryan isn't good enough" he won't run for speaker and there wouldn't be much that Harry could do about it.

[DCBob]

16. Unless Ryan is a bit more flexible when push comes to shove.

We shall see.

[joshcryer]

18. That's exactly what he's doing.

It's extremely rare, crossing the isle can be extremely risky, but Reid is going out, might as well throw out the idea just for the historical footnote.

[Zorro]

13. So long as Republicans continue to put party before country

their leaders will be excoriated by the lunatic nihilists they have embraced and unnecessarily empowered.

[King_David]

14. Godspeed?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134114701#post1

[Maeve]

15. And don't throw me in the briar patch, Mr Fox!

Last edited Wed Oct 21, 2015, 08:08 AM - Edit history (1)

Yeah, give me some one I can work with, not some gohmer that will botch up the works even more and make y'all look as stupid as hammers in a wet paper bag....

[mdbl]

17. Time for Reid to be replaced by a decent liberal

Anyone who thinks Paul Ryan is an acceptable leader really needs to have his head examined. Oh yeah, forgot, the lesser of all the devils is Paul Ryan. I keep forgetting that's the only choices left, thanks to a voting idiocracy.

[Javaman]

21. +1 nt

[Myrina]

22. You assume Reid wasn't torpedo-ing Ryan with his "endorsement" ....

.... anyone a Dem endorses, the TP will excoriate. There goes Ryan's "unified support" from the Baggers. There goes his Speakership.

[mdbl]

23. It's hard to think that way since he's never been too politically saavy in the past

But you can think it if you like. It's way past the time for self proclaimed liberals to stand up and demonize the devils, not help them with their agenda. This "let's work together" BS has obviously gotten them nowhere.

[Scootaloo]

27. Whether he's being sarcastic or not, he just torpedoed Ryan

The Republicans are "exhibit A" of Poe's Law.

[Vinca]

25. It doesn't matter much.

Ryan still has to get the votes of the "freedom" lovers and that's up in the air.