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Is Paul Ryan Up for the Job?

Same topic, different views

By By Tim Baldwin and Joe Carbonari

By Tim Baldwin

In politics, criticism comes from all directions. Some will quickly castigate a politician as impure if there are even slight disagreements between them. Federal politics present even more perplexing battles of “right and wrong” given the more complex geo-political interests. In the U.S. House, the speaker is often the center of attack, especially with current political conditions. Apparently, Paul Ryan thinks he’s up for the job

Ryan has historically been the ally of establishment Republican leadership. Yet, he has an independent streak attractive to anti-establishment Republicans. For example, the head of the House Freedom Caucus supports Ryan, and 70 percent – a notable majority – of the caucus voted to endorse Ryan. Still, Ted Cruz has not openly supported Ryan for speaker and Rand Paul has openly criticized him on a variety of issues. So, maybe Ryan is nobody’s yes man: this is good, especially the Republican Party, which needs a major facelift.

Forbes noted, Republicans “need to marshal voters around big ideas that will unite the party, training their sights on meaningful tax reform, pro-growth strategies, and replacing Obamacare.” True. The Trump phenomenom should be instructive here: Americans who want individual liberty and prosperity do not want a robot to resound clannish views; they want a smart, independent thinker and unbeholden leader who has a solid understanding of limited government and uses sound tactics to accomplish those goals. Is Ryan that man?

By Joe Carbonari

It will be interesting to see how Paul Ryan, if he is elected our new speaker of the house, goes about the job. Intransigence can wear on the best of us. He will have to deal with the Freedom Caucus, about 40 newish members with Tea Party ways. Tough cats to herd.

The Freedom Caucus drove John Boehner out and then torpedoed Kevin McCarthy’s anointment as Boehner’s replacement. Some touchy issues impend. The first is the debt ceiling … yes, again.

Ryan’s economic wizardry and boyish charm may well get it raised without a shutdown. He’s good with numbers and willing to explain. He gives intellectual cover, and credibility, to concepts strongly held but hard to defend. The Freedom Caucus may well defer on the debt ceiling. Hopefully, Transportation Department funding can slide through, too.

December will bring the spending bills involving the funding, or not, of Obamacare and Planned Parenthood. Re-consideration of the Export-Import Bank may already have taken place. There will be blood.

Is Paul Ryan the right person for the rough and tumble, and the nastiness, that he will be subjected to? He appears to be reasonable, logical, and well-intended. He does not, however, appear to have the gusto of a back-slapper or the cunning of a street fighter. The members of the Freedom Caucus are flush with success. They will not hold back for long. Paul Ryan will be tested. It will not be fun.