<"The GOP Monster Mash": The Highwayman
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Judging by the response, House Speaker Paul Ryan's announcement last week that he, too, is following his Republican cohorts out the door provoked nothing less than a political earthquake. Personally, I wasn't as surprised as the pundits, once you work out the likeliest reason for Ryan's decision. Let's tick off the possibilities, shall we?
Spend more time squirrel hunting with his kids? Well, he said something along those lines, but -- given how little time he's spent lately in his district -- I wouldn't put money on it. This is the same guy who went 650 days without holding a town hall, and 900 without holding any other public event in his district. Given all the animosity that the GOP brand has aroused, I suspect you'll probably see a pig flying past your window before you see Ryan show his Eddie Munster-esque mug in Janesville, WI.
Fear of losing to political newcomers Randy "Ironstache" Bryce, and Cathy Myers? Maybe, though, realistically, a lot can happen in seven months -- and novice candidates often make their share of unforced errors (as we saw in Jon Ossoff's bid against unseat Karen Handel in Georgia). Scattered polling suggested this race was Ryan's to lose, though unexpectedly robust fundraising from Bryce, in particular ($4.75 million to date, $2.1 million in his last quarter alone), and to a lesser extent, Myers ($750,000 so far) suggested some sort of volcanic event in the making.
A desire to cash in 20 years of political connections, to make money hand over fist? If you said, "Yes," our bell is going ding, ding, ding! in your head. Ryan might have little fear of losing his own race, but if those "blue tsunami" predicts come to pass, being just another Congressman in a GOP minority would feel like a definite comedown. Why else would you effectively make yourself a lame duck before the elections have even taken place?
Far better, then, to become head of a think tank, churning out endless policy papers and ideal budgets that few outside the already committed will probably read -- as former Senator Jim DeMint did, until the Heritage Foundation booted him out last year from his president's perch -- or becoming a lobbyist, or a consultant, or just spend the rest of your life shoveling in six-figure speaking fees on the rubber chicken circuit (Hey, remember all those promises we made with our tax reform bill? Yeah, I know, it was all a pipe dream...but didn't we have a blast dreaming it up?).
Time will how Ryan's future, and that of his party, plays out. In the meantime, I asked our house artist, The Highwayman, for a cartoon to capture the mood -- and, while you're at it, enjoy this vintage clip (below) of Bobby Pickett performing his biggest hit, which inspired this week's cartoon...oh, and feel free to boot the odd pumpkin or two over the goal line, once the midterms get closer. --The Reckoner
Spend more time squirrel hunting with his kids? Well, he said something along those lines, but -- given how little time he's spent lately in his district -- I wouldn't put money on it. This is the same guy who went 650 days without holding a town hall, and 900 without holding any other public event in his district. Given all the animosity that the GOP brand has aroused, I suspect you'll probably see a pig flying past your window before you see Ryan show his Eddie Munster-esque mug in Janesville, WI.
Fear of losing to political newcomers Randy "Ironstache" Bryce, and Cathy Myers? Maybe, though, realistically, a lot can happen in seven months -- and novice candidates often make their share of unforced errors (as we saw in Jon Ossoff's bid against unseat Karen Handel in Georgia). Scattered polling suggested this race was Ryan's to lose, though unexpectedly robust fundraising from Bryce, in particular ($4.75 million to date, $2.1 million in his last quarter alone), and to a lesser extent, Myers ($750,000 so far) suggested some sort of volcanic event in the making.
A desire to cash in 20 years of political connections, to make money hand over fist? If you said, "Yes," our bell is going ding, ding, ding! in your head. Ryan might have little fear of losing his own race, but if those "blue tsunami" predicts come to pass, being just another Congressman in a GOP minority would feel like a definite comedown. Why else would you effectively make yourself a lame duck before the elections have even taken place?
Far better, then, to become head of a think tank, churning out endless policy papers and ideal budgets that few outside the already committed will probably read -- as former Senator Jim DeMint did, until the Heritage Foundation booted him out last year from his president's perch -- or becoming a lobbyist, or a consultant, or just spend the rest of your life shoveling in six-figure speaking fees on the rubber chicken circuit (Hey, remember all those promises we made with our tax reform bill? Yeah, I know, it was all a pipe dream...but didn't we have a blast dreaming it up?).
Time will how Ryan's future, and that of his party, plays out. In the meantime, I asked our house artist, The Highwayman, for a cartoon to capture the mood -- and, while you're at it, enjoy this vintage clip (below) of Bobby Pickett performing his biggest hit, which inspired this week's cartoon...oh, and feel free to boot the odd pumpkin or two over the goal line, once the midterms get closer. --The Reckoner
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