In our discussion of the possibility of a Republican “brokered convention,” we noted that none of the candidates may be able to get the needed majority. After the first ballot, deals could be made. Trump is the ultimate “deal maker,” but if he failed, and if the convention were truly deadlocked, the party might turn to someone outside the process: Someone all sides could embrace. We suggested Paul Ryan.
Now, we find, there’s a “draft Ryan” super pac, according to Reuters
With U.S. Republicans sharply split over a front-runner they cannot unite behind, a new group is trying to push the country’s top elected Republican, Paul Ryan, into the White House race.
The Committee to Draft Speaker Ryan filed papers as a Super PAC with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday, adding to the groups of mainstream Republican leaders and donors with a shared goal: stopping Trump.
Ryan, the House of Representatives speaker who spoke out against Trump for not quickly rejecting white supremacist support, did not appear ready to take on the role.
“He is flattered, but not interested,” Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong said in an email on Friday.
Yeah, that’s what they all say. Nobody is ever interested in running until they start running, and then they babble on about, “WHEN I am president.” As if.
Ryan is the perfect option, and he is well positioned. He recently took over for John Boehner as Speaker of the House. It’s a very visible position, and by the way, third in line in presidential succession.
Ryan is still seen as the hot, young stud with the “bitchin” bod, great hair, and movie star eyes.
Ryan is also well liked and is not seen as a “loser.” That title sticks to the presidential loser, but not the veep candidate. In fact, the veep candidate used to be considered top choice for the next round.
Speaking of “loser,” Romney has been hinting about his availability for months. He tried hard, early on–to yawns and rolling eyes. And many people thought yesterday’s “major” speech might be his putting his name in the ring. He was adamantly anti-Trump, but didn’t give an alternative. Apparently hoping someone would beg him.
But again, nobody “wants” to run, until they’re “talked into it.” The Reuters story mentions it:
Mitt Romney, the Republicans’ losing presidential candidate in 2012, also said he was not interested.
“There are no circumstances I can foresee where that would possibly happen,” Romney said on NBC’s “Today” show on Friday, a day after he excoriated Trump as a fraud ill-equipped for the White House.
Again, Romney isn’t saying, “no.” He’s saying, “gosh, I don’t see how we can do it!”
Nobody in politics wants to say anything definite. Even when they get their butts kicked in the primaries, they don’t “end” their campaigns, they just “suspend” them.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if today’s politicians could make a “Shermanesque” statement!
The term comes from William Tecumseh Sherman, the Civil War general who was being drafted to run for president in 1884. Unlike today, Sherman did NOT want the job, and famously said, “I hereby state, and mean all that I say, that I never have been and never will be a candidate for President; that if nominated by either party, I should peremptorily decline; and even if unanimously elected I should decline to serve.”
Now THAT is a clear statement!