House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) shocked the country on Wednesday when he confirmed reports that he is not planning to seek re-election in the 2018 midterm elections. The official reason he gave was wanting to spend more time with his family and children, but the unofficial reason that’s the subject of intense speculation is that, well … Ryan may see the writing on the wall for an upcoming blue wave that has the drastic potential to shake things up on Capitol Hill.
Ryan said however that he does not plan to step down from his position as speaker of the house between now and the end of his term in Congress January.
While some are celebrating Ryan for distancing himself from the current administration in the process of resigning from office, others are remembering a career which was spent largely trying to besiege the poor, minorities and women. Case in point, Ryan eloquently said last year that he had been dreaming of slashing Medicaid benefits since he was just a devil-may-care youth sitting around drinking out of a keg.
As such, many on Twitter were less than kind in the wake of Ryan’s retirement announcement:
Really can’t overstate what a symbolic rebuke it is to all those who hailed Paul Ryan’s self-professed deficit hawkery for him to go out the day after CBO lays bare a rising tide of red ink as far as the eye can see.
— Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) April 11, 2018
Paul Ryan, who arrived in Congress 20 years ago as a determined fiscal hawk, will leave with $1 trillion deficits and a national debt that is projected to hit $33 trillion by 2028. GOP has controlled the House since Jan. 2011
— West Wing Report (@WestWingReport) April 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/ChrisWarcraft/status/984087285074296832
https://twitter.com/WorldofIsaac/status/984069607685279744
Seriously stop acting like Paul Ryan is anything other than a monster. He has devoted his life to evil, destruction and the slow administrative murder of people of color and poor people.
— Chase Strangio (@chasestrangio) April 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/984073679498817536
Paul Ryan absolutely succeeded in transferring hundreds of billions of dollars into the pockets of capital and for that he will be handsomely rewarded.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) April 11, 2018
Others, on the other hand, are coming forward to implore Ryan to stand up and do some good before he leaves office in November:
It is my hope that @SpeakerRyan’s decision not to pursue reelection will provide him with the courage to stand up to the abnormal actions and erratic behavior of President Trump and his administration.
— John Yarmuth 🥃 (@JohnYarmuth) April 11, 2018
Paul Ryan has 8 months as Speaker. He’s finally free of political chains. Time to put country over Party. He should remove Nunes from Intel Committee, have a vote on Dream Act, move legislation to protect Mueller, and denounce Trump’s unpresidential actions & words at every turn.
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) April 11, 2018
.@SpeakerRyan now you can put country over party and allow a vote on universal background checks 🙂 over 90% of Americans support it why not allow a vote on it? Tweet your support with #AllowTheVote
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) April 11, 2018
At 12:00 EST if you wanna make your voice heard, call any or all of these numbers and ask Paul Ryan to allow a vote on Universal Background checks.
Main numbers
Speakers (202) 225-0600
DC (202) 225-3031
Janesville (608) 752-4050
Kenosha (262) 654-1901
Racine (262) 637-0510— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) April 11, 2018
Paul Ryan is retiring to spend more time with his children. It would be great if he gave them something to be proud of and stand up to the tyrant who is trying to destroy this country.
— Roland Scahill (@rolandscahill) April 11, 2018
Meanwhile, a few distinct voices wish Ryan the best in his future endeavors:
Speaker Paul Ryan is a truly good man, and while he will not be seeking re-election, he will leave a legacy of achievement that nobody can question. We are with you Paul!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2018
Speaker Paul Ryan has had an amazing career. He has accomplished substantial policy reform.He will be missed but he has a great future ahead
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) April 11, 2018