I’m not sure whether his literary model was Iago or Grima Wormtongue, but Eric Cantor (R-IwannabeSpeaker) thinks Paul Ryan should challenge President Obama, right now. Per Steve Benen at the Washington Monthly:
As Republican officials continue to wonder who they might be able to recruit to run for president, it appears the House Majority Leader has someone specific in mind.
[…]Count House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) as one top Republican who’d like to see Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) jump into the presidential race. Cantor responded immediately when asked Monday whether Ryan, a rising GOP star and author of the party’s official budget plan, should run for the White House in 2012.
“Sure,” Cantor said. “Paul’s about real leadership. I think that that’s what this public so desperately wants to do right now. They don’t want to see individuals that just dismiss problems that we can just sweep under the rug.”
That would be the Paul Ryan Dave Weigel at Slate described in his post on “The Why the Hell Not?’ Presidential Candidates: A Bluffer’s Guide“:
Rep. Paul Ryan, 41. Elected in 1998, rising to chair the Budget Committee this year, Ryan benefits from a little-read provision of the Affordable Care Act which requires the word “courage” to be used in every sentence about his ideas. THE BOOMLET: Bill Kristol can’t stop talking about a Ryan candidacy, because the GOP needs “a bold and comprehensive critique, and a grasp of sound political economy” in its next candidate. Republican allies of Ryan mention it unbidden; Rep. Trey Gowdy told me he asks Ryan to run just about every day. Yesterday, Eric Cantor confirmed that he thinks Ryan would be a good candidate. THE AGENDA: He doesn’t have one, but when he’s asked, he draws more attention to his work on the Budget Committee. SELLING A BOOK? No. HIS CHANCES: Honestly, this is an example of why the draft campaigns (if “mentioning someone on TV sometimes” counts as a draft”) are so silly — Ryan has defined the GOP’s agenda for 2011. If you want to see what happens to doubters, look for Newt Gingrich.
Wow, a precious endorsement from Bill ‘Crystal Ball’ Kristol, The Man Who Is Always Wrong! No wonder Benen’s post concludes:
Cantor’s description of Ryan is pretty silly. The right-wing Budget Committee chairman’s agenda can be called many things, but an example of “real leadership” it isn’t…
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At this point, Dems are thrilled to have Ryan’s plan as a punching bag, desperately trying to pin down other Republicans on whether they’re on board with a radical scheme to eliminate Medicare, just as GOP lawmakers and candidates are feeling increasingly antsy about it. Imagine how much Dems would enjoy targeting Ryan himself.
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For the record, Ryan was asked about this on “Meet the Press” yesterday, and ruled out a presidential bid, at least in 2012.
File this one under ‘Clown Shoes’. Also, ‘Open Thread’.
Cantor to Ryan: Let’s You and Him Fight!Post + Comments (26)