Or just a devious little poseur? **
A Wall Street Journal story on Monday reports that Paul Ryan intends to “Push An Ambitious Agenda”. The story unsurprisingly presents Speaker Ryan as poised to courageously attempt to turn the House into “a platform for ambitious Republican (read “establishment”) policy ideas”.
Of particular interest in revealing the tactics which have become all too familiar to conservatives watching the GOPe betray the basic Party principles, and the promises they campaigned on to gain majorities in both Houses, is the part which intimates that Ryan, according to his “aides”, says the effort will become clearer after this week. The House is expected to vote on a measure to defund Planned Parenthood and “repeal part of the Affordable Care Act.”
The story notes that Obama is, of course, expected to veto it.
But here’s the laugh line (a ‘rim shot’, please):
“But it will allow Republicans to dispense with two topics that are big priorities for conservatives, then shift to a broader agenda.”
How does it get any more cynical and arrogantly dismissive than this? “Dispense with…”!!!!!
Having given away any leverage whatsoever (with the “Omnibus Capitulation”) to advance the very agenda for which the GOP base voted them into power, Speaker Ryan smugly intimates that he will allow the House to vote on those things which he concedes has no chance of passing. It will, however, serve as a pat on the head to those cranky conservatives so that he can get on with the really important stuff . . . those things which will cheer the establishment’s donor class. You know those “things”: continued open borders, amnesty for illegal aliens, give Obama whatever he wants for the rest of his term, just don’t rock the boat or make “independents” angry, etc, etc.
DLH
*be too clever by half (British): to be too confident of your own intelligence in a way that annoys other people At school he had a reputation for arrogance. (thefreedictionary.com). See “Paul Ryan” (Veritaspac)
**Definition of poseur: a person who pretends to be what he or she is not : an affected or insincere person (Merriam-Webster) . See Paul Ryan (Veritaspac)
