I was just watching MSNBC run through the Speaker scenarios which they define as 1) Paul Ryan caves 2) Boehner takes retirement mulligan and stays Speaker through January 2017 or 3) Miscellaneous freaks who can’t possibly unite the caucus or be ready for prime time run. Then I saw Rep. John Mica (R-FL) being interviewed on CNN who said that Ryan has to become Speaker for the good of the country and that he himself had just told him that in person. So he can’t refuse, says Mica.
The whole situation is comical. But the alternatives are just so ridiculous and the desperation of the House Republicans so manifest that I’d bet Ryan caves and becomes Speaker, possibly even with the Freedom Caucus telling him in advance they’ll depose him. I just doubt there’s any way he can resist the pressure.
