Report: Boehner Called Ryan To Ask Him To Run For Speaker

House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., right, accompanied by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, takes reporters' questions as during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday,... House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., right, accompanied by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, takes reporters' questions as during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, as House Republicans signaled support for a budget deal worked out yesterday between Ryan and Senate Budget Committee Chair Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. The budget deal was one of a few major measures left on Congress' to-do list near the end of a bruising year that has produced a partial government shutdown, a flirtation with a first-ever federal default and gridlock on President Obama's agenda. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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While some are suggesting House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) will be holding the gavel for the foreseeable future, Boehner reportedly called Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) Thursday after House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthry (R-CA) announced he was dropping out of the speaker’s race and asked Ryan to run.

Two unnamed sources confirmed to the Washington Post the conversation, which took place over two “long” phone calls. According to the Post’s Robert Costa, Boehner told Ryan — a budget wonk who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee — he could influence policy from the leadership post while serving as a healer for the divided caucus.

Almost immediately after news broke McCarthy was dropping his bid, Ryan issued a statement saying he would not be a candidate for speaker.

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Notable Replies

  1. "All right now it’s time you put on your big boy pants and show them that you’re just not a bunch of hot air. That you can put in practice all those brilliant ideas you go on about nonstop . "

    “But I ran a sub three hour marathon!”

  2. “a budget wonk who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee”

    Jesus Christ! You too?

    He is a budget wonk like an 8th grade social studies teacher is a career diplomat.

    Wake the fuck up.

  3. It would literally be the worst career move he ever made. He might as well be throwing himself on the pyre. Nobody with a brain in their head wants to be the next human sacrifice to the Teatrolls’ insanity. I’m surprised the phone conversations were reported as long. If I were Ryan it would’ve been short and to the point:

    “I wouldn’t fuck that with YOUR dick.” CLICK…

  4. Policy wonk whose numbers never add up without the magic “dynamic scoring”. I’ve seen him asked about his numbers and he’ll say it’s really complicated and he doesn’t have time to explain.

  5. Seriously. I wish TPM would stop adopting the lazy phraseology of propaganda that gives total meatballs like Plutocrat Pauly false legitimacy. His ideology, policy proposals and ulterior motives are bullshit, batshit and horseshit. He’s a feces wonk…no more, no less.

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