Paul Ryan spent months back in the winter acting as if he were going to provide conservative Republicans an any-port-in-a-Trump-storm alternative platform, but then Ryan folded his sensible substitute tent and endorsed Trump.
“Through these conversations, I feel confident he would help us turn the ideas in this agenda into laws to help improve people’s lives,” said Mr. Ryan, who is also chairman of the Republican National Convention that will nominate Mr. Trump. “That’s why I’ll be voting for him this fall.”
Since he provided Trump that relatively yuge thumbs-up (hidden on the editorial page of a small town paper), Ryan has found himself disavowing textbook "racist" statements from Trump over Judge Curiel. He’s had to distance himself from Trump's Muslim ban. And called Trump’s attack on the Khan family beyond the pale. In fact, all Paul Ryan seems to do these days is apologize for the guy at the top of the Republican ticket. It’s a full-time job.
Through all of this, Ryan has insisted that he still supports Trump. Why? Because he believes Trump will help pass the kind of trickle-down tax breaks and social restrictions that Ryan wants.
Ryan has even continued to support Trump while Trump has happily announced that he will not endorse Ryan and has instead supported Ryan's primary opponent.
Trump won’t endorse Ryan. Trump makes “textbook racist” statements. Trump implements religious test for entry into US. Trump attacks Gold Star family.
But Paul Ryan still endorses Trump.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) said Thursday that his endorsement of Donald Trump does not give the Republican nominee "blank checks." …
When asked if there could "ever be a bridge too far" that might prompt him to pull his endorsement of Trump, Ryan indicated that he hasn't given Trump a blank check, but he would not expand further.
There’s an easier answer to that question: No. The answer is no. Donald Trump could spit in Ryan’s eye, could make him eat sand out of the road, could shoot him in the foot (on 5th Avenue) and Paul Ryan would still finish his sentence with “Of course I reject having been shot in the foot, but I plan to vote for Donald Trump.”
Because … what else is he going to do? Ryan is too afraid of his own House members to do anything that might offend the craziest flank of the crazies. He’s going to ride the Trump train all the way to the bottom of the canyon.
And Trump’s going to torture him all the way down. Because Trump is a vindictive ass, and Ryan has “victim” carved right on his forehead.