There’s a thing about Republicans retiring that kind of sucks. We’ve spent years curating our image library for the best of them looking awful, and it’s kind of a bummer when we have to stop using them. With that mug, and a sociopathic streak a mile wide to go along with it, Paul Ryan’s given us limitless opportunities for mocking. He’s also just been way too good at showing exactly what he is, like in the No. 1 image we hate to say goodbye to:
The official caption: “Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) (3rd L) shares a laugh with Republican members of Congress after signing legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and to cut off federal funding of Planned Parenthood during an enrollment ceremony in the Rayburn Room at the U.S. Capitol January 7, 2016 in Washington, DC.”
“Yay!!! We just voted to take people’s health care away again!!!” That one is definitely going in the hall of infamy, but there are just so many more.
Here’s one where he’s pretending he’s come up with an actual plan for replacing Obamacare, after seven years of failure:
Here he is when he had to pull his first stab at it off the floor because even with a big enough Republican majority to pass it, he couldn’t get the votes.
Here’s his premature celebration after finally getting those votes. You know, for the bill they passed that doomed the Republican House majority.
Here’s his “I’m totally candid and affable” face.
Here’s his “I’m a very serious policy guy” face.
Here he is operating under the delusion that he can somehow control this guy.
Here’s his kissing-up-to-Trump face:
And maybe my personal favorite, because I like to imagine he got that contusion on his forehead by stepping on a rake:
And for old time’s sake, that brilliant 2009 “Road to Recovery” blueprint he masterminded.
Yep, that’s Paul Ryan, the shining intellectual light of the GOP for the last decade.
So long, Paul. Don’t let the door hit you, and please—we’re begging of you—stay gone.