Paul Ryan, International Man of Integritude, Bravely Announces Possibility of Being Principled At A Future Date

As we observed yesterday, Paul Ryan has been able to retain the reputation as a Man of Great Principle and Seriousity based around “wonky” policy proposals that are absolutely bog-standard Republican “massive upper-class tax cuts and defense spending increases funded through slashing programs for the poor and asterisks” cons. For this reason, he has somehow been able to get his slightly rephrased ongoing support for Donald Trump portrayed as a painful, courageous act of integritude. Politico adds a hilarious twist:

Paul Ryan may not be done yet.

As thoroughly as the House speaker shocked the national political establishment Monday by saying he’s done with Donald Trump and it’s time to focus on his House majority, there’s a distinct possibility Ryan will go a step further and completely yank his endorsement, sources close to him told POLITICO.

In fact, Ryan has personally been on the edge of pulling the plug but has held out because his decision is about more than just his personal feelings: It’s about saving his massive 60-seat majority. The Wisconsin Republican is in an excruciating spot: He feels torn between his own conscience and his obligations as the top Republican in the country, according to multiple sources in leadership familiar with the internal discussions.

So, in conclusion, Paul Ryan would really like to act out of principle, and will as soon as he determines that is in his self-interest to do so. And I don’t even think it’s wrong per se for him to put the interests of his conference ahead of his personal views about the nominee, but at least Mitch McConnell can do this without dozens of stories about how he’s such a goodhearted man of Seriousity and Wonkitude written about him.