Paul Ryan's real legacy: Donald Trump

No Images? Click here         Paul Ryan’s Real Legacy: Donald Trump House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) announced Wednesday that he would not seek re-election in November, prompting the normal convulsions of Washington praise for Ryan and his “legacy.” President Donald Trump tweeted that no one could question Ryan’s “legacy of achievement,” and Ryan himself said he was proud of all the things he had accomplished as speaker, namely the tax cuts he helped push through last year and the big increases to military spending he oversaw last month. But aside from a failed policy agenda — which you can read about here — Paul Ryan’s real legacy will always be this: A feckless leader who oversaw Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party and of Congress. For all the posturing Ryan did in May 2016 about how he wasn’t ready to endorse Trump, for all the light rebukes of racism or the vacillating support after the Access Hollywood tape, the speaker led reluctant Republicans right to Trump’s feet. Perhaps no person has done as much to normalize or enable Trump as Ryan, because everyone implicitly believed the speaker might stand up at some point and that it might matter. In so many ways, Ryan was supposed to be the anti-Trump. His squeaky-clean looks and talking points temperament run completely counter to a man who seemingly says and does whatever he wants. READ MORE     WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING? Paul Ryan's whole career was about sticking it to the poor and elderly. He hasn’t succeeded, for the most part, but he’s cemented the GOP’s identity. READ MORE Trump warned Russia that Syria strikes are "coming." “Get ready Russia, because they will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’” READ MORE Mark Zuckerberg doesn't really want Facebook to be regulated. But don’t you dare call it a monopoly! READ MORE         ICYMI The white militiamen charged in a plot to massacre Muslims are arguing they're just "knuckleheads." Three Kansas men on trial in a domestic terrorism case are trying out arguments that wouldn’t fly in other terrorism cases.   Trump's executive order on "welfare" doesn't do anything — at least not yet. The order is more about messaging than policy in the short term.   The FBI has questions about Michael Cohen's shady taxicab business. The president’s attorney has been linked to some of the most notorious owners in the industry.       Want more?  NYT Editorial Board Unloads On Trump: ‘The Law Is Coming’   Parkland School District Votes Against Arming Teachers   Former House Speaker John Boehner Is Now Lobbying For Medical Marijuana   HuffPost is now a part of Oath and a part of Verizon. On May 25th 2018 we will be introducing a new Oath Privacy Policy which will explain how your data is used and shared. Learn More. How will Trump’s administration impact you? Sign up for our email and find out. Did a friend send you this? Subscribe here. Like what you see? Share it. Want more? Here are two other newsletters you'll love: The Morning Email and Must Reads. ©2017 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe   - - Preferences  |  Unsubscribe