Paul Ryan's retirement portends bad news for Republicans in November, but big picture it also deprives the party of an effective leader and the country of a civil and decent public servant, Karl Rove wrote in a column for The Wall Street Journal.
Ryan's choice to retire confirms he was wary of November's midterms that most fear will leave House Republicans in the minority or with a vastly smaller majority, neither of which is appealing, Rove writes.
"If Republicans retain a razor-thin margin, Mr. Ryan would probably prefer someone else deal with the caucus's threats to nix legislation that doesn't meet its hard-line demands by voting with the Democrats," Rove writes.
Ryan has been a cash cow for House Republicans, leaving them with tens of millions to fight off Democrats in November.
But that's not all.
"Mr. Ryan will leave Congress with the respect of virtually every member of his caucus, to say nothing of Democrats who can't help but like him despite their policy differences. No one else could have matched his performance at keeping House Republicans moving in a constructive direction over the last three years," Rove wrote.
"Mr. Ryan's departure from the House will be a loss for the country, too. Like his mentor, Jack Kemp, Mr. Ryan is optimistic, generous in spirit, committed to outreach, and animated by ideas. And throughout his public life, he has shown integrity, civility and decency—qualities much too rare in today's coarse and ugly political culture," Rove writes.
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