The punditry is on tenterhooks as they wait breathlessly for people they wrongly assume hold some sort of charismatic sway among the American populace decide whether to run for President (Biden) or Speaker (Ryan).
I think Ryan has probably done the right thing. He has created a rather reasonable but stringent set of demands that are unlikely to be met by the Freedumb Caucus. When they refuse to assent to his demands, he can go back to what he wants to do and maybe Pelosi and Dent can create a governing coalition that will keep the lights on.
For Democrats, there is an interesting gambit in play if Ryan doesn't become Speaker. They can ask for a few key demands in return for abstaining from the vote for Speaker (which would allow for an establishment GOP candidate to win the Speakership). They could ask for doing away with the debt ceiling entirely. That would be my demand, because the debt ceiling brinksmanship practice by the Freedumb Caucus is potentially catastrophic. If I see a six year old running around with a rock, I might ask him to put it down. If I see one playing with matches and gasoline, I'm going to sprint like hell to take them away.
The debt ceiling is incredibly stupid anyway, and I would think Main Street and Wall Street Republicans might assent to taking it away from the nihilists.
Then, if they want to shut the government down? Please proceed, numb nuts.
Oh, and as for Biden? He's not running. (HA! Told you so.)
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