{UAH} Speaker or not, Paul Ryan’s career might never be the same

But as he considers whether to accede to the overwhelming calls of his colleagues to seek the post, his most significant consideration could be the unintended long-term political consequences of ignoring establishment Republicans' entreaties at a time they believe they need him most.

The reasons not to reach for the speaker's gavel are obvious: The job is arduous, thankless, and, at this juncture, practically impossible, with Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, resigning and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., dropping out of the race to succeed him. 

Ryan, who presumably wants to run for president someday, would almost certainly be hurting his chances, perhaps irreversibly, by becoming speaker at such a difficult time. On the personal front, he has said he doesn't want a job that would require him to spend most of his time, including weekends, away from his young children.

But here's the Catch-22 for the ambitious 45-year-old politician: If Ryan turns down the speakership because he has presidential ambitions, spurning his Republican allies at their most desperate time could potentially alienate him from them indefinitely. In other words, Ryan is at a crossroads, and both pathways seem to lead away from the White House. Take the gavel, compile a record as speaker that makes you unelectable as president. Or refuse the gavel and be caught in a no-man's land where you've ceded much of your establishment clout and put yourself at odds with a wide range of colleagues who literally and very publicly begged you to run.

All of that leaves the question of what a non-Speaker Ryan does if he leaves his party hanging by turning down a leadership bid: What role does he fill? 

https://www.yahoo.com/politics/speaker-or-not-paul-ryans-career-might-never-be-191431275.html

Sincerely,

Brian M. Kwesiga