Paul Ryan Has No Desire To Be House Speaker

[DonViejo]

SAHIL KAPUR – JANUARY 23, 2014, 3:42 PM EST

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) on Thursday made clear he doesn't want to be House Speaker, nor is he vying for a position in his party's leadership team.

At a luncheon sponsored by the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Budget Committee chairman and GOP's most recent vice presidential nominee was asked if he wants the House's No. 1 spot. "No, he doesn't," Ryan responded, speaking about himself in the third person, as recounted by Politico.

It won't come as a surprise to those following Ryan's career -- he is widely rumored to be seeking the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over taxes and entitlement programs. He's also seen as a possible presidential candidate in the future.

"I could've decided to go on the elected leadership route years ago," Ryan said, per Politico. "I'm more of a policy person. ... The speaker is expected to fly around the country on weekends as well, helping folks -- I'm not going to do that."

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul-ryan-house-speaker

[Blue Idaho]

1. Of course not

That would be too much work for Jughead.

[unblock]

2. so he's not going to fly around the country on weekends helping folks? great president he'd make.

[DonViejo]

5. I gotta wonder if he didn't just rule himself out from consideration

as a future Veep and/or Presidential candidate.

[malthaussen]

3. Might be the most honest thing he ever said...

... he isn't going to help folks.

-- Mal

[oldandhappy]

4. He would rather shoot than be shot at!

[3catwoman3]

6. I also have...

...no desire for Paul Ryan to be Speaker of the House. Or any other Republican. Time to give the job back to Nancy Pelosi.