House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) is the latest to deal with the weakening of his position. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)House Republicans made a calculated decision eight years ago as they began their campaign for the majority: They wanted a weak speaker. But Republicans sure have succeeded in weakening the House speaker in terms of dictating the outcome of legislative battles and in exposing the current occupant to periodic eviction threats. 2 GOP leader, ever does claim the gavel, he will almost certainly be a weak speaker worried about ideological threats within the House Republican Conference. And with every bill that passes with Democratic votes, the Republican speaker loses a bit more stature.

Source: Washington Post May 22, 2018 22:27 UTC