Because it's always an election year, and because it is always time to run for president, I find myself obligated to point out that, this week, Paul Ryan, the zombie-eyed granny-starver from the state of Wisconsin, announced his intention to run for president in 2020, may god have mercy on all of our souls. Now, truth be told, he didn't do this directly. He is allowing the elite political media to do it for him. After Ryan's disastrous performance as the 2012 vice-presidential candidate, in which he couldn't even carry his home precinct for the Romney ticket, the massive crush that the elite political media always has had for this Serious Man Of Policy went partially dormant. But, this week, when Speaker of the House Paul Ryan announced that, under his leadership, the House of Representatives has condescended to do its job, that crush has blossomed anew.

Don't believe me? Ask Dana Milbank.

The juxtaposition was jarring: at night the presidential candidates' rage and alarm and, the next morning, the speaker's chipper calm. The late Mario Cuomo liked to say: "You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose." This 2016 GOP race goes further: The presidential candidates are campaigning in hysterical shouts, while Republican congressional leaders are trying to govern in measured voices. In this environment, the "omnibus" spending bill and tax package are no small feats. Ryan and other leaders from both parties deserve credit. The spending bill is an ungainly mess, but it's far preferable to having the government shut down or continue running on autopilot as it has been. Ryan, though he's had some missteps in his first weeks as speaker, was adept at cementing the deal, which his predecessor, John Boehner, set in motion. Republicans abandoned attempts to cut off funds for Planned Parenthood and for the settlement of refugees from Syria—both issues that had threatened to trigger a showdown—while Democrats yielded on oil exports and other items. Ultimately, though, the toxic rhetoric on the campaign trail is bound to bleed into the legislative process, putting in jeopardy even modest compromises such as the spending bill.

Have we noticed that The Bar has been lowered to the point where you need one of those personal metal detectors even to find it? The House managed to present to the nation a budget, which is just about its only real job, and it managed to do so without stuffing it to the gunwales with lunatic talk-radio gabble. Fine job, Speaker Ryan.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Brooklyn.

Oh, and he has a new slogan, too.

Ryan, in his "Confident America" speech this month, argued against such antics. "After giving it a lot of thought, this is what I think a conservative vision looks like: We want America to be confident again." He blamed President Obama for "slice and dice" politics (in truth, this far predates Obama), and urged Republicans not to "demonize" and "polarize." Hard-liners on both sides raised objections to the tax-and-spending compromises. But Ryan predicted passage—a rare victory for reason over rage—this time. "I think everybody can point to something that gives them a reason to be in favor of this," he said. The question is how long the upbeat young speaker can prevail over the worry and anger his party's presidential candidates spread.

Give him credit. He's deeply fluent in the sweet-talk that the Beltway loves. Ron Fournier must be in heaven. If you believe that refusing to defund Planned Parenthood and continuing to forbid the CDC to study the effects of gun violence is an even trade in the United States in 2015, well, this is the budget for you.

Suppose the party nominates a real nutball this year. Said nutball goes down in flames, taking the Republican Senate majority with him/her. That will mark lousy everyone who took part in this daffy carnival of souls. Who will be the Serious Republican left standing, and the one best positioned to make President Hillary Rodham Clinton's life a living hell? No wonder the flying monkeys largely are giving Ryan a pass on "betraying" them in this budget. (Kansan Tim Huelskamp is the Laurie Anderson of mock outrage.) Paul Ryan is back, baby. If he's not giving a speech in Ottumwa within the month, I will be profoundly disappointed. I do like the beard, though.

Charles P. Pierce Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976.

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