New York Times columnist Paul Krugman mocked the Republican Party generally, and the House Freedom Caucus in particular, for begging Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan to fill the House leadership void by becoming the next speaker.

“What makes Mr. Ryan so special?” he asked. “The answer, basically, is that he’s the best con man they’ve got.” Krugman noted that Ryan has successfully “hoodwinked” the national media into believing he’s a serious-minded centrist, especially on fiscal issues, but that he’ll likely turn down the position because “it would be hard to sustain the con game from the speaker’s chair.”

That’s because, as Krugman wrote: