Treacherous Paul Ryan Stabs Trump in the Back Over Arpaio Pardon
Beltway superhero and K Street golden boy Paul Ryan has broken with President Trump over the pardon of Barack Obama’s hated political enemy Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Ryan joined with Arizona Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake in condemning Trump’s decision to spare an aging patriot who has served his country well despite what many feel were overzealous tactics to keep criminal illegals out of the country.
Ryan has always been a treacherous little snake who walked a very fine line between working with his own party’s President and acting as a handmaiden to the lobbyists who have elevated him from an obscure Wisconsin legislator to the Speaker of the U.S House of Representatives.
King Paul officially threw in with Democrats and GOP establishment types who have been sabotaging Trump from day one by ripping the pardon and casting his lot with the same Never Trumpers who he was always a compatriot of during the primaries.
It could also be a preemptive strike as Trump has been increasingly critical of Ryan and his Senate counterpart Mitch McConnell over their failure to repeal Obamacare after years of empty promises to voters.
#BREAKING: Ryan breaks with Trump: I don’t support pardoning Arpaio https://t.co/t95WB0Xavf pic.twitter.com/fUOX20nmrw
— The Hill (@thehill) August 26, 2017
Via the Hill “Ryan breaks with Trump on Arpaio pardon: report”:
Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) disagreed with President Trump’s decision to pardon former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, The Wall Street Journal reports.
“The speaker does not agree with the decision,” Ryan spokesman Doug Andres told The Wall Street Journal. “Law-enforcement officials have a special responsibility to respect the rights of everyone in the United States. We should not allow anyone to believe that responsibility is diminished by this pardon.”
The White House announced on Friday the president would pardon Arpaio, who had been found guilty of racially profiling.
Arpaio was scheduled to be sentenced in October.
Trump’s decision to spare Arpaio has stirred controversy on both sides of the political aisle.
The ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee Sen. Dianne Feinstein said on Saturday the pardon demonstrates “flagrant disregard for the rule of law in this country.”
Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) also ripped the decision, however he did concede the president had the authority to make the decision.
“Mr. Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for continuing to illegally profile Latinos living in Arizona based on their perceived immigration status in violation of a judge’s orders,” McCain said in a statement.
Ryan’s decision to break with Trump over the decision could add to the growing tensions between the two.
Look for Ryan, McConnell and other R.A.T.’s to go on the offensive in the week before their latest extended vacation ends and they have to return to Washington to hammer out a deal on raising the debt ceiling among other critical issues. Trump is most certainly already picking out his best pair of ass-kicking boots to use on the dynamic duo.
Ryan has always been a weasel and he and McConnell would probably both be much happier had they been able to work out a power-sharing agreement with Hillary Clinton than have to work with Trump whose business experience doesn’t lead to him suffering fools kindly.
Here is what just a small sampling of people who agree with Ryan on this are saying:
.@POTUS pardon of fellow birther Arpaio makes mockery of rule of law, & says communities of color can be targeted & abused w/ total impunity
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 26, 2017
By pardoning Arpaio, the President has once again sided with division and discrimination. This is a disgrace.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) August 26, 2017
By pardoning Sheriff Arpaio, Trump has again made clear he will use the powers of the presidency to defend racism and discrimination.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 26, 2017
.@POTUS's pardon of Joe Arpaio, who illegally profiled Latinos, undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law https://t.co/2FckGtwQ2m
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) August 26, 2017
As millions of people in TX and LA are prepping for the hurricane, the President is using the cover of the storm to 1/
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 26, 2017
Pardon a man who violated a court's order to stop discriminating against Latinos and 2/
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 26, 2017
.@realDonaldTrump's pardon of Arpaio, convicted of discrimination against immigrants, demonstrates little regard for country or rule of law.
— Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) August 26, 2017
I'm not surprised Trump pardoned racial profiler Arpaio. White Nationalists, KKK, & Duke celebrated Trump's election b/c he is one of them!
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) August 26, 2017
Sheriff Arpaio should not have been pardoned. A pardon for his conduct demonstrates flagrant disregard for the rule of law in this country.
— Senator Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) August 26, 2017
Presidential pardons should not be rewards for bad behavior and discrimination. Granting a pardon to Joe Arpaio is shameful and appalling.
— U.S. Senator Al Franken (@SenFranken) August 26, 2017
This pardon is contrary to DOJ guidelines, unsurprisingly. Pure politics. Wonder what the pardon attorney's official recommendation was. https://t.co/jErRZiJnxy
— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) August 26, 2017
#Arpaio Pardon wrong decision, goes against rule of law. @realDonaldTrump should focus on bringing country together. @CNNSotu @jaketapper
— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) August 27, 2017
The Arpaio pardon is basically a big middle finger to America. A loud, proud declaration that this Administration supports racism.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 26, 2017
Strange, but not many of them had much to say when Obama was pardoning drug dealers and traitors.
Needs to go he is also part of the swamp like McCain and others I have no confidence in the Republican leadership in the congress they stink of the swamp.
Ryan continues to reveal himself. Remember he ran as Vp to McCain.They both share the same swamp (big government/ bought and paid for by special interest ) ideology.
‘Paul Ryan’ is what happens to representatives who remain unbridled for 18 years in DC. The stench of the Swamp pervades them all. He never wanted to make Congress his career. He ran for three terms and then left congress in 2003. Oh, and he was the quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners when Barry Switzer was running the wishbone offense.
The ‘he’ referred to in the third sentence refers to J.C. Watts, the congressman from Oklahoma. I don’t know how this got left out of my statement.
Paul Ryan is not a team player. There is only Paul Ryan on his team.
I want to know why Ryan is going on so much about President Trump pardoning Arpaio. When he never said a work when Obama pardoned all those criminals. Ryan needs to go