Ryan's randy role in the GOP do-nothing conspiracy

When it comes to stoppering the metapohorical bath tub so Republicans can more easily use it to drown government and, more importantly, their Democratic rivals, Paul Ryan is a member of the original, inner cabal. The Janesville patrician was among key GOP insiders who in 2008 agreed to a secret plan to thwart the newly elected Barack Obama at every opportunity. Ryan, it is now more than ever documented, is a key figure in the right-wing circle of GOP conspirators (not at all a too strong a word) who are quite willing to risk the fundamental economic security of the United States of America for personal gain. The Guardian's Ewen MackAskill leads us to the evidence, from a new book by Robert Draper entitled "Do Not Ask What Good We Do":

Attending the dinner were House members Eric Cantor, Jeb Hensarling, Pete Hoekstra, Dan Lungren, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ryan and Pete Sessions. From the Senate were Tom Coburn, Bob Corker, Jim DeMint, John Ensign and Jon Kyl. Others present were former House Speaker and future – and failed – presidential candidate Newt Gingrich and the Republican strategist Frank Luntz, who organised the dinner and sent out the invitations. The dinner table was set in a square at Luntz's request so everyone could see one another and talk freely. The session lasted four hours and by the end the sombre mood had lifted: they had conceived a plan. They would take back the House in November 2010, which they did, and use it as a spear to mortally wound Obama in 2011 and take back the Senate and White House in 2012, Draper writes. "If you act like you're the minority, you're going to stay in the minority," said Keven McCarthy, quoted by Draper. "We've gotta challenge them on every single bill and challenge them on every single campaign."

Scariest of all? Ryan and company are true believers in their own belief system. Sure, Ryan is quite able to pivot on a moment's notice and disown Ayn Rand after years of serving as an acolyte. He understands the politics have shifted. But the GOP wreck-it-to-save-it cabal is so righteous that they granted author Draper extensive background access into the workings of Congress, in a seeming effort to document their own greatness when their plan succeeds. There's a word for this: Megalomania. And if you would like to continue being ruled by overlords certain of their own grandeur and omnipotence, Ryan's your man. http://www.amazon.com/Not-Ask-What-Good-Representatives/dp/1451642083/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335549166&sr=1-1