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Regarding Post #15.

This is directly from the June 18 Chicago Tribune:

"In recent days, Ryan had begun warning leading Republicans that HE EXPECTED EMBARASSING about him would be contained in documents that the judge ordered released, sources close to Ryan's campaign said. Yet, Ryan also said he believed that he could weather any disclosures, the sources said.

Those warnings were in sharp contrast to statements made during his successful Republican primary campaign against seven opponents. Shortly before the March election, when he was asked by reporters whether the GOP should be worried about anything under seal in the divorce file, Ryan replied: "I don't think so. I've been very open about everything that voters could possibly have interest in."

But about six weeks ago, Ryan told a small gathering of leading Republicans that while 95 percent of the contents of the divorce file did not threaten his campaign, the remaining 5 percent could cause problems, according to sources familiar with the meeting.

Instead of placating the GOP leaders, who have expressed continued concern since his primary victory over how the divorce-file issue has dogged his candidacy, the sources said, Ryan's comments raised new questions about the viability of his campaign.

That prompted them to request legal advice from the Republican National Committee about whether the state Republican Party had the authority to replace Ryan on the fall ticket if he was too politically wounded and decided to withdraw. The sources said the national party advised that the state central committee does have the power to fill such a vacancy. Attempts to contact attorneys familiar with the request were unsuccessful.

Earlier this week, Ryan said at a news conference that the release of documents would create "no problems for the campaign. Would there be something that might be embarrassing to me? Maybe. But that's not the criteria by which I'm judging the release of those documents."
(emphasis added)

Ryan had been more than forthcoming. It's a bunch of crap for party leaders to suggest otherwise. They wanted him out and they wanted him out bad. Add a bloodthirsty media to the mix and you've got a candidate who has no chance of winning. I contend that it doesn't even matter who they pick as a replacement. He or she is dead in the water.