[abishai]

Because of this, Ryan was forced out of the race by public opinion.

Perhaps, but I think it was all mock outrage. The politically suicidal Illinois GOP ran by loser Judy Barr Topinka was Ryan's downfall. Ryan was the right candidate in the wrong state. It's a shame what they did to that good man. That's about the time I started watching Obama. He was being groomed for the national stage even at that time. The machine was already behind him and he couldn't lose against anyone.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

" The politically suicidal Illinois GOP ran by loser Judy Barr Topinka was Ryan's downfall. Ryan was the right candidate in the wrong state."

You may be right. I don't know enough about Illinois politics to comment. I was only relaying what it looked like from an outsider (outside of Illinois that is) perspective. Unfortunately, if Ryan was thinking about a career in politics, he's probably done now. That's a shame. From what I read, he was a solid conservative.