Ryan's "scheduling conflict"

So after the e-mail from Paul Ryan's office (see post below), I asked a couple of more questions: Like, could I see his schedule for the next few days, to help explain what "schedule problem" kept him from speaking at the DeLay dinner?

Would Ryan have spoken if he didn't have that "schedule conflict?"

And why did they think he had been one of only two members of the House invited to speak at the dinner? Is he that close to DeLay?

Here is the non-response from Ryan's press secretary:

"It is Congressman Ryan's practice each week to head home to Wisconsin to see his family and attend to work in the district immediately after votes in the House of Representatives and official business wrap up. Votes are expected to conclude this afternoon, and Congressman Ryan plans to catch a flight back to Wisconsin shortly afterwards to be with his family, per his usual practice.

'You would have to ask the event sponsor about why they asked Rep. Ryan to speak. Ryan was listed on their draft program without our approval or knowledge."

So, what are we to believe? Ryan doesn't like DeLay? Ryan didn't get $25,000 from DeLay's political action committee? He doesn't vote with DeLay 90+ per cent of the time? He never heard of this DeLay guy?

His "schedule conflict" appears to be that he had to go home and rearrange his sock drawer. It looks suspiciously like Ryan has decided that ducking a chance to stand next to DeLay might be the smart thing to do, even if it means giving up a chance to bask in the reflected glory of the Majority Leader in front of all of those hard-core wing nuts.

There is no sign of any real "schedule conflict." It probably is true that Ryan was conflicted about whether to go or not. In this case, political reality said it would be better to head for Wisconsin and get those socks organized.