Today’s announcement of Paul Ryan’s retirement places our very own Marshall Petain in a curious position. He has passed his beloved tax cuts and he is leaving, so will he now react to Trump in a different way?

He has severed the bonds of mutual dependency, but perhaps he fears his currency will be deflated as he emerges into the paid-to-give-speeches club.

When I first started writing about Ryan I asked, “who will be the Republican Party’s DeGaulle?” I wonder now, could it be Marshall Petain in a new role? Only time will tell, but don’t bet the rent on it.

I must say that I sit in wonder as I watch talking heads on TV speculate on the firing of most of the leadership of the Justice Department. They race out footage of Republicans wringing their hands and “warning Trump not to fire Mueller.”

He couldn’t care less about these people. He knows they are feckless when it comes to his behavior. What would you really expect Ryan or McConnell to do?

No, the President knows he need not fear the Republicans in Congress. They have allowed him to get away with everything so far so why would they step up now? So, I am afraid we will see a major defenestration at Justice soon. Perhaps someone can erect some storm windows in other places just in case.