Paul Ryan is delusional about Donald Trump

In endorsing Donald Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan argued that he believed the presumptive Republican nominee could be a partner in advancing a serious conservative policy agenda as president.

But Ryan is utterly delusional.

Trump, who has made a mockery out of policy and has explicitly and repeatedly rejected the philosophy of limited government throughout his campaign, won't pursue anything resembling a serious reform agenda even if elected.

In the more likely event that Trump is defeated in November, having endorsed him, Ryan will lose credibility to rebuild the GOP. Instead, he will forever be tainted by his support for Trump.

As Ryan has risen in prominence within the Republican Party, he has drawn hyperbolic reactions, with people either anointing him as some kind of hero or ominous villain to conservatives. The truth is, he has always been somebody who has walked the tight rope between being a party loyalist and a conservative policy crusader.