I wonder who is blackmailing Boehner?

[LiberalArkie]

It just seems like someone is holding something over his head.

[CJCRANE]

1. I think he's used to just saying his lines then clocking off

and heading to the nearest bar.

[orpupilofnature57]

2. Shrub called them " My Base "

[Jackpine Radical]

5. No, I think most of Shrub's base, the truly rich,

are getting a little perturbed over the children playing with matches in the powder factory.

[orpupilofnature57]

7. I wouldn't know what the " truly rich " get perturbed over, but

backing ShrubCo ,and letting Whackos carry their water, got us where we are today .

[Jackpine Radical]

11. Shrubco was their kinda outfit.

Big spending on defense, oil-friendly, privatizing, and tax-cutting.

Dick Armey created the Tea Party thinking they could control the idiots, but they seem to have been wrong. Rational psychopaths like Rove know how dangerous the 'baggers potentially are, as shown when they had to keep wresting the 2012 nomination from one after another loony (e.g. Santorum) in order to give it to one of their own Moneybags types.

[orpupilofnature57]

22. +1000 !!!!

In a nutshell .

[Jackpine Radical]

3. I thin it's no more complicated than that he fears for his Speaker gig.

If he gives in, there may be enough Republican Wackihedin to do him in & install one of their own.

[calimary]

16. "Republican Wackihedin"!!!!!!

Did you make that up, Jackpine Radical? That's the funniest thing I've heard in awhile!!!!! Sure fits, too!

[Jackpine Radical]

39. I blush to say, it's mine.

[calimary]

44. Applause!!!!

[AlinPA]

4. IMO, he is now the leader of the crazy far-right and has the same goals as any of the teabaggers:

to crash the government and the economy with a default and then blame the President. He is doing what he believes is right.

[madinmaryland]

6. Someone caught him boinking Michelle Bachman and Sarah Palin together?

[RavensChick]

25. That would not surprise me!

if that's the case, no wonder the country is fucked up!

[madamesilverspurs]

8. Probably just

one or two DC bartenders. Amazing the things you see/hear from behind the bar. (Remember that particular bartender with a camera in Florida?)

[Cleita]

9. Koch Brothers?

Bernie Sanders said as much this afternoon on the Thom Hartmann show. It has a lot to do with his power in the House. Bernie seems to think that the Bros. can pull the rug out from under him if he doesn't do what they want.

[glinda]

31. +1

[hootinholler]

36. They may not be able to pull the rug out immediately

But they can ensure he has a well funded primary challenger to his right.

[Whisp]

10. something is probably going on

behind the curtains that we are not privy to because this is truly bizarre.

are they pushing for a civil war and mayhem so the rich can clean up and get richer - the Ultimate Disaster Capitalist opportunity that would be.
for everyone that loses something, someone else up the food chain picks it up at fire sale prices.

[KauaiK]

12. I think you are right on point

Boehner is not stupid; it can see the colossal damage and polls. WHY would he continue the fight if he only has to bring a clean bill to the floor to vote...unless he was being blackmailed?

[pnwest]

13. I'm with you on this...

It looks to me like someone has some dirt on him and is pulling his strings. Someone very powerful, who also made sure he remained speaker even tho he is so unpopular. Someone has a vested interest in Boehner retaining his speakership, so that said someone can continue to pull Boehner's strings. I have wondered the same thing, who is blackmailing Boehner?

Maybe I've read one too many political thrillers, but that's how it looks to me.

[kestrel91316]

14. His bourbon supplier.

[Incitatus]

15. Is there seriously no way the house can force a vote.

I'm not familiar with all the rules, but one congressman having the ability to cause catastrophic damage seems like a very serious problem with them.

[LiberalArkie]

17. This came to mind when all the NSA stuff came out, and the house intel committee

might be able to get info on people.. It just seems weird since he has in politics for so long and is acting so strange.

[arthritisR_US]

18. Well, they are holding his job over his head. The

public good means nothing to him, his speakership is all that matters!

[TDale313]

41. Yeah, I think that's probably it.

He knows if he bucks them on this they'll vote him out as Speaker.

[tsuki]

19. Considering that it has come out that Jim DeMint's group

threaten 25 seated senators, does anyone think that he ignored threatening the House members?

[doc03]

20. I hear they have pictures of him having sex with a pumpkin n/t

[Cleita]

21. Nah. That would have been his ma. He's the result. n/t

[RavensChick]

26. Ding! Ding! Ding!

[lunasun]

30. Sweet Orange Love

[JI7]

23. nobody is blackmailing him, he is just a Drunk Loser, he is drunk ALL THE TIME

[RKP5637]

35. Yep, just a casual look at him one can see what's going on ... and he talks like he's

in a blur, rum dumb.

[fadedrose]

24. There's blackmail, and there's threats

Could be either or both. I don't think it's stubbornness, stupidity or drunkeness..

He seems apprehensive all the time...and the meeting they had with just him, O'Connell, Pelosi, Reid, and the President....very private.

[SirRevolutionary]

27. Lord Kochus Brotherus

n/t

[Benton D Struckcheon]

28. Eh, nothing but the rivalry w/Cantor.

If he doesn't toe the Tea Party line, they'll boot him and put Cantor, or someone like that who's even more atrocious than Boehner, in his place. Been going on for a while. I don't understand why, but Boehner really truly desperately wants to be Speaker and remain Speaker. Why, if he has no power, as is obviously the case, he wants it I truly can not figure out. Why would anyone want a position with all the responsibility and no power? Makes no sense.

[truebluegreen]

34. Someone who wants to Be Somebody, not do something.

When you are that shallow, appearance is all.

[LiberalArkie]

43. That part I know.. 3rd in line of succession

[lunasun]

29. his bartender or tanning salon??

nah
no secrets about either!

[Coyotl]

32. I can think of two guys right off hand

Jim Beam and Johnnie Walker

[kelliekat44]

33. Been wondering that myself. Is he under threat of death or what? I sometimes feel sorry for

the President having to deal with people like him. (fooled you).

[Jim Warren]

37. Better question

who is bribing him?

[JustAnotherGen]

40. +1

There's a payoff for this somewhere.

[Bluenorthwest]

38. Why would he need to be pressed to be a prick, Boehner was all in with the '95 shutdown too

It's all a drunken party game to John of Orange. He did a big press conference where he brought 'lumps of coal' to Bill Clinton as a Christmas themed way to blame Bill for his Congress's own actions, just like they are doing today. He's not coerced he's just a stupid and reckless man.

[Triana]

42. Clue...

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