Operation Rescue John Boehner

[ProSense]

Operation Rescue John Boehner

David Kurtz

Lindsey Graham doesn't want Senate Republicans to saddle John Boehner with a debt limit/shutdown deal that doesn't have the support of a majority of the House GOP conference because it could cost him the speakership.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/operation-rescue-john-boehner

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/graham-no-debt-deal-if-sequestration-is-replaced

John Boehner: Worst. Speaker. Ever.

Mr. Tears is a clown.

A failure for the ages

By Steve Benen

I find it relatively easy to feel sorry for House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). He's weak and inept, but most of the ridiculous things that happen among House Republicans aren't by Boehner's design. The Speaker didn't want the 2011 debt-ceiling crisis; he didn't to hold several dozen votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act; and he didn't want the government shutdown he forced last night. They're all the result of a radicalized caucus he doesn't control, want, or influence.

But Jonathan Cohn makes the case that what Boehner needs isn't pity; it's blame.

He's in a difficult position, for sure, but it's partly one of his own making. Sometimes leadership means telling followers what they can and can't do. In this case, that should have meant telling Tea Party Republicans they can't get rid of Obamacare, because it became law, was upheld by the Supreme Court, and validated by a presidential election. Boehner tried to say something along those lines after the election, but conservatives howled and -- as usual -- he backed down, promising the right they'd get their chance. Now they expect it to happen.

It won't. And at some point Boehner needs to say so. It will mean taking political risks, but that's what leaders do.

As he's proven, leading isn't Boehner's principle goal. The Speaker wants to hang on to his power, his nice office, and his lovely gavel, and if that means going out of his way to placate extremists so they don't get mad at him, so be it.

That might be pathetic, but it's also the foundation of his job security.

Indeed, in the larger context, it seems the political mainstream is still coming to terms with a dynamic for which there is no modern precedent: a Speaker of the House with no power, no backbone, no accomplishments, and no prospects for success. Boehner isn't just failing in basic tasks, he's failing as Speaker at a historic level.

- more -

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/10/01/20772599-a-failure-for-the-ages

Republican support in 'jaw-dropping' free fall
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023827531

[spanone]

1. he's a tried and true teaparty republican. he's advanced their cause. he's one of them.

[gopiscrap]

2. Fuck Boner he brought this on himself

and while you're at it fuck Lindsey also...he is one of the most slimy assholes up on Capitol Hill

[Mass]

3. I agree with Cohn on Boehner. He is responsible for this mess. Just as much or even more as his

lieutenants. I am surprised by the pass he is given by some here (that he is just a puppet for Cantor). There is no way the rule could have been passed without his agreement.

[ProSense]

13. He's an asshole.

He most certainly had options before he allowed the House nuts to take over the asylum.

[Mass]

14. No disagreement here.

[Live and Learn]

4. Don't be mean to Boehner, he'll cry.

To heck with all the people suffering because of him and his supporters, just don't make him cry.

[VanillaRhapsody]

5. somebody call the Whambulance...

[Auntie Bush]

6. He's crying because he doesn't want to lose his speakership as he is the highest paid in congress.

That's hard to believe! He'd rather our country go down the tube than lose all that money. I can't add power because he has none...the Tea Party took it from him so now he's crying. He's crying for himself...not his country. Boner is as unpatriotic as a any traitor.

[DearAbby]

7. Job?

Boehner promised jobs? He not only obstructed anything having to do with JOBS, he lost his own? He is worried about his own damned HIDE?

[Uncle Joe]

8. So Graham puts Boehner's "leadership" position above the best interests of the nation.

Thanks for the thread, ProSense.

[Historic NY]

11. Yup, thats about it...one has to ask whats in it for Graham?

[Cha]

9. Free his balls.

[calimary]

10. Don't think he has any.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

12. "I am their leader! I must follow them!"

[ProSense]

15. The problem with an evolving ransom note

The problem with an evolving ransom note

By Steve Benen

The government has been shut down for two weeks, and at the earliest, the nation is facing a potentially catastrophic debt-ceiling deadline in three days. We know congressional Republicans expect Democrats to pay a ransom before they agree to complete these basic tasks, but can anyone, anywhere, state with confidence exactly what GOP officials are demanding? Indeed, isn't it inherently problematic that the Republicans' ransom note keeps evolving?

Yesterday, House Republicans started working on a new, short-term debt ceiling extension. It's ... creative.



It's worth emphasizing that the House really isn't trying to work towards a solution anymore and all of the action is in the Senate. That said, if the Senate process collapses, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) doesn't actually want a sovereign debt crisis, so his caucus is prepping a temporary bill to prevent default. Politico added, "The House GOP increase of the borrowing limit will not be 'clean.'"

Well, no, apparently not. The above image is based on reporting from National Review's Robert Costa, who first learned of the new laundry list. Let's take the bullets one at a time.

<...>

And yet, despite all of this, the House Republicans' latest ransom note -- demanding Democratic concessions in exchange for nothing -- is actually more modest than their last one. With the House GOP, I suppose this is what passes for progress.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/10/14/20960363-the-problem-with-an-evolving-ransom-note