Tampa Bay Times - "This speaker speaks, but no one listens" - Slams Boehner

[TomCADem]

Is Boehner that incompetent or are Republicans themselves simply too undisciplined and immature to govern?

http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/this-speaker-speaks-but-no-one-listens/1267904

We teeter on the precipice of a financial disaster that could unravel a slow but steadily recovering economy. And yet Boehner, after endless meetings with President Barack Obama in which they reached broad agreement, has been unable to sell the deal to a subset of tea party pelts within his own Republican caucus.

Good grief. Spanky had more clout with the Little Rascals.

Regardless of your politics, if you are a certain age and have even a passing understanding of American history, can you remotely fathom prior House leaders such as Joe Cannon, Sam Rayburn, Tip O'Neill, Newt Gingrich and even Nancy Pelosi tolerating an internal insurrection within their own party to undermine the will of the speaker?

There was a time not so long ago when renegade lawmakers who publicly broke ranks and embarrassed the speaker might find themselves reassigned to the sub-sub-subcommittee on the study of ear wax and had their offices relocated to a kindergarten school desk in the middle of the National Mall reflecting pool.

[Cha]

1. No, especially when it's put in historical perspective like this..

Regardless of your politics, if you are a certain age and have even a passing understanding of American history, can you remotely fathom prior House leaders such as Joe Cannon, Sam Rayburn, Tip O'Neill, Newt Gingrich and even Nancy Pelosi tolerating an internal insurrection within their own party to undermine the will of the speaker?

What's the use of being Speaker of the House if the rest of the reps run rough shod over you?

I'm thinking.. the gops should get a speaker in there who will be the head Koch guy and show America even more WHY they need to be Sent Home.

[steve2470]

2. great column, puts Boehner in perspective nt

[Cosmocat]

3. Both

this republican party is one of the most radical, extreme and uncompromising parties this country has seen.

Boehner remains wed to the "hastert rule."

If the jackass was not as cow towed to the party as every other R, he would put something as important as the debt ceiling tax bills up to a full House vote.

But, no, he will only put things up that get a majority of the majority.

[Cresent City Kid]

7. The hastert rule is killing him and us

The Speaker of the House is usually the speaker of the whole House. If the opposition party and a handful of your own are enough to pass a bill you want passed, you bring it to the floor and pass the fucker. What's the point of having a House majority leader if this is the way it's going to be?

The notion that cutting taxes for the wealthy helps the economy failed the test of empirical evidence and lost in the election. Still, they will risk their party, their positions and our future fighting to the last minute to keep the cuts in place. They are so boxed in by ideology they can't do anything else.

[Amonester]

8. The Ritchie Rich class made a fortune in the last recession....

Like they barely can't wait for the next ones....

As long as their personal benefits will exceed their 'meaningless' tax hike.... they expect to keep getting More, More, More.

[Cosmocat]

9. Their dogma is mind boggling

we see it, and it hard to understand how MUCH greater margins of American's can't see it.

I will NEVER understand the thinking, because I know A LOT of REALLY, REALLY good people who are straight ticket republican voters. But, I accept they will always vote R no matter how horrible they are.

But, the so called "middle."

How ANYONE other than party R types vote for these jackasses is beyond me.

[Jennicut]

4. Boehner is a very weak Speaker.

He did kick some idiots off some committee assignments but for the most part is afraid to rock the boat with the most radical of his party.

[WI_DEM]

5. Boner is the weakest speaker of the house in my memory

he'll do anything just to keep the title of speaker--but he won't lead.

[Filibuster Harry]

6. When you look up the word "inept " in the dictionary you will see a picture of our glorious

house speaker - Mr. Boehner. Absolutely the WORST speaker in our history and you know what -- no one will
ever come close to him -- the title WORST SPEAKER IN US HISTORY -- needs to be in the record books.