Posted on 10/30/2009 9:34:48 PM PDT by SteelTrap
Media bias has a lot to do with it.
1 Media controls what message gets heard. Boehner hasn’t gotten a lot of play in the media when he has stood up.
2 Media controls the perception of those who come down on one side or another to the public.
If the media is saying “Republicans are evil” and the answer to all of your perceived problems is elect democrats - John Boehner doesn’t control who people vote for.
Think it through. Who are some of the more vocal leaders. Two names come to mind - Thad McCotter and Michele Bachman. How much play is the national media giving them to get the message out? Not a lot. We know about them but through what? You Tube?
Boehner isn’t incompetent. And, he CAN be strong. I just don’t know who the media wouldn’t take joy in destroying or muting in that spot.
Agree. Boehner has been stepping up. McConnell is a wimp.
I understand what you’re saying about media bias. That doesn’t change the fact Boehner is incompetent, and I’ve already explained to you why he is. It is despicable he was ever returned to leadership after he demonstrated incompetence in the ‘90s (at the time he was, we lost seats, culminating in the ‘98 backlash). We put in people that can’t accomplish anything and act surprised when *drumroll* we continue to lose seats ! Boehner should’ve been fired after the Nov ‘06 elections. He was given a second chance and blew it.
I disagree. I believe he is doing a good job.
Yes, a good job... for the opposition. A few more like him and we need not worry about ever winning the majority again. Epic fail.
What did Boehner do (or do poorly) in the 1990s that caused him to get bounced out of leadership?
I tried to find a suitable article from the time detailing the reasons, but I can’t find one that is free (and free from the usual anti-GOP bias). I’ll try to paraphrase from Barone’s 2000 Almanac... How he got the job was by beating Duncan Hunter, that much was certain, and initially he seemed to do alright. Where he faltered was during the ‘97-’98 Congress. For some time he was bogged down in dealing with the taped phone conversation (involving Jim McDermott), for which was, of course, not his fault. But he was beginning to neglect his duties in “holding the troops together” and participated with the anti-Gingrich coup plotters (at the time, he denied he was siding with them, but it was a valid criticism that he failed to alert the leadership what was up), our criticisms of Newt today aside (and I’m certainly no longer a fan). Boehner was openly charged with (here’s a surprise), “Failing to deliver the party’s message.” We, of course, were expecting to make the usual 6th year (anti-Dem) gains in ‘98. Instead, for the first time in the modern era, and defying all expectations, the Presidential party gained (we lost seats, and managed to knock off only one single solitary House Democrat, Jay Johnson of WI). Had the gains occurred, it’s possible he might’ve survived, but with that loss and his relationship with Gingrich poisoned, he got sacked 121-93 in favor of J.C. Watts.
Replace Boehnor with Pence and McConnell with DeMint.
“Replace Boehnor with Pence and McConnell with DeMint.’
And replace Steele with someone who doesn’t stick his foot in his mouth every time its opened.
We just disagree on this one fieldmarshaldj.
I see you’re in Ohio. Are you related to him or work for him ? That would explain why you refuse to see his appalling record in the leadership department, because you haven’t presented any sort of argument to defend him. I stated he blew it in the ‘90s and was justifiably fired, and has been even worse since his return to leadership, and it’s been pretty obvious he just isn’t getting the job done. You’re usually a bit sharper and clearer-headed than this, I’m a bit disappointed in you and why you defend a failed leader. :-|
Wow! You have said he has failed and I’m saying he is standing up for conservative principles. No, I’m not related to him, never met him, and he isn’t even in my district. I just happen to believe he is doing a good job. You don’t. I accept that. Why do you have a hard time accepting that someone likes the job he is doing. Other than the stimulus vote, he has been vocal in supporting conservative principles. Do I agree with 100% of what he does? No. I don’t think we need to be in the health care business AT ALL. But, do I think that merits him being fired? No. I bring up arguments against the loss of seats being his fault and you say I haven’t brought up any sort of argument to defend him. Time to back up again fieldmarshaldj. Some people have opinions different than your own. And guess what - it’s okay.
In the words of Col. Kurtz:
“Exterminate them!”
I’ve not just said he failed, the proof is in the pudding. He was FIRED for failing. I was flabbergasted he was ever returned to leadership - no, not flabbergasted - outraged. Because this is typical of the party to put incompetents in charge. Do I have a problem with Boehner as a backbencher ? No. As long as he STAYS a backbencher. I haven’t accused him of being a liberal, it’s not his voting record that is the issue here. It’s his l-e-a-d-e-r-s-h-i-p that is the central point. I said again my ex-Senator Bill Frist was largely fine, as long as he stayed a backbencher. He was an execrable Majority Leader and didn’t know what he was doing and had no idea how to handle somebody like Harry Reid, who has been in politics (and crooked Las Vegas politics at that) since he graduated college in the ‘60s.
It’s amazing that Boehner happened to be present in key positions of leadership when history was defied - to our party’s detriment. First in ‘98 when we lost seats in a Democrat 6-year election, that’s NOT supposed to happen ! Secondly was in ‘08 when we also should’ve gained seats against our own 6th year losses of ‘06, and yet we lost even more ! He should’ve been fired again (nevermind never rehired). Why do I have a hard time understanding why you think he’s doing a good job ? Because it simply makes no sense ! If you think he’s doing a good job, despite the loss of the House — on his watch ! — and even more losses in ‘08 — on his watch again ! (and ‘98, too — triple ditto), I’d hate to think what you’d consider a BAD job ?!?
You’re entitled to your own opinion, as I tell lots of folks around here defending odious candidates and people, but you (or I) aren’t entitled to our own set of facts. It’s not an opinion he’s doing a bad job - it’s a fact. The numbers demonstrate that perfectly. No one is entitled to the job as party leader in a given body unless they deliver the goods. He needs to be replaced by someone who will. Just like you do with a losing coach. That’s what I’m saying here.
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