Behind the scenes of a GOP meltdown

Politico ^ | 12/21/2012 | Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan

[SeekAndFind]

Things were so bad for Speaker John Boehner Thursday night, support for his Plan B tax bill so diminished, the limits of his power with his own party laid bare, that he stood in front of the House Republican Conference and recited the Serenity Prayer.

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Boehner nearly cried.

The Ohio Republican accepted that he couldn’t change the minds of his House Republican Conference. He tried to convince them that, facing tough negotiations with President Barack Obama over the fiscal cliff, he needed them on his side — and he fell short. With that, Boehner — a man who has clawed back from the political ledge to arrive at the top rung of power — saw perhaps the lowest moment in his speakership.

It was supposed to be a moment of strength, a way to drag Obama and the Democrats toward them in the high-stakes fiscal cliff negotiations that have Washington teetering on the brink. Instead, it showed the world that either Boehner couldn’t bring 217 of his own members to his side, or they were unwilling to be led by him in this fight.

Rep. Mike Kelly, a burly freshman from Pennsylvania, stood in front of a closed meeting in the basement of the Capitol and said his fellow Republicans were selfish. Boehner, he said, has done a good job.

It was too late. The meeting had adjourned. No heartfelt rhetoric from Boehner. He and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) simply read statements later delivered to the press, and went their respective ways.

[A Navy Vet]

This has got to be satire, right?

[jimbo123]

[SeekAndFind]

RE: This has got to be satire, right?

They don't call Boehner the "weeper" of the house for nothing...

[Mr. Jeeves]

Can’t we find some long-haired, tattooed, biker dude to be the next Speaker? This Caspar Milquetoast crap from the GOP has to end.

[crosshairs]

Maybe Boehner was late getting a smoke break.

[Dr. Sivana]

Soemthing along the lines of:

[A Navy Vet]

If he actually did this, he has got to be the biggest p**sy to ever hold the Speakership, not to mention just being a member of the House. I still believe this is satire. I just can't imagine such wimpy crybaby leading the House of Representatives of the United States Congress and then whining with that old screed.

Has no one ever told him that HE and his financial committee (forgot official name) hold the purse of the entire nation? Talk about a lack of fortitude. What a punk.

[oldbrowser]

Boehner just demonstrated that the republican party is not going to roll over for the marxists this time.
I expect that Obama and Reid will try to send the house some tricked up bill that could get the support of pelosi and hope that Boehner and a few others will cross the isle and pass it.
I left a message for the speaker saying I really hoped he would not even bring up the bill for discussion. He needs to do like Reid does and say it is DOA.

[DoughtyOne]

Opposing this guy is a No Brainer Boehner.

This guy is the Rodney King of house speakers. "Hey Democrats, can't we just get along?"

Please God, make it end...

[LostInBayport]

Boehner nearly cried.

I am so sick of reading articles containing these words. What is it with this man? He should get a job on a soap opera, he cries so easily.

[FrankR]

[Timber Rattler]

“He’s tried his best,” said Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio), a longtime Boehner confidant who is leaving Congress at the end of the year. “But sometimes your best isn’t good enough in the face of some people that just don’t want to find common ground.”

This LaTourette loser went on the morning shows and called Conservative House members "chuckleheads." I hope this follows him in whatever cushy K-Street job he lands in January.

[A Navy Vet]

Probably need to explain that photo for those who haven't seen the movie, IDIOCRACY.

I'll do it for you: That is the president in the far future who has NO clue on how to do anything other than look tough as the US is populated by full-on absolute idiots. They can't even figure out why their crops won't grow because they irrigate them with a gatorade type liquid. "It has Electrolytes!", which they think is ALL good no matter what.

Kind reminds me of someone in the White House I've heard about, and a lot of the voting public. IDEOCRACY coming to a town near you. Get your tickets early.

[KarlInOhio]

I really hope he isn't surprised that he didn't have support of the conservative Republicans after back stabbing them with committee assignments.

[wardaddy]

what a bunch of effing dandies...

[baddog 219]

[Hoodat]

Do we have any nominees for the new House Speaker? We can start the list off with any Republican voting 'NO' to raising the debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion 16 months ago: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll690.xml

I nominate either Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia or Tom McClintock of California.

[A Navy Vet]

"Please God, make it end..."

Sorry ole FRiend, it's not going to end. Now that the "gimmes" have taken over and growing, there is no going back. I suggest to everyone on these threads:
1. Protect your assets - they WILL be coming for them;
2. Stay armed, because once the economical shit hits the fan, we will be the next Greece with all their riots;
3. Prep for at least 6 months...better, a year.

We're toast and I'm not a conspiracy type. The writing is on the wall. We responsible producers have lost. Give me a ray of hope. I beg you.

Oh, BTW, are you still there or did Mayan end times take you out? Am I the last to exist as I write this? If so, cool for me.

[mrsmith]

He doesn’t have the support of the caucus for tax, debt, and spending increases.

When is that going to sink in?

Surely he can bring the RINOs around to a neutral budget: REAL cuts for REAL increases!