Posted on 12/11/2014 4:56:48 PM PST by xzins
The only ethical response to betrayal by one's own leader is to find a new leader.
There have been famous betrayals, but for America one stands out. Benedict Arnold was a general in the American Revolution. Thousands of officers and enlisted followed him, obeyed him, attended to his every word. That was prior to September 21, 1780 and his plot with the British to turn over the critically strategic ground of West Point to the British in exchange for money and position. After his betrayal of his country, it would have been a strange thing indeed to have found his troops arguing that they still owed Arnold that same loyalty as they had before. After all, his own actions had violated the trust they had placed in him.
During the Speakership of Dennis Hastert (Republican, Illinois) Hastert verbalized the idea that a speaker who relied on the minority party to pass a bill was violating the trust of his fellow majority members. Hastert said that it was not his job to push legislation that had been rejected by most of those who had elected him to the office of Speaker of the House. The unofficial rule is that a majority of the majority party must support a bill before it is brought to a vote. Otherwise, a Speaker is using cronies to permit the minority party to rule the House of Representatives.
During his time as Speaker, John Boehner has violated the Hastert Rule six times, and even though Boehner himself once rejected the idea of passing bills with minority party votes, he has used this method of passing spending bills that would have been rejected by his own supporters.
Boehner's most famous betrayal was last February 2014 when he had support from only a mere TWENTY-EIGHT Republican representatives but still put a so-called 'clean debt ceiling' bill up for vote. That bill passed by a vote of 221-201, overwhelmingly democratic. Boehner had obviously betrayed the trust of his supporters while heeding the voices of 28 cronies against the vast majority of his own people.
Much was made this past election about those who were shunned in their House races for election when they suggested that they might not support Boehner for Speaker in the new Congress that takes power in January 2015. Marilinda Garcia had funds withheld by the Republican Campaign Committee when she hinted that she would not support Boehner for Speaker. http://www.redstate.com/2014/10/06/nrcc-withholds-funds-after-marilinda-garcia-nh-02-says-she-may-not-vote-for-boehner/
At best, this is a new member of the Republican House being told that loyalty is expected of its members. At worst, it is campaign extortion. In either case, however, there is the message being sent from the Speaker that support should be forthcoming from the membership toward the leadership.
But support is a two way street.
Arnold expected support from his troops. He was their general. He had been victorious in battle, had suffered hardship alongside them, and had even shared the danger of the heat of battle. In many ways he had earned their respect and their support.
But his betrayal canceled all that. He went over to the other side. He put his own troops at grave risk. He is justly condemned by history. His name has become a byword for traitor.
A leader who turns to his enemy to win a victory for the enemy over his own troops and their interests is rightly called a "Benedict Arnold."
Speaker Boehner has willingly betrayed his own troops in the past. If he does so in this matter of a funding bill that permits our lawless President to pay for illegal immigrants to receive status and benefits, then Boehner has betrayed not just his own caucus, but he has betrayed the huge majority of voters who chose republicans this past November to stop amnesty, to stop ObamaCare, to stop out-of-control spending, and to stop a chaotic foreign policy.
Boehner will steal one entire year of power from the Congress that has not yet taken office, for their power of funding will be neutered until September of 2015. He will betray the support his own people have shown him by siding with the enemy.
He will also violate the terms of his understanding with those who were to support him for Speaker. They give loyalty in return for loyalty. They give support in return for support. They will have been betrayed.
There will be zero reason to continue him as Speaker of the House. The only ethical response to betrayal by one's own leader is to find a new leader.
Additionally I believe there is no requirement that the Speaker also be a member.
Hehehehehehehehe! Good evening, NCN!
Benedict Boner.
You too sir!
You, Sir, are correct...I nominate Newt Gingrich.
Here's a start: Republican Reps. Justin Amash (R-MI), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Dave Brat (R-VA), Mo Brooks (R-AL), Paul Broun (R-GA), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), Walter Jones (R-NC), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Steve King (R-IA), Raul Labrador (R-ID), Tom Massie (R-KY), Bill Posey (R-FL), Matt Salmon (R-AZ) and Steve Stockman (R-TX) held the line and voted no.
The point of removing Bonehead if this disaster of a bill passes wil be mute.
Bonehead would have done his damage and probably retire or
join Trent Lotts DC Lobbing firm.
Yet the bill will stand and nothing can be done about it.
Boehner won with 63%.
Better than Wasserman-Schultz but not nearly as good as Pelosi.
I think he’s pretty bulletproof ‘cause he brings home the bacon for the fine folks of Cincy.
So true.
Boehner barely squeaked by as Speaker two years ago.
She appears to be not guilty. Boner, on the other hand, is guilty and should be nuked from orbit just to be sure.
Sob.
If they shit can boehner the bawler, which should be a forgone conclusion, maybe yertle over in the senate ,might get the hint.
I know!
LOL
Did you catch her in that fetching red outfit, erhhhh nighty?
Saw that ass hat this morning.
Looks like a lech and a slob, the way he kept locking his lips was creepy and I thought “Must be a lizard in there and this Boner gig is just some costume”
Well done and coherent. Would have been improved by not using Arnold. His story ends up overshadowing the main point, that Boehner has not acted in the interests of the majority of his constituents.
Whether that is distressing to a majority of Republican House members is a very different and important matter. House members work with Boehner all the time and will tend to look at the totality of his actions and his actions as they help or hurt the individual member in question.
There will be some new members very soon, and things will hopefully get more interesting then. It won’t take too long to find out what if any effect the new members are likely to have.
I keep hoping that some day someone like McConnell will reveal that they have been a closet conservative just waiting for their day to strike. He did come aboard as a conservative.
Wishes, dreams, and pixie dust.
It’s the preacher in me who has been taught inductive preaching....begin with a story and use stories/events to have points realized rather than making points and then using examples to illustrate them.
Do you think writing is better served by points and then illustration?
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