If Boehner Breaks Hastert Rule over CRomnibus, that Frees ALL Republicans to Support New Speaker

Freeper Editorial ^ | 11 Dec 14 | Xzins

[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.

[xzins]

I would rather there had been a short term budget to kick the can down the road for the next Congress, but what's done is done.

I agree that it would have been nice had Boehner not undercut the new Congress. What's done is done. His behavior to date is pro-amnesty, pro-spending, and despite his words, his actions do not speak to anti-ObamaCare sentiment. They speak more to ObamaCare modification.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Same thing happened in the Senate last night. Once the bill had 51 votes, the cya no votes started pouring in.

[thouworm]

“Did you happen to listen to Rep Bachman last night? She absolutely said that Boehner had a backroom deal with Obama to betray our side. She even gave the date when Boehner met with Obama.

Then Louis Gohmert says the same thing. Gohmert said ON PUBLIC TV LAST NIGHT that Boehner is a member of the other side.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is it possible for you to provide urls for the Bachmann and Gohmert videos of these comments? Not at all doubting what you heard, but I missed those comments, and an extensive search turns up nothing.

Were they spoken from the floor? TV interviews? Did you save the clips? Help much appreciated.

FWIW: I am deeply disturbed by the actions of Boehner...and have been for some time. My “sloganish” analysis of most GOP legislators has been, “bribed, bought, or comatose.” That could surely encompass Boehner (in fact, all three), but lately, IMO, when he can muster the full force of his stature, it has been in service to retaining the full force of his stature.

No doubt, politics is a complicated business..., etc., etc...

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/21/Congress-Charges-Secret-Fee-to-Land-Top-Committee-Spots

http://www.amazon.com/Extortion-Peter-Schweizer/dp/0544103343/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375208570&sr=8-1&keywords=peter+schweizer+extortion

[xzins]

TV Fox interview. My memory says it was either Kelly or Hannity or both

[LucyT]

If Boehner Breaks Hastert Rule over CRomnibus, that Frees ALL Republicans to Support New Speaker
Freeper Editorial ^ | 11 Dec 14 | Xzins

Thanks, S&A.

[matthew fuller]

I would LOVE to see Louie Gohmert or Trey Gowdy challenge the traitor Boehner.

[matthew fuller]

"And he can’t be replaced short of an asteroid landing on him."

Where's Haliburton when you really need them?

[matthew fuller]

"Boehner was already reelected as Republican nominee for Speaker without opposition."

Not for the next term- he was NOMINATED by the Republican caucus, (not sure if it was the next term members or current members) but the first order of business, I think, for the next congress is to ELECT the speaker, including all members of the House.

[matthew fuller]

Tom Delay?

[LiveFree99]

So would I, but it’s not going to happen. Not one member dared to challenged Boehner for the Speakership.

[cva66snipe]

Yeap. Et tu Tom? Read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Paxon#Leadership_challenge Boehner’s plan was to make Bill Paxon SOH.

[cva66snipe]

Boehner was the mastermind it seems, Delay, Paxon, and Armey were also in on it but Armey balked at making Paxon SOH. More interesting stuff. Paxon’s wife is Susan Malanari former Congresswoman-R-NY and was keynote speaker at ht 1996 GOP Convention. From 1995-1997 the GOP-E takeover of congress was completed.

[Impy]

It was all members elect, incumbent and new including Martha McSally who will not be certified a winner until tomorrow (recount), no Republican ran against him then and no Republican will run against him in January. A few might cast meaningless protest votes for people that aren’t running or aren’t even members of the House (cause some fools think that’s both not illegal and not stupid of which it is both, especially the later). Same thing happened with Newt in 1997, pointless.

In 2012, 3 members voted for then Maj Leader Cantor, who was not running for Speaker, in fact he himself voted for Bohener.

2 voted for Allen West who had been “defeated” and was no longer a member, and was not running for Speaker.

Paultard RINO Justin Amash voted for Raul Labrador, who was not running for Speaker. Labrador himself didn’t vote at all.

Paulbot RINO Thomas Massie voted for Amash, who was not running for Speaker.

RINO D-bag Walter Jones voted for David Walker who is the former Comptroller General of the United States (A RINO appointed by Bill Clinton) who at that point had never run for office before (he made a failed bid for the GOP nomination for CT LT Governor this year) or been heard of by anyone outside of Washington DC, because Walter Jones is mentally ill.

And Steve Stockman of Texas voted “Present”, that’s much less douchey than voting for someone who isn’t running and or isn’t a member of the House.

A few rats cast protest votes against Pelosi too, Jim Cooper of TN voted for Colin Powell.

Other than Stockman all these people accomplished is making themselves look stupid. It was no different than writing in “Mickey Mouse” which I did once for City Clerk (Chicago) or something once cause the rat incumbent was unopposed. This pissed off the poll workers cause Mickey was not a registered write in candidate.

Wake me when a current member GOP member of the House announces “I am running against Boehner for Speaker in January”, unless that happens it’s meaningless fantasy and nothing more.

[Impy]

“In 2012”

In 2013, I meant.

My apologies for the instances of poor grammar, I was typing fast.

[TheOldLady]

That’s okay. Most of us are able to read typoese. ;-)

[YHAOS]

“Assuming the Senate passes this CRomnibus, Boehner and crew have made the new Congress less powerful.”

And that is a natural fact.

Thanks for keeping me in the loop (you and everyone else).

[gov_bean_ counter]

HA!!!

[AuH2ORepublican]

You mentioned that McSally will be certified tomorrow, and I see that the hand recount is done and that she indeed will be declared the winner: http://tucson.com/news/election/hand-count-done-in-mcsally-vs-barber-recount/article_0874f1ea-8482-11e4-9195-cf7282fab5c3.html There must be some mistake, since I had read on FR that recounts *always* result in Democrats stealing the election.

[TheOldLady]

Giggles.

[marron]

There must be some mistake, since I had read on FR that recounts *always* result in Democrats stealing the election.

Its great to be wrong once in a while... :)