Is Boehner going to be purged?
In The New Republic on Friday, Jonathan Chait predicts that House Minority Leader John Boehner is "one gaffe away from being deposed and replaced with somebody more willing to indulge Tea Party fantasies." NPR this morning featured a similar story.
Why? First, Boehner rejected the notion of a GOP government shutdown--should the Republicans take over in November--a notion which certain Republican congressmen, like Georgia's Lynn Westmoreland, have called for. Politico reports:
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) rejected the idea that Republicans will shut down the government if they come to a legislative impasse with President Barack Obama, even as some conservative activists have predicted and even pushed a shutdown next year.
“Our goal is to have a smaller, less costly, and more accountable government here in Washington DC. Our goal is not to shut down the government,” he said.
But according to Chait:
If Republicans want to defund the Affordable Care Act in 2011 -- and it's their highest priority -- shutting down the government is the only way to go. So Boehner is signalling to his rank and file that they have to abandon their most fervent demand.
And second, Boehner said last week that he would support Obama's plan to extend tax cuts for the middle class, but not the wealthy. According to the Washington Post:
WASHINGTON -- House Minority Leader John Boehner says he would vote for President Obama's plan to extend tax cuts only for middle-class earners, not the wealthy, if that were the only option available to House Republicans.
Boehner, R-Ohio, said it is "bad policy" to exclude the highest-earning Americans from tax relief during the recession, and later Sunday he accused the White House of "class warfare." But he said he wouldn't block the breaks for middle-income individuals and families if Democrats won't support the full package.
Is Boehner going to get the boot?
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Jul '10
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
In 1995 I knew that the "Republican Revolution" had come to an end when the newly minted majority was unable to withstand the MSM assault and defund the National Endowment for the Arts.
Sorry, but that is, at best, a trifle entitlement that should have been defunded without any effort whatsoever.
But they couldn't do it.
If they are unable to show that they mean business this time around and are going to be caretakers, rather than movers and shakers in 2011 the Tea Party are going to realize that they need to create a third party in order to acctually accomplish something legislatively.
Trimming around the edges isn't going to work this time, and playing patty cake will enrage rather than deflate the base.
And as for the argument, "If we repeal Obamacare, he's just going to veto it"?
My answer to the Establishment; "LET HIM, then he owns it going into 2012!"
It's time for the Republican Party to learn the most basic lesson, "You Dance with Who Brun Ya'"
And CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, NYT, WaPo, LAT, and even Fox News, Didn't Bring 'Em.
Jun '10
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
The old story goes like this, "I was really feeling sorry for myself. I had no shoes. Then I looked around and saw a person with no feet." In a nation of 300 plus million people the demogogues will always find an example of someone who will suffer if we eliminate some such government program or another. The 100 million dollar program to eliminate one-eyed nose in butt birth defects can't be defunded because, my god, look at this poor soul, as they parade him around the stage. What cannot be demogogued and paraded, but is every bit as obvious and 300 million times more important, is the collective pain and suffering we all face with the destruction of a civil society brought about by the bankruptsy of this country. These fools we have elected are committing us to national suicide.
Edited on Sep 20, 2010 at 8:36amMay '10
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
Is there a Ricochensus on whether a government shut-down is a battle Republicans win or lose? Or does it even matter? Do we now feel as though the petty battles for press opinion have ceased to be relevant?
As for Boehner -- he is in the job because he paid his dues and waited his turn. It would be nice to see the Republicans elect someone based on their vision and leadership skills rather than their seniority.
May '10
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
I admit to having my own doubts about whether GOP leadership is equal to the task before it. However:
1. The very last people I would listen to re. what and why Republicans will do, is the cast of characters listed above.
2. Boehner would be supremely stupid to forecast a govt. shutdown at this point.
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
Trace, this Politico article points out that when Gingrich put the breaks on the government in 1995, it may have backfired on Republicans:
So there arguably may be a political risk in the government shutdown. But this point, coming from Politico, should be taken with a grain of salt: Politico, and the left media, want to point to any and all divisions among Republican ranks--it gives them something to hope for as the political storm approaches. But with Politico's point in mind, I think the key question is this: how does the national mood differ today, with respect to the government, from where it was in 1995?
Edited on Sep 20, 2010 at 7:23amJul '10
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
Trace Urdan: Is there a Ricochensus on whether a government shut-down is a battle Republicans win or lose? Or does it even matter? Do we now feel as though the petty battles for press opinion have ceased to be relevant?
As for Boehner -- he is in the job because he paid his dues and waited his turn. It would be nice to see the Republicans elect someone based on their vision and leadership skills rather than their seniority. · Sep 20 at 6:27am
Many of my left-wing fans think the Dems losing Congress or at least the House will benefit Obama in 2012 for exactly this reason--a shutdown, investigations, God knows what else. And I think Obama may just expect the same. But personally...I don't think so. I think being perceived as the Party of No could be extremely beneficial as public opposition to the policies being proposed continues to grow...
May '10
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
I agree with Boehner here. I was paying attention in 1995, and it is clear that the government shutdown did incalculable damage to the Republican brand- because it allowed the other side to enforce a characterization of the Right as a bunch of bomb-throwers rather than responsible governors.
Our goal was correct- force Clinton to accept a lower cost budget. But the tactics were sophomoric, beginning with the constant telegraphing of the threat/move by Gingrich et al, indicating a clear desire to force a confrontation rather than find a responsible way to give the citizenry the divided government it wanted.
If you are ready to go for nuclear tactics to enforce something essential, you push and push for your position and force the other guy to pain himself into the corner and be unreasonable. Then you throw the bomb sorrowfully, rather than angrily.
So what you do now is go after ObamaCare, which is unpopular and doesn't provide people with sob stories- because it is not there yet. And defund everything there, as well as slicing the rest of TARP and all unexpended stimulus money.
But don't lean into the punch.
May '10
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
I agree with Duane that there's a difference between leaving the possibility of a shutdown on the table and advocating a shutdown. Even if a shutdown is a bad idea, Boehner seems foolish to take that option off the table if it could be used as leverage in negotiations. Likewise, it seems foolish to tell Obama that Republicans would accept his tax "cuts" before negotiating for all they can get. Boehner apparently believes this "Party of No" campaign from Democrats will cost Republicans votes.
What I don't understand is why people are talking like Republicans must either accept Obama's budget proposal or force a government shutdown. Does the House not have the authority to fund some government programs while defunding others? If they do have such authority, Republicans should already be thinking about what they will and will not fund, because taxpayer money supports an awful lot.
Seniority rules unfortunately make sense, because government now does so much and involves so many rules (and precedents) that newcomers must be overwhelmed. Even though I support term limits for all government positions, I don't think party seniority is necessarily a corrupt practice.
Jul '10
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
A "government shut-down (really just a paid vacation)" would be perceived differently today. That was fifteen years ago. The internets (Thank you Algore) has changed the world.
Jul '10
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
I'll add:
The antiquated media no longer has a monopoly on "reality."
Jul '10
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed.
But with Politico's point in mind, I think the key question is this: how does the national mood differ today, with respect to the government, from where it was in 1995? · Sep 20 at 7:22am
Edited on Sep 20 at 07:23 am
I don't know if this is a game changing difference but it seems significant: in the early 90's the Clintons attempted to shove a national health insurance law down Americans' throats; Obama actually did it.
Consequently, there would be more support for a last resort (I agree with Duane that it should be) tactic if necessary. Would there be enough support to keep the squeamish on board? We'll have a better idea in 2011.
Edited on Sep 20, 2010 at 5:56pmMay '10
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
Yes, you can keep the option on the table. Don't play it up, talk about it, or let Westmoreland preen for the cameras promising it. Or it is 1998 all over again. The center is not voting for a government shutdown- they are leaning our way right now because our people are mostly not talking like nuts. Much more of this and they'll start to wonder.
There are plenty of proposals they can push to reduce spending without proposing the use of nuclear political weapons as a first strike.
May '10
Re: Is Boehner going to be purged?
HR1 should be a straight up-or-down, unembellished, unearmarked, "Obamacare is repealed" bill. Then the republicans can start nibbling at the edges.
If they stick with principle, most particularly no earmarks, no cramdowns, no omnibus 2000 page bills nobody's read, they should be able to significantly advance a fiscally responsible agenda while retaining popular support and build to 2012.