Associated Press
The irony of last night's drama on Capitol Hill was that the proposal at stake had far more symbolic value than substantive. House Speaker John Boehner, after having abandoned his own fiscal talks, pushed his "Plan B" knowing full well it would not, and could not, become law. Rather, Boehner hoped to use the measure to send a message.
Oh, he sent a message, all right. It's just not the one the Speaker intended.
At least in theory, there was a coherent strategy underlying Boehner's efforts. He would pass his pointless charade, demand Democrats do as he instructed, and cover his backside when the larger process fell apart. All the Speaker needed was his own allies to follow his lead, and give him some additional leverage.
To that end, Boehner tried everything. He tried pleading with his Republican allies, threatening them, and offering them all kinds of goodies. The Speaker made appeals based on emotion, economics, loyalty, and pragmatism, at times, simultaneously.
But in the end, despite all the bravado and faux confidence, Boehner just couldn't deliver. The party he ostensibly leads heard his impassioned pleas, and decided not to follow him.
Debacles of this magnitude are rare.
We'll explore Boehner's future as Speaker a little later this morning, but before we do, let's take stock of where things stand.
We know, for example, that Democratic unity is on the rise, despite concerns over President Obama's latest offer, and that the "Plan B" fiasco has strengthened the Democratic position considerably.
Similarly, we know congressional Republicans are in complete disarray, lacking direction, vision, cohesion, and leadership. Boehner invested his stature and credibility in a pointless initiative, and after twisting in the wind for days, was left looking like a fool.
And we know that there are very limited options remaining to avoid the looming deadlines, which if unmet, may well push the nation back into a recession.
As a simple matter of arithmetic, if House Republicans aren't prepared to follow their own leadership and support a list of right-wing goodies, Boehner and the rest of the GOP leadership must realize that the road to 218 votes runs through the Democratic caucus -- if the Speaker can't pass a bill with his own side's support, he's going to need Nancy Pelosi's help.
Since Boehner has already deliberately blown up his talks with the White House, it will be very tough for the Speaker to give Obama a sheepish call, saying, "Maybe we can give this another shot?" The more likely scenario is that the president will have to quickly begin a very different set of discussions: finding a bill that can generate bipartisan support in the Senate, satisfies Pelosi and House Dems, and can generate the support of a couple dozen House Republicans.
All of this will have to happen, of course, over the course of about 10 days -- two of which are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Last night, House GOP leaders also announced they're leaving town, possibly to return next week. After last night, there was no real point in them sticking around, anyway.
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My condolences to Speaker Boehner. Must be rough being a "leader" no one will follow. One request: Please don't cry. It ain't pretty.
Boehner had the wrong education. He should have been trained in snake charming.
The GOP base has all the Tea Party and other conservative House members stampeded.
Over on the influential blog RedState.com, they've announced that any House member who votes for any tax increases will be primaried.
There are also quite a few "Let-It-Burn" Republicans in the GOP base, whose attitude is that the American people re-elected Obama and thus they deserve to suffer with tax increases on the middle class.
These negotiations are taking place right after a bitter election defeat for the GOP. And they're still steamed up. According to a PPP poll, some 40% of the GOP base believes Obama stole the election. That's not a climate in which to conduct serious negotiations with the winning party.
I'm taking my toys and going home is how I feel about Congress. They don't dislike one another they HATE one another. There is extreme name calling, arguing on a daily basis, utter disrespect for one another. Disrespect for the American people who don't think like them or look like them or can give them something (Besides there job, and paycheck). Instead they criticize or even publicly make fun of them to the point of bullying. Gee I wonder why we have such violence, and disregard for human life, and lack of empathy in this Country? We are only learning it from the leaders of our own nation as to how to act. They teach us that its okay to hate one another, and refuse to work together, and compromise. They teach us it's all or nothing. If you don't like it walk out. If you don't like the person make fun of them, or promote violence.
When you are teaching this to a nation, you are teaching it to a new generation. You know if any of us acted this way at work we would be terminated immediately, and rightfully so. If our Children treated other children this way. I would hope most people would explain how wrong it is.
This is on both sides of the aisle, and it gets worse everyday. When we start seeing examples of all Americans being equal, and important, the politicians start respecting the office they have been give by the people NOT the special interest. When they respect the power to which we have given them, and respect the office of the President. (Stop referring to the President as Mr. Obama its disrespectful). Stand up for what you think is right, and right for the Country not what your donors might think. Find any morals you may have left, and learn to share. Then we may have a chance to recover together. Lead by example..
When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily; but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.” Proverbs 28:2
Leadership gains authority and respect when the voiceless poor are treated fairly.” Proverbs 29:14
The sad thing about this failure is that it wasn't the programs which hurt the poor, the elderly, and the children which Boehner's caucus found repellent; it was the few points of tax cuts to the people making over a million a year.
That is where this nest of vipers drew the line. You can't herd these cats into having a heart; they just do not care about the country, only about covering their a##es. The thought of Grover Norquist and the Koch brothers getting upset with them is why they won't vote. They are a bunch of paid prostitutes. They fear their pimps.
India I agree.. The almighty dollar will always rule them first..It's disgusting. Why Grover Norquist hasn't been charged with treason is beyond me.. He could also be charged as a terrorist for holding America, and it's people hostage.
MellowOhio, Boehner should have been trained in snake handling.
I believe that's what you'd need to deal with a nest of vipers. Grover Norquist is the head snake.The Koch brothers are slithering around in that nest, too.
Watch the movie Idiocracy. It foretold this very scenario.
Anything that has the GOP eating its own is a good thing.
marceline, Not if these snakes bring the economy down! I'd be more than happy to see them eat their own if they weren't eating us as well.
This kind of obstruction is a very real threat to Democracy. The will of the people means nothing. That is a bad situation. We are being held hostage by people who REALLY DO NOT CARE what America needs.
Boehner needs to grow a spine, caucus with the members of the GOP that have 2 brain cells to rub together and marginalize the wing nuts of the party. If he works with the GOP moderates and the Dems, they can turn this thing around and make the GOP look like its doing something, thereby insulating them from attacks from the righties. They are so afraid of their base, they can't see that working together to fix the problems is a better option than alienating 80% of the electorate through obstructionism.
Rachel, you nailed it a long time ago: "John Boehner is very very very bad at his job." The gop is extinct.
Optimistic about the federal financial negotiations. Why? Nancy Pelosi, that's why. I'm feeling that there are enough semi-reasonable Republicans, sick of the tea partier's BS, who are ripe for the picking to go for a balanced budget offer from the Democrats, even if it's just to put that extreme coalition back in its place. Go, Nancy!
Boehner's inability to get Plan B passed is a sign of the weakness. the weakness of the republican leadership, and of all positions from Plan B to that of the presidents.
The failure of Plan B, ought to be heard as a loud voice shouting "Even this shall not pass".
If republicans are so weak, how is it that after recess anyone is expecting to get something more to democrats liking passed ?
Does anyone else wonder that since the republicans might very well know how this will end are purposefully going to get their stock out, plummet the market, then buy low then pass a bill and raise the debt ceiling, then take a 30% profit when the stocks go back up?
You would think that losing the election would have taught them SOMETHING. evidently the GOP are very slow learners. They have very little public support, and even many of the wealthy are saying "So tax me already" This isn't about governing or representing the people, this is about a power struggle they have lost. It is time for people to contact their Representatives and demand that they do something to work this mess out!
Hard to be a leader when you'd rather be drinking and golfing.
Happy End of the World Day viners. Why are our psychotic right wing posters posting about the cliff after all the End is near so they should be in their under ground bunkers dreaming of all the suffering and misery those without bunkers will be enduring instead of worrying about the Bush Tax cuts ending. After all after today they no longer have to worry about taxes. Instead they should be out collecting breeding stock to take into their bunkers so they can repopulate the world with their off spring, that way their won't be any intelligent life forms on Earth.
Of course my dream is for an NBC News special hosted by mascot Luke and Chelsea Clinton on the subject of young people and the tough job market.
40 deleted, Jeff-3301912 commenting for the first time in months - expressly to smear other commenters and Ms. Maddow:
Banned.
I like Boehner. I think he's a decent man. Honestly, I feel sorry for him. I mean what can he do? Here is image in NYT from yesterday morning.
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/12/21/us/politics/Congress/Congress-popup.jpg
I don't think anyone in his job could get anything done with the fracture in the GOP. Personally, I think Cantor is waiting to take his job in January. You think we have issues now with Congress, wait until the patients take over the asylum.
Cantor is the one person who could actually make this situation worse if he becomes speaker. He has ice water running through his veins. He's been after Boehner's job for a long time. He may get it, too.
Do you believe in prayer? If so, pray that Cantor doesn't happen to our country.
"The Republican Party must learn to increase the size of the tent. In the process it must transform itself. ... America needs two strong national parties, if for no other reason than each to keep the other honest and in check, not permitting the more powerful of the two to slide toward despotic rule."
Read more at
http://lifeamongtheordinary.blogspot.com/2012/12/tolerance-and-inclusion-part-one.html
LOL all they can do is change their speeches conservatives have resisted change since man first fell out of a tree and decided walking up right was better then tree climbing, if it were left up to conservatives humans would still live in trees and living on the ground would be liberals plotting to taking their beliefs in god away.
We might see the end of the Teapublican party; it may fall into obscurity like the 19th century Whigs, if for no other reason of the country not being old enough and white enough. I would imagine another party would spring up in its place, and it may very well be to the left of the current Democrat party.
Just think, if winning the majority of voters won you the majority of seats we would have a Dem controlled House on the way. Gerrymandering and districts themselves are to blame for the current results. More on how districts cause the issue: http://ballotlines.com/2012/12/17/unintended-consequences-one-moving-truck-at-a-time-to-unrepresentative-elections/
Boehner has been a failure as the Speaker of the House. I wonder what his next job will be? Can't work for Papa John's because he can't deliver.
This whole debacle goes right to the heart of ideology. Dem ideology, for the most part, is based on "team". "It takes a village". "We all built that infrastructure", and so on. Repub ideology is based on "rugged indvidualism". I know that these pasty faced bozo's in the house hardly pass for "rugged" , but they like to think so. All these rugged ones took care of number one last night at great cost to their repub team, afraid of a primary on their hides, the hll with "team". We have seen that play out over 4 years, the repubs would not even consider themselves part of the "Team America" and would do anything to destroy it if it helped defeat Obama. Last night, they took that attitude down to their level and destroyed themselves. We need to finish off that party now.
We need to finish off that party now.
^ The President is good at out maneuvering the GOP, but has until now, lacked precisely this killer instinct.
FINISH THEM! Mr. President.
A few years ago, the GOP had an agenda, and all were on the same page, blindly supporting that agenda, come what may. This not the GOP. This is the Tea Party, and I would have to agree, for them it's all about #1.
The GOP are a rudderless ship languishing in troubled waters with no compass, no one who can read the stars, although I think some of them have been trying to do just that, and with no salvage crew in sight. A clean out and shake up has been LONG overdue.
Here we all are. Here we all are despite the intermittent brief chill up the spine from time to time these last few days. Chilled with the lingering thought that the Mayans might
have been on to something about all this end of the world concern. Not that I, even for two seconds, considered it. Not for even one second did my manly fortitude and
faith falter. Not for one second did I worry or doubt. My chills didn't last an entire second.
I reassured myself, not that my unwavering, manly, Ford tough faith needed any measure of reassurance, I reassured myself with the thought, "If the Mayans were so skilled at
predicting the future, they would still have a thriving culture; their wealth based on revenue from Casinos and off-track betting.
The Mayans have the egg on their face today. If I find a Mayan, even I might taunt him. All of us are as smug as a bug in a Mayan woven mat. All of us celebrate the world did not end.
Mayans wrong, Annie right. The sun did come up tomorrow.
Everything is just as it is; asteroids didn't collide, suns didn't explode. Hell, the smoke alarm didn't even malfunction.
All kingdoms unshaken. All kingdoms intact. All kingdoms safe and sound.
Except, today not a peep from Speaker of the House Boehner. Maybe somebody ought to check on him.
John- thanks for the laugh! I've thought that if the Mayans were so good at predicting things, why are there so few of them left?
I think Boehner and the other Reptilians all recessed yesterday so they would have time to don sackcloth and ashes in time for the end of the world today. Heck, maybe they were counting on the world ending today.
The criminal organization of serial lying democrat frauds is always trying to put down those they can never measure up to or beat in election.
"We have the votes" - John Boehner.
^ Speaking of serial liars who can never measure up. rotfl.
I don't think the author has done his homework.
Republicans control the institution that controls spending in the federal government, the House of Representatives. The GOP controls is with the largest back-to-back majorities since WWII, 242 in 2010 and 234 in 2012.
The GOP dominates state governments by a wide margin. 163 million Americans live in states where the GOP controls the governor's chair and both chambers of the state legislature.
Here the states under total GOP control, Texas 26 million, Florida 19 million, Ohio 11 million, Michigan 10 million, Georgia 10 million, North Carolina 10 million, Virginia, 8 million, Indiana 7 million, Arizona 6 million, Tennessee 6 million, Wisconsin 6 million, Alabama 6 million, South Carolina 5 million, Louisiana 5 million, Kentucky 4 million, Oklahoma 4 million, Mississippi 3 million, Arkansas 3 million, Kansas 3 million, Utah 3 million, Nebraska 2 million, Idaho 2 million, South Dakota 1 million, North Dakota 1 million, Wyoming 1 million.
Only 100 million Americans voted to have their states completely controlled by Democrats and 60% of those live in three states, California, Illinois, and New York.
If the author's premise was true then Democrats would dominate state legislatures. Yet Republicans are ahead 55% to 45%.
As news the article is inaccurate and as opinion the article is ill-informed.
Ever heard of gerrymandered districts? How else do you explain R's for the House of Representatives in Michigan losing by over 600,000 votes in the total state count yet winning a majority of the seats?
Plus, if you add up the last 2/3rds of your list you just about equal one state, California, in population. That, of course, is taking into account actual populations instead of your inflated estimates. Wyoming (570,000), North Dakota (691,000), Idaho (1,600,000), South Dakota (830,000), Nebraska (1,800,000), etc.
Some more actuals... Alabama (4,800,000), Oklahoma (3,700,000), Indiana (6,500,000), North Carolina (9,500,000), Utah (2,700,000), Louisiana (4,500,000). Just in those states I've listed you've overestimated the numbers by more than 3.86 million people. Nice accuracy.
And the eight ball say -- Boehner No Longer Speaker of the House for 2013.
I hope he stays, actually. He's such an ineffectual empty suit that having him there is good for our side.
Also, I suspect the GOPers like having a weak Speaker they can push around.
All republicans can do is lie,and more lies,and keep lying and hopping the lies will stick and be successful!! And lie,and lie ,and lie,and lie........Still lying,and lying ,keep lying...Oh liars,way too liars all of you that's all you are,a bunch of freaking liars,just liars....liars....lying way too much....lies,lies lies...
Looks like the T-Party has formed a circular firing squad. I have one thing to say to them:
"Fire."