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President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner have sat down for negotiations on more than a few occasions, though I'm not sure either policymaker would say their chats have been especially productive. In fact, the Republican leader has indicated he intends to get the new Congress and the president's new term off on a curious foot: by declaring that he'll no longer negotiate with Obama directly.
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is signaling that at least one thing will change about his leadership during the 113th Congress: he's telling Republicans he is done with private, one-on-one negotiations with President Obama.
During both 2011 and 2012, the Speaker spent weeks shuttling between the Capitol and the White House for meetings with the president in the hopes of striking a grand bargain on the deficit.... In closed-door meetings since leaving the "fiscal cliff" talks two weeks ago, lawmakers and aides say the Speaker has indicated he is abandoning that approach for good and will return fully to the normal legislative process in 2013 -- seeking to pass bills through the House that can then be adopted, amended or reconciled by the Senate.
Hmm. Boehner's first term as Speaker led to arguably the worst and least productive Congress in American history, and his plan for the next two years is to deal less with the White House?
Actually, yes, and to a very real extent, I imagine plenty of Democrats will be delighted.
Obama regularly offered the Speaker overly generous offers, which were routinely rejected by Boehner's right-wing caucus, only to be followed by a compromise that looked better than the president's last offer. If the two no longer engage in one-on-one talks, from a progressive perspective, that's likely to improve the eventual outcomes of the various GOP-created crises.
But I'd still like to hear more about Boehner's thoughts on returning to a "normal" legislative process.
The Hill's report noted the role of "regular order."
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) said ... he was encouraged by Boehner's commitment in recent days to return to "regular order," saying it was imperative that the House not simply accept bills driven by Democrats in the White House and the Senate.
"We have a Republican majority. We need to pass Republican bills out of the House," Duncan said.
Apparently, the plan is for House Republicans, despite their shrinking majority and the fact that they won fewer votes than House Democrats, to simply pass legislation that makes the GOP happy. If the Senate and White House like the bills, great. If not, we'll have another two years of gridlock and perpetual crises. For the Speaker, worrying about minor details such as which proposals are likely to become law isn't worth the effort.
This is necessary, Boehner believes, because he thinks his caucus keeps losing the various fights.
If you're thinking governing will be extremely difficult until House Republicans lose their majority at some point in the future, you're not alone.
Welcome to the 113th Congress.
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Boehner won't work with the WH anymore because he got his a$$ kicked on both sides. The only way that won't continue to happen is if he stays 'at home' with his caucus.
Also - Boehner wouldn't know a "normal legislative process" if it served him a full glass of Dewar's.
Worst Speaker ever.
What will Prez. O do without his whipping board?
All meetings should be public, then let the people decide who needs a whipping!
What do we expect on the first day, that they will vow to cooperate? Take the Sandy Relief Bill, Boehner needs to decide if there will be an offseting attempt, he supposedly gave his word to Rep King that there would not be. I doubt they can pass a no-offset bill without Democrat votes. Thats just one. The VAWA is another. The sequestor and debt ceiling deals will also need Democrat votes. Methinks they are all bluster...
Boehner is engaging in pre-emptive messaging, because Obama has no reason to speak to him. Nothing he says corresponds to what his caucus will do so he is not a credible broker.
First rule of negotiation is to find out who the real players are and deal with them only.
"First rule of negotiation is to find out who the real players are and deal with them only.'
Name one, John. Clearly, in Boehner's caucus, I don't see any. Boehner is a weak leader with an obstructive, T-party caucus. To me, that's a lose/lose situation.
And then there's Eric Cantor, waiting..waiting..to cut Boehner down. If that's not bad enough, time is not on our side. Most of these people will be there for a long time, due to gerrymandering.
You don't go by theory, you go by what they deliver.
Mitch McConnell delivered votes- so he is a player. Boehner can't either in support or opposition- so what he says is irrelevant. He may be at the table for photo ops, but all the real negotiations will cut him out of the loop. This is the way political things worked in my professional life. Just walking into a room you could tell whether it would be a waste of time. First, the more the people, the more it is a PR type meeting. Second- if the key players are not sitting there, nothing agreed on matters. Everything really significant was said in private between two people or at most four. Not in email, but orally conveyed for greatest plausible deniability and ability to reverse.
So what you do is initiate legislation in the Senate, then bypass the GOP "leadership with Discharge Petitions to bring the measures for up or down votes.
I see. Thanks.
If Boehner refuses to speak with the President, then the Speaker and his party start behind the 8 ball with public opinion. The public wants to see compromise and Boehner's statements are broadcasting to the public that he will not assist in finding a compromise. That works for Dems when our next "crisis" goes critical mass. And that should be in a short time.
Does anyone see the irony of a Speaker who won't speak?
I do. Good one Maria.
"I'd still like to hear more about Boehner's thoughts on returning to a "normal" legislative process."
Seems like you're presuming that there were "thoughts" involved in Mr. Boehner's decision-making process...I'm seeing no evidence of it.
Just try to define "normal" as it applies to this GOP and Boehner's House terms.
More time away from the Capitol building, less time debating policy, fewer bills to review and get out of committee, more shadow scandals to engage in "oversight" (I'm talking Darrell Thug Issa.) and more time on the links for Johnny Speakerman!
Oh, and if they get around to it, maybe a match for legislative output produced last term!
Should we be expecting more? Not a chance! -Kevo
"Normal" as in what the US Constitution would be like if written by "Bloody Stupid" Johnson.
Upon hearing on the golf course in Hawaii that teh boner won't talk to him, Obama fist pumped, yelled "Best Christmas gift, evah!"
Day, I actually heard on the news where Boehner was so frustrated that he told Harry Reid to go F himself! That was way out of line, IMO. WAAAAAY out of line for a congressman to do. Not to mention, Harry Reid is probably the hardest working person in the congress and a senior citizen to boot. No respect.
I personally cannot stand John Boehner.
I know Reid can cure insomnia, but he actually gets a lot done and works hard. He did not deserve that disrespect. Maybe Boehner had had too much...um.."cheer", being it was New Years.
Day: Us golfers don't like bad vibes when we are out on the course. I have never had a good round when I am quibbling with the wife, for example. Hopefully Obamas aides would have the decency to wait till his round is over to even mention the tan man...
What is he? Two?
If he wants to return to a normal legislative process, how about scheduling up or down votes on legislation? I'm sure there are 20 or so Republicans that won't get Tea Partied and have some sense of public duty, that Pelosi could peel off Boner's caucus to pass the most important pieces of legislation.
The GOP dearly loves when Obama is treated like an uppity Negro unworthy of respect, doesn't it?
Oh, sorry I forgot, if you point out when the GOP is acting racist, it means YOU'RE the racist. That's what the GOP keeps telling me and why would they lie?
slappy, Oh, now, the GOP would never lie! LOL
We Democrats are just a big bunch of racists, we try to overlook the fact that Obama is Black. Then we vote for him. Of course, according to the GOP, or Fox noise, Obama is a racist, too. He hates white folks.....like his mother. LOL
How mature of him.
They don't seem to be able to get anything done anyway, even Biden and Cantor had more success. I'd say thats 80 percent because Boehner can't get his folks to come along and 20 percent on the president for a similar difficulty...When the Dems did have total legislative control things moved slower than some folks might have liked too.(Dems slowly and watering down aca and dodd frank, killing cap and trade and efca , and they didnt exactly fill huge numbers of judge slots either)
Alex- when did the Dems have complete legislative control? Even the brief period where they had 60 Senators, there were Senators like Lieberman, Nelson, McCaskill and other Blue Dogs that, because of the conservatism of their respective states, voted more in line with the Reptilians than with the Democrats. The judicial slots need approval in the Senate, and were almost always filibustered by the Reptilians. The ACA was only approved with the help of two Reptilians. Even that wasn't done until it had been watered down by Reptilian intransigence. Cap and trade was originally a Reptilian idea (not unlike Romneycare) which they ended up voting against
The Democrats only had 60 votes in the Senate for less than 80 days, so maybe we can finally put that strawman to rest.
I agree. Nice cat! Mine is a black Manx.
isn't your post exactly what I just said? They had significant majorities for two years as well, and couldn't even raise the debt ceiling themselves in a lame duck in 2010 or pass a budget--which only takes 51 the "governing coalitions" right now are barely that
Obama's greatest failure in the last four years is to not educate Americans about how Republicans abuse their role in government. I can forgive most of the compromises, but to constantly say "Congress must act now" makes the problem look like it's a fight between branches, when in fact it is not.
I'm sorry - Americans should be educated about their government! This President has had much more on his plate than "educating the public". Frankly between the corporate owned lame-stream media (print, internet & t.v), American laziness, and far more "reality shows" than there should be - there is ample opportunity for Americans to disengage and veg - thereby causing the dumbing down of Americans!
"This will be the best security for maintaining our liberties. A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the religion of ignorance that tyranny begins." Benjamin Franklin
See, I get the R/D ideological divide, but the fact is Americans have stopped paying attention to the workings of our government. WE have allowed ourselves to become dumbed down and diverted. WE are so busy acquiring and looking over our shoulders at "other" or watching "reality tv" that WE fail to see the reality that the people we're putting into office aren't working FOR US, but FOR the 2% - and that isn't something this President can "teach us" - it's not that whole "he's a nice guy, cause I can have a beer with him" attitude - it really is WHAT ARE HIS POSITIONS ON THE ISSUES and where can I find common ground to support this person.
Sooo...Obama should make EVERYONE attend a Civics course. Got it.
So, I hope that people remember the Speaker of the House is 3rd in line from the presidency when they vote.
I think the further fracturing of the R party is inevitable, no matter who is Speaker, but really… if they get a TP puppet, it will make that fracture unfixable. They will lose even more registered Rs and need a third party or join Dems, which many have already done.
The people do see the ineptitude in the House and Senate. The Rs and Boehner have lost their minds trying to wrangle the cats and the TPers think they are going to sweep themselves into power. The people don't want what they're selling. They are in a bubble that keeps out reality.
The people HATE gridlock, which is what we've had. Just abortion bills? Screw that bs.
Sandy, Good point. President Eric Cantor has a bad ring to it.
Well, now another thing to worry about. I will put that on my list of things I MUST not think about after 11:00PM.
I have a rather long list. :)
I hear the voting is happening now. The name Pelosi keeps coming up, too.
Maybe this'll finally get the pundits past the whole "if only the President would sit down with the Congressional GOP leaders" shtick.
"...say the Speaker has indicated he is abandoning that approach for good and will return fully to the normal legislative process in 2013...."
Yeah, because "PLAN B" worked so well for him last time....LMAO!!! That's rich coming from the worst Speaker, ever! LMAO!!!
Sometimes, the Silent Treatment is a gift, not a punishment.
OOOOHHHH! The silent treatment. Yeah, Bonehead, that'll show him. and if that doesn't work, go with the tears. We know you can do that!
"some people create joy wherever they go, some whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde
Bye-bye Bonehead.
Are we in grade school? "Oh, I am really mad! I am not talking to them!" What a baby.
My two year old cousin in more mature.
Jeez... back to typing school...
My two year old cousin is more mature.
I think Boehner needs to work in a business as an associate one day. Perhaps then he can see how different viewpoints can be made, adapted, and them moved forward. How? WORKING TOGETHER and not acting like a bratty child.
Remember when he said he hadn't signed up to "go mano a mano with the President"? Everyone says Obama can't negotiate, but it's Boehner can't navigate the process.
Well, Boehner is no Winston Churchill, but he has been sworn in again as Speaker of the House. He is a really poor speaker (I mean when he speaks, as in now). Was he crying or does he have allergies?
They say he has a big gavel. He needs to learn how to use it.
Herding cats requires a big gavel.
Omb, they've really been meeting 1-on-1 all this time? I guess I had assumed "met with the President" meant "my people will talk to your people." Well, this explains all the lackluster deals and concessions Obama has made. There comes a point where you just can't handle being a room with a person anymore and you'll say whatever it takes to get them to go away.
Three T-Party members of the house voted for Alan (still crazy after all these years) West.
These are the people who will be making our laws, governing our country?
How does that make you feel?
As for me, that goes on the list of things I cannot think about after 11:00PM.
Shows how much of an idiot they are. There were lots of votes for Nancy Pelosi, when Boehner though he had the votes counted. What is more of them voted Colin Powell and Mickey Mouse, er Alan West? We could have had a Madame Speaker again!
Voting is not a joke, but it seems many of these that were elected think it's just all about taking a poke at someone, not serious.
A few typos there, sandy.
I feel there are too many people believing that government is evil and rotten, they resort to such dumb votes.
I am not calling them idiots, per se. Just so anti government they throw away a vote to be seen as "clever". That is not too bright.
Sandy,
I think you are on safe ground in thinking they are not too bright. A bunch of clowns is what I see.
Nothing funny about them, either. But I never liked clowns anyway, and never found them funny. (Maybe I was too young to be taken to the circus). I thought clowns were scary as a kid.
I still do, especially these clowns.
Steve,
I used to read you because it was a welcome break from work. Now, reading your posts is WORSE than work! Reading about the 113th Congress is SOOO depressing
Thank you Steve for including this in the story. It's important to note the different reactions within the Democratic Party to this turn of events.
Let's get to the bottom line: These people are hired to represent the rest of us and in that bargain it is entirely appropriate to expect that politicians have some modicum of STATESMANSHIP. It is part of the job description. Period. If they can't manage that, if they cannot manage to come up with the grand compromise now and then...which is essentially how humanity deals on a regular basis every day...then find another job!
Giving the President of the United States "the silent treatment"? Really?? Grow a pair Mr. Boehner and get to work or you're fired.
How come I never found a company that would hire me, let me stick around and fold my arms and decide not to do anything because I disagreed with management (or even better) be like a Mitch McConnell and simply announce that "Priority 1 is to make the CEO a short-term exec.." WTF? Sure that would happen.
They re-hired Boehner as Speaker? Well, then I guess they see something I don't. Pardon et mois.