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Pathetic Little Man; Boehner
Topic Started: Oct 2 2013, 04:12 AM (760 Views)
Piano*Dad
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Bull-Carp
From a WaPo conversation with National Review's Robert Costa.

Why Boehner Doesn't Just Ditch the Hard Right

A truly pathetic little man emerges in this conversation with the National Review's reporter.

He also confirms my pet theory that gerrymandering is at the root of our political dysfunction -- though having this anti-mensch in charge of the Repuklicans doesn't help.

Quote:
 
So there are 30 to 40 true hardliners. But there’s another group of maybe 50 to 60 members who are very much pressured by the hardliners. So he may have the votes on paper. But he'd create chaos. It'd be like fiscal cliff level chaos. You could make the argument that if he brought a clean CR to the floor he might have 100-plus with him on the idea. But could they stand firm when pressured by the 30 or 40 hardliners and the outside groups?


… and we're not gonna find out until the "speaker" finds some stones.

Quote:
 
And so many of these members now live in the conservative world of talk radio and tea party conventions and Fox News invitations. And so the conservative strategy of the moment, no matter how unrealistic it might be, catches fire.


This is the National Review's lead reporter, not a hack from Mother Jones.

Quote:
 
When you get the members off the talking points you come to a simple conclusion: They don't face consequences for taking these hardline positions. When you hear members talk candidly about their biggest victory, it wasn’t winning the House in 2010. It was winning the state legislatures in 2010 because they were able to redraw their districts so they had many more conservative voters. The members get heat from the press but they don't get heat from back home.


If Thomas Jefferson were around, I know what he would suggest.

Quote:
 
I think John Boehner is frustrated by leading the Republicans in the House but I think he very much loves being speaker. To understand him you have to understand that. He gets to the Capitol early. He relishes the job and the position but he doesn’t relish being at odds so often with his members. He loves being a major American political figure, but he’s not a Newt Gingrich-like figure trying to lead the party in a certain direction. He’s just trying to survive and enjoy it while it lasts.


What a pathetic man. I recall tagging him as a grade A jackass a decade ago when he was just a committee member on the House Education and Labor Committee.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
I think you have a point about gerrymandering.

I don't think you do about Boehner. Who could manage it better than he has? Cantor? Ryan? He has a tiger by the tail but I seriously doubt it is his love of being speaker that keeps him there.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Steve Miller
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Bull-Carp
"When you get the members off the talking points you come to a simple conclusion: They don't face consequences for taking these hardline positions."

Exactly.
Wag more
Bark less
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Copper
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Shortstop
Piano*Dad
Oct 2 2013, 04:12 AM

What a pathetic man.

And his job performance is based on dealing with a pathetic president.

Pathetic.
The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Saw that piece this morning. I agree that gerrymandering is the scourge of modern politics.

I also think its a huge strategic blunder for the GOP. Just as the demographics really start shifting in the country, they double-down on Angry and White.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Mr. Boehner, Let That House Vote

In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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VPG
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Pisa-Carp
He must be one of those guys that's always is fair. I wonder if he wrote the "Malaise" Speach for Carter?


James Fallows is a national correspondent for The Atlantic and has written for the magazine since the late 1970s. He has reported extensively from outside the United States, and once worked as President Carter's chief speechwriter.









I'M NOT YELLING.........I'M ITALIAN...........THAT'S HOW WE TALK!


"People say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look."
Ronald Reagan, Inaugural, 1971

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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Steve Miller
Oct 2 2013, 05:00 AM
"When you get the members off the talking points you come to a simple conclusion: They don't face consequences for taking these hardline positions."

Exactly.
At some point, it doesn't matter...not personal consequences.

Most of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence met personal ruin of some kind. Yet, all would have signed, even knowing what lay in front of them.

There comes a time when you stand by your convictions and those of the people you represent. You stand fast, plant your banner in the ground, and what happens, happens.

The House of Representatives holds the purse-strings. That is their Constitutional duty. I understand Mr. Obama has torn much of the Constitution to shreds, but perhaps he needs to relearn the part about where government spending originates.

Quit beating people with the bully pulpit, talk with those who oppose him and try to work out something that all sides can live with.
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Jolly
Oct 2 2013, 06:13 AM
Quit beating people with the bully pulpit, talk with those who oppose him and try to work out something that all sides can live with.
Republicans not doing that is exactly why so many people are now two days unemployed and counting. Help the economy? Promote jobs? They're doing the complete and total opposite of what they promised. It's not Obama's fault, he's not the one who put millions on furlough.

**** all of them. Democrats and Republicans. They're not doing their ****ing job.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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AlbertaCrude
Bull-Carp
From this side of the border the GOP looks more perverse than pathetic:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/the-perverse-math-behind-the-republican-budget-showdown-neil-macdonald-1.1873758
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Aqua Letifer
Oct 2 2013, 06:20 AM
Jolly
Oct 2 2013, 06:13 AM
Quit beating people with the bully pulpit, talk with those who oppose him and try to work out something that all sides can live with.
Republicans not doing that is exactly why so many people are now two days unemployed and counting. Help the economy? Promote jobs? They're doing the complete and total opposite of what they promised. It's not Obama's fault, he's not the one who put millions on furlough.

**** all of them. Democrats and Republicans. They're not doing their ****ing job.
1. If we have millions on furlough, we have too many federal employees. I've actually enjoyed seeing the budget become more balanced.

2. You do realize Mr. Obama and his party HAVE NOT SUBMITTED A BUDGET TO CONGRESS FOR CONSIDERATION IN THREE YEARS, AS REQUIRED BY THE CONSTITUTION. Congress is voting on yet another continuing resolution, in order to keep the government funded. Bluntly, this ain't no way to run a railroad, so quit pointing all of your fingers at Congress and point some of them at the White House.


The Fed will print another $3,000,000,000,000 we do not have this year, in an effort to keep interest rates artificially low, in a supposedly recovered economy. Brother, we are so screwed.

We cannot afford Obamacare.

But Mr. Obama simply does not care.

So, faced with a President unwilling to compromise, what would you have Congress do? Roll over?
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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Kincaid
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HOLY CARP!!!
jon-nyc
Oct 2 2013, 05:39 AM
Mr. Boehner, Let That House Vote

Quote:
 
I wish John Boehner were a vainer man. (And I wish that Boehner and vainer didn't rhyme, undercutting the point.)


Wouldn't it be better English to have said, "a more vain man"? I did not think "vainer" was an actual word.

Quote:
 
If the normal machinery of democracy were allowed to work, the manufactured crisis would be over.


Seems Boehner not allowing a vote on this is normal machinery, whether or not we agree with it. I think I read somewhere that the gov't has been shut down before about 17 times. This is not unheard of, though I agree it is a manufactured crisis.
Kincaid - disgusted Republican Partisan since 2006.
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Jolly
 
1. If we have millions on furlough, we have too many federal employees. I've actually enjoyed seeing the budget become more balanced.


It's no surprise to me that you don't much care about those who are out of work. In fact I now expect you to tell me it's their fault for working for the government.

Quote:
 
2. You do realize Mr. Obama and his party HAVE NOT SUBMITTED A BUDGET TO CONGRESS FOR CONSIDERATION IN THREE YEARS, AS REQUIRED BY THE CONSTITUTION. Congress is voting on yet another continuing resolution, in order to keep the government funded. Bluntly, this ain't no way top run a railroad, so quit pointing all of your fingers at Congress and point some of them at the White House.


It's the job of Congress to pass a budget. They didn't pass one. It's on them.

Quote:
 
So, faced with a President unwilling to compromise, what would you have Congress do? Roll over?


Yes. More debt is better than another recession.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Horace
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HOLY CARP!!!
Kincaid
Oct 2 2013, 07:52 AM
Seems Boehner not allowing a vote on this is normal machinery, whether or not we agree with it.
Yeah. I saw somewhere yesterday some congresswoman publicizing her letter to whoever signs her paychecks that she refuses to accept pay until a budget is passed. I get that that sells well, but it's not obvious to me that if we hold our politician's salary hostage while they can't come to consensus, they'd be better able to do their job. Refusing to come to consensus can be part of the job.

Note: I haven't followed any of this, at all, and have no opinion about the politics of it. Just speaking generally.
As a good person, I implore you to do as I, a good person, do. Be good. Do NOT be bad. If you see bad, end bad. End it in yourself, and end it in others. By any means necessary, the good must conquer the bad. Good people know this. Do you know this? Are you good?
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
dupe
Edited by Jolly, Oct 2 2013, 08:22 AM.
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Quote:
 
It's no surprise to me that you don't much care about those who are out of work. In fact I now expect you to tell me it's their fault for working for the government.


Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

I've worked for the government. There were times I was not paid...on time. Eventually, I was paid. I consider that a small inconvenience vs. the benefits I received while working for the government.

As for Congress passing a budget...the House passed a budget. One Mr. Obama did not like. Since Mr. Obama's party controls the Senate, no House budget has come to a floor vote in three years. How's that for compromise?

This shutdown is because the House will not pass a Continuing Resolution.
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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Kincaid
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HOLY CARP!!!
Jolly
Oct 2 2013, 07:50 AM
2. You do realize Mr. Obama and his party HAVE NOT SUBMITTED A BUDGET TO CONGRESS FOR CONSIDERATION IN THREE YEARS, AS REQUIRED BY THE CONSTITUTION. Congress is voting on yet another continuing resolution, in order to keep the government funded. Bluntly, this ain't no way to run a railroad, so quit pointing all of your fingers at Congress and point some of them at the White House.
I thought Obama proposed a budget back in April?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/04/10/remarks-president-announcing-fiscal-year-2014-budget
Kincaid - disgusted Republican Partisan since 2006.
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Jolly
Oct 2 2013, 08:21 AM
Quote:
 
It's no surprise to me that you don't much care about those who are out of work. In fact I now expect you to tell me it's their fault for working for the government.


Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

I've worked for the government. There were times I was not paid...on time. Eventually, I was paid. I consider that a small inconvenience vs. the benefits I received while working for the government.

So in other words, because it worked out in the end for you, it's no big deal for everyone else.

Besides, this is going to affect a whole lot more than just the government workers if this continues. Who would you like to blame for us having so many government contractors? They're just as affected by the shutdown. And of course in D.C. this is going to affect nearly everything: hotel reservations, the restaurant business (that's already happening), cab fares, courier services and countless others. And by the way, they're not getting any back pay if their businesses hit a slump. But I suppose you don't much care about any of that because the government isn't acting the way you want it to?

Quote:
 
As for Congress passing a budget...the House passed a budget. One Mr. Obama did not like. Since Mr. Obama's party controls the Senate, no House budget has come to a floor vote in three years. How's that for compromise?

This shutdown is because the House will not pass a Continuing Resolution.


I didn't say the Republicans were to blame for all of this. Both political parties are in my mind equally worthless.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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kluurs
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Fulla-Carp
Yup, no sane person would want either party to run this country. Don't have to go back too far to see that when either one of these groups had full control, they promptly lost their way.
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Quote:
 
Besides, this is going to affect a whole lot more than just the government workers if this continues. Who would you like to blame for us having so many government contractors? They're just as affected by the shutdown. And of course in D.C. this is going to affect nearly everything: hotel reservations, the restaurant business (that's already happening), cab fares, courier services and countless others. And by the way, they're not getting any back pay if their businesses hit a slump. But I suppose you don't much care about any of that because the government isn't acting the way you want it to?


You know, a few years back, I had a high level administrator walk into my office. He instructed me to lay off one of my people due to budget considerations. I offered an empty slot, since that would accomplish what the bean counters wanted to accomplish, which was a reduction in TO for the hospital.

I was told "no". If we were going to lay off people, this guy wanted it to hurt. I didn't understand why, not at the time, but I've come to understand the tactic, while not necessarily approving of it.

Maybe, just maybe, people need to hurt a little bit, this time around. Disinterested people may can go through life, fat, dumb and happy, but those that are pricked doth bleed. And then, they become quite interested. Quite interested indeed.
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Jolly
Oct 2 2013, 10:14 AM
You know, a few years back, I had a high level administrator walk into my office. He instructed me to lay off one of my people due to budget considerations. I offered an empty slot, since that would accomplish what the bean counters wanted to accomplish, which was a reduction in TO for the hospital.

I was told "no". If we were going to lay off people, this guy wanted it to hurt. I didn't understand why, not at the time, but I've come to understand the tactic, while not necessarily approving of it.

Maybe, just maybe, people need to hurt a little bit, this time around. Disinterested people may can go through life, fat, dumb and happy, but those that are pricked doth bleed. And then, they become quite interested. Quite interested indeed.
You know what, no. No they don't. There are scads of people here just trying to get by. They don't have any inflated views of what the government owes them, they don't want something for nothing, and they aren't looking for handouts. They're just working their asses off and want to continue to do so so that they can afford their existence. They don't deserve more hardship from political pressures beyond their control.

People need to get hurt. How in the hell can you even justify that.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Aqua Letifer
Oct 2 2013, 10:23 AM
Jolly
Oct 2 2013, 10:14 AM
You know, a few years back, I had a high level administrator walk into my office. He instructed me to lay off one of my people due to budget considerations. I offered an empty slot, since that would accomplish what the bean counters wanted to accomplish, which was a reduction in TO for the hospital.

I was told "no". If we were going to lay off people, this guy wanted it to hurt. I didn't understand why, not at the time, but I've come to understand the tactic, while not necessarily approving of it.

Maybe, just maybe, people need to hurt a little bit, this time around. Disinterested people may can go through life, fat, dumb and happy, but those that are pricked doth bleed. And then, they become quite interested. Quite interested indeed.
You know what, no. No they don't. There are scads of people here just trying to get by. They don't have any inflated views of what the government owes them, they don't want something for nothing, and they aren't looking for handouts. They're just working their asses off and want to continue to do so so that they can afford their existence. They don't deserve more hardship from political pressures beyond their control.

People need to get hurt. How in the hell can you even justify that.
I explained, in a macro-political way, a bit of silver lining behind this mess. Maybe when people are more involved, we get a better political product.

But besides that point, maybe the status quo isn't good enough. Maybe Obamacare is so bad, that parts of it need to be stopped. And maybe, just maybe, doing the right thing causes some temporary monetary loss to the little guy.

Bad, but that's life.
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Jolly
Oct 2 2013, 10:34 AM
I explained, in a macro-political way, a bit of silver lining behind this mess. Maybe when people are more involved, we get a better political product.

But besides that point, maybe the status quo isn't good enough. Maybe Obamacare is so bad, that parts of it need to be stopped. And maybe, just maybe, doing the right thing causes some temporary monetary loss to the little guy.

Bad, but that's life.
I don't buy it. We've had years of recession and a tanked economy. I think we're allowed to expect that the government wouldn't choose to make things worse for us for political gain.

Plus, screwing over the little guy just plain fails the laugh test.

This is all completely insane.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
Jolly
Oct 2 2013, 10:14 AM
Quote:
 
Besides, this is going to affect a whole lot more than just the government workers if this continues. Who would you like to blame for us having so many government contractors? They're just as affected by the shutdown. And of course in D.C. this is going to affect nearly everything: hotel reservations, the restaurant business (that's already happening), cab fares, courier services and countless others. And by the way, they're not getting any back pay if their businesses hit a slump. But I suppose you don't much care about any of that because the government isn't acting the way you want it to?


You know, a few years back, I had a high level administrator walk into my office. He instructed me to lay off one of my people due to budget considerations. I offered an empty slot, since that would accomplish what the bean counters wanted to accomplish, which was a reduction in TO for the hospital.

I was told "no". If we were going to lay off people, this guy wanted it to hurt. I didn't understand why, not at the time, but I've come to understand the tactic, while not necessarily approving of it.
That guy's not fit to manage other people. Hopefully one day he gets his, because although he wants it to hurt, he clearly isn't suffering any pain. From my experience with this type of person, he's actually more likely to get a kick out of the firings.
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Jolly
Oct 2 2013, 10:34 AM
Maybe Obamacare is so bad, that parts of it need to be stopped.
The GOP isn't behaving like they're worried it'll be bad. Quite the opposite.

If they really thought it would be bad, they'd let it roll out and be a disaster, then clean house in 2014.


How they're actually behaving indicates they believe that if they don't kill it in the womb, it'll never be killed.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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