Boehner being reported as resigning.

[kage69]

As much as we make fun of the crazy hardliners in the Republican party, they are enabled by a vicious hatred for Obama (and by extension, all Democrats). Think about what an outrageous shitlord Chris Christie is. If you look at his polling numbers you might think 'oh, okay, it's because he's such a shitlord'. But it's not. Fucking NJ's budget, cancelling the Hudson tunnel, screaming at and bullying teachers, none of it matters. His numbers are in the tank because he hugged Obama after Hurricane Sandy destroyed his state.

You can't think in terms of pragmatic governance or compromise, you have to imagine you are dealing with people who would be angry at their congress person for helping Obama rescue a drowning child. That's the kind hatred you're dealing with. It goes way, way beyond the hatred Democrats had for Bush.

Well said, and I couldn't agree more. It's why I have to disregard the input from the vast majority of GOP voters. They're off in their own world, where facts don't matter and things like responsibility, education, and equality are seen as threats to the fiction they cling to.


This country needs people like that running the show like I need a knife fight in the dark.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

he had the votes to be nominated by the GOP.
he didn't have the 218 needed to be Speaker.
but he knew that weeks ago.

he was like 20votes shy.
no dem would vote for him.
the block of 40 or so hard-right wackos said no unless he caved into their tantrum demands.

I guess the last chance wheeling and dealing failed and he pulled out at the last sec.

Seems like "We put together a Benghazi committee and now look at her numbers" bite him in the ass again by not having a chance to get democratic votes.

BENGHAZI!!!!!

 

[Thump553]

Seems like "We put together a Benghazi committee and now look at her numbers" bite him in the ass again by not having a chance to get democratic votes.

BENGHAZI!!!!!

When he said that I thought it was it was an incredibly stupid thing for a professional lifelong astute high level politician to say. In retrospect I now think he pretty much knew he was going to be torpedoed by the "Freedom" Caucus and that he said that to f*ck up their baseless obsessions, as a way of saying enough of the BS, Congress should be doing real work instead of phony show trials and endless repeal Obamacare votes.

 

[ivwshane]

When he said that I thought it was it was an incredibly stupid thing for a professional lifelong astute high level politician to say. In retrospect I now think he pretty much knew he was going to be torpedoed by the "Freedom" Caucus and that he said that to f*ck up their baseless obsessions, as a way of saying enough of the BS, Congress should be doing real work instead of phony show trials and endless repeal Obamacare votes.

As awesome as that would be, you sound like one of them with that level of conspiracy.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Why is it tarnishing to compromise with moderates of another party? The Republicans need Democrat moderates to pass budgets and raise debt ceilings anyways, since there are enough nut-jobs in their party to block even those routines.

I wonder this too. Why is it so hard to work out a decent deal like funding PP then gaining some kind of budget cut or abortion prevention. Why are the Conservatives afraid to make a decent deal then go on Fox/Rush/Ann Coulter and talk about what was accomplished and not focus on what was lost?

 

[rockyct]

I wonder this too. Why is it so hard to work out a decent deal like funding PP then gaining some kind of budget cut or abortion prevention. Why are the Conservatives afraid to make a decent deal then go on Fox/Rush/Ann Coulter and talk about what was accomplished and not focus on what was lost?

The problem is that the Republicans are stoking the flames of issues that they can't really do much about. The Democrats basically stopped negotiating with their stupid demands. They weren't going to cut PP funding in exchange for not destroying the country. Not only would giving even small concessions anger their base, it just lets the Republicans think they can get more next time.

 

[JEDI]

there's a slim chance that Boehner will un-resign.

w/no clear viable successor, he might ride it out till the end of his term (2016) instead of letting the House crumble into chaos.

and actually lead like he doesn't give a F w/the bratty ultra-right wackos

 

[CitizenKain]

I wonder this too. Why is it so hard to work out a decent deal like funding PP then gaining some kind of budget cut or abortion prevention. Why are the Conservatives afraid to make a decent deal then go on Fox/Rush/Ann Coulter and talk about what was accomplished and not focus on what was lost?

Because they can't. They will loose their next election for being a RINO or whatever, and the tea party simpletons will dredge up another idiot to run.

 

[Jaskalas]

Republican leadership joining with Democrats is the next logical step to destroy the GOP. Hurry up and do it already!

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Because they can't. They will loose their next election for being a RINO or whatever, and the tea party simpletons will dredge up another idiot to run.

Then they should be against PACs and move back to party finances them.
I hate to say it but I'm starting to believe most Politicians are stupid.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Then they should be against PACs and move back to party finances them.
I hate to say it but I'm starting to believe most Politicians are stupid.

That's how they connect with the average voter.

 

[Charmonium]

Republican leadership joining with Democrats is the next logical step to destroy the GOP. Hurry up and do it already!

I've been thinking the same thing. There should be enough middle of the road Reps and Dems that this should be possible. My question though is can Dems vote for the speaker since they're not the majority party. My impression is that they can't. That means that to get enough votes you need to include the tea baggers. Although the socalled "freedom caucus" is only 40-50 members so I'm not really sure how the math works out on that.

 

[Balt]

Republican leadership joining with Democrats is the next logical step to destroy the GOP. Hurry up and do it already!

The Democrats and Republicans from competitive congressional districts may have more in common than they do with the Democrats and Republicans in their own parties from the gerrymandered ultra-safe districts.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I've been thinking the same thing. There should be enough middle of the road Reps and Dems that this should be possible. My question though is can Dems vote for the speaker since they're not the majority party. My impression is that they can't. That means that to get enough votes you need to include the tea baggers. Although the socalled "freedom caucus" is only 40-50 members so I'm not really sure how the math works out on that.

Yes Democrats do vote as of now they are all voting for Pelosi. This is why Republicans are in a tight spot if their ranks fall apart they will have a Democrat as Speaker until next Congress at minimum. That would be a huge embarrassment for the majority party.
Its also why the first guy had to drop out he Benghazied too many bridges to get a handful of Democrats to vote for him.

 

[Charmonium]

Yes Democrats do vote as of now they are all voting for Pelosi. This is why Republicans are in a tight spot if their ranks fall apart they will have a Democrat as Speaker until next Congress at minimum. That would be a huge embarrassment for the majority party.
Its also why the first guy had to drop out he Benghazied too many bridges to get a handful of Democrats to vote for him.

Ah, makes sense. Thanks for the info. I don't know if I would consider Pelosi moderate though. It would have made more sense for them to pick someone who wasn't so clearly identified with the 'liberal left.'

 

[JEDI]

Yes Democrats do vote as of now they are all voting for Pelosi. This is why Republicans are in a tight spot if their ranks fall apart they will have a Democrat as Speaker until next Congress at minimum. That would be a huge embarrassment for the majority party.
Its also why the first guy had to drop out he Benghazied too many bridges to get a handful of Democrats to vote for him.

wha?
the dems don't have 218 votes.

or do you mean the person with the most votes get to be speaker?!
and u don't need the 218 majority???

 

[Fanatical Meat]

wha?
the dems don't have 218 votes.

or do you mean the person with the most votes get to be speaker?!
and u don't need the 218 majority???

No too sure. I do know Democrats vote. I think you just need a majority but its up to the house to decide what that means. There are 435 seats so a majority could be of all members or simply the most votes.

Better info here:
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/10/13/how-to-solve-the-house-speaker-fight/

 

[trenchfoot]

Well said, and I couldn't agree more. It's why I have to disregard the input from the vast majority of GOP voters. They're off in their own world, where facts don't matter and things like responsibility, education, and equality are seen as threats to the fiction they cling to.


This country needs people like that running the show like I need a knife fight in the dark.

Not to drag things off topic but, your mentioning a knife fight in the dark reminds me of those times that after martial arts training, some of us would put on sparring gloves, all pile in to a broom closet, turn off the lights and start swinging and kicking at ghosts. Damn that was fun. I was lucky, I only got knocked out on the average two times out of ten. And that was because everybody else previously agreed it was my turn to get mobbed after the lights went out.

 

[Jhhnn]

I've been thinking the same thing. There should be enough middle of the road Reps and Dems that this should be possible. My question though is can Dems vote for the speaker since they're not the majority party. My impression is that they can't. That means that to get enough votes you need to include the tea baggers. Although the socalled "freedom caucus" is only 40-50 members so I'm not really sure how the math works out on that.

It's a simple majority vote of the Chamber. Dems would likely cross over if Repubs put up a moderate selection but they can't because of Teatard extortion.

They didn't come to Washington to help run the Govt but rather to break it.

Boehner now has nothing to lose, so he can break their balls if he so desires. Sooner or later, it has to be done or they'll discredit & destroy the Party at the national level. As it is, trying to accommodate them has only emboldened them & their financial backers.

 

[Jhhnn]

The Democrats and Republicans from competitive congressional districts may have more in common than they do with the Democrats and Republicans in their own parties from the gerrymandered ultra-safe districts.

Indeed. Repubs concocted their own poison with extreme gerrymandering which will be with us through 2020 at the earliest.

They've never been very good at anticipating unintended consequences. They're fucked & they'll stay fucked until they nut up & push the extortionists aside.

 

[JEDI]

-House Speaker John Boehner schedules election for Republicans to pick his successor on Oct. 28

- Ryan said he'll run for Speaker *IF* the stupid wacko ultra-right 40members of the Freedumb Caucus backs him with *NO* strings attached. he wont accept if he only barely has the minimum 218 votes


I still say if there's no clear victor, Boehner might rescind his resignation on oct29 and stay speaker

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I'm starting to think there is a 5% chance Pelosi could be speaker again.

 

[Blackjack200]

I'm starting to think there is a 5% chance Pelosi could be speaker again.

All indications are that Boener will remain in his role until the Republicans have committed to a replacement.

Paul Ryan's poison pill is interesting. The tea baggers are already openly criticizing it, so it's likely dead in the water.

 

[cliftonite]

I think it will end up being Ryan.

 

[fskimospy]

All indications are that Boener will remain in his role until the Republicans have committed to a replacement.

Paul Ryan's poison pill is interesting. The tea baggers are already openly criticizing it, so it's likely dead in the water.

It might be a poison pill, but I have to say it's actually great public policy. (I think that's the first time I've ever said that about something Ryan has done)

Part of why Boehner had so much trouble governing was that he was constantly in danger of being overthrown by a small handful of the most extreme members of his caucus that could use that to exert outsized influence. This change would allow the Speaker to actually lead the House.

Sure he will still end up being an ultra-right Speaker, but at least he will be one that more closely embodies the position of his entire caucus, not the most extreme elements.