Boehner, unable to lead, waits for Senate rescue

[ProSense]

Boehner, unable to lead, waits for Senate rescue

By Steve Benen

House Speaker John Boehner had a strategy: strike a deal with President Obama on looming fiscal deadlines, get it passed, and look like a competent policymaker capable of governing. That plan fell apart last week when Boehner's own allies forced him to scrap the negotiations.

So, the Speaker came up with a new strategy: pass a plainly ridiculous "Plan B," send it to the Senate, dare Democrats to defeat it, and avoid blame when everything fell apart. That, too, crashed and burned when Boehner couldn't convince Republicans to have his back.

Left with no "Plan C," it's come to this: hope the Senate can figure something out.

After a high-level telephone conference call, House Republican leaders called on the Senate to act but opened the door to bringing to the House floor any last-minute legislation the Senate could produce.

"The House will take this action on whatever the Senate can pass, but the Senate first must act," said the statement issued on behalf of Speaker John A. Boehner and his three top lieutenants.

If you're thinking, "Wait, this doesn't make any sense," you're not alone. For one thing, the Senate already acted, passing a bill to freeze lower rates on income up to $250,000, and the House GOP leadership is choosing not to take up the Senate version. For another, there's a Democratic majority in the Senate -- are Harry Reid and his caucus expected to just guess what kind of plan can generate some modicum of Republican support?

Speaker Boehner looked rather pathetic last week when his own caucus -- which he ostensibly leads -- betrayed him and ignored his own fiscal plan, but his new tack adds insult to injury. The nation's most powerful Republican is, in effect, telling the political world, "I tried, I failed, and now I'm out of ideas. Maybe the other party in the other chamber can save the day."

- more -

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/12/27/16189329-boehner-unable-to-lead-waits-for-senate-rescue

[ProSense]

1. Kick for

the "most powerful Republican"



http://www.democraticunderground.com/101787799

[WI_DEM]

2. Boner has proved to be a highly incompetent Speaker who cannot control

his own caucus. I wish he would be thrown out.