You’re wrong about John Boehner

[DonViejo]

He's actually doing a really good job as speaker of this nuthouse of a Congress. Here’s why

BY JONATHAN BERNSTEIN

Some two years after John Boehner was first reported to be getting in trouble with the Republican conference – two years of constant reports that if this or that happens, he’ll be dumped as speaker and replaced with a “real” conservative – John Boehner is still speaker of the House of Representatives.

One never knows when a politician will get sick of it all and move on, but until that happens keep your money on more stories about Boehner’s speakership at risk, more stories of floor fiascoes such as the farm bill debacle this week – and more instances of Boehner surviving all of it.

Why? Because Boehner is actually doing his job well. It’s just that it’s an impossible job right now. The basic structure for why it’s impossible is well known. Boehner’s Republicans have a relatively slim majority; on any particular vote, it’s likely that either a group of moderates or a group of radical conservatives will want to dissent; and in a polarized House it’s unlikely that Democrats will furnish many votes without substantive concessions – and cutting deals with Democrats is almost impossible when Republican activists consider any compromise a betrayal. And, meanwhile, some bills simply have to be passed, meaning that 218 votes have to be found somehow. It all means that fiascoes such as the farm bill debacle this week are extremely likely.

Beyond that, it’s especially impossible for anyone to meet the standards that the Washington press corps expects.

full article
http://www.salon.com/2013/06/22/youre_wrong_about_john_boehner/

[mimi85]

1. Classic example of be careful of what you wish for...

I think I remember him in tears when he got the job. And then Eric Cantor started following him around with a knife.