Speaker Boehner Back when the government was about to shut down and Speaker John Boehner was trying to pull his caucus together, but failed, there was heavy criticism thrown at him for being ineffective and he got lumped in with being just another Tea Party-er. This week, Boehner ignored his caucus and passed a debt limit-extension- with no strings attached and with primarily Democratic votes -- and I've seen no kudos tossed his way.
C'mon people, he did the right thing and he did it likely with a risk of losing his speakership. I doubt that will happen despite the conservative groups calling for his head (and, I'm sure, sending out fund-raising letters repeating that). I think Speaker Boehner is as fed up with his caucus as most of the rest of the country. He knows not passing a debt limit extension is bad politics for his party, and he knows it's lousy policy, too.
My guess is there are more than a few of those GOPer's who voted against his debt limit extension (only 21 supported him) who knew it would pass so it was a "free vote" for them. Not the first time that's happened in the Congress and not the last, I'm sure. Also not a profile in courage.
For me, I empathized with the Speaker when he couldn't get a bill passed in his caucus, noting he is a more of deal guy than a "just say no" guy,and I applaud him now for putting the country first.
I hope others join me.
C'mon people, he did the right thing and he did it likely with a risk of losing his speakership. I doubt that will happen despite the conservative groups calling for his head (and, I'm sure, sending out fund-raising letters repeating that). I think Speaker Boehner is as fed up with his caucus as most of the rest of the country. He knows not passing a debt limit extension is bad politics for his party, and he knows it's lousy policy, too.
My guess is there are more than a few of those GOPer's who voted against his debt limit extension (only 21 supported him) who knew it would pass so it was a "free vote" for them. Not the first time that's happened in the Congress and not the last, I'm sure. Also not a profile in courage.
For me, I empathized with the Speaker when he couldn't get a bill passed in his caucus, noting he is a more of deal guy than a "just say no" guy,and I applaud him now for putting the country first.
I hope others join me.
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