Word now comes to us that allies of Speaker Boehner are now attempting to busy themselves by circling the wagons in what appears to be an all-out effort to ward off any and all potential challenges to his leadership, and I use the term loosely, by their Tea Party colleagues. And by so doing they are once a demonstrating a willingness to put politics over country. I think many of us will agree that Boehner has definitely outlived whatever usefulness he may have once had. Our Tea Party brethren are only looking to do that which so desperately needs to be done.
And it’s according to Politico there is now a group, including fellow Ohio GOP Rep. Pat Tiberi, that has been very busy plotting different strategies that could be utilized to punish those members who do not support the party's nominee during a floor vote, such as, for instance, withdrawing membership on certain committees. And there are even some who are advocating the putting out of a letter with the names of dozens of lawmakers pledging to vote only for the 64-year-old, thereby removing the possibility of a conservative rival getting himself, or herself, elected.
The effort among the GOP Establishment is but the latest attempt to signal its dominance in the battle with Tea Party forces which broke-out during the government shutdown last year and is continuing to play out in several primaries. It is also an attempt to quell speculation about plans for Boehner to retire, while solidifying his authority over the conference. Let’s face it, Boehner has been an unmitigated disaster, and those who are now so energetically acting on his behalf only serve to reveal where it is that their true allegiance lies, and it most definitely is not with the people.
While the leadership contest is still eight months away, allies want to get an early start to prevent a repeat of 2013 when Boehner's leadership was challenged after a dozen conservatives chose other Republicans during the leadership vote. Michael Steel, a spokesman for Boehner, has said that Boehner "has said repeatedly he expects to be speaker in the next Congress, so when the House Republican team meets after the election, he hopes and expects he will be their choice for speaker, and once that decision is made, that the team will vote for him on the floor in January."
If the House picks up the predicted five to 12 seats, as expected, Boehner could count it ‘another success’ of his leadership. Meanwhile, at least 12 lawmakers who voted against him will be leaving Congress at the end of this term, and some who are staying have shifted their loyalties in favor of him. Regardless, unseating any incumbent speaker is always difficult, given the voting procedures which start with a closed meeting by secret ballot in which one must secure one vote more than half. Then a floor vote follows, with the successful nominee requiring 218 votes to win.
And of course adding to the degree of difficulty in replacing Boehner is the fact that potential opponents, at least at this point in time, appear to be somewhat disorganized, and no obvious candidate has yet emerged to take on Boehner. And with the leadership taking early action to gain open support for Boehner, it appears they are looking for possible opponents to show their cards early as well. "If you disagree with a play call, you say so in the huddle," said one GOP leadership aide aligned with Boehner. Who went on to say, "You don't go your own way on the field."
Look, it would be nice, and likely a lot less messy, if those in Boehner’s district would be able to see the light and simply choose not to re-elect him. But I suppose such a fantasy takes wishful thinking to a whole new level. Or, Boehner could make himself into a real hero by choosing to put the needs of the country above his own selfish desire for political power and simply remove himself. But I suppose that’s even more of a fantasy than the first option. So we’re left only to watch those whom we elect to be our advocates dueling it out like punks in a schoolyard.
It’s just all so frustrating, and rather disappointing, that as our country continues headed down the drain there remains so little interest by so many of our elected officials in doing even the slightest thing to prevent, or to at least to slow down, that which now appears to be the inevitable. It doesn’t take, or at least it shouldn’t, a brain surgeon to see that Boehner simply does not possess the necessary skillset to be able to get done that which must be done. And with us now on the verge of running out of time, we no longer have the luxury of allowing the incompetent to ‘lead’.
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