BOEHNER ON…BOEHNER…

Feeling empowered and fighting back a bit after successfully turning back a challenge to his House leadership position, Speaker John Boehner attempted to make the case that he remains an outsider to the conventions of Congress.  And in so doing Boehner said, "During my years here when I voted, I had the eighth-most conservative voting record in the Congress, and it does pain me to be described as spineless or a squish."  Voting is one thing, leading is something entirely different, and on the latter he has been a squish.  

Boehner, who won his third term as speaker this week, told reporters on Thursday that, "But what pains me the most is when they describe me as the establishment.”  He went on to say, "I’m the most anti-establishment Speaker we’ve ever had."  In talking about his record, Boehner said, "Who was the guy who got rid of earmarks? Me. Who's the guy who believes in regular order? Me."  Adding, "Who believes in allowing more members to participate in the process from both sides of the aisle? Me."

While 25 of his House colleagues demonstrated the necessary courage to vote against him, Boehner pointed to the climate of dislike from a public that is furious with the ongoing congressional gridlock and what some view as the economic demise of the middle class. He said, "The American people are very frustrated. They are frustrated in a struggling economy."  Adding, "This frustration that's out there, they need to take it out on somebody. They take it out on the president; they take it out on me. It comes with the territory."

Boehner has served Ohio's 8th Congressional District since 1991, and has been described as having taken a rather dim view of those who chose to oppose his leadership run.  And while some have described recent actions taken to demote his detractors as revenge, others say his new-found boldness is welcomed and timely as the new GOP-led Congress asserts its power.  But conservative Iowa lawmaker Steve King, who voted against Boehner, decried his perceived retribution. 

King said, "If you cannot vote your conscience … then it’s clearly a dysfunctional system here."   But according to The Washington Examiner there was at least one conservative newbie who was only too happy to explain her vote for Boehner.  It was Utah Rep. Mia Love who said, "There were no qualified or notable campaigns for speaker within the Republican Party other than John Boehner."  So if I’m understanding her correctly, is she saying that Boehner won by default?

Anyway, Ms. Love, who I was a pretty big fan of, went on to say, "Casting a vote for a candidate who has not actively campaigned and does not have the support to be speaker is an indirect vote for Nancy Pelosi, and I will not vote for Nancy Pelosi."  Look, she can try to justify her vote however she wishes, but I have to admit that because of her decision to support Boehner she has already be a source of some disappointment.  She billed herself as being a conservative and yet she seemed to have little difficulty voting for Boehner.

Frankly, I have a rather difficult time respecting those who find it necessary, or even appropriate, to blow their own horn.  And Boehner, and his supporters, can claim he’s a conservative till the cows come home, but his actions over the course of the last 4 years, and the fact the deficit has been allowed to grow by over $4 Trillion on his watch as Speaker, make his claims ring rather hollow.  It’s because of his refusal to stand up to Barry that has many folks referring to him as being spineless and a bit of a squish.