Posted August 23, 2010 1:15 PM
(Photo Credit: AP / Drew Angerer)
Lisa Mascaro had a must read-piece this weekend looking at John Boehner, the Republican House leader who would become Speaker if the party wins enough seats this fall:
The Ohio Republican who could very well replace Nancy Pelosi as the next speaker of the House is vintage "Mad Men" -- a grown-up, as those close to him put it, who unapologetically enjoys a drink, a smoke and a round of golf. His suits are sharp. His voice is deep. And then there is that tan, which defies Washington sensibilities.
Yet the Rat Pack persona disguises one of Washington's most enduring politicians, a savvy political survivor who is helping to shape President Obama's legacy -- whether Republicans retake the House majority this November or not.
Over the last two years, Boehner has helped define the Obama era in ways that seemed unimaginable when the popular president was swept into office. Then, some in Washington predicted the end of the GOP.
Instead, the House minority leader has helped reinvigorate the party by directing his thinned Republican ranks in a disciplined chorus of opposition. They don't merely say "no" to the White House agenda, but "Hell, no!" -- as Boehner put it during a final floor speech on healthcare reform.
As an interesting follow up, the Democratic National Committee today sent an e-mail to supporters fundraising off the idea of Boehner as speaker. You can check out that missive after the jump.
Friend --
Months before the 2010 election, John Boehner -- the Republican leader in the House -- is launching a full-fledged campaign operation to become the next Speaker of the House. And he's counting on contributions from lobbyists to help pay the bills.
His staffers have established a "Speaker Boehner" committee. They've set up suggested giving levels for lobbyists. Anyone who helps raise $100,000 gets special meetings with the GOP leader, a direct line to a Boehner aide, and the password for a restricted website where they can download "insider briefings."
Protecting the House and keeping John Boehner's hand off the speaker's gavel is a top priority for this election. But we aren't setting up special websites for lobbyists. We aren't counting on special-interest dollars to give us an edge in this campaign.
We're countering that cash with an aggressive campaign funded entirely by people like you. That's why we've launched the By the People Fund to help us reach 3 million grassroots donations before Election Day.
Can you chip in $5 or more to help meet the goal?
To become the next speaker, Boehner has to help the Republicans win 39 seats they don't currently hold.
To ensure that doesn't happen, we're planning the largest voter turnout operation for a midterm election in history. We will knock on more doors, make more calls, and outwork the GOP in every district with a competitive race.
But we need your help to make this happen.
Republicans like Boehner are tearing up the phones, calling in every favor they have to bring in the special-interest cash.
We've made a choice to practice a different kind of politics, and we're counting on support from Americans like you to help us win in November.
Can you chip in $5 or more to the By the People Fund?
http://my.democrats.org/StopBoehner
Thanks,
Jen
Jen O'Malley Dillon Executive Director Democratic National Committee
Comments
No one makes a better case for NOT voting for Republicans this fall than Republicans themselves do..
Spray Tan Boehner Can't Explain How Republican Tax Cuts For The Rich Would Be Paid For:
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/08/pence-boehner-tax-cuts/
Orange Boehener spends more time golfing than he does working.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/09/boehner-whacked-for-golf_n_675399.html
Posted by: Rob | August 23, 2010 1:50 PM
Tan man Boner is licking his chops and making all sorts of promises (lies) about how things are going to be so much different and better if he becomes Speaker.
Posted by: Doug R. | August 23, 2010 1:54 PM
Buh bye Nancy plastic face!
You can always get a job in the Circus freak show.
Ahh November is coming, no more ramming through stupid spending bills that don't work. Time to start the repeal process. Keep shoving bills on Obama's desk so he can veto them & look like a stubborn dope.
Posted by: conservativemaster | August 23, 2010 2:50 PM
So The DNC Swamp article that's supposed to be about Republican Boehner actually contains more hate email from the Democratic Party than it does about Boehner....
No wonder the latest Gallup Poll (also censored by the DNC Swamp) found fewer people than ever trust the media.
Posted by: Equal time | August 23, 2010 3:27 PM
Posted by: Equal time | August 23, 2010 3:27 PM
*****************
Swamp Troll,
The polls that you make up in your head don't count out here in the real world.
Fox News' Corporate Parent 'NewsCorp' Gives Republican Governors Association $1 million In Campaign Donations
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201008160046
Posted by: Rob | August 23, 2010 4:27 PM
Posted by: conservativemaster | August 23, 2010 2:50 PM
****************
conservativeclown,
The more that drooling Repugs like you bloviate about winning everything this fall, the harder I'm going to be laughing at you when you realize that you're still the minority party in both chambers of congress after all is said and done.
Even Republicans Don't Like Fake Tan Boehner.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/08/23/flores-boehner/
Posted by: Rob | August 23, 2010 4:36 PM
In the interest of MSM "fairness" (we all know how much you pretend to care about fairness) would you now publish the website address for donations to fire crazy loon leftist Nancy Pelosi while discussing her amazing theories of astroturf, how the healthcare bill can make you a rock star, and her investigations into the 9/11 families?
http://www.firenancypelosi.com/
Posted by: Free to Watch the Liberal's Summer Meltdown | August 23, 2010 5:59 PM
Trickled On Rob,
Does General Electric (parent of NBS and PMSNBC), Disney (parent of ABC), Viacom (parent of CBS), and Time Warner (parent of CNN) make any political contributions?
Posted by: Terry | August 23, 2010 6:45 PM
Speaker Boehner, although not my first choice, will be nice to hear. Another sweet sound would be Speaker Bachmann, just to hear all the empty heads on the left explode. Also, she would be the first intellgent woman Speaker of the House.
Posted by: Terry | August 23, 2010 6:52 PM
Watch, when Speaker Pelosi resumes her chair, as Speaker of The House, that phony tan of Boehner's will dissipate, right before your very eyes and turn into a tavern pale!! Boehner couldn't legislate his way out of a tanning booth!! Go have a cigarette, Boehner. You're probably still getting them for free, from the Tobacco Industry, for carrying their water on the floor of the House!! What an amoral, dishonest individual !! Bring 'em on, them Republican-Libertarian-T.Baggers!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | August 23, 2010 7:02 PM
Hey liberals can you hear it? It's getting louder! Tick tack
Posted by: Crooks_In_ DC | August 23, 2010 7:34 PM
I'll always remember how he pronounced "Tuskegee" in that talk in which he was ostensibly paying honor to those WW II airmen....
Pronounced it with a soft "g".
Was that a more accurate pronunciation, or was he sending some kind of message?
Posted by: ornery | August 23, 2010 7:40 PM
His staffers have established a "Speaker Boehner" committee. They've set up suggested giving levels for lobbyists. Anyone who helps raise $100,000 gets special meetings with the GOP leader, a direct line to a Boehner aide, and the password for a restricted website where they can download "insider briefings."
How any of the Republicans can back Boehner after this statement is beyond me. These teabaggers are the very people who are railing against the deep pocket lobbyists in DC but they think this is okay? And anyway, that orange color of his, how can you take such a vain man seriously? Or shall I say, you complain about Nancy Pelosi's facelifts, but a grown man that would choose to walk around with that fake tan is normal?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | August 24, 2010 6:57 AM
Let me be the 1st to say welcome to your new post,
as "Speaker of the House".
I'm sure of one thing that
you will do as Speaker and
that is you will listen to the
people of this great country.
Posted by: Paul | August 24, 2010 9:59 AM
pelosi is the worst speaker in history, another historic achievement by the democrats. A trained monkey could do a better, more competent job than pelosi, or obama for that matter.
It's the economy stupid!
It's a shame that the democrats are more worried about passing their agenda than the current status of our country. I'd rather lower taxes than lower emmissions! I'd rather our borders be protected than giving free healthcare to illegals.
I'd rather them cut spending and wasteful programs than increasing our taxes.
I guess that makes me an extremist, eh?
Posted by: worsethanbefore | August 24, 2010 10:00 AM
It's mind-boggling that some would want to retain Nancy as Speaker.
What kind of weird thought process goes on in one who wants an uber-rich, well-connected old hag telling them what to think and do? It would be interesting to hear what a good shrink would reveal about these people.
Posted by: Bye Bye MSM | August 24, 2010 10:08 AM
" BBmsm ", you underwhelm me with your incredible stupidity. You're lucky we live in a free country, where hate-speech is protected. I am surprised you were able to punch out such a mean-spirited post. You must have had Bonzo, Ronnie Raygun's adviser, do it for you!! Only in America!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | August 24, 2010 12:23 PM
The House would have to shut down every day at 3 pm for happy hour with this bozo in charge. Not gonna happen.
Posted by: Tim | August 24, 2010 1:05 PM
Boehner should stick to tanning, golf and happy hour. Leave government issues to someone who is interested in making our country the best it can be!!!!!!
Posted by: Laura Kennedy Hamberg | September 10, 2010 8:15 PM
It's pretty much a consensus among pollsters that the Democrats will lose the House, which means the default assumption should be that Boehner will be next speaker. It should also be taken for granted that this will result in a daily diatribe, press release, and regular baseless investigations into the Obama administration.
The only real thing worth watching will be to see how the battles overly the yearly government's budget go and to see what happens when the Republicans hold the very functioning of the government hostage to their demands and politicking.
Posted by: political forums | September 12, 2010 11:16 AM