JOHN BOEHNER HAILED AS GROUNDBREAKING SPEAKER
BIPARTISAN RESHAPING OF THE OFFICE DEFEATS GRIDLOCK
SEPTEMBER 2013-
John Boehner, recognizing that he is trapped by the most radical elements of his own party; condemned to a place in history as the Speaker of the House of the most unproductive House of Representatives in U.S. history; and realizing that the nation’s business must be done, decides to embrace the principle that his oath of office as Speaker of the House is to the nation and not the GOP.
Using his power to control the order of business on the floor, he brings a series of bills to the floor for up or down votes that require members to stand up for their principles and go on the record. The first of these is the immigration bill passed by the Senate. He permits a robust debate and amendments to that bill before its passage requiring that it be sent to a House-Senate reconciliation conference committee to work out differences between the Senate Bill and what is being hailed as The Speakers Bill.
He refuses to endorse tactics that threaten the credit of the United States and he asks his own party to step away from any such effort in order to win a tactical victory over Obamacare. Instead, he places the raising of the debt ceiling into the regular order as was the standing practice before the GOP took the House in 2010 without requiring any action from Obama saying that he will not see the U.S. credit rating lowered again on his watch. Shortly after the raising of the ceiling, the Obama administration reopens negotiations with the Speaker regarding the fine-tuning of the Affordable Care Act.
He brings the American Jobs Act to the floor. It is amended and when passed goes to a conference committee. The Speaker is widely regarded as a principal co-sponsor of the bill which he proudly proclaims was produced to fulfill his promise to make jobs a priority.
All three efforts pass with overwhelming Democratic support and some GOP support. What passes for the GOP’s moderate and pragmatic wing, tired of being held hostage by the Tea Party, join him.
The House Tea Party members rise in revolt and ask that Boehner be removed knowing that a Speaker may be removed at the will of the House, and a Speaker pro tempore appointed in a resolution that requires the support of the majority the members.
BUT, the Democrats with the blessing of the Democratic leadership and a handful of the GOP do not endorse this, and he remains the Speaker- but now as a Speaker representing the People’s House and not just a Party; a Speaker confirmed by members of both parties; coalition Speaker! The first in U.S. History.
He remains Speaker beyond 2014 thanks to redistricting that pretty much lockeds up the House for the GOP. He is primaried by the Tea Party but fights off the challenger winning reelection with both Democratic and GOP support. A token Democratic opponent is no problem. He runs as the Jobs Speaker.
When the House is organized for its next term, Boehner is nominated by members from both parties and 2ith the support of the same coalition wins.
Boehner goes on to be one of the most productive Speakers in House History.
Freed from the Tyranny of his own Party’s Ideological Zealots, he would go down in history as someone who put country above party in one of the most partisan institutions in Washington DC. He would go down in history as the first Speaker to remake the office in a way that fundamentally transforms it in the face of the challenges of the 21st Century. He would be able to speak the truth- taking on both Dems who are too far to the left and GOP who are too far to the right.
He and Obama would make history.
The President and Mr. Bipartisan!
Imagine!
Hey Murph, very well done. Great concept for an article. Can I have a hit or two of what you’re smoking? 😉
I think Boehner plays the martyr too much to really do anything constructive for the nation. He worked his way up, from humble beginnings, and I think he has sort of a chip on his shoulder because of it. I think this might be, in part, the reason for his negative views on social programs.
Hey KT….I am high on life.
So…take a slice…
Yes, Boehner is all about reactionary politics. He has never been one to be proactive and what I imagine here is the most proactive of measures.
Interesting insight regarding why Boehner is so negative on social programs and public policy that address systemic poverty and disenfranchisement.
Hi MTS. I like this. Very often the “What if” articles are far more powerful than summarizing ugly truths. There certainly are enough of those to choose from.
Before I proceed, I’ll cover my behind with a caveat saying that what I suggest could happen does not necessarily reflect my personal views, but it’s getting closer. John Boehner is very fortunate that the position of authority he holds is in this country. In four of the five countries I’ve worked in, he would already have been been removed from office and not by a special election but by the means they’re quite adept at, as witnessed in Lybia.
He sees the electorate as invited guests watching from the gallery in the House Chamber. We witness the rape of our country while the Democrats we elect do nothing and are complicit by their silence.
You have earned your title as a true satirist. Well done.
Bourne
Thanks for this.
“What Ifs” frame out hopes and possibilities but I must admit that this one is pretty far out there.
Leaders as ineffective as Boehner would have a short shelf life in many nations. Short of taking him for a long walk on a short pier, someone like him would be the subject of frequent votes of confidence in a Parliamentary System. Our system seems to create an environment in which incompetence is coddled.
The arrogance of the man who says his whole focus is on jobs and does not create a single jobs package that actually does that. Your image of Boehner inviting the electorate to watch from the gallery is a good one. He is putting on a show that
is meant to appeal to his people, his base and to do little else.
Excellent!
I really like that article.
You need to send it to John Boehner.
I am thinking about how to do that in such a way that it actually gets seen by someone who will read it.
Murph, only thing is you misspelled “Bonehead”.
It is interesting how few will actually consider the concept of reasonable behavior in the Congress.
HaH…we are both consistent.
Not that I dismiss the cynicism as unwarranted. It is, but this is about the only positive outcome I can imagine….and it is admittedly more like fantasy than wishful thinking. Boehner lacks the internal virtue to be a person of courage.
Being consistent is not a bad thing. I didn’t think HP would let the post through so I did it here too. I know we don’t get blocked for being honest here. I do far less writing on HP than I used to. I do more here as this is as honest a place as there is.
I love the PLANET!
Cheers, Nirek!
I also love the Planet and I love HP but for very different reasons.
At HP, the potential to have a dialogue with someone who represents a very different world view and having that dialogue result in the meeting of minds on common ground. I admit this is rare but it does happen. I also like the idea of being read by a wide variety of participants on the webs most active political blog.
Having said that, the limitations at HP are very real and a place like the Planet addresses this. I could not do author a article like this at HP. I could not participate in the kind of discussion there that is typical here. And the size of the community means that I do not have to start fresh with each new dialogue. I am known and so are most of those with whom I communicate.
As to “censorhip”. Most of the posts that do not publish do so for reasons involving the flawed tech and hurried mods at HP. They know they have a problem with this.
Murph, indeed, it’s not a zero sum proposition, one can enjoy and participate at HP and The Planet for what each of their strengths are.
My big issue with HP is the increasing racism, intolerance and vitriol expressed on most posts, it’s virtually inescapable now. With the volume of comments that are made, the limited staff and the flaws inherent in automated moderation, one can understand why so many hateful comments get posted.
I do believe in freedom of expression but I do have an issue with the distribution and promotion of racist and hateful statements even if it is unintentional.
That said, I do visit HP daily as part of my research routine and many if not most of our members visit and/or blog over there so again, exclusivity just doesn’t make sense to me in either direction.
Thanks for this very well put statement. I left a note for you regarding it in e mail.
You identify the problems, the limitations imposed by the structure and resources at HP, and the impact this might be having on its readership.
I know of what you speak.
I don’t have any answers on how HP could best address this problem, at a site with that much traffic and so many determined haters and racists bent on spreading their mental and emotional diseases, how do you disinfect once the virus has become so entrenched?
Not easy but the alternative is tacitly accepting their site is a place where racism and the spewing of hatred is promoted each and every day.
A great fairy tale, Murph! If only Boehner didn’t have the soul of a small insect, maybe he could step up and become someone historic who people would respect and remember for many years
But since he recently said that the yardstick for judging how successful he was in how many bills didn’t get passed or how many laws were ended, I wouldn’t be holding my breath on the above coming true.
In fact, because of his incompetence and lack of gravitas, he is being thrown around like a rag doll in the teeth of a Rottweiler by the Baggers in The House and rumors abound that after the inevitable failure of Boehner in the eyes of Baggers on the debt ceiling and budget this Fall,Boehner may be out as Speaker.
The crazies have taken over the asylum in the GOP and Boehner’s attempt to just lock himself in his office to sty safe may prove futile in the end.
Yes….a journey of imagination
With a nod to Willy Wonka
Hold your breath
Make a wish
Count to three
Come with me
And you’ll be
In a world of
Pure imagination
Take a look
And you’ll see
Into your imagination
Boehner with the soul of a small insect…..hard to be imaginative given that. Your prediction is much more realistic than mine but still this is the way to progress.
And much of the GOP effort is to stall until they take back the Senate. With two Houses under their control they think they can keep him from getting anything done including the implementation of law already passed by Congress.
Like the Wonka comparison! How about this…
A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men.” – Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder)
Thanks for that clever bit of nonsense.
You are really good at doing this….a bit scary actually but fascinating.