What The Republicans Don't Get

I saw House Republican Leader John Boehner on Larry Kudlow's CNBC program last night. Evidently a very personal, public fight has developed between Wonderboy and Boehner, with the former visiting Ohio sites to stump for more stimulus.

I wish Boehner weren't so presumptuous. Last night, he was speaking as if he would be the next Speaker of the House, ticking off the things that would occur, including rules changes. As is the popular thing to say, he, too, like Frisco Nan, promised that his House would be the most transparent, responsive, blah blah blah in history.

Don't make promises you can't keep, John.

Look that the mess involving Charlie Rangel, Maxine Waters et. al. Does anyone really believe Boehner won't still behave like a hack, protecting his friends, submarining inconvenient ethics investigations, and generally trying to bully the newly-elected House members who would prospectively provide the GOP majority that might elect Boehner as the next Speaker?

Boehner is still tarred with the GOP House antics of 6 and 4 years ago. He has that surreal tan that so many others also notice and rarely fail to mention. And the apparently endless rounds of golf.

If the Republicans elect Boehner as Speaker, should they retake the House, I think it's going to be a short and ugly ride until they either lose it again in just 2 years, or suffer a revolt that deposes Boehner and his leadership team.

Seeing Boehner behaving like he will simply be crowned Speaker is disgusting to me. It demonstrates that Boehner, as presumptive Speaker for the GOP, and his party, is little different than Frisco Nan, and hers, when it comes to wanting power before working for the people who elected the House members.

If there were ever an instance to show people that the power game in Congress is rigged, it surely is Boehner counting votes of new members not yet elected, and simply taking on the role of Speaker in Waiting.

That's not what the many independents, one of which I consider myself, who will decide the outcome of many of the 435 races, as well as the 30+ Senate races, want to see and hear from Congress right now.