March 9th, 2012
"People think I've got this job as a leader. They don't realize that I have about 200 responsibilities and roles. I've gotta be the big brother, the father, I gotta be the disciplinarian, the dean of students, the principal, the spouse—you can't believe all the roles that I have to play! But one of them is, you know, some problems you can nip early... It's just a slice of America, it really is. We got some of the smartest people in the country who serve here, and some of the dumbest. We got some of the best people you'd ever meet, and some of the raunchiest. We've got 'em all."
-- Speaker of the House John Boehner showing some signs of career fatigue.
Showing posts with label Speaker Boehner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Speaker Boehner. Show all posts
Friday, March 9, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
George Will, Rush Limbaugh And Trump, Oh My
March 5th, 2012
George Will made quite a few waves yesterday.
Via TPM:
"Conservative columnist George Will on Sunday tore into top Republicans for their tepid response to Rush Limbaugh's smear of Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, declaring that the GOP is "afraid" of the right-wing radio host.
"It would've been nice if they had shared that with the larger public, the Republican leaders," Will said on ABC's This Week. "Instead, Mr. Boehner comes out and says, Rush's language was inappropriate. Using a salad fork for your entree, that's inappropriate. Not this stuff. I mean, and Rick Santorum says well, what he says was absurd, but an entertainer is allowed to be absurd. No. It is the responsibility of conservatives to police the right in its excesses, just as the liberals unfailingly fail to police the excesses in their own side. And it was depressing, because what it indicates is that the Republican leaders are afraid of Rush Limbaugh. They want to bomb Iran, but they're afraid of Rush Limbaugh." EMPHASES MINE
This statement, coming on the heels of Will's message to the GOP that they really ought to just give up on retaking the White House, prompted a predictably ridiculous response from Fox and Friends this morning. In a piece of stagecraft worthy of Mel Brooks, the Fox stooges gave Donald Trump the chance to attack the conservative stalwart.
Nando Di Fino writes for Mediaite:
"I think he’s a totally overrated fool," Trump said. "I think this guy is so overrated. I don’t think he’s very smart. He looks smart with the little glasses and the hair slicked to the side."
"You’ve criticized him before on this show," host Gretchen Carlson said, "You’re not holding back on what you think about him today."
"He’s a hack," Trump said. "He’s a hack. And how he can say that is just incredible."
I'm not sure how they are going to top this one. Perhaps they can have Chuck Norris or Ted Nugent attack Thomas Sowell the next time he writes something reasonable.
Here's the video
George Will made quite a few waves yesterday.
Via TPM:
"Conservative columnist George Will on Sunday tore into top Republicans for their tepid response to Rush Limbaugh's smear of Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, declaring that the GOP is "afraid" of the right-wing radio host.
"It would've been nice if they had shared that with the larger public, the Republican leaders," Will said on ABC's This Week. "Instead, Mr. Boehner comes out and says, Rush's language was inappropriate. Using a salad fork for your entree, that's inappropriate. Not this stuff. I mean, and Rick Santorum says well, what he says was absurd, but an entertainer is allowed to be absurd. No. It is the responsibility of conservatives to police the right in its excesses, just as the liberals unfailingly fail to police the excesses in their own side. And it was depressing, because what it indicates is that the Republican leaders are afraid of Rush Limbaugh. They want to bomb Iran, but they're afraid of Rush Limbaugh." EMPHASES MINE
This statement, coming on the heels of Will's message to the GOP that they really ought to just give up on retaking the White House, prompted a predictably ridiculous response from Fox and Friends this morning. In a piece of stagecraft worthy of Mel Brooks, the Fox stooges gave Donald Trump the chance to attack the conservative stalwart.
Nando Di Fino writes for Mediaite:
"I think he’s a totally overrated fool," Trump said. "I think this guy is so overrated. I don’t think he’s very smart. He looks smart with the little glasses and the hair slicked to the side."
"You’ve criticized him before on this show," host Gretchen Carlson said, "You’re not holding back on what you think about him today."
"He’s a hack," Trump said. "He’s a hack. And how he can say that is just incredible."
I'm not sure how they are going to top this one. Perhaps they can have Chuck Norris or Ted Nugent attack Thomas Sowell the next time he writes something reasonable.
Here's the video
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Boehner's Real Interest In Keystone XL, cont...
Jan 29th, 2012
We picked up on a report last week of Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) substantial investments in companies with a direct stake in the controversial Keystone XL proposal. At the time, I suggested this might be a career-ender and wondered if an internal ethics investigation was imminent (again, paging Rep. Issa (R-CA)whose silence is deafening).
It now seems that the situation is rapidly becoming more serious. Yesterday, PoliticsUSA followed up on the latest developments:
"On Thursday, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) received a complaint from an environmental group with accusations that the proposed Keystone XL pipeline’s owners (TransCanada) are in violation of SEC Rule 10b(5) – Employment of Manipulative and Deceptive Practices to bolster stock prices.
The complaint sent to the SEC said TransCanada is using “false or misleading statements about the proposed Keystone XL pipeline” and that they “consistently used public statements and information it knows are false in a concerted effort to secure permitting approval of Keystone XL from the U.S. government.” The complaint continues that the fallacious information misleads investors, U.S. and Canadian officials, the media, and the public “in order to bolster its balance sheets and share price,” and who is the point-man pushing the Keystone XL pipeline with lies and misinformation? Speaker of the House John Boehner." EMPHASES THEIRS
This is big. This is not the typically 'legal but questionable' gaming of the system we have grown accustomed to. It is beginning to look like a blatant violation of the law.
"The complaint specifically highlights that TransCanada asserts that the pipeline will create American jobs “at a rate that is 67 times higher than job creation totals given by the company to Canadian officials for the Canadian portion of the pipeline.” The inflated job creation numbers were designed to pressure President Obama to issue an approval permit to build the pipeline and without its construction, TransCanada’s future earnings and share prices will be significantly impacted. Speaker Boehner owns shares in seven different Canadian tar sand companies and it is highly likely that he knows the job numbers are inflated as an investor and stands to profit if the pipeline is built. Boehner went so far as threatening to tie 160 million working Americans’ payroll tax cut extension to approval of the pipeline. Boehner’s extortion threats were the last straw, and inspired a national petition to force him to resign or face expulsion from Congress for ethics violations. However, ethics violations are the least of Boehner’s problems once the SEC finishes their investigation which they confirmed is actively under consideration." EMPHASIS THEIRS
Let's be clear; This isn't about TransCanada affiliated interests investing in Boehner via SuperPACs and campaign donations. This is about Boehner investing in TransCanada affiliated interests while using false statistics to push for government action on their behalf.
It is already past time for the Speaker to publicly address this.
The last thing I want to see is an Eric Cantor Speakership.
But, this man must resign.
We picked up on a report last week of Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) substantial investments in companies with a direct stake in the controversial Keystone XL proposal. At the time, I suggested this might be a career-ender and wondered if an internal ethics investigation was imminent (again, paging Rep. Issa (R-CA)whose silence is deafening).
It now seems that the situation is rapidly becoming more serious. Yesterday, PoliticsUSA followed up on the latest developments:
"On Thursday, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) received a complaint from an environmental group with accusations that the proposed Keystone XL pipeline’s owners (TransCanada) are in violation of SEC Rule 10b(5) – Employment of Manipulative and Deceptive Practices to bolster stock prices.
The complaint sent to the SEC said TransCanada is using “false or misleading statements about the proposed Keystone XL pipeline” and that they “consistently used public statements and information it knows are false in a concerted effort to secure permitting approval of Keystone XL from the U.S. government.” The complaint continues that the fallacious information misleads investors, U.S. and Canadian officials, the media, and the public “in order to bolster its balance sheets and share price,” and who is the point-man pushing the Keystone XL pipeline with lies and misinformation? Speaker of the House John Boehner." EMPHASES THEIRS
This is big. This is not the typically 'legal but questionable' gaming of the system we have grown accustomed to. It is beginning to look like a blatant violation of the law.
"The complaint specifically highlights that TransCanada asserts that the pipeline will create American jobs “at a rate that is 67 times higher than job creation totals given by the company to Canadian officials for the Canadian portion of the pipeline.” The inflated job creation numbers were designed to pressure President Obama to issue an approval permit to build the pipeline and without its construction, TransCanada’s future earnings and share prices will be significantly impacted. Speaker Boehner owns shares in seven different Canadian tar sand companies and it is highly likely that he knows the job numbers are inflated as an investor and stands to profit if the pipeline is built. Boehner went so far as threatening to tie 160 million working Americans’ payroll tax cut extension to approval of the pipeline. Boehner’s extortion threats were the last straw, and inspired a national petition to force him to resign or face expulsion from Congress for ethics violations. However, ethics violations are the least of Boehner’s problems once the SEC finishes their investigation which they confirmed is actively under consideration." EMPHASIS THEIRS
Let's be clear; This isn't about TransCanada affiliated interests investing in Boehner via SuperPACs and campaign donations. This is about Boehner investing in TransCanada affiliated interests while using false statistics to push for government action on their behalf.
It is already past time for the Speaker to publicly address this.
The last thing I want to see is an Eric Cantor Speakership.
But, this man must resign.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Boehner's Real Interest In Keystone XL...
Jan 23rd, 2012
It appears that Speaker Boehner's willingness to take hostages in a new fight over the Keystone XL project is quite personal and has nothing to do with "jobs."
PoliticsUSA reports:
"Revelations this past week from his financial disclosure forms that John Boehner invested $10,000 to $50,000 each in seven firms that had a stake in Canada’s oil sands should raise red flags for the House Oversight Committee; especially in light of Boehner’s push to grant a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline ahead of the State Department and EPA studies and reports and the millions big oil spent to hasten its construction."
One wonders whether Darrel Issa is giving the Speaker a pass. After all, it is his job to investigate.
It appears that Speaker Boehner's willingness to take hostages in a new fight over the Keystone XL project is quite personal and has nothing to do with "jobs."
PoliticsUSA reports:
"Revelations this past week from his financial disclosure forms that John Boehner invested $10,000 to $50,000 each in seven firms that had a stake in Canada’s oil sands should raise red flags for the House Oversight Committee; especially in light of Boehner’s push to grant a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline ahead of the State Department and EPA studies and reports and the millions big oil spent to hasten its construction."
One wonders whether Darrel Issa is giving the Speaker a pass. After all, it is his job to investigate.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
About Boehner Cutting The C-Span Feed...
Dec 22nd, 2011
Ann Telnaes of the WaPo gives her take on the Speaker shutting off the people's channel because it was inconveniencing him.
Ann Telnaes of the WaPo gives her take on the Speaker shutting off the people's channel because it was inconveniencing him.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Legal Insider Trading
Nov 14th, 2011
60 Minutes shines some light on the very disturbing fact that Senators and Congressmen are exempt from insider trading laws and are making a killing in the stock market using non-public information.
60 Minutes shines some light on the very disturbing fact that Senators and Congressmen are exempt from insider trading laws and are making a killing in the stock market using non-public information.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Obama's "Nemesis"
Oct 3rd, 2011
Jason Zengerle profiles House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) for New York Magazine. It's an ugly portrait of a very unprincipled man.
"Cantor’s role as Obama’s nemesis, as the National Review recently dubbed him, is remarkable for several reasons—none more so than the fact that, although he’s now the darling of the tea party, he initially rose to power in Washington by standing for almost everything the tea party is against..."
"Cantor’s primary job as a member of the whip operation was to cajole his fellow Republican congressmen into voting for many of the bills the tea-partiers now decry as the height of fiscal irresponsibility —including, most infamously, the 2003 Medicare prescription-drug legislation, for which he worked hand in hand with pharmaceutical-industry lobbyists and Karl Rove."
The article traces Cantor's self-transformation from establishment stooge to, well, stealth establishment stooge. It is amazing that someone so committed to preserving corporatist exploitation and defending outright waste in non-social spending has managed to dupe the GOP rank and file into believing that he is fighting for fiscal sensibility.
An interesting aside in the article actually shines a very bright light on just how Cantor has accomplished this. What's more, it also illustrates how he has marginalized Speaker Boehner while, at the same time, securing his general control over the radical, Tea Party driven newcomers who stormed into Congress last year.
"I can text Cantor and get a response back in minutes," says one freshman, explaining his allegiance. "I don’t know if Speaker Boehner even has a cell phone."
These freshman are his to control. They go home and tell their constituents his version of events. Their own narratives have been subsumed.
This is Eric Cantor's grand strategy... for Eric Cantor.
He has created and now wields a barely visible intra-party political machine. His continuing consolidation of power is impressive. His ability to call upon it to obstruct and sabotage both sides of the aisle raises the very real possibility that, as the title of Zengerle's implies, we are actually living in "Cantor's America."
Jason Zengerle profiles House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) for New York Magazine. It's an ugly portrait of a very unprincipled man.
"Cantor’s primary job as a member of the whip operation was to cajole his fellow Republican congressmen into voting for many of the bills the tea-partiers now decry as the height of fiscal irresponsibility —including, most infamously, the 2003 Medicare prescription-drug legislation, for which he worked hand in hand with pharmaceutical-industry lobbyists and Karl Rove."
The article traces Cantor's self-transformation from establishment stooge to, well, stealth establishment stooge. It is amazing that someone so committed to preserving corporatist exploitation and defending outright waste in non-social spending has managed to dupe the GOP rank and file into believing that he is fighting for fiscal sensibility.
An interesting aside in the article actually shines a very bright light on just how Cantor has accomplished this. What's more, it also illustrates how he has marginalized Speaker Boehner while, at the same time, securing his general control over the radical, Tea Party driven newcomers who stormed into Congress last year.
"I can text Cantor and get a response back in minutes," says one freshman, explaining his allegiance. "I don’t know if Speaker Boehner even has a cell phone."
These freshman are his to control. They go home and tell their constituents his version of events. Their own narratives have been subsumed.
This is Eric Cantor's grand strategy... for Eric Cantor.
He has created and now wields a barely visible intra-party political machine. His continuing consolidation of power is impressive. His ability to call upon it to obstruct and sabotage both sides of the aisle raises the very real possibility that, as the title of Zengerle's implies, we are actually living in "Cantor's America."
Monday, September 19, 2011
Things You Can't Make Up - "Socialist" Boehner Edition
Sept 19th, 2011
Via TPM:
"David Lewis, a 26 year old Tea Party activist believes the man he is mounting a primary challenge against, Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), is a "socialist."
Indeed, David Lewis and those who support him actually seem to believe this stuff. Dig the interview. When Cavuto thinks you're nuts? Man, you are seriously crazy.
Via TPM:
"David Lewis, a 26 year old Tea Party activist believes the man he is mounting a primary challenge against, Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), is a "socialist."
Indeed, David Lewis and those who support him actually seem to believe this stuff. Dig the interview. When Cavuto thinks you're nuts? Man, you are seriously crazy.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
They Did What?
July 28th, 2011
We couldn't make this up if we tried.
As anyone who has been within a quarter mile of a television or the internet in the last month by now knows, the whole of American representative governance has ground to a halt over raising the debt ceiling. Today was supposed to the big day for Speaker Boehner's bill. It may be dead on arrival in the Senate, but that's only if it ever gets there. Here's what happened via WaPo:
"The House was nearing the end of its debate on the legislation when Republicans suddenly shifted gears. They instead moved to a bill renaming a post office in Peoria, Ill." EMPHASIS OURS
"GOP leaders have been laboring to line up the 216 votes the debt bill would need to pass the House, and they have encountered opposition from some conservatives. There are 240 Republicans in the House."
We couldn't make this up if we tried.
"The House was nearing the end of its debate on the legislation when Republicans suddenly shifted gears. They instead moved to a bill renaming a post office in Peoria, Ill." EMPHASIS OURS
"GOP leaders have been laboring to line up the 216 votes the debt bill would need to pass the House, and they have encountered opposition from some conservatives. There are 240 Republicans in the House."
Rep. Boehner may well be the most incapable Speaker of the House in generations.
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