BOEHNER QUITTING! BREAKING.... House Speaker John Boehner to resign at end of October...

[ChisolmTrailDem]

Last edited Fri Sep 25, 2015, 12:05 PM - Edit history (1)

Can't get anything done with renegades in Congress.

This may not be a good thing, despite our position on Boehner. As Capt. Obvious so aptly puts it in post 22:

"This may be terrible news

The devil you know and all.

Will a fucking lunatic replace him?"

I've heard (Tweety on MSNBC) that it may be McCarthy. *shudder* ...

ETA link:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/25/politics/john-boehner-resigning-as-speaker/

Washington (CNN)John Boehner, the Ohio Republican who steered his party to an overwhelming House majority in 2010, told colleagues Friday he's stepping down as Speaker and will leave Congress at the end of October.

The abrupt decision comes after he faced heavy pressure from conservatives to take a harder line on their causes, most recently over defunding Planned Parenthood.

Boehner, who has presided over the House since 2011, explained during a closed-door meeting with Republicans Friday morning that he had only planned to serve two terms as speaker but decided to hold onto his post after then-House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his seat during a primary last year, a Republican lawmaker in the room told CNN.

Boehner, who didn't speak to reporters on Friday, also told the lawmakers that Pope Francis' visit to Congress the day before was a crystallizing moment, according to the lawmaker. Boehner then read the prayer of St. Francis to the conference after announcing his decision.

More...

[KittyWampus]

1. Pressure over Planned Parenthood vote?

WASHINGTON — Speaker John A. Boehner will resign from Congress and give up his House seat at the end of October, according to aides in his office.

Mr. Boehner was under extreme pressure from the right wing of his conference over whether or not to defund Planned Parenthood in a bill to keep the government open.

[merrily]

2. House Democrats said they were not going to continue helping him hold on to his leadership slot.

Whenever his own delegation has tried to replace him, Democrats have saved his teary sweet potato-colored ass. They've said, "No more." So, rather than get voted out, he's trying to play hero.

[KittyWampus]

15. thanks for that. I haven't been following politics too closely lately.

Have a happy Friday!

[merrily]

73. How nice! You as well.

[JDPriestly]

66. Maybe the Pope's speech did it????

[merrily]

70. I doubt it. Though Boehner would probably have us believe anything other than that he is being

forced out because his caucus wants him out and Democrats have stopped propping him up.

[C Moon]

71. This sounds like the most likely scenario to me. I can't stand the guy.

I don't care if he's not considered a Tea Party Republican, or not. He was part of the Party of No and did nothing but slow down recovery of our country. Good-bye jack ass.

[merrily]

72. Sounds good---unless his replacement is even worse.

[C Moon]

74. I completely understand that...but I just want to enjoy seeing him go for now.

[merrily]

89. Sorry. Be my guest. Enjoy thinking about yam man moving on.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

3. Sounds like part of the reason, also can't deal with "renegades" (MSNBC) in Congress. nt

[Algernon Moncrieff]

13. It's the shutdown vote, and also a changing Republican party

The rank and file want to take their agenda waaaaay further to the right.

So now, the speaker will essentially be PT Barnum. Nothing will get done, but we'll have weekly grand spectacle. Hearings; shutdowns; more controversial joint session addresses.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

4. Ryan, McCarthy, Hensarling being floated as replacements

NBC saying basically Boehner had to depend on Dems to retain the speakership, and thought that this put him in a no-win situation.

[global1]

5. Now We Know Why He Was All Teary Eyed Yesterday.....nt

[Hortensis]

30. Yesterday must have been especially poignant for him. In the midst

of such much going wrong, and having made the decision to resign, yesterday's address by Pope Francis was also an important high point for him. He even compared the problems his continued presence would cause Congress to the prior Pope Benedict's to the Catholic Church.

He's far too conservative for me to regret, and his inability to control what may have been uncontrollable very bad for the nation, but I do feel for him personally and am glad he has yesterday to remember.

[liberal N proud]

6. He is orange juce

[mmonk]

7. Yep. Just got through posting it on Facebook

[Gman]

8. He listened to the pope yesterday

And I'll bet his conscience got the best of him. He said I can't do this anymore.

[UTUSN]

12. That's giving BONER *way* lot of credit!1 n/t

[Gman]

21. I don't think he is evil one bit

Never have His conscience, upbringing, and religion yesterday.through to him. His conscience, upbringing, and religion yesterday duct through to him. When he says he can't get anything done these likely referring to accomplishing the things the pope referred to yesterday

[gelsdorf]

32. I agree,Gman, 1000% nt

[CoffeeCat]

35. That's exactly what I think happened.

All you had to do what look at the turmoil on his face.

This was a man who knows that what he's been playing, is in direct conflict with his religion and his God. You can make jokes all you want, but Bohner sees himself as a "good Catholic" and his faith is important to him. He was the one who got Pope Francis here. Having the pope address congress has been a long-time dream of Bohner's.

The Pope met with Bohner just prior to the congressional address. Bohner wept through the entire thing. He practically broke down when the Pope talked about people using religion to justify the horrors of war.

Oh yes. Bohner quit because he could no longer participate in the farce. We can only imagine the evil and depravity that goes on behind the scenes. Bohner has seen it all.

While I applaud his conscience, I do not think that he will do the right things and expose the pathology that exists in Congress today. He will consider that he is "right with God" by resigning and not participating.

Bohner may be someone we don't like--but he is miles ahead of 80 percent of Congressional members--who are full-fledged psychopaths and sociopaths.

[hamsterjill]

52. +1

I'm just catching up on all of this now...

Okay, am I just stupid, or could he have given up his chairmanship without resigning his seat? I think it's pertinent that he is actually leaving Congress.

[CoffeeCat]

86. He didn't have to give up his seat

Bohner didn't have to give up his Congressional seat.

The Speakership isn't tied to being a House member. A Senator can be speaker of the House. You don't even have to be a Congress member to be Speaker. Sarah Palin could be speaker (sorry, I know that is jarring).

That's why all of this is so telling. He just chucked the whole thing out the window. He's done with the bullshit.

The Pope made it clear that Bohner and his ilk are on the wrong side of God. To Bohner, the Pope is "infallible." To Catholics, that means that the Pope is God-like.

Bohner is either going to drink himself silly or he's going to get sober and tell us all of the delicious details about the sociopaths who have stolen our government. That is…if they allow him to live. A guy who has been on the inside, who has a sudden epiphany, is probably seen as a loose cannon/threat to the power structure.

[dorkzilla]

59. Didn’t know any of that, thanks for the info

I thought it was a portent of something bad - - “leadership” promised Wall Street there would be no more shut-downs and I thought he was resigning because he felt he couldn’t control his party in Congress, and therefore could not make good on that promise.

I had no idea he was even Catholic. Nor did I know about his bringing the Pope here or the meeting between Francis and the Weeping Orange. I thought it was more Weeping Orange Theater.

I actually feel badly for the bloke now. No wonder he’s a drunken mess most of the time.

[CoffeeCat]

87. There are two kinds of assholes...

The first kind is the full-blown psychopath. They feel nothing and actually enjoy the pain they inflict.

The second kind a half-measure kind of person. These people are tortured, because they do feel. They know that what they are doing is wrong. They're in pain. However, denial keeps them running like little Energizer bunnies. In Bohner's situation, I think he drinks his pain away.

If that man gets away from the horrors that is our government and gets sober--there's no telling what we could learn from him.

He should probably avoid small aircraft.

[Gman]

85. I could not have said it better

You are exactly 100% correct. I have never thought he was a bad person. Like many in the GOP, they are trapped by the ideology of the far right wing. They are ambitious, so they play that game. This reminds me somewhat of JC Watts. And African-American republican congressman from Oklahoma. He could no longer be there token and play their game.

I don't really expect many others to follow suit. If anything this is a rare occurrence

[L. Coyote]

9. Now I'm crying too, tears of joy.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. Be careful what you wish for, huh. We may get someone who can

actually get some of their batshit ideas done

[CTyankee]

16. my sentiments entirely...we will probably get a raging RWer...

[Laura PourMeADrink]

48. Hey CTY ! To me, this is a huge omen - significant disarray

in the party. Who quits smack dab in the middle of an election cycle?

makes me think they (the half way sane ones (who used to be insane - but now looking half way compared to others)) know the party is doomed.

No one likes Jeb - their moderate ace in the hole. rubio can't win. Probably why they are polling on Romney's chances. Actually don't know who the "they" is - PTB in party or Mittens himself.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

14. While I know what you mean, this will open the gates of stupid Republican hell.

God knows what degenerate they'll choose to replace him.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

40. He'd need to switch to the House to do that. But yes, I'm sure he would love the gig.

[bottomofthehill]

67. you do not need to be a Member of the House to be elected Speaker.

Maybe we will get Speaker Trump. That would make for fun times in the House.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

69. I had no idea. Thanks for the correction.

[ZM90]

10. Now the question is will his replacement be saner or crazier?

I predict crazier.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

19. It's not even a question - Crazier

How much crazier is the big question.

[ZM90]

23. You are correct.

Will it be Huckabee crazier, Cruz crazier, or Trump crazier? Taking all bets! Taking all bets!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

26. easy bet !

[L. Coyote]

88. No, the real question is will they gerrymander the House before voting, so a loser can win.

Kidding, but i'm sure they will elect a loser.

[fredamae]

17. I say: Great Start!

Now, we need at Least 380 more to follow his Lead!

[Capt. Obvious]

22. This may be terrible news

The devil you know and all.

Will a fucking lunatic replace him?

[Capt. Obvious]

42. He is the favorite

Researching him now.

[Capt. Obvious]

45. He's a tea bagger

but he's been working with Boehner to reign in the crazies.

Now he has to lead - will he go full teabag or lead?

[WinkyDink]

80. They're all devils and lunatics. Some just might be more cordial than others.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

82. In the speakership or OH-08?

In OH-08, my money would be on Sheriff Jones, a violently xenophobic 'deport them all' type to try a run. The Repub party machinery talked him out of it a couple of cycles ago, but he's well liked among the red-leaning types.

[INdemo]

24. He is going take his insider trading millions

and run,right into the lobbyist job that awaits him.

[TacoD]

25. Get ready for Speaker Gohmert (nt)

[Jack Rabbit]

55. What's the line in the commodities market for popcorn?

[pscot]

78. Oh please, oh please

[countingbluecars]

27. Why do I want to believe

that this is because Boehner took what the pope said yesterday to heart and no longer wants to be part of the hate that is the Republican party.

Just read Boehner's statement-Guess not.

[Hortensis]

37. Maybe because it is there among all the roiling plans and emotions?

You know, only about a third or so of conservatives are the hating kind. Boehner's a pretty traditional conservative, the kind Buckley referred to when he said, "A Conservative is a fellow who is standing athwart history yelling 'Stop!'"

This era is remarkable for Big Money corrupting conservatives into forgetting that (because business LIKES the profitable change technology brings) and retraining them in a soulless ideology with one belief: The need to stop the Democrats.

I'd be weeping too.

[libodem]

28. Is this a joke?

I'll be so effing disappointed.


Don't play with me. It's too early.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

39. No joke. But this may backfire on us. nt

[libodem]

46. Wow

I'm amazed. The Pope really does make miracles.

Off to lobby land with his insider trading millions.


Schmuck.

[saturnsring]

65. what back fired on "us" was too much of the left sitting out 2010 and 2014 elections.

they have consequences and one of them is too many of the opposition gets voted in

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

29. He wants to spend more time with his mistress?

[Yavin4]

50. Or spend more time in the tanning bed

Imagine how much more orange he will be now.

[Malraiders]

31. Boehner quit a long time ago. eo.

[MohRokTah]

33. .

[NYCButterfinger]

34. Get ready for Speaker McMorris

She is a star in the GOP. She may be the GOP vice presidential running mate. She can connect with the voters, like she did in the GOP SOTU response last year.

[randome]

47. Heh. At first I saw that as '...the GOP STFU response last year.'

[hr][font color="blue"][center]You should never stop having childhood dreams.[/center][/font][hr]

[bottomofthehill]

68. not a chance

she has had the chance to move up the republican ladder and has not. She is as dumb as a bag of hammers.

[Lee-Lee]

41. Well this cements the reelection of my scumbag rep Meadows

As he was leading the charge against Boehner- now he will be the darling of every teabaggers ball...

[lonestarnot]

44. Third in line picked from a pool of freaks that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground is,

well, business as usual. SNAFU.

[Yavin4]

49. Nancy Pelosi must be laughing her ass off right about now n/t

[SummerSnow]

51. Boehner tired of fighting the crazies. Insurrection in the party

[Recursion]

53. This is some awful news

God knows what paleolithic troglodyte monstrosity they're going to dig up to replace him

[maryellen99]

60. There's video of the crazies at the Value Voters conference erupting in cheers

When it was announced during Rubios speech that Boehner was resigning.

[Recursion]

61. Sure; imagine if Reid or Pelosi had resigned. There would have been a lot of cheering on the left.

"Finally, we can get a non-DINO!" "Time for someone with backbone!" etc.

[iandhr]

54. I think we should hold off the celebrations

A very scary person could follow.

[Salviati]

56. The appropriate question isn't "will a fucking lunatic replace him?"

but rather, which fucking lunatic will replace him...

[ChiciB1]

57. I Think It's Too Much To Hope For, But Wouldn't It Be

SUPER if Boner had enough of a spine to give more than the standard speech of I'm resigning to spend time with my family, yatty yatty! How amazing would it be if he could/would repudiate his Repuke Party and be specific and up front with his reasons.

But, hearing some "gossip" that he may be connected to some weird scandal that may soon hit the airways who knows. Even if they elect a WORSE person to ride the wayward horse of the Party it may in some ways shine a brighter light on the these high and mighty religious zealots!

Yes, I wish for too much and what I'm speculating about here is probably far too much to hope for. No matter, it's apparent his fellow Congress Critters really, really dislike him

UNLIKE our very own Democratic Party who can't seem to grasp the fact that so many of us so fiercely want to be rid of Debbie Wasserman-Schultz!

I'm a Bernie supporter and because of how I feel right now I'm seriously thinking of changing from a Democrat to NPA after the FL primary. Fl is a state that requires you to register a party affiliation to vote. So depending on what happens in 2016 I will make this decision. Not a decision I ever thought I would do, but this Democratic Party isn't anywhere close to the one I joined when I became eligible to vote. Even before my eligibility I always knew my thoughts were with the Democrats.

Ok, nuff said!

[barbtries]

58. is it so he can go into rehab?

there must be a reason? i'm kind of shocked.

[jalan48]

75. There may something to what you say.

It's obvious the man has a serious drinking problem. At some point he just can't function anymore.

[Hugin]

62. Well, isn't that a pretty penny. Pretty much cinches this as the CR showdown to end all CR showdowns

Last edited Fri Sep 25, 2015, 06:04 PM - Edit history (1)

As deeply tempted as I am to say something, I will resist. Instead, I only wish John Boehner a future filled with enlightenment and release.

On to Speaker Gohmert! Yick.

[EEO]

63. This is not good.

[CanonRay]

64. If I had to work with the lunatics in his party, I'd quit too. n/t

[niyad]

76. I wonder when whatever terminal illness he has will be announced?

[randome]

81. There is no cure for Republicanism. Only a slow decline into uselessness.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]You should never stop having childhood dreams.[/center][/font][hr]

[Android3.14]

77. Was it a come to Jesus moment?

"Boehner then read the prayer of St. Francis to the conference after announcing his decision."

[Monk06]

79. Well the crazy train will go full throttle now

[Lodestar]

83. Yep.... no wonder there were tears in Congress during his rare visit there.

When you live for power and wealth, it's an empty life indeed. But how often does something happen, such as the Pope's visit, that holds up the mirror so powerfully.
Rather than take Boehner to task on his less than saintly activities, when alone with Boehner, the Pope offered him a loving embrace, asked the politician to pray for him and reminded him about work for children and education.