Speaker Boner did not attend the AZ service because he said he had

[old mark]

a commitment to attend a rally in DC...turns out it was for a former aide who was running for Michael Steele's job as head of RNC and who did not get it. Reports from his staff state Boner spoke at the rally-for all of 3 minutes-then went elsewhere to watch the AZ service and President Obama's remarks on TV.

What is it with this guy? Is he so filled with hate he can't stand to be included with the President or other Democrats? Did he think he was scoring points with the ultra rightists? I know he is not politically stupid, and I know he must have some agenda in all this...any ideas?

mark

[mrcheerful]

1. Happy hour at his favorite watering hole

[tularetom]

2. He's scared shitless of the tea party wackos

He knows he's in very thin ice with the lunatic fringe of his party and he is well aware that he would have been crucified as a sellout (and probably would have received death threats) if he attended the service, especially of he flew there on AF1 with Obama.

[EFerrari]

20. I bet you're right. n/t

[Brickbat]

3. By watching the service and remarks on TV, without journalists around, he was free to drink himself

silly as much as he wanted.

[BonnieJW]

4. He also turned down

the dinner for the Chinese president. As speaker, he is supposed to attend these events. It's to Obama's credit that he includes Speaker Idiot.

[eilen]

6. Well, since he refused I hope the President sees fit to

invite Nancy Pelosi in his stead.

[pnorman]

25. Great idea! Seriously!

n/t

[NMDemDist2]

23. now THAT is truly messed up! what an ass he is n/t

[RavensChick]

5. Why am I not surprised?

Clearly he's already showing his true colors (being orange notwithstanding) that even if was one of his own he would give some lame ass excuse! He really should be ashamed if himself! Schedule conflict, my ass! Just give him a truckload of kleenex and call it a day!

[Danger Mouse]

7. There's no master plan. He's just that much of a horse's ass.

[old mark]

15. ...or else he just doesn't like to fly with black people...Or Democrats...nt

[DeepModem Mom]

8. He's turned down invitations to other State Dinners in the past. An alcohol problem...

is my guess here. Can he function after a certain time of the day or night, especially without having had a drink? He, of course, is next in line to the Presidency, after VP Biden, in the event of catastrophe -- which is a frightening possibility in any number of ways.

Another point might be that he's a smoker -- and smokers have few opportunities to smoke at public gatherings or in public places. In the Capitol, Boehner can apparently imbibe, and smoke, at any time. Speaker Pelosi, I read, had to have a major airing out, over the holidays, of the smoke-filled House Minority Leader's office. And I read in another article that Boehner can be seen with a drink in his hand by late afternoon.

[global1]

9. Somebody Should Tail This Guy And Post Photos Of Him On A Daily Basis......

with a cigarette and drink in his hand.

We would be doing him a service - maybe he would even consider rehab and dry himself out.

Obama has been criticized for smoking from time to time. How does this guy get off skating all the time for his vices?

[old mark]

10. The US Congress has traditionally been a haven for failed alcoholic lawyers...

Boner might see himself as one of a long line, But you are right-He is in a position of great responsibility to ALL the American people, and I believe he may be terrified of it...

Yeah, where are those folks with the cameras during Mr. Boner's afternoon "meditations"?


mark

[DCKit]

11. The papparazzi can stalk any American, with the exception of an (R) politician.

They'd be beaten and locked up the first time a complaint was filed.

[DeepModem Mom]

13. Very good points. nt

[fizzgig]

17. because he's a republican

[gratuitous]

12. If they'd have a little sensitivity to John's drinking schedule, this wouldn't be a problem

You can have these state dinners and memorial services on any evening of a day not ending in Y. The rest are John's drinking nights, and as such are pretty sacrosanct.

[old mark]

14. IN fairness to Speaker Boehner, I have been searching the WEBS

for any conclusive information on his drinking. I find SPECULATION (and some gleeful/wishful thinking) such as this:

http://boehnerbooze.wordpress.com/2010/12/13/boehner-booze-watch-meter-seismic-activity/

...but NO hard evidence...
Is he so protected that he is un accessible and hiding his drunkenness? Is alcoholism so common in Congress that he is unremarkable?
Or is he NOT an alcoholic at all?
Is there anyone here who is an true Washington Insider with REAL KNOWLEDGE who is willing to share it with us humble Liberals?

It is certainly important to know one way or another, but till then I will rely on the old adage that where there's smoke, there's fire, and there is lots of smoke around Mr Boehner concerning alcohol...

Anyone know the truth?


mark

[Doctor_J]

16. "Orange, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, Boner"

[NuclearDem]

18. Just waiting until a press conference...

Where he breaks down crying and curls up in the fetal position....then grabs the first journalist he can find and sobs out "WHY DO YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES WHEN WE MAKE LOVE?!?!?!"

[old mark]

19. OK- I am posting links to more"is Boehner a drunk" articles that I can read

here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/searchresults.html?q=Boehner+drunk%3F&sitesearch=&sa=Search&domains=democraticunderground.com&client=pub-7805397860504090&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&cof=GALT%3A%23008000%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23336699%3BVLC%3A663399%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3A336699%3BALC%3A0000FF%3BLC%3A0000FF%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIMP%3A0000FF%3BFORID%3A11&hl=en


Note that there are over 23,500 responses to "Boehner drunk?"...

I note that Joe Scarborough-who served as a GOP congressman with Boehner-has stated on TV that our Speaker is noted for frequenting area bars by 5PM or so, and that he is personally lazy and irresponsible. I can't find hard evidence, but the media gives politicians a large pass on things like drinking and sex until the pol in question is so outrageous he can not be ignored.
Evidently some righties think stories of Boehner's drinking are Liberal lies to discredit him, and several mention that Pelosi is extremely rich, Frank is gay, Ted Kennedy drank a lot, etc...which is interesting but not relevant. I KNOW many in congress are drunks, many abuse drugs, many are interested in various forms of sex with various other persons...
I am just intersted in finding hard evidence that Boehner is drinking to the point of interfering with his responsibilities.

If ANYONE knows of such information, let's see it, please.

Thanks

[starroute]

21. Here's Politico making insinuations

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0507/Boehner_cries_again_getting_a_rep_as_a_weeper.html

May 24, 2007

Boehner cries again, getting a rep as a 'weeper'

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) cried again on the House floor today, this time while delivering a floor speech on the Iraq funding bill.

While the issue was serious and somber, this is getting to be something of a habit for the Ohio Republican. One of his GOP colleagues noted that Boehner cries more often later in the day. Go figure, eh.

[janet118]

22. It's not the drinking, it's the behavior . . .

This is a pretty good article http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/12/15/john-boehners-crying-is-he-drinking-too-much/">Politics Daily about rumors of drinking in re Boehner. It's hard to know if someone's a drunk if they drink at home or in private clubs. My husband did it for years. I'm just glad Boehner has a designated driver.

You know what struck me as weird. That he was able to read a statement about the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords without a tear. Odd, odd man.

[SoCalDem]

24. He did not want to have to make small talk on the plane

and preferred his "beverages & smokes" :shrug: