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President Obama - John Boehner Can't Control His Caucus
Political Realities ^ | 10/16/13 | LD Jackson

Posted on 10/16/2013 3:35:16 AM PDT by LD Jackson

The Democrats government shutdown is in its third week and it is beginning to look like it will continue, at least past the debt ceiling. Negotiations continue over how to reopen the government, but there is a certain amount of exasperation starting to show. The Republicans in the House of Representatives have offered plan after plan to end the government shutdown, but they have all been rejected by the Democrats. Their latest plan was threatened with a veto from President Obama, before it could even make it to the floor of the House. I can't help but wonder if Rush Limbaugh is correct in his assessment that President Obama really does not want to make a deal.

There is a side story in all of this that I want to highlight. Much ado has been made about the right-wing of the Republican Party. I have lost count of the times I have heard President Obama accuse conservatives in the GOP of holding the rest of the party hostage. That same line of attack continued yesterday, after the latest proposal in the House was dropped, ostensibly because Speaker John Boehner realized he didn't have the votes to pass the bill. I want you to pay attention to what Obama said.

CNN - President Barack Obama -- who will meet Wednesday with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew -- called for House Republicans to "do what's right" by reopening government and ensuring the United States can pay its bills, telling CNN affiliate WABC that "we don't have a lot of time."

Yet even he acknowledged Boehner's difficulty in getting his fellow House Republicans on the same page.

"(Boehner) negotiating with me isn't necessarily good for the extreme faction in his caucus," Obama told WABC. "It weakens him, so there have been repeated situations where we have agreements. Then he goes back, and it turns out that he can't control his caucus."

President Obama/John BoehnerMaybe this is just me grasping at straws, as I am sure some liberals would think, but I take an exception to President Obama and his assessment that John Boehner can not control his caucus. His statement is technically true, but is this not about more than how the leaders in the political parties can control their caucuses? Did it ever occur to Obama that the reason Boehner is having control issues is because the people who sent those rank and file representatives to Washington are making their voices heard? Sorry, Mr. President, but there is much more at stake than controlling a caucus, and the idea that you think the caucus needs to be control offends me, in the worst possible way.

I believe this highlights the problematic attitude so many of our political leaders display. They want their caucus to fall into line with the leadership, irregardless of how their constituents want them to vote. Not only do they want this to happen, but they expect it. That's another part of the problem. They have been successful at this for so many years, they see no reason not to expect it to continue. When the members of this caucus raise their heads in defiance and refuse to follow blindly behind people like John Boehner and Mitch McConnell, the power structure that has been in place for far too long is threatened.

For once, we are seeing the Republicans hold their ground. I'm not sure how much longer that will continue, as the GOP leadership seems determined to give away the house to the Democrats, but for now, they are standing firm. I have no doubt the main reason this is happening is because the caucus Obama wants Boehner to control is not cooperating with their leadership. I hope they continue to serve notice, both to President Obama and John Boehner. This is not about controlling the caucus, but rather about the will of the people being done. If our political leaders could have learned that years ago, then maybe we wouldn't be in this mess.


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: boehner; johnboehner; obama; obamacaves; ohio
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1 posted on 10/16/2013 3:35:16 AM PDT by LD Jackson
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To: LD Jackson

I see, bonehead cannot control his caucus, perhaps what he forgot to add, as well as I can through my shill in the Senate.


2 posted on 10/16/2013 3:37:52 AM PDT by Mouton (The insurrection laws perpetuate what we have for a government now.)
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To: LD Jackson

Obama is not a serious President. Cheap shots directed at your opponents don’t bring compromise.


3 posted on 10/16/2013 3:41:08 AM PDT by Senator_Blutarski
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To: LD Jackson
They want their caucus to fall into line with the leadership, irregardless of how their constituents want them to vote.

cringe.
4 posted on 10/16/2013 3:47:20 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There's no salvation in politics.)
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To: LD Jackson

So THAT’S what Valerie Jarrett told her Sock-puppet to say?


5 posted on 10/16/2013 3:49:38 AM PDT by MuttTheHoople (Nothing is more savage and brutal than justifiably angry Americans. DonÂ’t believe me? Ask the Germa)
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To: LD Jackson

Here’s a guy (Obama) who’s complaining about managing events who isn’t responsible for anything that goes on during his administration and can’t even control his “sons”.


6 posted on 10/16/2013 3:50:43 AM PDT by mosesdapoet (Serious contribution pause.Please continue onto meaningless venting no one reads.)
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To: LD Jackson
And that is Obozo's philosophy: People are things to control.
He has the helm of the the most powerful nation in history with 300 million people, and all he can think of is: "I want to control them, all of them."
7 posted on 10/16/2013 3:54:59 AM PDT by Psalm 73 ("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here - this is the War Room".)
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To: Senator_Blutarski
Obama is not a serious President. Cheap shots directed at your opponents don’t bring compromise.

Yes. For the first time in his privileged, protected and promoted political life, Obama is facing real and determined opposition. He has no experience or frame of reference to deal with it.

So, he lashes out and flails away.

Like a child.

8 posted on 10/16/2013 3:59:38 AM PDT by don-o (Hit the FReepathon hard and fast! Nail this one for the Jimmer. Do it now!)
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To: Psalm 73
He has the helm of the the most powerful nation in history with 300 million people, and all he can think of is: "I want to control them, all of them."

Isn't that the goal of Obamacare and, later on, single-payer?

The Democrats (and too many Republicans) for too long have been allowed to think that we are their possessions and they can do what they want with us. They seem unaware that they are supposed to represent us, not control us.

9 posted on 10/16/2013 4:04:53 AM PDT by exDemMom (Now that I've finally accepted that I'm living a bad hair life, I'm more at peace with the world.)
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To: Dr. Sivana

Is irregardless even a real word?

It seems to indicate the exact opposite of regardless.


10 posted on 10/16/2013 4:08:03 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: exDemMom
"...for too long have been allowed to think that we are their possessions and they can do what they want with us..."

That idea will be changing soon - and it won't be pretty.

11 posted on 10/16/2013 4:19:53 AM PDT by Psalm 73 ("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here - this is the War Room".)
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To: LD Jackson

POTGO thinks he’s shopping Walmart with EBT When he is in fact spending tax dollars that don’t exist. The govt credit card is maxed out stoopid.
Pass a balanced budget.t
That’s all that’s needed.


12 posted on 10/16/2013 4:20:38 AM PDT by Recompennation (Constitutional protection for all not just selectively for Democrats.)
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To: Mouton
I see, bonehead cannot control his caucus, perhaps what he forgot to add, as well as I can through my shill in the Senate.

Is Obama controlling Reid or is Reid controlling Obama?

13 posted on 10/16/2013 4:23:19 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: Dr. Sivana; cripplecreek

Irregardless—popularized by President Eisenhower. Apparently he used it quite a lot.


14 posted on 10/16/2013 4:24:55 AM PDT by VMI70
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To: don-o
Obama is facing real and determined opposition

But unfortunately none of that determined opposition is in GOP leadership. Cruz and Lee are the determined opposition and the Boehners and McConnells and Cantors are impediments to them and not their allies.

15 posted on 10/16/2013 4:26:37 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: Dr. Sivana

We live in a world where disrespect is now a verb. Nothing surprises me anymore.


16 posted on 10/16/2013 4:27:44 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: LD Jackson
What Obama should be saying is that he's lost control of John Boehner.

I don't understand Obama bullying Boehner. Before that happened, our biggest fear was Boehner would cave for a golf game or whatever. Maybe it's that Obama's only defense is being a bully when he doesn't get his way.

17 posted on 10/16/2013 4:32:10 AM PDT by grania
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To: LD Jackson

We are just a few hours and 18 RINO votes away from surrendering the House majority and the power of the legislature to control spending. By acquiescing to Obama’s demands, the Republican majority in the House is fundamentally changing how finances are managed in the country.

History is hard to recognize when it is happening, but I believe we are witnessing history here. This will tip the scale clearly in the favor of the takers. Welcome to the third world.


18 posted on 10/16/2013 4:35:46 AM PDT by IamConservative (The soul of my lifes journey is Liberty!)
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To: LD Jackson
Golly, gee! We have another crisis for which JugEars wants an emergency solution, right now, and don't bother to read the full solution, we can't wait!

Perch and Pivot, JugEars, and take your Pet RATS with you!

19 posted on 10/16/2013 4:51:28 AM PDT by Redleg Duke ("Madison, Wisconsin is 30 square miles surrounded by reality.", L. S. Dryfus)
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To: VMI70
Irregardless—popularized by President Eisenhower. Apparently he used it quite a lot.

I had heard that the word was used by the blue collar comedy radio show "Duffy's Tavern" as a joke; unfortunately, many didn't get it. The instructor of Legal Research and Writing at U of Missouri--Columbia's law school used it plenty in my first semester (1987). After I commented on it in the evaluations, she stopped using it.
20 posted on 10/16/2013 5:11:42 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There's no salvation in politics.)
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