Boehner tightens grip on GOP rank and file ahead of deficit talks

The Hill ^ | 11/20/12 | Molly K. Hooper

[SparkyBass]

"Yes, it's true! I keep John's cojones in a box in my desk drawer! And yes, it makes him sad."

[Ingtar]

I thought the GOP gained House seats?

[annieokie]

In the wake of the GOP’s stinging losses in the election, Boehner acknowledged that his party would be willing to accept “new revenue” — code for tax increases — if the president were willing to cut spending and reform entitlement programs.""""........

Understand this: HE DOES NOT CARE what we think. He is maneuvering his positions to exclude or weaken the TEA PARTY conservatives as much as possible. Which should make us more resolute in electing MORE TEA PARTY conservatives.

[txrefugee]

He’s a weeping little girl with Obama and the Dems, but he sprouts hair on his chest when he talks to even bigger weenies in the GOP caucus. Disgusting. They had every right to dump him and start with new leadership after this election. It appears they like to be screwed.

[Qbert]

"But closing loopholes has been on the conservative wishlist (simplifying the tax code) for decades."

It's one thing to close loopholes- if you get reduced rates. But where are the reduced rates? We can't keep relying on nebulous promises in the future.

[dadfly]

so now he’s house king boehner?

[what's up]

See post #18.

[grumpygresh]

He really wants to be minority leader in 2014.

[Qbert]

" Votes for what? No bill has been written yet."

Okay, I was unclear. I meant if they vote for tax increases on job creators, which is the direction things seem to be heading.

[andyk]

Shut it down - leave the debt ceiling right where it is.

[driftdiver]

Does he automatically get the majority leader position next term?

[what's up]

This is what Boehner said in opening negotiations. I've seen him repeat it several times.

he said the party is open to “increased revenue . . . as the byproduct of a growing economy, energized by a simpler, cleaner, fairer tax code, with fewer loopholes, and lower rates for all.”

Now, I expect the GOP will bargain if Obama is open to any kind of meaningful entitlement reform. Don't know what form that will take. Will we get 100% of what we want? (which is of course what FR wants but of course negotiations don't usually work that way). We'll see.

[noinfringers2]

Boehner and the likes of others need to be informed of their lack of standing even in their own states. What a sorry situation of unearned power/influence. Reminds me of the song connected to Evita Peron.

[Breto]

There is no other conclusion than to say any conservative that supports the republican party establishment in not conservative....

[wny]

The republicans capacity for stupidity is limitless. Here's my humble plan: Boehner, Cantor, Ryan call a press conference and state:

One - if nothing is done, the "Bush tax cuts" expire and taxes go up on everyone, including and especially the middle class and small business owners.

Two - we don't want that to happen. The president claims he doesn't want that to happen.

Three - I have here in my hand (he waves a single sheet of paper) a bill that will make the Bush tax Cuts permanent. He then reads the single sentence bill. And says he will bring it to the floor tomorrow and after it passes he will send it to the senate.

Four - he states if the senate refuses to consider it, then then the result will be the "Reid tax hikes"

[what's up]

Does he automatically get the majority leader position next term?

No, the House members vote.

There is no challenge for him which mean the members (even the tea party members) are backing him contrary to the MSM reports which always tell us he is unpopular.

House members actually like and respect him. Let's pray God gives him strength for the upcoming fight.

[pgkdan]

Any bipartisan agreement on taxes and spending reached by the White House and Boehner will test GOP unity — a test House Republicans largely failed over the last two years.

It's a test they were elected to FAIL! If the voters wanted a rubber stamp Congress they would have returned nancy pelosi and her goons to power in 2010. That didn't happen then and didn't happen in 2012! I really hate the press jackals who refuse to acknowledge any reality contrary to their self designed narratives.

[what's up]

What's different about your idea? That has been done over and over again.

The media will simply call it a tax cut for the rich as they have been doing for the last year.

[Qbert]

"Now, I expect the GOP will bargain if Obama is open to any kind of meaningful entitlement reform. Don't know what form that will take. Will we get 100% of what we want? (which is of course what FR wants but of course negotiations don't usually work that way). We'll see."

The Senate Dems have flat out said "No" to any entitlement reform. Obama has declared multiple times he wants to raise taxes on the "wealthy". So, what you're likely to be stuck with is a situation where loopholes are taken out, without reduced rates (which effectively is a tax increase)... all for a "binding" promise next year to work on entitlement reform. The Dems will then use that to demagogue Republicans for the mid-term elections. Just watch.

Say what you want, but without immediate entitlement reforms, the rest is meaningless. They will just keep kicking the can down the road.

[willowdean]

I fear total capitulation.