I feel sorry for this man, I really do. He started these negotiations from a position of almost unbelievable political weakness: the Republicans have no mandate, they lost the election, they don't have the Senate, they lost seats in the Senate during the fall election, they don't have the White House, and they have 97% of the media trying to murder them.
I also think the Boehner is battling addiction right now, or at least battling personal demons. The rumors of his drinking escapades in Washington DC are too numerous to discount as false rumors. On Friday, he recited the "Serenity Prayer" at his morning meeting in the House as he realized his "Plan B" had failed.
Still, I simply do not understand what the hell he was doing by pivoting on a dime last Monday night and going full steam ahead with his "Plan B." It was political poison. He was making progress with Obama....as much progress as the Republican weakened position could make. They were very, very close to a deal. A bad deal, but a deal still the same.
Boehner knew his "Plan B" would not EVEN BE VOTED on in the Senate, and Obama would veto EVEN IF IT GOT TO HIS DESK. Moreover, Republicans in the House voted no on Plan B in part because of its futility! Boehner should have known this. I knew it, and I am not a politician, much less Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Let's face facts: Entitlements are breaking the back of this nation. The takers have taken over. The military defense of our nation is now caught begging for scraps from the table of the obese Social Security Disability slob who sucked the teat of Unemployment benefits dry and is now on teat #2.
The Republicans should have finalized a deal that at least gave us marginal entitlement reform, and taken us away from the cliff. Don't listen to the media that say the cliff isn't all that bad. It is worse than they know or are willing to admit. Millions will soon be out of work, and the economic poison of taxes, massive defense cuts, and consumer fear may spread through the economy like a virus.
Boehner wasted a vital week before Christmas pursing a dead strategy.
He should be ousted. At least then, he can focus on his personal problems, and get well.