leader john boehner

Sean Hannity decided to have disgraced former representative, Mark Foley, on his show to discuss the Anthony Weiner non-sex "scandal". Foley, who was forced to resign after sending sexually explicit messages to underage congressional pages, told Hannity that it should not be illegal to send such messages to minors (via Think Progress):

This is really amazing, especially since Foley was such a crusader on stopping child pornography.

It also shows how Fox views Weinergate. Foley was involved in extremely sexual exchanges with children under the age of 18. Not only that, these were children sent to our nation's capital to be taken care of by one of our branches of government. Foley betrayed the trust of these children and of our nation when he decided to pursue these children. And while there are reports that Weiner did engage in his naughty talk with a 17 year old, what Foley did was much worse, but not as bad as the cover-up.

Foley's activities were known about by Republicans on Capital Hill for years. Even then majority leader John Boehner and then-speaker Dennis Hassert admitted to knowing about Foley's problem at least a year before it was made public. The two most powerful members of the House of Representatives didn't want to protect the children in their charge - they wanted to protect the predator in their caucus.

This guy has absolutely no morals at all:

Speaker John Boehner will host a cocktail party for the Republican National Committee at the same time that President Barack Obama will be addressing the nation at the memorial service for victims of the Tucson shooting.

The Ohio Republican is holding a 7 p.m. cocktail reception Wednesday night for 168 RNC members, who are in the Washington area for an annual meeting. The event is sponsored by Boehner’s political action committee and will take place at Maryland’s National Harbor resort

I think the RNC would fully understand if Boehner would have bowed out of the event because of the incident this weekend. He is the leader of the people’s House after all. This is just another indication of what a piss-poor leader John Boehner is.

If the Republicans don't win the House back in the fall, then they have a backup plan:

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) is trying to foment a long-shot Democratic rebellion against Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) that would install House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) in her place after the November elections.

The scenario, as Simpson sees it, runs like this: Democrats lose a bunch of seats but cling to a narrow majority. If a handful of Democrats withhold their votes for Pelosi, Democrats would have to put up another candidate, or else Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) would become Speaker.

“I’m trying to help Steny,” Simpson said with a smile. “If it gets close enough, six or eight Blue Dogs could make the difference,” he added, referring to the Blue Dog Coalition of fiscally conservative House Democrats.

Simpson said a similar dynamic toppled Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) from the Speaker’s post after losses in the 1998 elections left Republicans clinging to a narrow majority.

You got to give Republicans credit for one thing; they don't hide their hatred for Nancy Pelosi. Having said that, this sounds like a plan to make the House as dysfunctional as the Senate.

Unbelievable:

Congressional Democrats and the White House are toying with different ways to force BP to cover the costs of damages from the Gulf oil spill. But they face stiff opposition from industry...and it seems leading Republicans. In response to a question from TPMDC, House Minority Leader John Boehner said he believes taxpayers should help pick up the tab for the clean up.

"I think the people responsible in the oil spill--BP and the federal government--should take full responsibility for what's happening there," Boehner said at his weekly press conference this morning.

This would basically be a bailout for BP and Boehner is pushing for it? I wonder how the Tea Party would like that one.

Via FOX News

A 46-year-old top aide to House Republican Leader John Boehner died suddenly, reportedly from a heart attack, the minority leader announced Sunday.

"It is with profound sadness and shock that I announce the passing of Paula Nowakowski, my longtime chief of staff, trusted aide, and friend, who died suddenly last night. Words cannot adequately express the sorrow and disbelief I and every member of our team are grappling with today in the wake of this stunning news," Boehner said in a statement on his House leadership Web site.

"We will remember Paula as she would want to be remembered -- as a tireless worker, faithful friend, rabid Detroit sports fan, whip-smart strategist, warrior for freedom, and devoted Catholic who counted President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II among her greatest heroes. She will never be replaced, or forgotten," Boehner continued.

Only 46. What a shocker.

Image via Wikipedia

Everyone knows that Boehner loves his golf, but it turns out he loves it a little too much:

By all public estimations, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) is a pretty good golfer.

He should be, given the $82,998 his political action committee has spent on golf outings so far this year, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

I bet all the people who donate to his PAC are glad that their money is going to something as important as golfing. What’s also interesting is how much Republicans get on Obama for golfing, yet they won’t mention Boehner’s obsession.

Being one of Boehner’s constituents, I can safely say he worries more about golfing than he does his own district. He doesn’t do crap for people around here and the people are finally getting fed up.

It looks like there is some bigger troubles brewing inside the Republican ranks:

GOP leaders, in a private meeting last month, delivered a blunt and at times heated message to RNC Chairman Michael Steele: quit meddling in policy.

The plea was made during what was supposed to be a routine discussion about polling matters and other priorities in House Minority Leader John Boehner’s office. But the session devolved into a heated discussion about the roles of congressional leadership and Steele, according to multiple people familiar with the meeting.

The congressional leaders were particularly miffed that Steele had in late August unveiled a seniors’ “health care bill of rights” without consulting with them. The statement of health care principles, outlined in a Washington Post op-ed, began with a robust defense of Medicare that puzzled some in a party not known for its attachment to entitlements.

This just highlights the problem the RNC has had – no clear leadership. On one hand some want to jump up and act like the savior, while on the other hand - who would want to be seen piloting the sinking ship? Sure the media wants you to think that the Democratic party is the sinking ship right now, and while their numbers are going down, so are the Republican numbers. When was the last time that the opposition party had approval ratings so low?

Last week I posted about how minority leader John Boehner wasn’t holding any town halls. Well it appears he has now decided to change course. And just check out where:

House Minority Leader John Boehner has agreed to answer questions in a town hall setting at the Voice of America Freedom Rally on Sept. 5 at the Voice of America Park Museum, Cincinnati Tea Party organizers said in a statement Monday night, Aug. 24.

Tea party organizers are expecting Boehner will to respond to citizens’ concerns about health care reform and the direction of the country in general, according to Sue White, manager of communications for the group.

Boehner can only face questions in a setting that is friendly to him. You can also be sure the media will cover this event, showing all the outrage. I just wonder if they will report that the even is at a tea party?