The neutering of John Boehner

[xchrom]

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/07/20/maisel_boehner/index.html

Poor John Boehner. He has reached the pinnacle of his career. Speaker of the House. Remember the cheers from the Republicans that greeted his election? Remember the tears in his eyes? It doesn't get better than that.

But where are the cheers now? All Boehner wants to do is make a difference, to make a huge dent in the deficit, to begin to fulfill the promises on which his party came to power. And just look how his followers have responded. Is there exultation because he has garnered concessions on spending from a Democratic president that no one thought possible? Is there renewed adulation? Praise as the leader the Republicans have always craved?

Absolutely not.

He is a leader without followers. His supposedly loyal lieutenant, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, has played the role of Brutus. No compromises with the dreaded Democrats. Who cares if this is the best deal anyone can imagine? We don’t compromise. We don’t make deals.

[aquart]

1. People who cannot compromise should not be in government.

[emulatorloo]

2. "But many House Republicans will not compromise"

This is an excellent article, very insightful about what is going on.

[mysuzuki2]

3. I'd like to neuter that guy with a rusty potato peeler.

metaphorically speaking.