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As part of the ongoing examination of whether John Boehner is actually good at his job, there's fresh evidence of a lingering problem: As House Speakers go, this one is very weak.
I don't mean that in a pejorative sense, necessarily. Rather, I mean it in a literal, procedural sense -- Boehner leads a caucus that's increasingly disinclined to follow him.
With internally divisive fights over religion and the budget looming, Speaker John Boehner's leadership is showing increasing signs of wear and tear, according to GOP lawmakers who warn that his often laissez-faire approach has encouraged dissension and open defiance among the rank and file.
Since taking the gavel, the Ohio Republican has explicitly pursued an approach to leadership that rejects the traditional top-down, carrot-and-stick approach of former Speakers, such as Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), in favor of a more hands-off style.
But that decision has come at a cost to Boehner. While his continued leadership of the party is not in doubt, in multiple interviews his colleagues said the Speaker's desire to use a more open approach has made shepherding his raucous Conference increasingly difficult.
One Republican House member told Roll Call that this election year, the intra-party, intra-chamber divisions are likely to get even messier. Boehner's style leadership leads "to a climate ... [of] 'Eh, who cares. What's he going to do to me?'" the GOP lawmaker said, adding that at some point members will simply say, "Sorry, we're not going back to that well."
In fairness to Boehner, he's still something of a rookie in this gig, and maybe his competence and leadership abilities will emerge in time. But looking back over the last several decades, we haven't seen a House Speaker this ineffectual in generations. This is generally considered one of the most powerful positions in the federal government, and Boehner seems to be shrinking, both in stature and influence.
Some of this is the result of a sudden, large majority -- Boehner leads a massive freshman class, and since they didn't even know the man up until a year ago, he hasn't cultivated a lengthy relationship with any of them. For that matter, these freshmen are far to the right of any caucus in modern American history, which makes their tolerance for compromises and concessions practically nonexistent. Boehner's been around Capitol Hill for a long while, and he doesn't know how to play the game by the rules Tea Party freshmen prefer, especially when the other party controls the Senate and White House.
Whatever the cause, the end result is the same: Boehner may wield the Speaker's gavel, but he hasn't demonstrated much of an ability to lead anyone, anywhere. It's why Congress can't pass meaningful legislation; why Boehner has brought offers, hat in hand, to his caucus, only to be shot down; and why the institution has the lowest approval rating since the dawn of modern polling.
Now that it's reached the point at which members feel comfortable telling reporters, "What's he going to do to me?" Boehner probably shouldn't get too comfortable in his office.
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I think they are all too comfortable. They feel that they can dictate rather than represent.
I agree.It might be possible that these freshmen will dictate themselves out of their seats
The newbies drank the KoolAide before they got to Washington, so the promise of a plum committee seat does not make a thrill run up their leg.
That thrill comes from poking a stick in any Democratic eye within reach. Plus, they haven't realized just what a cushy, lifetime "job" they now have. (Reality check: Have until November. . .)
Being new at his job is an excuse, not a reason, for Boehner's poor performance as Speaker. So, too, is the notion that the freshman class of unruly tea
gaggersbaggers were unlike any other in the House's history. Nancy Pelosi was new at her job in 2006, as well, and did a remarkable job of herding all of the cats in her caucus - including the mass of newly elected members.Mr. Boehner simply isn't very good at his job and, I suspect, part of it is owing to his reputation for being lazy and wanting to get out of the Capitol as early as possible every day. It's not that hard to build relationships when you are the Speaker and tell a new member that you want to get to know them, to explain how the House works, and offer to take them to dinner or to come to his office at the end of the day for a drink.
Of course, with the openly ambitious Eric Cantor scheming behind Mr. Boehner's back, his job isn't made any easier.
To be honest, I don't think the crying helped him out all that much either....he seemed to be the only one who knew what he was crying about.
Surprisingly enough, Cantor never handed him a tissue. Go figure.
That had to hurt Boehners feelings even more.
No one so far who has become Speaker of the House of Representatives (with the exception of the very first one...Jefferson?) has ever done so without serving a lengthy leadership apprenticeship as Whip or Minority leader or something of the like. They ought to know how the job is handled; as Madame Speaker Pelosi knew when she took the gavel. Mr. Speaker Boehner has either forgotten or ignored everything he ever learned during his "grooming" period.
Your ladyship
Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania. I have no idea if he was bad or good at his job. He definitely would have been a newcomer!
Thank you, Maria! One of my husband's cousins played football for Muhlenberg College and I never even knew that nifty little tidbit of information.
More of the same failed leadership from the Republican Party. John Boehner has officially been the worst Speaker of the House in American history. He has been a miserable failure at everything he has tried to accomplish,. and has fought for a toxic and divisive agenda. Boehner cannot keep the Tea Party in line and has barely been able to keep the government running, the sole function of Congress as laid out in our Constitution. Boehner ought to resign now before he gets kicked out of the chair next January, after the Dems take the House back... http://www.sunstateactivist.org
Can the Repubs kick him out in January?
Yes, Jeanette, the Republican caucus can vote him out as Speaker or (hopefully) minority leader in January when the new Congress convenes. Eric Cantor is quietly working to do just this.
The thing is, Cantor won't be any better at the job than Boehner is. They both learned and play by the same rules. And if you think crying is bad, wait till you see Cantor whining.
Boehner may have been the happy drunk guy that everyone loved at the frat parties, but as a leader, he sucks!
The image of Boehner almost lurching to a House floor podium on the eve of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, where he proceeded to appear to be so stinking drunk that he repeatedly referred to David Obey (who was presiding over the session) as "Madame Speaker," and repeatedly violated House floor rules (remember the nonsensical "hell no, you can't!" rant?) -- certainly makes Benen's piece about Boehner's "leadership" an extremely generous one.
I think we had a clue what was coming when 2 Freshmen took their Oath of Office by television and then voted!
When you get Democrats thinking fondly of the days of Tom "The Hammer" DeLay, you *know* it's a bad sign. Boehner's weakness is bad for all concerned — chaos in the House does not lead to promotion of ANY legislative agenda, whether you're for it or agin it, as the saying goes.
Nancy P. was "new" at her job also, and she managed to do her job quite well! Since Baby Bonehead can't hack it, give the gavel back to Nancy!!
We can fix the problem of a weak Speaker. Get the Democrats in charge and give Ms. Pelosi back her gavel.
Boehner is in a very bad position. He knows that the Republicans are likely to lose seats in the next election. If they lose control of the House which is very probable, he will be blamed by everyone in the party. The radicals will claim he did not stand up to the White House and moderates will blame him for not reining in the radicals. If Republicans keep control of the House, he will still be blamed for the loss of seats. The question will be whether enough Tea Party people remain in their seats. If they lose, then Cantor will have no base of support and he will be out on a limb for helping the brinksmanship fiascoes. If they win, then Cantor becomes the next speaker. Boehner loses under most of the scenarios.
Not even Republicans want Cantor as Speaker
Cantor would be a major disaster for the Republicans because he thinks he does not have to compromise with the White House or the Senate. He is part of the reason why Republicans are low in opinion polls.
Cantor is the logical progression and endpoint of stated Republican policies. The ones who thought them up never thought anyone would be so stupid as to buy into them wholesale but Cantor does.
The guy can hardly get a full sentence out without messing it up. His eyes are always so bloodshot and he always looks hungover. Perhaps, bending his elbow too much is at the root of his inability to do his job and not being new.
It's not like you need a speaker or a leader or anyone with ideas or anything, when Grover Norquist is running the show, and he justs want someone who can pick up a pen and do what he's told. By Grover Norquist.
This is the person who is second in the U.S. presidential line of succession? Yikes.
Who in their right mind really wants to follow a weeping tangerine?
Here's the thing. Nancy Pelosi ruled the Speaker's chair with an iron fist (...a well manicured fist to be sure - very tasteful). She had that rare ability to herd cats, or at least pull their tails to get legislation accomplished. Boehner? He's a one-man Party of No. It's hard to articulate a policy for your party when you can't even articulate your own positions on issues and when "no" for the sake of no IS your position. He never has. Of course, maybe we'll cut him some slack because he's got the tea partier's to deal with. ...nah.
Isn't he too busy drinking and crying to actually get anything done?
Dont forget the golf games with lobbyists.
The photo of Johnny: Poster boy for skin cancer.
John Boehner reminds me of Igor from "Young Frankenstein - Mel Brooks, when Igor says, "Walk This way" and everyone follows bend over and limping. Yes, I'm convinced, John Boener is in his own musical "Gone Wrong"......when will the republicans walk up and see how each part of the whole is out of control, like an unruley class of children, led by the worst teacher on the planet, Igor...Follow me!, which way? This way! .....:)