“The national GOP is now simply a collection of warring tribal factions”
The vote on Plan B was perhaps the most consequential test of Boehner’s leadership since he took control of the House early last year. Persuading a majority of Republicans to cast a politically treacherous vote to allow higher taxes could have enhanced his leverage with Obama in future talks to rein in the national debt, Republicans said. But failure could imperil his hold on power, said Craig Shirley, a Republican consultant who wrote a biography of former president Ronald Reagan.
“If this was a parliamentary system, tonight’s dissent on Plan B would be seen as a vote of no confidence in Boehner,” Shirley said. “The national GOP is now simply a collection of warring tribal factions.”…
“The Republicans are in an untenable situation,” said Rep. Dan Burton (Ind.), who was leaning toward supporting the measure Thursday. “If we don’t do anything, we go over the fiscal cliff. And then the president will come back . . . and if the economy goes to hell, he’s going to say it was the Republicans’ fault.”
But Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), serving his final days after losing his reelection bid in November, said the GOP brand would suffer if Republicans took a step that they had long argued amounted to a tax increase. “If you don’t draw a contrast with the other side, who are you?” he asked.
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“The national GOP is now simply a collection of clowns”
pretty much.
sesquipedalian on December 21, 2012 at 11:21 AM
I can find no fault with this assessment.
BigGator5 on December 21, 2012 at 11:24 AM
The pale pastel wing that keeps losing elections also keeps joining Dems to blame conservatives.
MechanicalBill on December 21, 2012 at 11:26 AM
The GOP has a habit of picking poor leaders.
Boehner, Steele, etc.
The question is, how can the teaparty get to the point where we’re the ones picking actual true conservatives who have good leadership skills to run the GOP?
Rebar on December 21, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Thanks Romney!
astonerii on December 21, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Fixed.
The party who elevates Joe Biden to the Vice Presidency has no room to judge.
Good Lt on December 21, 2012 at 11:29 AM
It’s part of the process to boot out the big government crooks like McCain, Romney, Boehner and start putting in people like Cruz, Amash and Rand Paul. Like me, everyone is nervous about the attempt to demolish the 2nd Amendment, but you people should also be nervous about McCain and Carl Levin’s tactic of removing the clause in the NDAA of 2013 which protected US citizens from indefinite detention without due process – your 5th and 6th Amendment right.
As of now, these politicians are in full scale attack on your rights.
MoreLiberty on December 21, 2012 at 11:35 AM
And what are the Democrats exactly? They haven’t offered a single plan that would even come close to dealing with our problems.
Reid wouldn’t even bring Obama’s plan up for a vote because it would have crashed an burned in a chamber completely controlled by Democrats.
gwelf on December 21, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Very true.
tommy71 on December 21, 2012 at 11:35 AM
What exactly are the Democrats?
Ted Torgerson on December 21, 2012 at 11:37 AM
There is NO republican leadership.
The GOP had had a “Out of Order” sign on it since 2006.
portlandon on December 21, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Well, if you called them “a collection of warring tribal factions,” you’d be called a racist.
Fallon on December 21, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Class warfare, War on Women, Identity and Racial politics . . . and that puts us right where the Democrats want us. Vulnerable to a paternalistic centralized government selling a cure-all for problems they initially inflicted.
JDF123 on December 21, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Federalism is the only solution to the irreconcilable differences in DC stemming from the deep partisan divide between the socialists and Constitutionalists.
Let the Left have their states and we’ll have ours.
Charlemagne on December 21, 2012 at 11:47 AM
If 90% of your energies aren’t directed at destroying Democrats personally and their brand, then you lose. You wander around lost and unsure of your purpose. Our last two presidential candidates bragged about how they worked so well with the enemy, and all of the Republicans in leadership are trying to cut deals with them. They don’t even look at them as the enemy. We need fresh new ideas on how to destroy Democrats, and that is all we need, along with sticking to conservative principles.
Buddahpundit on December 21, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Serious question: Is Mr. Boehner an AA member? Or is this prayer mainstream, and I just didn’t know it?
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on December 21, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Smart commentary on this from Ace of Spades.
thebrokenrattle on December 21, 2012 at 11:55 AM
The conservatives of the Republican Party are the only responsible group in the whole lot. To this point, Congress has failed us, the country, utterly and completely. Now it’s come to picking up the pieces after the inevitable crash, of high prices, inflation, unemployment, lack of credit. It’s not going to be pretty.
Paul-Cincy on December 21, 2012 at 11:57 AM
Romney = conservative. Just ask the sycophantic types around here.
astonerii on December 21, 2012 at 12:02 PM
There’s no part of that “brilliant plan” that isn’t completely crazy and stupid.
logis on December 21, 2012 at 12:02 PM
When I was in middle school (45 years ago), I found a small aluminum medallion with the serenity prayer inscribed on it. I’m guessing someone tossed it right before they had a drink, losing their faith in a dark moment.
I dunno. It’s a good prayer for anyone struggling with maintaining healthy psychological boundaries, but I do associate it more with AA.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Serenity Prayer is the common name for an originally untitled prayer by twentieth century American theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr.[1] The prayer has been adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs.
It also says it’s been around since 1936.
Paul-Cincy on December 21, 2012 at 12:03 PM
Since Boehner likes a stiff drink, I don’t think he’s a member of AA.
Paul-Cincy on December 21, 2012 at 12:05 PM
Good I hope the GOp goes the way of the whigs
unseen on December 21, 2012 at 12:06 PM
??? you don’t go to church do you?
unseen on December 21, 2012 at 12:06 PM
That ace person has not had much conservative to say in a long while, if at all. I go there for the comic relief of reading a morronette! They did not used to be as moronic, but I guess like blondes, they self emulate their chosen style.
astonerii on December 21, 2012 at 12:07 PM
but he would have been exposed to such issues at an early age:
from Wiki on Boehner:
He started working at his family’s bar at age 8, a business founded by their grandfather Andy Boehner in 1938.[7]
Paul-Cincy on December 21, 2012 at 12:07 PM
Thanks muchly for that. And even more for AoS’s link to NRO’s fly-on-the-wall piece, “Inside the Meltdown“.
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on December 21, 2012 at 12:11 PM
Really beautiful explanation. I am humbled, and thank you.
p.s. I figured Mr. Boehner might like a bourbon “neat” with his cigarette.
Merry Christmas!
Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on December 21, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Boehner and his band of RINOs only have themselves to blame.
After losing many budget battles with Obama – some which he should never have lost – what did he expect conservatives to do? Follow him into the abyss as he throws away not only his Speakership but the Republican majority?
And the moderates/party apologists on this forum should keep their lectures to themselves. The GOP won the majority in 2010 thanks to the Tea Party/conservatives but what did they get in return? Being sacked from committees for holding onto their principles?
Let RINOs burn…
TheRightMan on December 21, 2012 at 12:23 PM
It’s time for Sarah Palin and Allen West to join forces and build a new party.
Pork-Chop on December 21, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Time for us to join the Dim party to create that all important unity? Cause those Dims are so good for the country and such.
Bmore on December 21, 2012 at 12:24 PM
I personally think the best way to do that would be to win the presidency. At the first Presidential speech, declare that you are changing party affiliation and call on the conservatives of the Republican party to change along with you. Write off those members who are not conservative.
astonerii on December 21, 2012 at 12:26 PM
Republicans forgot that their job is to keep us free. They forgot how to speak the word freedom. If they ever want to win again they better get into the business of promoting liberty. It’s not as if there are no problems in this arena.
Axion on December 21, 2012 at 12:42 PM
sarah palin.
mark it zero, smokey.
sesquipedalian on December 21, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Your IQ is already known as zero. Go set yourself on fire, ‘smokey’.
MelonCollie on December 21, 2012 at 1:09 PM
Sarah Palin is not the VP.
Joe “Stand up, Chuck” Biden is.
Mark it 8.
Good Lt on December 21, 2012 at 1:11 PM
Better than a bunch of “yesa master” todies like the Democrats are voteing lock step with this commie Obama.
APACHEWHOKNOWS on December 21, 2012 at 1:11 PM
I am intrigued by your views and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Good Lt on December 21, 2012 at 1:13 PM
You’re out of your mind again.
John the Libertarian on December 21, 2012 at 1:20 PM