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Timothy Carney

Boehner’s tactics leave supporters puzzled

If tax rates went up for everyone on Jan. 1, Republicans hoped Obama and Reid would get the blame. Fearing this fallout, Democrats might compromise.

But that strategy requires media cooperation. If you want to create the impression that Democrats are to blame for an impasse, you need the major media to tell that story. In most regions of the mainstream media, though, it is dogma that Republicans are the ones who make unreasonable demands, and that Republicans are the ones who are intransigent. If Jan. 1 came and went without a deal on taxes, it’s predictable the media would mostly blame Republicans, no matter what led up to it.

Within the context of this dubious strategy, Republican members also question leadership’s tactics.

One charge: Leadership never worked with members in crafting Plan B. “We walked into conference” on Monday, one Republican member told me, “and we were told, ‘Here it is. Here’s what we’re going to do.’ “

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I don’t think Boner is in good mental health.

MechanicalBill on December 24, 2012 at 12:06 PM

Leadership never worked with members in crafting Plan B. “We walked into conference” on Monday, one Republican member told me, “and we were told, ‘Here it is. Here’s what we’re going to do.’ “

Weepy the Oompah-Loompah is remarkably firm and tough versus fiscal and social conservatives.

Against Mad Barky, and other fellow lefties: not so much.

Kent18 on December 24, 2012 at 12:12 PM

Boehner’s tactics leave supporters the entire world puzzled

FIFY

RoadRunner on December 24, 2012 at 12:12 PM

Right. Let the MSM dictate Republicans’ positions. That’s a formula for success. Soon the middle will be the right.

Aplombed on December 24, 2012 at 12:15 PM

Let’s elect a new speaker. Boehner needs to go.

Vegi on December 24, 2012 at 12:16 PM

Present.

Let the Dems own it completely.

Vote “present”, then scamper home and explain to the people who put you in office why. No need for a national consensus.

In a relatively short time (politically speaking), the Dems will have have scamper home and explain to their constituents WTF happened.

Rep: “blah blah blah republicans blah blah blah”

voters: “but the republicans didn’t stand in the way….this is your plan, isn’t it?”

BobMbx on December 24, 2012 at 12:17 PM

Weepy the Oompah-Loompah is remarkably firm and tough versus fiscal and social conservatives.

Against Mad Barky, and other fellow lefties: not so much.

Kent18 on December 24, 2012 at 12:12 PM

I was thinking the exact same thing.

Panther on December 24, 2012 at 12:27 PM

If Boehner’s supporters don’t understand his tactics, then it demonstrates that Boehner isn’t the only problem. His supporters are the problem as well.

People love to criticize government but insulate their respective rep from criticism, believing he can do no wrong.

madmonkphotog on December 24, 2012 at 12:51 PM

Intelligence much, Mr. Carney?

tommy71 on December 24, 2012 at 12:58 PM

voters: “but the republicans didn’t stand in the way….this is your plan, isn’t it?”

BobMbx on December 24, 2012 at 12:17 PM

You give the average voter too much credit. Here’s how it REALLY happens:

Repubs resist = the party of NO!
Repubs vote present = the Do-Nothing party!
Repubs go along to get along = WE ARE ALL TOO BLAME!!!

abobo on December 24, 2012 at 1:50 PM

One charge: Leadership never worked with members in crafting Plan B. “We walked into conference” on Monday, one Republican member told me, “and we were told, ‘Here it is. Here’s what we’re going to do.’ “

Weeper Boner has been pulling that same stunt since he was first, stupidly, voted into the Weepership – which is why he should have been unceremoniously tossed from that post back in March of 2011. Boner thinks that he’s out there working for himself, a little crybaby King who can do anything he wants and the GOP and conservatives have to come along with him and his stupidity. That’s how we got ObamaCare lasting all through these years, CR after CR, debt limit raise after debt limit raise, no budget for the duration of Boner’s Weepership, this pathetic Sequester that Boner and his buddies are all scared to death of … and the pathetic loss in 2012 to the worst, most inept, most incompetent, criminal, ineligible America-hating retard in all of American history with the worst stats and environment around (thanks to his economy-killing and America-killing policies). Between Boner and Romney, few people saw them defending anything, even though they were the last line of defense for America. So, that’s that.

ThePrimordialOrderedPair on December 24, 2012 at 2:09 PM