The worst job in Congress
Boehner faces two problems in the new Congress: His GOP majority is smaller than it was last year because of the loss of nine seats in November. And it’s also more conservative, since many of the members who left were moderates.
Of 233 Republicans in the new House, only 15 — fewer than 7% — come from districts that Obama carried in the presidential election, according to statistician David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report. A far greater number come from districts Mitt Romney won handily, which means they represent a very different country from the one that reelected Obama. The political pressure most House Republicans face from their voters isn’t to compromise with Democrats; it’s to resist.
That could bode ill for the coming fight over the debt ceiling.
For one thing, Republicans are in even less of a mood for compromise because they think they have more leverage this time. Instead of defending the wealthy against tax hikes, they’ll be championing cuts in federal spending, a more popular idea (at least in the abstract).
“I hope the speaker understands that he really can’t compromise that way again,” Campbell said. “He has to take a harder line…. But we’re going on faith. There have been no commitments.”
Blowback
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That’s considered a “problem” by the intellectuals of the L.A. Times.
What’s Boehner’s other problem, that dirty conservatives will try and force him to fight against unrestricted gun control? Oh heavens!
Bishop on January 6, 2013 at 5:50 PM
It’s a feature, not a problem.
ProfShadow on January 6, 2013 at 5:54 PM
Good pay, long vacations, excellent medical benefits and pension plan, preferential treatment everywhere…
Boo hoo hoo!
Blake on January 6, 2013 at 5:57 PM
What Blake said
Dingbat63 on January 6, 2013 at 6:03 PM
So Republicans lost, yet they hold a majority of the House. The House, even with gerrymandering represents truer population clusters, while the Senate represents a winner take all over diverse populations.
The House is a better representation of diverse America, and more conservative than ever. They ought to vote to represent their districts
Surprised to see the LAT acknowledging what was really sent back by the voters. They are working so hard to rehab Boehner for the debt ceiling vote, that they bent too far over backwards explaining Boehner’s little ‘problem’. When Obama’s debt ceiling hunger hits the fan, they need Boehner to be the hero, and the dissidents to be the villians. Whatever it takes to raise the debt ceiling. Obama gotta dish out more grants. Once it’s over, they can start smearing Boehner again
entagor on January 6, 2013 at 6:26 PM
I can’t remember if I ever awarded Bishop the Comment of the Day™ award before. It doesn’t matter – there’s no rule against repeats.
Congrats, Bishop.
Steve Eggleston on January 6, 2013 at 6:28 PM
Boehner can, as Liberace said when people mocked him, cry all the way to the bank.
Drained Brain on January 6, 2013 at 6:35 PM
The worse job in congress in dc, who is able to lie and make people believe Your lies?
bho has that down pat and eveytime he opens his mouth DO YOU believe a word he says? The only thing bho could I would believe is for him to say I’m outta here and then I want bhopress every single one of them fliming that!
L
letget on January 6, 2013 at 6:43 PM
When the media starts defending you, you’ve crossed to the other side.
Panther on January 6, 2013 at 7:46 PM
Boehner’s and McConnell’s biggest problems have been themselves.
In 2010 they could have embraced the Tea Party “taxed enough already” momentum, the massive election victory, how Sarah Palin had Oblamer reacting to her “drill, baby, drill” criticisms and Zero buying two touring buses with taxpayer loot because Palin had bought one herself out of pocket.
But no. Boehner and McConnell had to go for GOP Beltway business as usual, procrastinate, procrastinate, procrastinate… hardly making their timid presence known until late November. Two years too late to make much difference with the 2010 momentum a distant memory.
It’s no wonder Palin went back to the family, the family fishing business and other private pursuits. She is bound to have noticed Boehner and McConnell just wanted more same-old shell games of trotting out the fake orange tan for the usual photo-op then off to a few rounds of golf with Obungler or drinks with umbrellas in them their “friends” across the aisle.
viking01 on January 6, 2013 at 8:31 PM