The Washington Outsider


John Boehner's Circus

Previously published on Nov 12, 2010

In the wake of the dramatic 2010 GOP takeover of the House of Representative, Congressmen John Boehner faces a promotion that is both a blessing and a curse. Although he now has the power to present his Party's ideas directly to the American People, Senate Democrats and the President control how much of the Republican agenda can be enacted. As such, he is faced with two options; Republicans must either strive for effective, practical bipartisan governance or engineer a political upheaval in 2012 by painting President Obama as the cause of insurmountable gridlock and failed government. With the wind at their back, the GOP has thus far successfully framed the Obama era as one of government overreach, partisan politics, and failed policy, yet they proceed with the latter option at their own risk

Up to the 2012 election, John Boehner's role in the Republican revolution will be as the responsible, gallant leader of the GOP who is pursuing policy over politics with the Obama Administration and the Democrats standing in the way of good policies that will rebuild America. Senate Minority Mitch McConnell will be playing the role of saboteur whose first priority, by this own words, is to unseat the Democratic leadership. When Democrats have controlled the White House in the past, Republicans have effectively been able to disgrace Democratic Presidents with deadlock. Given their political success with this strategy in the first half of the Obama Administration, not counting the very controversial, major legislative achievements of the Nancy Pelosi lead Democrats, the GOP will likely continue this policy of gridlock. Unfortunately, this strategy now presents a major problem for Boehner.

Despite the overly affirmative rhetoric of Republicans, American voters were not voting Republican, because they want the Republican agenda. Americans primarily want the economy fixed, i.e. well paying jobs created, with no preference as how it should be done, but they also want their government to act like a proper government. If the Republican Party's goal is to undermine government in order to simply takeout Obama, they risk alienating their supporters and galvanizing lethargic Obama voters in 2012. Like many of the moderate and green Democrats who lost in 2010, moderate Republicans and GOP candidates recruited from the fringe of the Party will risk loosing their position. Whether or not the controversial Democratic legislation will serve our Country in the end, the process was not clean when change was supposed to come. Democrats had to pay the piper in order to make the process cleaner, but a misbehaved Republican Party must have the same treatment in 2012, if 2010 is to matter.

Walking the fine line between executing a political strategy and proving his Party's worth as a governing coalition is not Boehner's only threat. While the Republican House Speaker will be the face of the GOP, thus he will likely be held responsible for the misbehavior of individuals like Mitch McConnell, divisions within the Republican Party are jockeying for power. Young Guns like Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor hunger for power. Not only does this produce an internal rivalry to Boehner's power, the Obama Administration could offer Cantor a stronger voice in the legislation process in order to force an internal vote of no confidence against Boehner and create a much more devilish opponent for 2012 and beyond. In many respects, this could help unplug the legislative process as well as force the GOP to shed its rigid command over its members, thus helping restore democratic order in Congress. Of course, the greatest internal threat to the Republican establishment is their new Tea Party caucus.

Many Tea Party representatives are either former insiders, whose survival depends upon hardliner, no excuses voters or they are fringe candidates, with political ties, who Republicans would have never considered viable candidates in a normal year. This means these people want their voices heard, but the Republican Party has long been one where members tow the party line. Unlike the Democrats, Republicans can normally force their members to vote a certain way, even when representatives deeply disagree with the Party's view. Where individual "mavericks" like John McCain have given the GOP headaches, Tea Party backed members will either risk their reelection or must be compelled to rebel. If Boehner cannot control his own Party, he will give House Democrats, still lead by very tactically capable individuals like Nancy Pelosi, an opportunity to undermine him.

The political upheaval of 2010 was not just a referendum on the Democratic leadership. It was a call to action against unresponsive government and the underhanded nature of Washington. Because Democrats were in charge and pushed through an agenda that angered Americans, while disenchanting many supporters, they were punished. Just as the GOP was punished in 2006 and 2008 for their failures as leaders, they too may well reap the consequences of another term ripe with dirty politics in 2012. John Boehner will be the face of the GOP for at least the next two years, but his job is not a simple one. Boehner must govern with a Democrat in the Oval Office and a Democratic controlled Senate while he must also pursue his Party's political agenda. He is a leader now and a political target with challenges coming from both his Right and his Left. For the sake of America, we can only hope he will lead the GOP to responsible governance instead of irresponsible political pandering.
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        • On Questioning the Need to Address Economic Disparity
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        • Capitalism Versus Socialism
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      • Stealing Intellectual Property
      • Changing Business Models: From Enduring Entities to Cash Cows
      • Consumer and Investor Evolution in the Great Recession of 2008-09
      • Dealing with the Issues Surrounding the Patenting of Self-replicating Technologies
      • Is Technology Threatening Jobs?
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      • The Role of Education in Creating a More Dynamic Workforce
      • Primary Education in America and the Changing Needs of Society
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      • Ideas for Improving the United States Education System
      • Are Teachers Treated as Professionals?
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      • On the DOJ Justifying the “targeted Killings” of US Citizens
      • Corporations Do Not Have the Same Rights as US Citizens >
        • Corporate America Pleads the First
      • Discussing the Constitutionality of Per Capita Taxes
      • Was the California Supreme Court Right in Legalizing Gay Marriage?
      • Should the Bible Continue to Be Used for Swearing-in Ceremonies and in Courtrooms?
      • Should Religious Student Clubs Be Allowed in Public Schools?
      • Should the Government Control Talk Radio to Make it More "balanced"?
      • The Second Amendment: Not Outdated >
        • Are We Losing Our Second Amendment Rights
      • Eminent Domain Used Against Banks
      • Should a Woman Have the Right to Choose Abortion? >
        • Should Fathers Be Able to Opt Out of Parenthood?
      • Should Smoking Be Allowed in Public Places?
      • Is Teen Driving a Right or a Privilege?
      • Should US Companies Be Required to Provide Equal Pay to Women and Men?
      • Is eighteen too young to vote?
      • First Amendment Rights: The Priviledge of The Press
      • Do Mandatory Seat Belt Laws Violate Individual Rights?
      • Should cell phone use be banned while driving?
      • Dealing with the link between video game violence and children's behavior
      • Should police have to submit to routine drug and alcohol testing?
      • Public schools should not impose mandatory drug testing on students
      • Are High Taxes on Cigarettes Proper?
      • Should pharmacists be required to violate their religious beliefs and dispense the "Morning After Pill?"
      • Should school counselors uphold patient privacy or report students who become unstable?
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    • Ongoing Issues >
      • Red Dawn in Ukraine: Understanding the Actions of Russia >
        • On Russia’s Coercion of Ukraine
        • The Russian Annexation of Crimea in the Eyes of the World
        • Putin Has Overplayed His Hand With Crimea
        • Ukraine in Terms of Resovereignization
        • Avoiding a Conflict Between America and Russia Over Ukraine
        • What Drives the World’s Interest in Russia’s Actions in Ukraine
      • China’s Aggressive Pursuit of Interests Demands a Global Response
      • Iran Makes a Deal: A Start to a Long-term Diplomatic Effort to Denuclearize Iran >
        • On the Future of a Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
      • America's Sphere of Influence: Retaking South-East Asia >
        • Power in Asia: Looking at the Power Shift in Japan
        • The China Paradox: Why America is Worried About China
      • Assessing US Support of Israel >
        • Tread Softly Israel for a Heavy Step May Be Your Undoing
      • Understanding the Dysfunctional Nature of the US-Pakistani Relationship
      • Recognizing the True Threat Behind the Current Unrest in the Middle East >
        • Reacting to the Escalating Crackdown in Syria
      • Assessing the Threat of North Korea >
        • Answering North Korea's Call for Food Aid: Breaking the Vicious Cycle Forced Upon Us by a Warring Nation
        • Dealing with the Restarting of the Korean War
        • North Korea Attacks South Korea
      • Dealing with the Ill-effects of Climate Change
      • Racial Inequality and Oppression Do Truly Exist in Today's Society
      • Should energy independence be a high priority in the US?
      • An overview of world wide Human Rights violations
      • Nuclear Threat from Pakistan
      • Return of The Cold War?
    • World >
      • Coverage of FIFA World Cup is a Chance to Focus on Poverty >
        • The FIFA World Cup Offers Benefits for More Than Brazilian Soccer Fans
        • FIFA Can Bring Brazilians Together as a Nation
      • Being Prepared for Any Potential Dangers at the FIFA World Cup Games
      • Treading Softly on the Politicizing of the 2014 Sochi Olympics Over Gay Rights
      • Why NATO Operations in Libya Lack a Well-defined Mission
      • China Hijacks the Web
      • Lessons from the Great Japanese Earthquake of 2011
      • A Modernizing Cuba Offers an Opportunity for Capitalists
      • The Seeds of Democracy Take Root in the Middle East
      • The Rebirth of Democracy in Tunisia
      • What May Come from the Hurt Revolution in Libya
      • Responding to the Violence of Qaddafi and Other Besieged Leaders
      • Embracing the Rise of a Democratic Egypt
      • Protests in Afghanistan Turn Deadly for Coalition Forces and UN Personnel
      • Haiti: Another Failing Humanitarian Investment
      • What Karzai Can Learn from Calderon
      • START II: A Necessary, Easy Success that Nearly Failed
      • Why Does the U.S. Government Support Independence for the Breakaway Serb Territory of Kosovo but Oppose Independence for the Breakaway Georgian Territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
      • Iraq's Electric Issues: When Human Wants Trump Economic Sense
      • The International Community Reacts to Wikileaks: We May Be Moving Toward a Third World War in Cyberspace
      • On Climate Gate
      • Assessing Obama's Afghanistan War strategy
      • 2009 Iranian Presidential Election: The Fallout
      • Resolving Sri Lankan Conflict through Free Media
      • What are the Global Consequences of Russia's Invasion of Georgia
      • The War in Iraq: an assessment of President Bush's surge strategy
      • Drug War: Actions of Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador in terms of Resovereignization
      • Is the Iraq Refugee Crisis America's Responsibility?
      • US support for a united Kosovo, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia: why?
      • Should the US withdraw from Iraq?
      • Setting a Timetable for Troop Withdrawal from Iraq is a Terrible Mistake
      • War on Terrorism is needed
    • Law and Order >
      • Rape in the US Military
      • Ethics of Force-feeding Guantanamo Bay Detainees
      • Reacting to the Aftermath of the Tucson Massacre
    • Economy >
      • Affordability Drives Fear of Obamacare and the Individual Mandate
      • Is the Economy Built for a Job's Recovery?
      • Gutting Healthcare Reform of the Individual Mandate
      • Arizona Budget Cuts Lead to Lethal Healthcare Rationing:
      • Shameful Collection Practices of American Banks
      • The Fed Reveals it Actually Undertook an International Bailout
      • Thoughts on French Budgetary Reforms
      • Seniors Start Businesses
      • The Case for Slimming Down the US Military to Make it Better
      • Looking at the Obama Administration's New Approach to Economic Policy
      • Should the Government Regulate the Credit Card Industry?
      • The Big Three's Big Chance
      • The Unhealthy Tone of the Healthcare Reform Debate
      • Should the federal government offer a bailout for home owners?
      • Environmentalists: Do They Do More Good Than More Harm?
      • Responding to Scott Walker's Contribution to the War on Unions
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      • America Needs to Focus on the Impending Fiscal Crisis
      • Reacting to the Bush Era-tax Cut Extension Deal
      • Quitting the Obama Revolution: The Fickle Nature of American Politics
      • John Boehner's Circus
      • Is the Fed Putting Itself in Jeopardy?
      • Wikileaks Goes After the US State Department
      • Discussing the Political Environment Surrounding the 2011 Budget Debate
      • What the Democrats Can Do to Ensure a GOP Year in 2012
      • What the 2010 Midterm Actually Said
      • Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper
      • Democrats Minus Nancy Pelosi Equals Opportunity
      • Terrorists Go Postal: The Terrorism Threat Reexamined
      • Victory in the 2008 Election: Reaction to Barack Obama'a Win >
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      • History judges the George W. Bush Administration
      • Should the next US President focus on domestic issues?
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      • Should the Ban on Government Sponsored Assassinations be Repealed
    • Off Topic >
      • A Face of America’s Greatest Generation
      • A Story About a Man Who Made the World a Better Place
      • Making the World a Better Place
      • The Bipolar Ethical Nature of Google
      • Learning Computer Plays Jeopardy
      • Verifying Medicine is the Real Thing
      • Taking a Practical Step Forward in Optical Computing Using Slow Light
      • Scientists Take a Closer Look at How Lithium Batteries Work
      • Remarking on the First Blizzard of the 2010-2011 Winter Season
      • Driving in the Snow: Acceleration is the Key
      • How People in Northwest PA Are Coping with the Increasing Cost of Oil
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