Boehner, House Republicans Play Self-Destruction Game

Conservatism 101: D.I.Y. Political Education

The words of leading GOP presidential contenders and the actions of the Republican-controlled House have voters scratching their heads and wondering, “Are Republicans trying to get Barack Obama reelected?” This week’s Conservatism 101′s Da Tool Guy explores the latest cause for this reaction: House Speaker John Boehner’s refusal to vote on a two-month extension of Obama’s so-called “Payroll Tax Cut.”

CIVICS FOR THE MASSES

I came into work yesterday and before saying hello, my day-job boss says “Are the Republicans trying to get Obama reelected?”

It’s a fair question. Just a day before Speaker of the House John Boehner was refusing a vote on a two-month extension of Obama’s so-called “Payroll Tax Cut.” (As an aside, that makes it sound like it’s an income tax cut, it’s not, it’s a 2.5 percent cut to your Social Security withholding — in other words the Democrats are making their already borderline solvent favorite entitlement less so, while refusing reforms which might make it solvent. But that’s another column for another time.)

Word came late Thursday that Boehner had capitulated and agreed to a two-month extension and a promise to negotiate a one year extension.

As I noted last Saturday, the administration had already given in on a provision which would force Obama to either agree to the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline or give his reasons why he would not — a solid win for Republicans, and indeed, the country.

So, instead of following the oldest of political maxims, namely “when your opponent is self destructing, don’t interfere,” Boehner, whom I’m beginning to believe is a political moron, instead tried to force the Senate to return to DC for a conference committee after they’d already left for the holidays believing this to be a done deal.

Right, like Harry Reid was going to call the Senate back into session in order to give his political enemies a win.

Not even Harry is that stupid.

For once Obama, who generally in my opinion has the political instincts of a squid, was smart enough to simply say “no” and make it stick.

Rick Moran over at PJMedia notes that Boehner was undoubtedly right on the details, the two month deal is needlessly complex and confusing. That doesn’t matter, without Senate Republicans on his side he should have simply passed the Senate bill and gone home — and used the time to tell people how it was that Obama forced them to do a two-month extension because he wouldn’t agree to a one year. And how if he doesn’t approve the Keystone pipeline he’s killing as many as 100,000 new jobs — high paying jobs at that.

But no, no he had to simply hand Obama the paddle, drop his shorts and bend over while shouting “thank you sir, may I have another!?”

Let’s hope a few spanks, beat a clue or two into him before he sends the whole country down the toilet.

by DaToolGuy
images: dbkp file; hubpages

DaToolGuy is a small town journalist with big time dreams. He’s spent his entire adult life laboring in the obscurity he actually deserves. But he’ll take the opportunity to show off when it comes.

DaToolGuy writes regularly at View from Flyover Country.

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